INTRODUCTION: Holy Travels – In George Whitefield’s Journal entry of February 8, 1739, we read: “I find much service might be done to religion on journeys, if we had but courage to show ourselves Christians in all places. Others sing songs in public houses, why should not we sing psalms? And when we give the servants money, why may we not with that give them a little book, and some good advice? I know by experience it is very beneficial. God grant this may be always my practice.” –from George Whitefield’s Journals (p.208).
- THERE IS A JOB TO DO (Joshua 1:6)
- Unfinished Work Passed On (Joshua 1:1-2)
- A Land to Conquer (Joshua 1:3-5)
- An Inheritance to Pass On (Joshua 1:6)
- THERE IS A BOOK TO FOLLOW (Joshua 1:7)
- Courage to Observe All Things
- Turning Not to the Right or Left (1 Corinthians 16:13)
- Full Surrender to the Words of God (Joshua 1:8)
- Speak of them
- Meditate on them (Psalm 1:2)
- Observe to do them
- Prosper in them
- THERE IS A GOD TO OBEY (Joshua 1:9; Ephesians 6:1)
- A Strength That Speaks Highly of our God (Ephesians 4:1)
- A Rejection of Fear and Discouragement
- A Confidence in the Presence of God (2 Timothy 2:1)
- THERE IS A PEOPLE TO LEAD (Joshua 1:18)
- A Testimony to the Faithful (Joshua 1:16)
- A Proof of the Presence of God (Joshua 1:17)
- A Contrast Between the Obedient and the Disobedient (Joshua 1:18; Malachi 3:18)
CONCLUSION: First Baptist Preachers Imprisoned in Virginia - The first recorded instance of Baptist preachers imprisoned for their faith in Virginia was in the county of Spotsylvania. John Waller, Lewis Craig, James Childs, and others, were seized on June 4th, 1768. At their trial, the lawyer accused them with these words: "May it please your worships, these men are great disturbers of the peace; they cannot meet a man upon the road, but they must ram a text of Scripture down his throat." May the Lord give us this kind of courage today. -from History of the Baptists in Virginia by Robert Baylor Semple (p.29-30).
