Joshua 6 / Dr. Marty Baker / January 24, 2010
Good morning and welcome to Stevens Creek Church. I hope that you have had a great weekend. I am glad to see you today. I want to welcome all those in our Grovetown Campus.
I would also like to welcome those watching on television, specifically those from the Upstate of South Carolina. Last week, the Abbeville newspaper printed a tribute that I had written about the passing of one of my mentors, Sandy Scott. My mother sent me a copy of the local newspaper, The Press and Banner. When my son, Samuel saw it he said, “Dad, are you famous there?” I laughed and thought only in the eyes of my mother.
I also want to welcome those watching online. Last month, we have had nearly 5,000 people watch our services from places as far away as Australia and Japan.
Today we are continuing our series, My Big Amazing Renovation Story. How many of you have ever been involved in a renovation project? I love renovation projects. There’s nothing more satisfying that seeing something old become new.
Over the last twenty years, I have had my share of building projects. If you have ever been involved in renovating a house or a church, you know that you need to be prepared for some challenges along the way.
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been talking about an Old Testament character named Joshua. He was the assistant to Moses for around forty years. When Moses died, Joshua stepped up and became the leader of the Children of Israel. God had given him the responsibility to lead this group of former slaves into a new land of freedom, the Promised Land.
In the midst of this great time of success came one of the biggest challenges of his life. There were seven larger and stronger nations already there. If he was going to fulfill God’s call on his life, he would have to overcome these obstacles first. He was only five miles into this new land when he met his first challenge … the city of Jericho.
Video
Few stories in the Bible are better known than the story of Joshua and the battle for Jericho. I, like many of you, have heard the story told many times. In fact, sometimes my find myself singing the song that I learned as a child: Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho; Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down.
I wonder what it was like to be near Jericho in those days. Jericho was one of those cities that caught your attention. It was too large and too strong to ignore. It was built on a slope which made it virtually impenetrable. If you lived in Jericho in those days, you felt safe.
You were safe because you were protected by a massive system of walls that surrounded the city. You see, Jericho hadf two massive stone walls. The outer wall was 6 ft. thick and about 20 ft. high. The inner wall was about 12 ft. thick and was 30 ft. high. Between the walls was a guarded walkway.
These walls provided the citizens of Jericho with a level of security that few people in their day had ever seen. We pick up the story in Joshua 6.
Joshua 6:1-5
1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
Video Ends
Today I believe that God wants to use this story to help you face some of the challenges that have come your way. Let’s take a closer look at this story. There are very practical lessons lodged in these verses. Specifically, I am going to give you four action steps that will help you work through some challenges this week.
When faced with a crisis, a challenge or a setback, the first step to solving the problem is to assess the situation.
1. Assess the Situation
What’s going on here? You have to take an honest look at the situation before you can adequately provide a solution to the problem. What’s reality?
When Joshua assessed the situation at Jericho and here’s what his discovered: Jericho had massive walls and it was totally impossible to bring down those walls. It was totally, absolutely, completely and utterly impossible. Jericho was a seemingly impossible obstacle that stood between them and all that God had promised.
What is standing between you and all that God has promised you? Assess the situation. What is the barrier between you and your Promised Land? What’s holding you back? What is totally, absolutely, completely and utterly impossible in your life?
In Joshua’s day, a smart man would look at the Walls of Jericho and say, “There’s no way. It cannot be done.” Yet we know the story. God’s people won a great victory that day. How did it happen?
Hebrews 11:30
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Notice the words: “By faith.” The Children of Israel believed that if God had enough power to deliver them from slavery, split the Red Sea, provide for them in the wilderness and stop the waters of the Jordan River, then God had enough power to cause the walls of Jericho to fall. They assessed the situation and then they put their confidence in God. They trusted Him.
Where’s your faith? Don’t look at the size of your problem, look at the size of your God.
I talk about faith a lot here at The Creek. I believe that with faith we can work through any problem that comes our way. When you put your faith in God, nothing is impossible. But, having said that, if you look at this passage again you may see that there is more to this story than assessing the situation and having faith.
When you read the story, you will see that Joshua had a plan. He had a strategy in mind. If you are going to overcome your challenges, then you need a plan. Nothing happens until you develop a plan.
2. Develop a Plan
It can be funny to watch how different people develop their plans. Some will draw a plan out on a napkin; some people will type them out on a computer while others will develop it in their mind.
One of the funniest phone calls that I have ever received, came to me in January 2008. We were in the middle of expanding this facility, but we had not designed the entry way…the pedestrian walk, parking lot access and so forth. Jerry Ashmore, one of our Elders, called me up and said, “Marty, I’ve got it. The Lord woke me up at 4:00 AM with the design for the front of the church.” I said, “Okay, that’s great.” He said, “I want you to meet me at the church right now.” I said, “Jerry, it’s my Dad’s birthday and we are headed out of town.” We talked a little bit longer and I asked, “When do you envision getting started on it?” He said, “I’ve got my men headed over there right now.” It was 8:30AM. This design was only four hours. Here’s the point. When you know what to do and know when you are suppose to do it, there’s no need to wait.
Joshua had a plan. In Joshua 6, God instructed the Jews to do a number of unusual things before the miracle actually took place.
Joshua 6:3, March around the town once a day for six days.
Joshua 6:4, March with the Ark of the Covenant.
Joshua 6:4, Put seven priests in front of the Ark.
Joshua 6:5, On the seventh day march around Jericho seven times.
Joshua 6:5, Have the priests blow rams’ horns as they marched.
Joshua 6:5, On the seventh time around on the seventh day, have the people shout.
Joshua 6:5, When the people shout, the walls will come down. When the walls come down, enter the city and conquer it.
God gave Joshua a plan, a strategy that got the Children of Israel involved in the process. Here’s the point. God told them that the walls would fall down, but they still had to do the marching.
God wanted them involved in the process. God could have spoken and the walls of Jericho would have fallen, but that’s not how it works. It is God’s desire to involve you in what He is doing.
Too many people look at faith as a mindless exercise that you do while you wait on your circumstances to change. That’s not how it works. Faith is something you do.
James 2:17
17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Let’s bring it closer to home. What are you doing for your situation to change? What’s your plan? What’s your next step? Faith is not only someone you believe in; it is something you do.
For six days they marched around the city once and then returned to their camp. On the seventh day, they marched around the city of Jericho seven times. They did something. They marched.
Don’t sit there waiting for your ship to come in when you have never sent one out. You have to do something.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NLT)
Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.
If you don’t send anything out, then nothing will come back. You must plant a seed in order to get a harvest. You must do something.
The Israelites marched around the city once for six days and on the seventh day, they marched around Jericho seven times. They did something.
Not only did they do something, but they were consistent in their approach. They were faithful to follow their plan every day until the challenge was conquered.
3. Be Consistent and follow through.
If you are going to conquer the challenges that life brings your way, then you have to be consistent. I meet too many people that are not consistent. They are wishy-washy. One day they are focused; the next day they are scattered. They are committed one day and compromised the next day.
You cannot overcome your obstacles when you are constantly changing your mind. Make a decision and stick to it. Be faithful. Be consistent.
You will never build a successful marriage if you are inconsistent in the way your treat one another. You made a decision that you loved your wife and after you made that decision you made a covenant before God. Now, it’s time to live it out. Do what you said that you were going to do…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.
What part of that vow do you not understand? You are to love your husband. You are to love your wife.
How are you demonstrating your love and commitment to your spouse? By staying out late, by spending too much money, by staying on the computer until you know that the other one is asleep.
If you are going to build a strong family that overcomes the challenges of life, then you must develop a consistent life.
Develop a plan; work the plan. That’s what Joshua did, but there is one thing that we need to make note of. You may have missed this.
Joshua 6:3-4
3March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark.
Last week we learned that the Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of God. What we see here is that God was in the middle of the battle plan. Remember that the Ark contained the Ten Commandments, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. The lid of the Ark was the golden Mercy Seat where the high priest would offer a sacrifice in the Holy of Holies, once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
The ark was not just another piece of religious furniture, like a table or a lampstand. The ark represented the very presence of God with his people. Putting the ark out front was like God saying, “God, I want you to lead this parade.”
I want you to be in charge.
Assess the situation, Develop a plan; Be consistent and follow through and finally…allow God to be God.
4. Allow God to be God
One person and God will make up a majority. When the Children of Israel put God first in this challenge, the battle was won. At that point, spears and armor did not matter.
Joshua 6:20-21
20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the LORD…
It’s God who made all the difference at Jericho. Those high walls were no match for the Almighty. The people of Jericho did not know it, but they were defeated before the walls ever fell. They lost the battle when God got involved.
1) God said he was going to give them the city.
This is what God said to Joshua before he gave him the plan: “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men” (Joshua 6:2). Note the past tense: “I have delivered.” Not “I will deliver.” God speaks of Jericho as having already been defeated. That’s a key point. God is saying, “It’s a done deal. Those walls are coming down. It’s just a matter of time.” Now that shouldn’t surprise anyone who believes in God. He can do things like that. He speaks and it is done.
In a real sense, the battle was over before it was started. God promised to deliver the city, and in due course he made good on his promise.
In the same way, God has victory in store for you.
When you make a decision to become a Christ follower, God opens the door to a new land of freedom for you. However, you need to realize that being a Christian is not easy. There are enemies that you have to face, but the good news is that Jesus has already won the battle.
Did you know that the name Joshua means “God saves” in Hebrew. In Greek it was shortened to “Jesus” or “Savior”.
Hebrews 11:30
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
But how will we face and conquer impossible challenges of our lives? Where do we find the faith?
Hebrews 12:2
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
He starts it and he finishes it. He’s the Captain of our salvation. Just keep your eyes on him.
1.24.2010
1.17.2010
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Dr. Marty Baker | Joshua 3:1-9 | January 17, 2010
Good morning and welcome to Stevens Creek Church. I want to say hello to those in our Grovetown campus. I am so proud of Stevens Creek Grovetown. During the Christmas holidays, you responded to the needs of your community with a heart of generosity. We are proud of what God is doing in and through you.
I would like to welcome those of you watching on television. Make it a point to visit The Creek either here on Stevens Creek Road in Augusta or at Grovetown High School. You will be glad you did.
Today, we are in the second week of our series, My Big Amazing Renovation Story. Patty and I love watching the television shows that feature home makeovers. They typically end with a “move-that-bus” type of reveal. At that point, the families go crazy. So many times they are either jumping up and down or some of them have tears streaming down their faces or they have a look of disbelief. They have seen it happen to others, but they never dreamed that it would happen to them.
This past summer many of you followed me through my garage makeover. I worked hard to clean out the clutter and get my garage back in order. If you were to go to my house today, you may think that I have fallen off the wagon. My car is out in the cold and the rain because the garage is filled with stuff. It’s good though. Stuart graduated and moved back to town so our garage is the transitional storage unit. In a few weeks, we will be back were we need to be.
Some of you have wandered into the auditorium today because you want to get back to where you need to be. You want a life-makeover. Your world is broken. You are guilt-ridden, lonely and filled with shame. You need a renovation of your heart. You need to be changed.
Today, I have good news. I believe that you can find help in the pages of the Bible. I want to help you take a step in the right direction. I want to see your life get better. So, let’s get started.
We are in the series, My Big Amazing Renovation. Every major renovation project begins with a decision. You make a decision that it’s time for things to change. You say, “I am not going to continue to live like I have been living. I want and I need to change.”
This series is based on the Old Testament book of Joshua. It’s there that we read the story of a group of people called the Children of Israel. At one point they were slaves in a foreign land and while there they cried out to God for help. They said, “God, we don’t want to continue living like we have been living. Please send us a deliverer that will set us free.”
God heard their prayer and called Moses to lead them to a new life and a new land. Moses led them to the edge of this new land and there he passed the baton to his assistant Joshua.
Now, Joshua had the responsibility to prepare the Children of Israel for their next step. He had to get them ready to receive what God had promised to give them.
Today, I want you to open your mind to the possibility that God can change your life. You have seen other people change but you are not convinced that it could happen to you. What’s it going to take? Will you listen to me today with an open mind and a receptive heart? Will you leave room for God to move in your life?
God wants you to have purpose, meaning, and contentment in your life. He has promised to give you a full life. I am here to help you receive what God has for you.
In today’s scripture passage, Joshua and the Children of Israel are almost where they need to be. They are on the edge of the Jordan River and their Promised Land is just in sight. That’s where some of you are. You are the verge. You are almost there. I want you to take you next step. Let’s pick up the story in Joshua 3.
Joshua 3:1-3
1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp,
3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
In verse three we are introduced to the Ark of the Covenant. Now many of you have probably heard of the Ark of the Covenant from the Harrison Ford Movie, Raiders of the Last Ark or possibly from shows like Olly Steed’s Solving History on the Discovery Channel.
The Bible tells us that this vessel that contained the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed, along with Aaron's rod and manna. But that’s not all. This vessel contained more than just these artifacts; It housed the presence of the Lord.
As a result, unexplained miracles are associated with the Ark. The Ark of the Covenant was present when the waters of the Jordan River parted; it was present when the walls of Jericho fell. The Ark was treated with great respect and as it was transported by the priests, the people had to keep a 2000 cubit distance, which is about a half a mile.
Side note. The Ark of the Covenant was the vessel that housed the presence of the Lord…that’s was the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus came and reconciled us back to God. Now, we are the Temple of God. The Spirit of God lives in us.
Joshua 3:3
3 … “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
1. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
God is wants you to step out of your comfort zone and follow Him. You have been where you are long enough. It’s time to move. You feel unsettled. God is using this to prepare you to take your next step.
God speaks to us in many ways and one of the most common ways He speaks to me is through discomfort. I have a tendency to get comfortable and settled and once that happens I am less likely act.
A few nights ago, I was getting settled on the couch. Patty came in and said that The Creek Basketball team is playing and she wanted to watch them play. It was 8:00 PM. I appreciate the wonderful basketball talent of Stuart, Samuel, Todd, Adam, Craig and the rest of the guys, but I was comfortable on the couch. She went without me. When she got home, I was in the same place that I was when she left me.
Sometimes I am like that with God. He wants me to get off the couch and do something. I respond by saying something like this: “Leave me alone, I’m watching television. Get somebody else to do that. God, you know Kevin Lloyd over at the church needs something else to do…go talk to him.”
Then God knocks on the door again. I am a little un-nerved, then I become a little unsettled and wonder, “Why is he knocking so much?” I am uncomfortable with this. Typically, my discomfort increases until I am willing to move.
Some of you are in an uncomfortable place. Things have not been the way that you thought they should be. In fact, they are steadily getting worse. Could it be that God is speaking to you through the pain and discomfort that you are feeling? Could it be that God is trying to get you to move out of your comfort zone into a new land that He has prepared for you?
For forty years, the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. If they had surrendered to God completely, their forty year journey could have been accomplished in a matter of months. Now, we see them standing at the Jordan River without a bridge without a boat and the Promised Land is in site. But, they don’t know what to do?
Have you ever been there? You made the decision to move, but now what? Which way do you go? You have two options, one leads this way and the other road leads that way. How do you determine which way to go? How do you know God’s will for your life? You are sitting here wondering … Should I get married? And if I should, should I marry Sally or Jane or Susie or Bill or Joe or Bob?
Should I go to college? And if I should, should I go to ASU, Lee, Georgia, Carolina or Clemson? You’re thinking, “I've been offered a new job. It's a good job. But I've got a good job. Should I take the new job? Or should I hold onto what I have?”
We've got four children. We're thinking about having a fifth. Should we have another one? Is God calling me to the mission field? How can I be sure?
Chances are that many of us here today are facing some huge, potentially life altering decisions in the coming weeks -- decisions about college or graduate school, decisions about relationships or finances.
When standing at the crossroads, where do you go for input to help you make a wise decision? Ask God for wisdom and direction. Allow Him to lead you and guide you. Be willing to go where He prompts you to go. Joshua said,
Joshua 3:3-4
3 … “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
This is where faith kicks in. This is where they had to trust that God was going to be with them through it all. I love that phrase in this verse …then you will know … since you have never been here before.”
Many of you have taken time this month to map out your year. You have your goals, your dreams, and your plans. You need to realize that God may have another plan for you.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Are you willing for God to re-arrange your plans so that you can be in the center of His will? God wants to lead you. He wants to guide you, but you must be willing to surrender to His plan for your life?
Sometimes I miss the promptings of God, not because I am unwilling, but because I unable to hear His voice. God’s voice is crowded out by all of the other things that I have allowed in my life. When this happens, I need to renovate my schedule so that I can set aside time to focus on the Lord.
When Joshua was standing at the Jordan River looking over into the Promised Land, he knew that it was going to take a move of God to get these people from where they were to where they needed to be.
How do you prepare yourselves for a move of God? Look at what Joshua did.
Joshua 3:5
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
They needed a miracle to cross the Jordan River and begin the process of possessing the land. Joshua knew that their only hope was God. They could not do what they were called to do on their own. They needed His power. They did not need anything hindering them…from without or within. Joshua knew that before they faced the enemies in the land they had to deal with the enemy within. Joshua called them to get spiritually prepared. So for three days, the people consecrated themselves.
The word, consecrate, means to dedicate for a specific purpose, to purify, to sanctify, to set-apart. The people went through several steps to get the junk out of their lives.
We all want God to do miracles in our lives. We want God to move in us, but are we willing to remove barriers in our lives that keep God from doing what He wants to do? Here’s the point. We need to …
2. Consciously remove the barriers that keep you from being the person that you were created to be.
What is that one thing that is keeping you from being the person that God wants you to be? What is that activity that is more important to you than your relationship with God?
It’s time to come clean. Get the junk out. Remove the barriers that are keeping you from living your best life.
What are some of the barriers?
a. Un-confessed Sin.
When we willfully continue to live out of bounds, live in sin, then our actions become a barrier that keeps God at a distance. We need to sanctify our lives. We need to make decisions that honor the Lord.
b. Bad Habits
There are some things that we do that may or may not be out of bounds, but these activities become barriers to God’s best for us. This repeated behavior becomes more important to us than anything else. This is very dangerous. I am going to let you and the Lord fill in the blank.
What activity captivates your attention to the point that it is an unhealthy obsession?
c. Crowded Calendar
One barrier that keeps me from experiencing God’s best is a crowded calendar. If I am not careful, I will schedule a lot of good things and before I know it, these good things crowd out my time with God. This happens to all of us at times, but when we fail to correct it, then it becomes a barrier.
Joshua set aside time for the Children of Israel to reconnect with God. He knew that they needed to spend an extended period of time to get spiritually prepared for their next step.
This month we are doing the same thing. Last Sunday, I asked that you to commit to reading the Bible through this year. We pointed you to our website: www.stevenscreekchurch.com where you will find information on a reading plan. We want to do this together. We want to read and pray.
Speaking of prayer, last Sunday, I challenged you to join me in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We do this twice a year…January and August. This is our time to connect with God. I want you to pray new prayers. We are going to join together in faith.
This past week, Matthew 18:19 was in our One Year Bible reading. Listen to the words of this verse:
Matthew 18:19-20
19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Let’s agree together in prayer. One person praying is powerful but this verse tells us that when we join with others our prayers are intensified.
Over the last several years, we have joined together as a church family in pray. To help remind us to keep praying, we have encouraged you to write the names of your friends and family members that need God on these glass walls. The names have been cleared because we are here to pray new prayers for the New Year. We may be praying for the same person, but we are praying new prayers.
To those of you in our Grovetown campus, there is a prayer box on the stage that you can place written needs in. Most of us consider prayer as a means of talking to God, but that’s only one part of it. The second part is listening. We join in prayer to listen to the words that the Lord has for us.
In verse six, we see that Joshua spoke to the Priests, then in verse nine, he turned his attention to the people. Look at what he said.
Joshua 3:9
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.
3. Listen closely to the words of the Lord. Be attentive to what He has to say.
Today, hear his voice. He is speaking to you. He is calling you to open your life to Him. It’s time to make Jesus the Lord of your life. It’s time to surrender to him; it’s time to submit. Submission is simply and invitation for someone to lead. I want you to submit your life to Jesus Christ.
Some of you are wrestling with God now. You are trying to figure out if you are ready to make this move. You are holding to what you consider a good life when God has something better for you.
There are others here that have already made a decision to follow Jesus, but you made it with your mouth and not your heart. Today is your day to go “all in”. Give your life completely to Him; not half-heartedly, but completely follow him.
It’s time to empty yourself so that you can be filled a new.
Good morning and welcome to Stevens Creek Church. I want to say hello to those in our Grovetown campus. I am so proud of Stevens Creek Grovetown. During the Christmas holidays, you responded to the needs of your community with a heart of generosity. We are proud of what God is doing in and through you.
I would like to welcome those of you watching on television. Make it a point to visit The Creek either here on Stevens Creek Road in Augusta or at Grovetown High School. You will be glad you did.
Today, we are in the second week of our series, My Big Amazing Renovation Story. Patty and I love watching the television shows that feature home makeovers. They typically end with a “move-that-bus” type of reveal. At that point, the families go crazy. So many times they are either jumping up and down or some of them have tears streaming down their faces or they have a look of disbelief. They have seen it happen to others, but they never dreamed that it would happen to them.
This past summer many of you followed me through my garage makeover. I worked hard to clean out the clutter and get my garage back in order. If you were to go to my house today, you may think that I have fallen off the wagon. My car is out in the cold and the rain because the garage is filled with stuff. It’s good though. Stuart graduated and moved back to town so our garage is the transitional storage unit. In a few weeks, we will be back were we need to be.
Some of you have wandered into the auditorium today because you want to get back to where you need to be. You want a life-makeover. Your world is broken. You are guilt-ridden, lonely and filled with shame. You need a renovation of your heart. You need to be changed.
Today, I have good news. I believe that you can find help in the pages of the Bible. I want to help you take a step in the right direction. I want to see your life get better. So, let’s get started.
We are in the series, My Big Amazing Renovation. Every major renovation project begins with a decision. You make a decision that it’s time for things to change. You say, “I am not going to continue to live like I have been living. I want and I need to change.”
This series is based on the Old Testament book of Joshua. It’s there that we read the story of a group of people called the Children of Israel. At one point they were slaves in a foreign land and while there they cried out to God for help. They said, “God, we don’t want to continue living like we have been living. Please send us a deliverer that will set us free.”
God heard their prayer and called Moses to lead them to a new life and a new land. Moses led them to the edge of this new land and there he passed the baton to his assistant Joshua.
Now, Joshua had the responsibility to prepare the Children of Israel for their next step. He had to get them ready to receive what God had promised to give them.
Today, I want you to open your mind to the possibility that God can change your life. You have seen other people change but you are not convinced that it could happen to you. What’s it going to take? Will you listen to me today with an open mind and a receptive heart? Will you leave room for God to move in your life?
God wants you to have purpose, meaning, and contentment in your life. He has promised to give you a full life. I am here to help you receive what God has for you.
In today’s scripture passage, Joshua and the Children of Israel are almost where they need to be. They are on the edge of the Jordan River and their Promised Land is just in sight. That’s where some of you are. You are the verge. You are almost there. I want you to take you next step. Let’s pick up the story in Joshua 3.
Joshua 3:1-3
1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp,
3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
In verse three we are introduced to the Ark of the Covenant. Now many of you have probably heard of the Ark of the Covenant from the Harrison Ford Movie, Raiders of the Last Ark or possibly from shows like Olly Steed’s Solving History on the Discovery Channel.
The Bible tells us that this vessel that contained the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed, along with Aaron's rod and manna. But that’s not all. This vessel contained more than just these artifacts; It housed the presence of the Lord.
As a result, unexplained miracles are associated with the Ark. The Ark of the Covenant was present when the waters of the Jordan River parted; it was present when the walls of Jericho fell. The Ark was treated with great respect and as it was transported by the priests, the people had to keep a 2000 cubit distance, which is about a half a mile.
Side note. The Ark of the Covenant was the vessel that housed the presence of the Lord…that’s was the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus came and reconciled us back to God. Now, we are the Temple of God. The Spirit of God lives in us.
Joshua 3:3
3 … “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
1. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
God is wants you to step out of your comfort zone and follow Him. You have been where you are long enough. It’s time to move. You feel unsettled. God is using this to prepare you to take your next step.
God speaks to us in many ways and one of the most common ways He speaks to me is through discomfort. I have a tendency to get comfortable and settled and once that happens I am less likely act.
A few nights ago, I was getting settled on the couch. Patty came in and said that The Creek Basketball team is playing and she wanted to watch them play. It was 8:00 PM. I appreciate the wonderful basketball talent of Stuart, Samuel, Todd, Adam, Craig and the rest of the guys, but I was comfortable on the couch. She went without me. When she got home, I was in the same place that I was when she left me.
Sometimes I am like that with God. He wants me to get off the couch and do something. I respond by saying something like this: “Leave me alone, I’m watching television. Get somebody else to do that. God, you know Kevin Lloyd over at the church needs something else to do…go talk to him.”
Then God knocks on the door again. I am a little un-nerved, then I become a little unsettled and wonder, “Why is he knocking so much?” I am uncomfortable with this. Typically, my discomfort increases until I am willing to move.
Some of you are in an uncomfortable place. Things have not been the way that you thought they should be. In fact, they are steadily getting worse. Could it be that God is speaking to you through the pain and discomfort that you are feeling? Could it be that God is trying to get you to move out of your comfort zone into a new land that He has prepared for you?
For forty years, the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. If they had surrendered to God completely, their forty year journey could have been accomplished in a matter of months. Now, we see them standing at the Jordan River without a bridge without a boat and the Promised Land is in site. But, they don’t know what to do?
Have you ever been there? You made the decision to move, but now what? Which way do you go? You have two options, one leads this way and the other road leads that way. How do you determine which way to go? How do you know God’s will for your life? You are sitting here wondering … Should I get married? And if I should, should I marry Sally or Jane or Susie or Bill or Joe or Bob?
Should I go to college? And if I should, should I go to ASU, Lee, Georgia, Carolina or Clemson? You’re thinking, “I've been offered a new job. It's a good job. But I've got a good job. Should I take the new job? Or should I hold onto what I have?”
We've got four children. We're thinking about having a fifth. Should we have another one? Is God calling me to the mission field? How can I be sure?
Chances are that many of us here today are facing some huge, potentially life altering decisions in the coming weeks -- decisions about college or graduate school, decisions about relationships or finances.
When standing at the crossroads, where do you go for input to help you make a wise decision? Ask God for wisdom and direction. Allow Him to lead you and guide you. Be willing to go where He prompts you to go. Joshua said,
Joshua 3:3-4
3 … “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
This is where faith kicks in. This is where they had to trust that God was going to be with them through it all. I love that phrase in this verse …then you will know … since you have never been here before.”
Many of you have taken time this month to map out your year. You have your goals, your dreams, and your plans. You need to realize that God may have another plan for you.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Are you willing for God to re-arrange your plans so that you can be in the center of His will? God wants to lead you. He wants to guide you, but you must be willing to surrender to His plan for your life?
Sometimes I miss the promptings of God, not because I am unwilling, but because I unable to hear His voice. God’s voice is crowded out by all of the other things that I have allowed in my life. When this happens, I need to renovate my schedule so that I can set aside time to focus on the Lord.
When Joshua was standing at the Jordan River looking over into the Promised Land, he knew that it was going to take a move of God to get these people from where they were to where they needed to be.
How do you prepare yourselves for a move of God? Look at what Joshua did.
Joshua 3:5
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
They needed a miracle to cross the Jordan River and begin the process of possessing the land. Joshua knew that their only hope was God. They could not do what they were called to do on their own. They needed His power. They did not need anything hindering them…from without or within. Joshua knew that before they faced the enemies in the land they had to deal with the enemy within. Joshua called them to get spiritually prepared. So for three days, the people consecrated themselves.
The word, consecrate, means to dedicate for a specific purpose, to purify, to sanctify, to set-apart. The people went through several steps to get the junk out of their lives.
We all want God to do miracles in our lives. We want God to move in us, but are we willing to remove barriers in our lives that keep God from doing what He wants to do? Here’s the point. We need to …
2. Consciously remove the barriers that keep you from being the person that you were created to be.
What is that one thing that is keeping you from being the person that God wants you to be? What is that activity that is more important to you than your relationship with God?
It’s time to come clean. Get the junk out. Remove the barriers that are keeping you from living your best life.
What are some of the barriers?
a. Un-confessed Sin.
When we willfully continue to live out of bounds, live in sin, then our actions become a barrier that keeps God at a distance. We need to sanctify our lives. We need to make decisions that honor the Lord.
b. Bad Habits
There are some things that we do that may or may not be out of bounds, but these activities become barriers to God’s best for us. This repeated behavior becomes more important to us than anything else. This is very dangerous. I am going to let you and the Lord fill in the blank.
What activity captivates your attention to the point that it is an unhealthy obsession?
c. Crowded Calendar
One barrier that keeps me from experiencing God’s best is a crowded calendar. If I am not careful, I will schedule a lot of good things and before I know it, these good things crowd out my time with God. This happens to all of us at times, but when we fail to correct it, then it becomes a barrier.
Joshua set aside time for the Children of Israel to reconnect with God. He knew that they needed to spend an extended period of time to get spiritually prepared for their next step.
This month we are doing the same thing. Last Sunday, I asked that you to commit to reading the Bible through this year. We pointed you to our website: www.stevenscreekchurch.com where you will find information on a reading plan. We want to do this together. We want to read and pray.
Speaking of prayer, last Sunday, I challenged you to join me in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We do this twice a year…January and August. This is our time to connect with God. I want you to pray new prayers. We are going to join together in faith.
This past week, Matthew 18:19 was in our One Year Bible reading. Listen to the words of this verse:
Matthew 18:19-20
19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Let’s agree together in prayer. One person praying is powerful but this verse tells us that when we join with others our prayers are intensified.
Over the last several years, we have joined together as a church family in pray. To help remind us to keep praying, we have encouraged you to write the names of your friends and family members that need God on these glass walls. The names have been cleared because we are here to pray new prayers for the New Year. We may be praying for the same person, but we are praying new prayers.
To those of you in our Grovetown campus, there is a prayer box on the stage that you can place written needs in. Most of us consider prayer as a means of talking to God, but that’s only one part of it. The second part is listening. We join in prayer to listen to the words that the Lord has for us.
In verse six, we see that Joshua spoke to the Priests, then in verse nine, he turned his attention to the people. Look at what he said.
Joshua 3:9
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.
3. Listen closely to the words of the Lord. Be attentive to what He has to say.
Today, hear his voice. He is speaking to you. He is calling you to open your life to Him. It’s time to make Jesus the Lord of your life. It’s time to surrender to him; it’s time to submit. Submission is simply and invitation for someone to lead. I want you to submit your life to Jesus Christ.
Some of you are wrestling with God now. You are trying to figure out if you are ready to make this move. You are holding to what you consider a good life when God has something better for you.
There are others here that have already made a decision to follow Jesus, but you made it with your mouth and not your heart. Today is your day to go “all in”. Give your life completely to Him; not half-heartedly, but completely follow him.
It’s time to empty yourself so that you can be filled a new.
1.10.2010
Get Ready
Dr. Marty Baker / Joshua 1:1-9 / January 10, 2009
Good morning and welcome to The Creek. I would like to welcome all of those in our Grovetown campus and those watching on television and to the hundreds watching StevensCreekChurch.com.
Over the holidays there was one question that I was asked more than any other and that was: Are you ready for Christmas? Most of us use that phrase to get a conversation started and then we talk about our plans for the holidays.
After the presents are unwrapped and the trees are taken down, we typically ask: Did you have a good Christmas? We never ask: Are you ready for a New Year?
Today, I am asking that question because I want to get a conversation started that will help you get ready for the days ahead. You see I believe that all of us have new opportunities that are just in front of us … opportunities that are waiting to be taken. Opportunities that are will help you and me to become the people that we were meant to be. Today it’s time to get ready for a new adventure.
Over the next few weeks, we will be in a series called “My Big Amazing Renovation”. If the title sounds familiar it was inspired by the HGTV show. Patty and I are fans of do-it-yourself renovation shows. It does not take much to get me thinking about new projects that I may tackle. In fact when I shared the old story on Christmas Eve about repairing the seven holes in the walls of our extra bedroom, I forgot to tell you that as I was speaking that evening I had unfinished drywall in our bathroom.
So, after Christmas I finished that project. I then painted the bathroom and I started painting Sarah’s room. I have one more coat of paint to go before I am finished in Sarah’s room. As I have painted, I have been wondering if I can learn to lay hardwood floors…pray for me. There may be a new story developing.
Here’s what I know. I love to see things get better. I love to see something that is old become new again. That’s why I love Stevens Creek. When I look around this auditorium, I see so many stories of life-change. I see people who were headed in the wrong direction, down a path of destruction. Then, they decided, “That’s enough.” I am not going to continue to live the way that I have been living. I want to change. I need help.
Well, if that is you, I believe that this new series will lead you to a better life and it is my prayer that by the end of this month, you will have a “Big Amazing Renovation” Story. So, it’s time to “Get Ready.”
This series will feature four messages from the Old Testament book of Joshua. Here’s some back ground. The Old Testament is the story of God’s passion for a people. He planted in Abraham a vision to be a great nation. This vision was passed down to his son, Issac, and then to his grandson Jacob.
Jacob had an encounter with God and his name was changed to Israel. He had twelve sons who became known as the twelve tribes of Israel. These twelve boys had their share of sibling rivalry and one day, the older boys turned against their younger brother Joseph and sold him as a slave. Joseph ended up in Egypt. God protected through this difficult season and eventually raised him up as an official in the government. A famine hit the land and the entire family moved to Egypt where Joseph took care of them.
Everything was great. Joseph died and his influence in Egypt eventually faded. The new king was threatened by sheer size of this family and he sought to suppress them. He turned them into slaves and made their lives bitter. They cried out to God for help. He raised up a deliverer named, Moses. He, through the miracle-working power of God, led the Children of Israel out of slavery and into a new land. While on the way to this new land, they lost sight of God’s plan for their lives. They rebelled and as a result their short journey to this new land became a forty year trek through the desert.
In today’s story, the forty year season in the wilderness is coming to a close and they are getting ready to cross over into the Promised Land. Their leader, Moses, is dead and Joshua is now in charge.
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
This section begins with God telling Joshua to get ready to lead the Children of Israel into a new land and a new season of life. They wandered aimlessly in the wilderness for forty years. These people had never known true freedom. Their parents were slaves in Egypt and they themselves grew up as nomads crisscrossing the desert. Now, it’s time to leave their past behind them and embrace a new future.
As we go through this story, I want you to understand that this is not just a history lesson, but their story is your story. It’s my story.
We have been wandering around aimlessly looking for love, looking for meaning, and looking for purpose, but we have been looking in the wrong place. You cannot find a fulfilling life in the desert.
God is calling you to a new place, a new land where you have never been before. God is calling you to step out and follow His direction. There is a land, a promised land waiting just ahead. God has given you promises of a better future and a better life. Some of you have been patiently waiting for the answer to come and the dream to be complete, and now, it’s time to embrace the journey.
Joshua 1:2
... Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites.
God told Joshua to get ready to cross the Jordan. Get ready for your life to change. God is saying that to you today. Get ready for your life to change.
This past week we were in Mississippi at JT and Brittany’s wedding. JT works with our small groups here at The Creek. JT and Brittany stood before the church … innocent and clueless at the same time. Their lives are about to change. For the last year, they have been getting ready for their wedding and now their new life has begun.
What are you getting ready for? Are you getting ready for the next season of your life? Or would you rather continue going around in circles in the wilderness? God has a better plan for you.
When we look at the verses from Joshua 1, we see that God instructed Joshua to expand his horizons and see life from a new perspective.
As I studied this passage, there are four principles that I saw in these verses.
Leadership Principles from the Life of Joshua
1. Your opportunity is as big as your faith.
God promised Joshua and the Children of Israel that they will cross the Jordan and enter the land. He challenged them to take responsibility and take possession of the land.
Joshua 1:3-4
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates-- all the Hittite country-- to the Great Sea on the west.
The entire region was given to Joshua and the Children of Israel, but they could possess only the portion which they claimed. “I will give you every place where you set your foot.”
The same is true in the spiritual life. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, we cross over from the wilderness of our sin through the waters of baptism into the Promised Land.
As believers, we can live in the Promised Land, but the level of our spiritual blessing is determined by the land that we claim. I possess only as much as I claim. I am as close to God as I want to be. I am as deep spiritual as I want to be.
Some people say that this church is not deep enough. Give me a break. You are as deep as you want to be. Don’t blame the church for your laziness. Take responsibility for your life. Grow up. Step out in faith. Give your life completely to the Lord. Follow Him.
You must remember that a whole generation died in the wilderness before the land of Canaan was attained. Only Joshua and Caleb of the generation which left Egypt succeeded in entering the land. They succeeded because they wholly followed the Lord.
If we are going to possess our spiritual land of blessing, we must wholly follow the Lord. The second principle is this.
2. When you face challenges, remember that you are not alone.
God told Joshua and the people to go and possess the land. This land was inhabited by strong enemies. There were seven nations that held the land of Canaan. They were well-resourced with the latest weaponry. The Israelites had some battles to fight before they could possess the land.
Some of you have recently come to faith and have been baptized. When you turn and follow Jesus, everything is not going to go your way. You will have challenges. You will face conflict. You have an enemy that will try to take you down. But, stand firm. You are not alone.
Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
God is with you. Some of you are facing challenges in your family. Call on God and ask for His help. Claim this promise that “no one will be able to stand up against you…”
Maybe it's in the workplace --- an especially difficult relationship that you need to face into, or a challenge that you've been given that you don't feel capable of meeting. Maybe it's a ministry that you're starting here at the Creek or somewhere else. Remember the Lord is with you.
3. Strive to be the person that you were meant to be.
Joshua 1:6
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
I believe that God has a plan for your life. He wants you to embrace his will for your life. In your mind, you have your life mapped out. You have goals and ambitions. You have dreams. All of those things are good. I encourage you to dream, but I challenge you to dream God’s dream for your life.
Put God first in your life. Be the person that he has created you to be. Some of you are living for the moment. You are living for yourself. It’s time to surrender to God’s direction. It’s time to lay your life on the altar and say, “God, I want to be the person that you want me to be. I want to go where you call me to go.”
God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
So many of you are strong, but you are not strong in the Lord. You are strong in business, but you are not strong in the Lord. You are strong in relationships, but you do not have a personal relationship with God.
You will never reach your life’s potential until you embrace God’s plan for your life.
Some of you are on the verge, but you are fearful. You are afraid that God will make you do something that you don’t want to do. You know sometimes it may take that… sometimes you have to walk a road that you don’t want to walk, but in the end God is going to carve out for you a desirable life.
When your life lines up with your spiritual gifts and personality, you will find meaning and purpose.
The next principle from this passage for us to follow is this:
4. Stay focused on God’s plan for your life.
Joshua 1:7
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Isn’t interesting that the Lord repeats himself to Joshua? Once again, he says to be “strong” and “courageous”. It’s going to take the strength from the Lord for you to stay focused. There are so many things that will come against you. If the enemy can keep you confused, then you will not make forward progress.
Notice that it says to be careful to obey. We need to do the right things. Make an effort to live the right way. When you do this, you will find success.
How do we know God’s will?
Joshua 1:8
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
You can discover God’s will in God’s word. Read and pray.
Good morning and welcome to The Creek. I would like to welcome all of those in our Grovetown campus and those watching on television and to the hundreds watching StevensCreekChurch.com.
Over the holidays there was one question that I was asked more than any other and that was: Are you ready for Christmas? Most of us use that phrase to get a conversation started and then we talk about our plans for the holidays.
After the presents are unwrapped and the trees are taken down, we typically ask: Did you have a good Christmas? We never ask: Are you ready for a New Year?
Today, I am asking that question because I want to get a conversation started that will help you get ready for the days ahead. You see I believe that all of us have new opportunities that are just in front of us … opportunities that are waiting to be taken. Opportunities that are will help you and me to become the people that we were meant to be. Today it’s time to get ready for a new adventure.
Over the next few weeks, we will be in a series called “My Big Amazing Renovation”. If the title sounds familiar it was inspired by the HGTV show. Patty and I are fans of do-it-yourself renovation shows. It does not take much to get me thinking about new projects that I may tackle. In fact when I shared the old story on Christmas Eve about repairing the seven holes in the walls of our extra bedroom, I forgot to tell you that as I was speaking that evening I had unfinished drywall in our bathroom.
So, after Christmas I finished that project. I then painted the bathroom and I started painting Sarah’s room. I have one more coat of paint to go before I am finished in Sarah’s room. As I have painted, I have been wondering if I can learn to lay hardwood floors…pray for me. There may be a new story developing.
Here’s what I know. I love to see things get better. I love to see something that is old become new again. That’s why I love Stevens Creek. When I look around this auditorium, I see so many stories of life-change. I see people who were headed in the wrong direction, down a path of destruction. Then, they decided, “That’s enough.” I am not going to continue to live the way that I have been living. I want to change. I need help.
Well, if that is you, I believe that this new series will lead you to a better life and it is my prayer that by the end of this month, you will have a “Big Amazing Renovation” Story. So, it’s time to “Get Ready.”
This series will feature four messages from the Old Testament book of Joshua. Here’s some back ground. The Old Testament is the story of God’s passion for a people. He planted in Abraham a vision to be a great nation. This vision was passed down to his son, Issac, and then to his grandson Jacob.
Jacob had an encounter with God and his name was changed to Israel. He had twelve sons who became known as the twelve tribes of Israel. These twelve boys had their share of sibling rivalry and one day, the older boys turned against their younger brother Joseph and sold him as a slave. Joseph ended up in Egypt. God protected through this difficult season and eventually raised him up as an official in the government. A famine hit the land and the entire family moved to Egypt where Joseph took care of them.
Everything was great. Joseph died and his influence in Egypt eventually faded. The new king was threatened by sheer size of this family and he sought to suppress them. He turned them into slaves and made their lives bitter. They cried out to God for help. He raised up a deliverer named, Moses. He, through the miracle-working power of God, led the Children of Israel out of slavery and into a new land. While on the way to this new land, they lost sight of God’s plan for their lives. They rebelled and as a result their short journey to this new land became a forty year trek through the desert.
In today’s story, the forty year season in the wilderness is coming to a close and they are getting ready to cross over into the Promised Land. Their leader, Moses, is dead and Joshua is now in charge.
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
This section begins with God telling Joshua to get ready to lead the Children of Israel into a new land and a new season of life. They wandered aimlessly in the wilderness for forty years. These people had never known true freedom. Their parents were slaves in Egypt and they themselves grew up as nomads crisscrossing the desert. Now, it’s time to leave their past behind them and embrace a new future.
As we go through this story, I want you to understand that this is not just a history lesson, but their story is your story. It’s my story.
We have been wandering around aimlessly looking for love, looking for meaning, and looking for purpose, but we have been looking in the wrong place. You cannot find a fulfilling life in the desert.
God is calling you to a new place, a new land where you have never been before. God is calling you to step out and follow His direction. There is a land, a promised land waiting just ahead. God has given you promises of a better future and a better life. Some of you have been patiently waiting for the answer to come and the dream to be complete, and now, it’s time to embrace the journey.
Joshua 1:2
... Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites.
God told Joshua to get ready to cross the Jordan. Get ready for your life to change. God is saying that to you today. Get ready for your life to change.
This past week we were in Mississippi at JT and Brittany’s wedding. JT works with our small groups here at The Creek. JT and Brittany stood before the church … innocent and clueless at the same time. Their lives are about to change. For the last year, they have been getting ready for their wedding and now their new life has begun.
What are you getting ready for? Are you getting ready for the next season of your life? Or would you rather continue going around in circles in the wilderness? God has a better plan for you.
When we look at the verses from Joshua 1, we see that God instructed Joshua to expand his horizons and see life from a new perspective.
As I studied this passage, there are four principles that I saw in these verses.
Leadership Principles from the Life of Joshua
1. Your opportunity is as big as your faith.
God promised Joshua and the Children of Israel that they will cross the Jordan and enter the land. He challenged them to take responsibility and take possession of the land.
Joshua 1:3-4
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates-- all the Hittite country-- to the Great Sea on the west.
The entire region was given to Joshua and the Children of Israel, but they could possess only the portion which they claimed. “I will give you every place where you set your foot.”
The same is true in the spiritual life. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, we cross over from the wilderness of our sin through the waters of baptism into the Promised Land.
As believers, we can live in the Promised Land, but the level of our spiritual blessing is determined by the land that we claim. I possess only as much as I claim. I am as close to God as I want to be. I am as deep spiritual as I want to be.
Some people say that this church is not deep enough. Give me a break. You are as deep as you want to be. Don’t blame the church for your laziness. Take responsibility for your life. Grow up. Step out in faith. Give your life completely to the Lord. Follow Him.
You must remember that a whole generation died in the wilderness before the land of Canaan was attained. Only Joshua and Caleb of the generation which left Egypt succeeded in entering the land. They succeeded because they wholly followed the Lord.
If we are going to possess our spiritual land of blessing, we must wholly follow the Lord. The second principle is this.
2. When you face challenges, remember that you are not alone.
God told Joshua and the people to go and possess the land. This land was inhabited by strong enemies. There were seven nations that held the land of Canaan. They were well-resourced with the latest weaponry. The Israelites had some battles to fight before they could possess the land.
Some of you have recently come to faith and have been baptized. When you turn and follow Jesus, everything is not going to go your way. You will have challenges. You will face conflict. You have an enemy that will try to take you down. But, stand firm. You are not alone.
Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
God is with you. Some of you are facing challenges in your family. Call on God and ask for His help. Claim this promise that “no one will be able to stand up against you…”
Maybe it's in the workplace --- an especially difficult relationship that you need to face into, or a challenge that you've been given that you don't feel capable of meeting. Maybe it's a ministry that you're starting here at the Creek or somewhere else. Remember the Lord is with you.
3. Strive to be the person that you were meant to be.
Joshua 1:6
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
I believe that God has a plan for your life. He wants you to embrace his will for your life. In your mind, you have your life mapped out. You have goals and ambitions. You have dreams. All of those things are good. I encourage you to dream, but I challenge you to dream God’s dream for your life.
Put God first in your life. Be the person that he has created you to be. Some of you are living for the moment. You are living for yourself. It’s time to surrender to God’s direction. It’s time to lay your life on the altar and say, “God, I want to be the person that you want me to be. I want to go where you call me to go.”
God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
So many of you are strong, but you are not strong in the Lord. You are strong in business, but you are not strong in the Lord. You are strong in relationships, but you do not have a personal relationship with God.
You will never reach your life’s potential until you embrace God’s plan for your life.
Some of you are on the verge, but you are fearful. You are afraid that God will make you do something that you don’t want to do. You know sometimes it may take that… sometimes you have to walk a road that you don’t want to walk, but in the end God is going to carve out for you a desirable life.
When your life lines up with your spiritual gifts and personality, you will find meaning and purpose.
The next principle from this passage for us to follow is this:
4. Stay focused on God’s plan for your life.
Joshua 1:7
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Isn’t interesting that the Lord repeats himself to Joshua? Once again, he says to be “strong” and “courageous”. It’s going to take the strength from the Lord for you to stay focused. There are so many things that will come against you. If the enemy can keep you confused, then you will not make forward progress.
Notice that it says to be careful to obey. We need to do the right things. Make an effort to live the right way. When you do this, you will find success.
How do we know God’s will?
Joshua 1:8
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
You can discover God’s will in God’s word. Read and pray.
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