THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Joshua 1:8-9

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Moses had left the scene, Joshua was now to take leadership to lead the people past the Jordan into the promised land.

We have seen the testimony of Moses (from our study yesterday), he had a good and great testimony. Do we also remember that their was someone in his life, through the walk through the wilderness:

Exodus 17:8-10,14

While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them.

Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill.

After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

Joshua was like Moses'right hand man, the general of the army.

Not just that, he was his personal assistant from his youth:

Numbers 11:28

Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since his youth, protested, “Moses, my master, make them stop!”

Exodus 24:12-13

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.”

So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.

He walked close to Moses so much that he got closer to God even when the elders or the high priest couldn't.

Exodus 33:10-11

When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents.

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.

He was so loyal, and kept close, so he was opportune to enjoy God's presence.

Things people like Gehazi couldn't enjoy because of lust, greed and selfishness!

He stood up in faith when others were faint hearted and rebelling, he and Caleb alone, in the midst of the whole people, they wanted to stone them:

Numbers 14:4-10

Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”

Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.

Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.

They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!

And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.

Do not rebel against the lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”

But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.

Joshua did not appear out of the blues, this was a man who had served, he had been proved to be faithful. He had encounter with God.

For God said only he and Caleb would enter the promised land from his generation:

Numbers 14:28-30

Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say.

You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die.

You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

That is what happened!

Finally, he also received the laying of hands from the anointed of God.

Numbers 27:18-20

The Lord replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people.

Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him.

Note that Joshua had already the Spirit of God on him. However, when he received the impartation from Moses, he received the spirit of wisdom.

Deuteronomy 34:9

Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

We see the story of the rise of Joshua, great men don't just appear, they are made. You could be born of earthly royalty, but you are just a number till you create your impact. You must build capacity through the years.

The key to success is not being born with a silver spoon, but how you have been able to use the silver spoon to build capacity, receive wisdom and then win.

Listen, some see "silver spoons" as just having wealthy parents, no there are things greater than that, when you reap from the wisdom of your fathers, what you have is more than the one with earthly wealth, for it can make you create wealth but more importantly capacity and impact.

While their mates were just about the immediate pleasure, Joshua and Caleb were looking at the destination - they were focused not just on the promised land but on Him who promised!

Jesus explained it to us:

Matthew 6:33

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

It is wisdom to know the one who promised, before seeking for the promises. Selah

The key to success is knowing the one who gives success, then you can obey what He has said.

The others wanted the promise but they were not willing to know the One who called them, the One who gave them the promise. There lies the success.

It pains me when I see believers run after miracles, pursing things that are supposed to be the release of God's blessings instead of the Blesser Himself.

It is an anomaly!

It just doesn't add up, are you in the kingdom or outside the kingdom. How can you yet be seeking for signs and wonders like unbelievers, when Christ said that it would follow those who believe. (Do you understand?)

This is the reason so many people have been made to do mundane things all in the name of miracle or God said, because they have not walked with the one who saved them and is their Lord, but are seeking for something else from someone else! Why are they getting it all twisted?

What is the counsel?

2 Peter 3:17-18

You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

Success is knowing the One who called you and walking in His truth.

Ephesians 4:13-15

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

We learn from Joshua what it is to stay faithful and consistent. The right attitude and character of the one who the Lord uses.

This same character is the key for all types of success there is. Else, distractions and inconsistency will keep you away from being great in your endeavour.

O Dear Lord, You have made us a success.

Psalms 1:2-3

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. 

Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, You have made me a success in Christ Jesus, do not let me get distracted or lose my way. Lead me Dear Father to grow in the knowledge and love of You, fulfilling Your purpose and excelling in all good things. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.