JOSHUA – A MAN FIT FOR PURPOSE

Exodus 17 vs 8-14;  Then Amalek [and his people] came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek [and his people]. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the hilltop. 11 Now when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hand [due to fatigue], Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy and he grew tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so it was that his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed and defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in the book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek [and his people] from under heaven.”

• Joshua made himself available to follow the instructions given to him by Moses. 
• Joshua obeyed Moses as onto the Lord and God acknowledged him by instructing Moses in verse 14 to read the memorial to him.

Exodus 33 vs 11; And so the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his attendant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

•  Joshua was a man that went through preparation by being committed to Moses and by developing his personal relationship with God.

Numbers 13 vs 1 - 3; Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel. From each of their fathers’ tribes you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” 3 So Moses sent spies from the Wilderness of Paran at the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites.

Vs 16;  These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land; but Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua (the Lord is salvation) .

Numbers 14 vs 6 – 9;  Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes [as a sign of grief], 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which [b]flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

• Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies that calmed the people with the good report of the land.
• Joshua proved his faithfulness and faith to God by being a stable man of genuine character.
• Joshua stood out as he believed and patiently submitted himself to the pruning and molding of his character by God.

Numbers 27 vs 18 -23; 18 The Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole congregation, and give him a commission in their sight. 20 You shall put some of your authority and honor on him, so that all the congregation of the Israelites will obey him. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment (decision) of the [c]Urim. At Joshua’s command the people shall go out and at his command they shall come in, he and all the congregation of Israel with him.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23 and Moses laid his hands on Joshua and commissioned him, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

• Joshua was one of the men that followed the command of the Lord.
• Joshua was a man that believed in the Lord of Salvation.
• Joshua developed himself and lived his life as a man of the Spirit.
• Joshua received authority and honour for the work God committed into his hands.

Deut 34 vs 9; 9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord commanded Moses.

• God empowered Joshua with the Holy Spirit for the purpose which he had been preparing him for.
• Joshua was also endowed with wisdom he required for the work ahead of him.

Joshua 1 vs 1-9; Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant (attendant), saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore [a]arise [to take his place], cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the [b]sons of Israel. 3 I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses.

• The promises that was given to Moses was fulfilled in the life of Joshua because he achieved the purpose of God.
• Joshua was instructed to take the Israelites to Canaan at the appointment time as promised to Moses.
• Joshua became a vessel occupied and consumed by the presence of God.
• God gave Joshua the promises of His words and the instructions he needed to follow.

 PRAYER

1) As our men go for the retreat let us pray that their heart will be willing and receptive to the instruction of the Lord in Jesus name.

2) Every man will yield their heart and surrender themselves to Master Jesus for preparation and to develop their personal relationship with Him.

3) As God prunes and molds the character of each man in the retreat this weekend, we receive patience and calmness for every one of them in Jesus name.

4)  During and after this retreat, we pray that our men will daily receive instructions by the Spirit and every iota of the old man will be removed from them in Jesus name.

5) The Lord will grant all the men at the retreat authority, wisdom and utterance for the work that has been committed unto them in the name of Jesus.

6) As they go into the retreat, our men will become vessels occupied and consumed for the Lord in Jesus name.

7) As the Lord prepares all the men during this retreat, we pray that they will be ready and fit for his purpose as they run with the instructions and promises that will be given unto them in Jesus name.

8) We commit the venue, the commuting, the sessions, the speakers and every man that will be involved with this retreat that the Spirit of the Lord will direct and instruct every aspect in Jesus name.