Introducing Be Strong WARREN W. WIERSBE

 Be Strong

WARREN W. WIERSBE

While this book is intended for the reader’s personal enjoyment and profit, it is also intended for group study. A leader’s guide with Reproducible Response Sheets is available from your local bookstore or from the publisher Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from the Authorized (King James) Version; other references are from the American Standard Version (ASV); the New American Standard Bible (NASB), c the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977; the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved; the New King James Version (NKJV). c 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers; and The Living Bible (TLB), c 1971, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60189. Used by permission.

Copyediting: Jerry Yamamoto and Barbara Williams

Cover Design: Grace Chan

Cover Photo: Allstock

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wiersbe, Warren W.

Be strong / by Warren W. Wiersbe.

p. cm.

ISBN 1-56476-122-3

1. Bible. O.T. Joshua—Criticism, interpretation, etc.

2. Spiritual warfare. I. Title.

BS1295.2.W54 1993

222′.206—dc20 93-3197

CIP

c 1993 by Victor Books/SP Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission, except for brief quotations in books and critical reviews. For information write Victor Books, 1825 College Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.

CONTENTS

Preface

1. A New Beginning (Introduction to the Book of Joshua)

2. Follow the Leader (Josh. 1)

3. A Convert in Canaan (Josh. 2)

4. Forward by Faith (Josh. 3–4)

5. Preparing for Victory (Josh. 5)

6. The Conquest Begins! (Josh. 6)

7. Defeat in the Land of Victory (Josh. 7)

8. Turning Defeat into Victory (Josh. 8)

9. We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Our Neighbor! (Josh. 9:1–10:28)

Interlude (Josh. 10:29–12:24)

10. This Land Is Our Land! (Josh. 13–21)

11. And When the Battle’s Over (Josh. 22)

12. The Way of All the Earth (Josh. 23–24)

13. A Great Life in Review

PREFACE

An author takes a risk writing a book about war at a time in history when war in general, and “religious wars” in particular, are detested, and when some Christian denominations are removing the “militant” songs from the church hymnal.

But I’ll take that risk, because I think the church needs the message of the Book of Joshua more than ever before. We’re living in a day of reproach and defeat, and the church is no longer “clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Song 6:10). We look more like a bunch of prisoners of war. Whether we like it or not, God’s people are expected to be soldiers. At least Paul thought so: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Tim. 2:3–4, NKJV).

The Book of Joshua tells us how to be victorious soldiers and how to claim our rich spiritual inheritance in Jesus Christ. It tells us how to be strong and courageous as we face our enemies and march forward to claim new territory for the Lord. 

In his farewell speech to the American Congress, April 19, 1951, General Douglas MacArthur said, “In war there is no substitute for victory.” General Joshua would have agreed with him; and in his book, he shows us the way to victory.

I hope you will follow—by faith. 

Warren W. Wiersbe

A Suggested Outline of the Book of Joshua

Theme: Claiming our victory and our inheritance in Christ

Theme verse: Joshua 1:8

I. Preparing the Nation—1–5

1. Encouraging the leader—1

2. Spying out the land—2

3. Crossing the river—3–4

4. Affirming the covenant—5

II. Defeating the Enemy—6–12

1. The Central campaign—6–9

2. The Southern campaign—10

3. The Northern campaign—11

4. Summary of the victories—12

III. Claiming the Inheritance—13–22

1. Territory assigned to the tribes—13–19

2. Cities of refuge set apart—20

3. Cities for the Levites identified—21

4. Border tribes sent home—22

IV. Renewing the Covenant—23–24

1. Joshua’s final message to the leaders—23

2. Joshua’s final message to the nation—24

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