Joshua 1:8
“for THEN thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then shou shalt have good success”.
Introduction: In this verse of scripture we see the LORD speaking to Joshua regarding the nation of Israel in vs 1. Essentially He is telling them how they can have prosperity and success in the promised land. With that in mind, this statement made by God can still apply to the believer today. God promises a person to have a prosperous and successful life if and when that person does three things regarding “the book of the law” which to us, is the whole Bible. We are to constantly speak Bible, meditate in the Bible, and do what the Bible says to do.
To have prosperity and success you must:
1.Not Stop Speaking Bible– “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth”.
If it departs, the family is Gone– Deuteronomy 11:18-19 “speaking of them” when you sit, walk, lie down, risest up. This means all the time. Sometimes it can get weary some to do so all the time however, it is the Words of God that will change a person from the inside out, not our opinions. The authority is found in this Bible.
If it departs, the next generation won’t fear God – Deuteronomy 4:9-10 “and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me”.
2. Meditate in the Bible– “But thou shalt meditate therein day and night”. To meditate means to dwell upon something in thought; to contemplate, study or revolve a subject about in the mind. More than just reading, it is pondering on what we have read.
Meditate to see God’s Works– Psalm 143:5 “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy words; I muse on the work of thy hands”. God is working in your life and in the life of those around you, meditate in that.
Meditate to see God’s Ways– Psalm 119:15 “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways”. (precept- any commandment or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; the ten commandments). Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect”- it takes meditation if God’s word to know that His way is always perfect. God is always right, we need to get in line with Him.
3. Obey the Bible– “observe to do according to all that is written therein”. It’s good to talk about the Bible and to meditate in the Bible, but we have to obey what the Bible says to do.
Obey the Bible, you will be Rewarded– Psalm 19:7-11 “and in keeping of them there is great reward”. II Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”. I Corinthians 3:10-15 “he shall receive a reward”.
Obey the Bible, you will be Blessed– Deuteronomy 28:1-14 “to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day…And all these blessings shall come on thee”.
Conclusion: A life of prosperity and success is found in the Word of God. We will have a life of prosperity and success when we speak the Bible, meditate in the Bible, and obey the Bible. The simple part is knowing it, the difficult part is doing it, the choice is up to you.
Anchor Baptist Church 