Moses had led the people of God out of Egypt, the land of bondage. Now, Joshua was tasked to lead the people into Canaan, the land of promise. It was a tremendous task. Although he had been Moses’ faithhful apprentice, to lead a group of stiff-necked people, without the presence of Moses was definitely not going to be easy. Was this task too great for him to take on?

By the grace of God, Joshua accomplished his task successfully. Through his leadership, the powerful Canaanite armies were destroyed. Each tribe laid claim to a piece of the promised land as promised by God.

All of us, in many ways, are like Joshua. Studying at FEBC is such a great responsibility. You may feel that you are not up to the task which God has called you to. I felt this way when I was a student in this college. It is the desire of every student in this college to do his best for the glory of his Master. I doubt any of us would think otherwise.

But the question is "How can we go through every semester successfully?" How come some of the students seem to be more successful than others? What is their formula for success? If these are your questions and you are seeking the Lord for an answer, look no further. The book of Joshua has the formula for success. God has provided the solution in the passage that we have just read. There are three basic keys to success in our studies at FEBC.

The first key to success is found in verse 9. The Lord said, "Have not I commanded thee?" Why would the Lord ask Joshua such a question? Perhaps, Joshua was not assured of the calling of God. God had to remind him of His commandment to lead the nation of Israel. God assured Joshua of the certainty of His will for him. This is the first key to our success: Be certain of God’s will. If Joshua was not certain of God’s will, the evil one would have cast doubts in his mind each time he took a step forward. Joshua would never have been able to move forward in doing God’s will. He would not have successfully completed the task God had for him.

What about you today? Why do you want to study theology full-time? What is your motivation in taking this course of action? Has the Lord called you to this task? Are you certain that the Lord has done so? How do you know?

You must be certain of God’s will. If you are not certain, you can never go far in your studies. You may thrive when the going is easy, but when difficulties arise, you will be the first to leave your studies. Imagine the harm you would do if you were to enter the pastoral ministry without the calling of God. You would be no better than a hireling! What would you say to the Lord when you meet Him face to face?

God’s calling into the ministry is not an infatuation with full-time ministry. It is not because of the influence of any man upon you, nor is it because the idea of giving your life to God is a noble thing to do. It is not a matter of the mind, as one says, "If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter." It is a matter of the heart. God’s calling into the ministry is a deep conviction and persuasion within your heart. It is not, "I can live with being a full-time minister." Rather, it is, "I cannot live without being a full-time minister." Such must be the strength of your conviction and certainty of God’s will for your lives. Only when you are certain of God’s will, will you be able to see beyond the difficulties and trials in your studies and training, and overcome them, because the Lord has indeed commanded you to this task.

My friends, are you called by God to study at FEBC? Be certain of God’s will. If you are not certain, then seek His will diligently. May the Lord grant you no peace, until you are certain of His will.

The success of Joshua is also found in the encouragement the Lord has for him, "be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed" (Josh 1:9). This is the second key to success: Be courageous in God’s work. Joshua must have been quite fearful to fill the shoes of Moses, the servant of Jehovah. Although he has been trained both as a captain of the armies of Israel and an assistant to Moses, yet there was a sense of fear when he was called to assume the leadership.

We must understand that fear is something that is not from God. 2 Tim 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." However, there is a fear that is of God, that is to fear God. This is the formula for success in studies. Prov 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" and again Prov 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." In other words, when doing God’s work, we fear not but fear God.

How could Joshua be courageous in God’s work? It was the promise of God’s presence. The Lord says in the same verse in Josh 1:9, "for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." In the Lord’s work, we are constantly assailed by our foes on all fronts. And to fight the battle of the Lord, we must be on the Lord’s side. Are you on the Lord’s side? Are you willing to take a stand for the Lord, against all forms of falsehood, charismatism, ecumenism, and liberalism? Or has your fear overpowered you in your service?

Look unto God and depend upon His strength to serve Him. God has promised his servants, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isa 41:10). Be strong and be courageous in God’s work, for He is with you as you serve Him.

The third key to success is found in verses 7 and 8. They speak of how we should approach the Word of God. We need to be consistent with God’s Word. Joshua was commanded to use the Word of God as his guide. He was exhorted to practise consistently what is written therein, turning neither to the right nor to the left. Joshua was also commanded to meditate consistently on the Word of God, both day and night. By doing so, the Lord assured Joshua that he would have success.

The same applies to you during your studies at this college. In order to be successful, meditate upon the Word of God daily. Do it consistently. Do not replace the time of personal devotion with assignments. The Lord promises His blessings on those who meditate upon His Word consistently. Ps 1:1-2 says,

Apply the Word of God consistently in your life. Balance the meditation of God’s Word with the application of God’s Word. Let your understanding of theology be as clear as crystal, and your application of theology as warm as fire. The Apostle Paul exhorted, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). The chief end of it must be, "that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 3:17). Be consistent with God’s Word.

Are you ready for the challenges facing you as you begin this semester? You would do well if you remember these three keys to success. Firstly, be certain of God’s will. Make sure that it is the appointment of the Lord that you are studying in this college, or else it might become a disappointment. Secondly, be courageous in God’s work. Our courage is based on the Lord’s strength and the fact that God promises He is with us always. Finally, be consistent with God’s Word. Arm yourself daily with the Sword of the Spirit. In so doing, the Lord promises, "for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Josh 1:8). May the Lord help us. Amen.