Message Notes

10 August 2014

Text: Joshua 5

“COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE LORD”

(I) THE TASK ASSIGNED TO JOSHUA

“Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people…” Joshua 1:2

1. Assigned by the Lord (Joshua 1:2)

2. Affirmed by Moses

3. Accepted by the Children of Israel

(II) THE VISIBLE LEADERS

1. Moses

2. Joshua

(III) THE ALL-IMPORTANT INVISIBLE LEADER

1. Joshua’s Encounter

a) He meets a Man

b) The Man carried a drawn sword (Joshua 5:13)

c) Symbolic: Ready for Battle

d) Joshua challenges the Man

“Are you for us or for our adversaries” Joshua 5:13

2. Correction of Joshua’s Perception

a) The Man had come as “Commander of the army of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14)

b) This was a Divine Man

c) This was the Pre-Incarnate Christ

(IV) VITAL LESSONS JOSHUA LEARNED

1. Recognition of the real Commander of the army of the Lord

a) It was not Joshua

b) The real Commander was the Man with the drawn sword standing before him

2. Renewal of faith

a) Expressed in kneeling before the Commander

b) Expressed in worship (Joshua 5:14)

c) Taking off his sandals (Joshua 5:15)

3. Responding appropriately

a) As a servant of the Lord

b) As a subordinate to the Commander of the army of the LORD