Joshua 1:1

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,  Moses had died after the wilderness wanderings, and God chose Joshua to be the new leader.  Joshua was one of the spies who had said that the people of Israel should go into the Promised Land all those years ago.  The people were going to need a leader who had a strong faith in God.  Verse two states, 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.  God had told Moses that even though the people of Israel would be allowed to go into the Promised Land when the generation that lacked the faith to do so had died, that Moses himself would not be allowed to.  Like Moses, no matter how close we are to God, our actions bring consequences in this life.  God told Joshua it was now time to go over the Jordan into the land that God gave them.  Verse three declares, Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.  God did not say that whatever land they could conquer would be theirs, but that everywhere they set foot God would give them.  We today do not have to fight to claim our heavenly home, but God has already giving it to us if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  The battle is already won.  Verse four adds, From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.  God defined the land that was to be theirs.  I believe that this was so that Joshua would know when the people had claimed all the land that God had promised them.  Even though Joshua had been told that wherever their foot trod would be theirs, this was still under the guidance of God.  Defining the area kept them from not going far enough or from going too far.  When we follow Christ today, we must make sure that we are following where He directs us to go.  Verse five says, There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail, nor forsake thee.  God made a promise to Joshua, but this was based on Joshua remaining faithful to Him.  God would be with Joshua just as He had been with Moses, and no one could stand against Joshua as long as he lived.  God will be with us the same way today, and as long as we live by faith in Him, no one can stand against us to keep us out of the Promised Land, which for us is heaven.  Verse six states, 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.  God told Joshua to be strong and of good courage.  Joshua had proven himself to be that way before, and he needed to continue to do so.  If we have been strong and of good courage in the past in our relationship with God, we need to continue to be so for as long as we live.  God said that He was going to fulfill the promise made to their fathers, and He will fulfill the promise made to all who believe in Christ when He declares the time to be right.  Verse seven adds, 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 whithersoever thou goest.  God told Joshua to be strong and very courageous under the law that He had given Moses.  Joshua was not to turn from it in any way.  We today must be courageous through our relationship to Christ, never deviating in our faith.  God's law has not changed, and we are to be guided by it.  Verse eight continues, 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.  Like Joshua, we cannot depart from God's law if we are to be successful in our spiritual journey.  Also, like Joshua, we are to meditate on the law of God day and night so that we walk in His law.  When we do, we will prosper spiritually.  Verse nine concludes, 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.  Once again, God commanded Joshua to be strong and of good courage, because God was going to be with him wherever he went.  We today have that promise in an even greater way.  Wherever we go as followers of Christ, God is with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  If we are being obedient to God, we never have to fear anything in this world.

We will review some of the things we learned from Philippians.  First, we should be thankful for our fellow Christians and let them know that we are.  Paul was continually writing to his fellow believers to let them know how much they meant to him.  We today can do so much more easily than he could.  We have almost instantaneous communication today, so we should utilize it for God's glory and the edification of our fellow believers.  The next thing we learn is that circumstances should not determine our willingness to praise God.  Paul was in prison, but he still praised God.  Along the same line, we should not allow our material status to determine our contentment in life.  Paul said he was content if he had an abundance or if he had a lack, and so should we be.  Paul warned us to beware of those who preached the gospel as being a way to material success.  Also, like the believers at Philippi, we should be willing to give to support those who are doing God's work and have a need.  I don't believe that we are to give so that they can have everything they desire, but everything that God says that they need.  We also need to realize that at times our fellow believers are going to disagree with each other, and when they do we need to help them settle their differences so that they will not interfere with the spreading of the gospel.  We must all work together through the leadership of the Holy Spirit if we are to successfully share the gospel with the world.  Finally, like Paul, we must claim the promise that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  I believe that through Christ means under His leadership, and when we are following His leadership we can do anything that we need to do by the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what we have been called to do.  This is not a promise that we can do anything that we desire or decide to do, but that we can do anything that God calls us to do, by His power.

Philippians 4:11 says, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  Paul said that he wasn't speaking to them about their helping him because he had wanted anything more for himself.  Paul said he had learned to be content whatever state he was in physically.  We need to learn to be the same way.  If we are following Christ to have great material wealth, or become disappointed in God when we struggle in the world, then we are following Him for the wrong reasons.  We need to be content in God, no matter what our physical or financial state may be.  Verse twelve states, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  Paul said he knew how it was to have more than enough and to not have near enough and to be hungry and full.  Sometimes, I believe that we are more faithful, or close to God, when we are in need than we are when we have an abundance.  It is important that we remain faithful, no matter our status in the world.  Verse thirteen declares, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  This is quite a statement of faith.  I believe that Paul meant that he could do all things that God led him to do through his faith in Christ.  We can do everything though the power of Christ if what we are doing is in accordance to His instruction and is for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.  Verse fourteen adds, Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.  Paul again commended the Christians at Philippi.  Paul never just bragged on himself for the purpose of having others glorify him, but always gave God the glory and acknowledged that others were being faithful to God as well.  If we begin to extol our own virtue so that other people might glorify us for our faith in God, then we have lost our focus.  Verse fifteen says, Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.  Paul said that when he departed Macedonia, that the church at Philippi was the only one to ask him about giving and receiving, which meant to support him in his travels to spread the gospel.  We today need to be very supportive of missionary work around the world.  We may not be able to go, but we can give.  Verse sixteen adds, For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  Paul said when he was in Thessalonica that they sent him support on more than one occasion.  We need to be noted for our support of mission work in the world today.  Verse seventeen continues, Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  Paul said that he wasn't acknowledging them because he wanted anything from them, but because their giving brought them a blessing from God.  We today should never give in order to bring a blessing to ourselves, nor should we ask others to give that we might be better supported.  Both giving and receiving should be done for the glory of God.  Verse eighteen declares, But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  Paul said he had everything he needed and more because of their generous giving, and that their giving was a sweet smelling sacrifice to God.  When we give generously to the work of God, it is a sweet smelling sacrifice to Him.  Verse nineteen adds, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Paul told the believers at Philippi that God would supply their every need according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ.  We cannot interpret this to mean that God is going to give us everything we desire.  Paul was in prison when he wrote this, and he wasn't writing to a bunch of rich people in Philippi, but to struggling Christians.  If we ask for something material from God, it must be so that the gospel might be spread further and that God may be glorified, and never just so that we may be enriched.  Verse twenty proclaims, Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Paul said that everything that he had told them was to be for the glory of God the Father forever and ever, amen.  All that we do today should also be done for the glory of our heavenly Father.  Verse twenty-one states, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.  Paul was closing his letter, and asking the Christians at Philippi to salute every saint in Jesus Christ and sending greetings from those that were with him.  Saints are not super religious people, but those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.   As followers of Christ, we are all saints, and no one has to declare us so.  Verse twenty-two adds, All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.  Paul said that their were even believers in Caesar's household, and they especially saluted the believers at Philippi.  We should never be surprised at where we find Christians today.  Then verse twenty three concludes, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  This was written to the Philippians from Rome.  Paul closed by asking that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them.  The best thing that we can do for fellow believers today is to ask for the grace of God to be with them.  We will next look at the book of Joshua.

Philippians 4:1 says.Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.  Paul spoke very highly of his fellow believers at Philippi.   Then, he asked them to stand fast in the Lord.  Even if we are highly spoken of because of our faith in Christ, we must never falter, but stand fast in that faith.  If we do falter, then we must ask forgiveness and return to that steadfast faith.  Verse two states, I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.  Paul speaks of two women, Syntyche and Euodias, who it would seem were disagreeing with one another, asking them to be of the same kind in the Lord.   As followers of Christ, if we disagree with another believer, we should pray that God would lead us to be of the same mind in Christ.  If we are, then we will always do what is right.  Verse three says, And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.  Paul did not demand that the other Christians help these two women, who he called fellow laborers of his in the gospel, but he humbly asked them to.  Paul had no doubt that their names, as well as Clement and others, was written in the book of life.  If we have disagreements with other Christians, that does not remove their name or ours from the Book of life.  Once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever saved.  Verse four states, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Paul did not say occasionally rejoice, or when things are going well rejoice, but to rejoice always in the Lord.  Paul was in prison, yet he was rejoicing in the Lord.  When we rejoice based on our earthly situation, we may not often rejoice, but if we rejoice in our redemption through our faith in Christ, we always have a reason to rejoice.  Verse five declares, Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Paul asks them to live in moderation, because the Lord is at hand.  Paul said they were to do this because the Lord was at hand.  Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life if we are a Christian, the Lord is always at hand.  Verse six states, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Verse seven adds, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Just as Paul told the Christians at Philippi then, we aren't to live in fear, but we are to make our needs known to God by fear and supplication.  Paul didn't say we were to make our wants known, but our needs, and that we were to do so with thanksgiving.  When we turn everything over to God, then we will know the peace of God, which we can not truly understand with human thought.  Verse eight declares, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Paul called on them to seek those things that true, honest, just and pure.  These would be the things of God, and these are the things that we today as followers of Christ should be seeking.  Verse nine adds, Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  Paul held himself up as an example, not from his life before he became a Christian, but from his time after.  If we hold ourselves up as an example of what it means to be  Christian, we better be sure that we are living by the principles that God teaches us.  Verse ten concludes, But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  Paul said that he rejoiced in their care for him during the last year.  He said he knew before that they lacked the opportunity.  We can only help others when we have the opportunity, and we cannot help everyone.

Philippians 3:16 says, Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  Paul told the Christians to walk according to the salvation that they had already attained by faith.  They were not to obey God to attain salvation, but because they already had by accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Like them, we are to walk in obedience to our faith, not to attain salvation, but because as followers of Christ, we have already attained it.  Verse seventeen states,  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  Paul said that they were to look to him as an example.  At this time, he was imprisoned for his faith.  Of course, Paul did not say that he was the only one that they could use for an example of faithfulness to Christ, but he did say that any others that they used should walk in faith as he did.  I believe too often today we use those who profess to follow Christ and are very successful materially as examples to follow.  At times, they may even encourage us to use them as example if we want to be materially successful, but we were never promised material success in the world, so I believe that we need to be wary of them.  It is not impossible to be a Christian and be rich, but when someone declares that if we are faithful enough to Christ that He will make us rich, then they need to look at Paul, who instead of being rich was imprisoned.  Verse eighteen adds,  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  Then verse nineteen concludes, Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  I believe that this is as clear a warning as there can be that not all who profess to be Christians really are.  Paul said that he had already warned the followers of Christ at Philippi about them, and that he did so with weeping.  Paul said that these who professed to follow Christ but didn't were ruled by their belly, or material things.  We need to be just as concerned about those who proclaim any way of faith other than the way of the cross.  If we are only following Christ for material success, then we are attempting to follow for the wrong reason.  Verse twenty declares, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul said their conversation was in heaven from whence they looked for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul was referring too all those whom it was good to follow as an example.  Our life today should point others to Jesus Christ and should always be lived in obedience to Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  I believe that Paul was referring to a change that will occur as soon as we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Though we may still live in this same old body for the rest of our life, we are to become a new creature by Christ.  Though we will not be perfect, we are a part of the family of God from the day we accept Jseus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and it should change our very nature.

Philippians 3:8 says, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  Paul had been a powerful man in the Jewish religion.  He was well educated and looked up to by his peers.  He said counted this all as nothing but a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Lord.  I don't believe that this means he had given up so much, but that what he had before, no matter how of much importance it was viewed by the world and by himself, was worth nothing.  Paul was saying not that he had sacrificed, but that he had gained.  We need to have that same attitude today.  We cannot look back feeling that we lost anything when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse nine states, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Paul said he found righteousness through Christ and not through the law.  Righteousness can only come by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  We might try to find a right relationship with God through the law of God, and if anyone could, Paul could have, but he knew it was impossible.  Righteous, being in a right relationship with God, comes only through faith in Christ.  Verse ten declares, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  By faith. Paul could know Jesus Christ.  By faith, we can know Jesus Christ.  Paul knew the power that came from the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ defeated sin and death by his resurrection.  Paul said that by faith he could know the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ.  We need that same type faith today.  We are not called to great affluence and power when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but are called to be humble servants, taking up our cross daily.  Paul was willing to follow Jesus Christ even if it cost him his life.  The question is, "Are we?"  Verse eleven adds, If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  I believe that Paul was saying that he would willingly give up everything, even his life, to have an everlasting relationship with Christ.  I don't believe that he was questioning whether he might have this relationship, but was stating the truth of the fact that he did.  We today can have that same assurance.  Verse twelve continues, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Paul said he knew had not attained perfection, but that he strived for it through his faith in Christ.  He said he had been apprehended by Christ.  We today, as followers of Christ, are not perfect, but we are to strive for perfection through our faith in Christ.  Everything in our life should be apprehended, or controlled, by our faith in Christ.  Verse thirteen states, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  Paul said he hadn't achieved perfection, but that he did not look back on what he had before becoming a Christian, but that he looked ahead to what he was through his relationship with Christ.  Likewise, we cannot look back but must look ahead by faith in Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Paul said he pressed on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God through Jesus Christ.  We should recognize what a great calling we have through Christ today, and daily walk by faith in Him.  Verse fifteen concludes, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Paul asked that all the believers in Christ in Philippi be of a like mind as he was.  This is still the way that we should be as followers of Christ today.

Philippians 3:1 says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  It might seem strange to start a chapter with finally, but we have to remember that Paul did not write chapters and verses but a letter.  Chapters and verses were added many years later, but they in no way change the message.  Paul said that the Christians at Philippi were to rejoice in the Lord.  We should always rejoice in the Lord if we are followers of  Christ.  Paul said wetting these things was not grievous to him and for them it was safe.  Sharing God's word with others should never be grievous to us, and if it is accepted, it should bring spiritual safety to those who accept it.  Verse two warns, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.  These dogs were not the four legged creatures, but people who would lead the believers in Christ at Philippi away from God, as were evil workers and those that would lead them to concision, or arguments and disagreements.  We need to beware of these same type people today, and we certainly should never be one of them.  Verse three adds, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  Circumcision was a physical act that identified the people of Israel as the people of God.  Paul said that those who believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord were the circumcision, or people of God, now.  This was not a physical act, but a spiritual one, and they were to have no confidence in any physical acts to bring them into a right relationship with God.  Salvation is a spiritual relationship and always has been, even when the people of Israel used a physical act to identify as God's people.  The people still had to personally believe in God as the Creator, Sustainer, and ultimate Redeemer of humanity.  Verse four declares, Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Paul begins to give his credentials, not to say that this saved him, but to say that it didn't.  We can come from the best Christian family and be educated in the best Christian schools and it does not save us, just as Paul's earthly credentials did not save him.  Verse five adds, Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  It would be hard for anyone to have a better heritage than Paul did, but he knew that his had only left him a lost person in the eyes of God.  Verse six adds, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Paul said that he was a very zealous Jew, persecuting Christians wherever he could.  We may not physically have persecuted Christians today, but if we have not accepted Christ and have spoken out against Him, we are just as guilty as Paul was.  Verse seven concludes, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  This heritage that Paul had been proud of, that he counted for his credit, he now willingly counted them as loss for Christ.  We must likewise count everything that we did before accepting Christ as a loss, or of no value.