Title: The Man God uses
Scripture Reading: Joshua 1:2; 6-9
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
The man God uses includes woman
The Man God uses is directed towards every child of God, ordinary human being but not ordinary when in the hand of God, doing great exploit for your family, your company, your sphere of influence wherever God has put you.
- The man God uses always receives a command
Joshua 1:2 ‘Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.’
The man God uses always receives a command. The command is ‘Go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give them’.
Today the man God uses has this command of God, ‘Go ye into the all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’. And ‘As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.’
God adds on: ‘Be Strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.’ (Joshua 1:9).
- The man God uses is chosen
What is involved in being chosen? What are the characteristic of one being chosen?
‘God has chosen and laid help upon one and exalted one chosen out of the people.’ This is found in Psalm 89:19 which reads, ‘Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst,’ I have laid help upon one that is mighty. I have exalted one chosen out of the people.’
Three things are pointed out for one that is chosen.
- You are extracted from the people
- You are elected by God from among the people
- You are exalted above the people
And this person has received the blessing of help. Psalm 89:19 is so clear ‘God has chosen and laid help upon one.’ This person has received the followings:
- The blessing of exaltation
- The blessing of election
- The blessing of anointing
- The blessing of security
- The blessing of God’s own strength
- The blessing of protection
- The blessing of vindication
- The blessing of ongoing faithfulness and mercy
A man that God uses should not be afraid at all. Because when God commanded him, with it comes the empowerment and equipping.
The part of the blessing of ongoing faithfulness and mercy.
- The Man God uses has sources of strength
Joshua 1:1 says, ‘Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying’.
Consider with me three sources of Joshua’s strength.
- Faithfulness
First of all, I would ask you to observe that here is a faithful man. Verse 1 says mentions that Joshua was Moses’ minister. A minister is one who prepared, not to domineer over people, but to serve for Jesus’ sake.
Jesus was faithful and subjected to his parents when he was in obscurity. We all failed badly in faithfulness. But when Jesus was faithful even unto the cross and when he was resurrected, he has paid for our unfaithfulness. But more than that he can impart His faithfulness upon you. Jesus lives today. He is the head of this church. He is able to fill His people with His glory and with His power in order that the faithfulness of His human life may be imparted to us by the Holy Ghost. He is able to restore the years that the cankerworm has eaten. We must not let past failures to keep us from getting on our feet and stepping forward to do what we believes to be God’s will. If there are some disheartened hearts in the congregation today, someone who feels that his past will prevent him from taking a responsibility in the works of God, I bid you, in Jesus’ name, be strong and of a good courage; neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whitersoever thou goest.
The second source of Joshua’s strength was a distinct call.
The third source of Joshua’ strength is the indwelling word of God. Joshua 1:8 says, ‘This book shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then they shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success’.
Alan Redpath said, ‘I am telling you from personal experience. I believe, as I got it from the Old Book, that if a man would be effective, he has to go to God in prayer and meditate on the word. If a man would walk with God, if a man would live a holy life, if a man would assume authority and hold it down, he has to pay the price of a closed door. I have no magical formula for your holiness. I have no hocus-pocus treatment to offer you. I have no short cut to spiritual power for any of you. All I can do is to say to you. Get back to your bible; meditate therein day and night and go down before God on your face in prayer. For the greatest transaction of a man’s experience are made not in a church but behind closed doors.
Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.’ To be saturated with the Word o God is to be assured of the presence of Gid. Then no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Every tongue raised against you in judgment, He will condemn. We are living in an age which has lost the art of being silent with an open bible and waiting for God to speak.
