The greatest challenge in doing great things for the kingdom and possessing what God has is getting from here to there.

Transcription

1 SERIES: BRING IT! SERMON: HERE TO THERE By Pastor Rhonda Howard OPENER: Joshua : 1-9 After the death of Moses the LORD s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses assistant. He said, 2 Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites. 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. The Israelites were on the edge of the dessert, across the Jordan was the Promised Land. The Land that had been Promised as their inheritance and dwelling from God years before to Abraham. This promise and this hope had been passed down from generation to generation. So, the Israelites are here at the edge of the Jordan. They can see the Promised Land on the other side. They must go from here to there. The greatest challenge in doing great things for the kingdom and possessing what God has is getting from here to there. VISION WITHOUT FAITH IS USELESS. WE CAN SEE WHAT GOD HAS FOR US, BUT THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IS GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE. When God asks us to accomplish great things for His kingdom we have to move. The plan of God is a forward progression and growth. We should be growing stronger in our relationship, stronger in our faith, stronger in our knowledge and trust of God, stronger in our callings. God s will is for us to walk in blessings, but, many times we stop short in possessing what God has for us and accomplishing what God asks us to do. So how do we get from here to there? How do we move from where we are to where God wants us to be?

2 God called upon Joshua to do great things. What God asked him to do would take faith and courage. Joshua was the greatest military leader known in all of Israel s history. He was a man of faithfulness, a man submissive to his authority and a man of great vision. We first find Joshua called upon by Moses not long after leaving Egypt to select men and go out and fight against Amalek, whom had come to fight against the Israelites. During the battle when Moses held up his hand and Israel would prevail in battle. However, when he tired of holding up his hand and lowered it, the forces of Amalek prevailed (Exodus 17:8-16). Aaron, Moses brother, and a man named Hur held up Moses hands until the battle was done at sundown. Joshua and the Israelites won the battle and the Lord told Moses to write what happened and tell it to Joshua, adding that he would one day put out of remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. This is the first suggestion that Joshua would play a greater role in the future. Later, as Moses was called up upon Mount Sinai, he took Joshua with him as his helper (Exodus 24:13). Joshua continued to serve as a minister, or servant, to Moses that proved not only his devotion to Moses, but also to God (Exodus 33:11; Numbers 11:25-30). Joshua also showed his faith and vision when called upon by Moses, as directed by God, to go into the Promised Land and spy out the land and bring back a report (Numbers 13). The men returned after 40 days and gave their report. Ten of the spies reported that the land was flowing with milk and honey and even brought a sample of the fruit they had found. However, they also reported that the land had walled cities and large numbers of people, including the Amalekites, among other powerful groups. Joshua and Caleb could not believe what they were hearing so they tore their clothes in anguish and began speaking to the people. They told of the riches of the land and rebuked them for rebelling against the Lord. The people responded by picking up stones to stone them. Immediately the glory of the Lord appeared before them in the Tabernacle. The Lord told Moses that He was going to destroy the people and make of Moses a greater nation. When Moses heard this, he pleaded with God not to destroy them. God then pardoned the people and proclaimed that those who were 20 years old and up that had rebelled would die in the wilderness. Those that had not rebelled, along with the little ones, would be led into the land by Caleb and Joshua. This led to great morning among the people. 40 years later when they returned to the edge of the Promise Land, God showed Moses the Land from the top of Mount Abram. He told Moses that he would not be entering the Promised Land. Moses responded by asking God to appoint a man over the congregation (Numbers 27:12-23). It was then that God told Moses to take Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest in front of the congregation of people and ordain him as the leader to take them into the Promised Land. And then Moses dies shortly after.

3 So, it is then that God speaks to Joshua with very specific instruction of how to enter and conquer the Promised Land. The following six things we can learn from these nine verses of how get from where we are to where God wants us to be: 1. YOU CANNOT HOLD ONTO THE PAST AND POSSESS THE FUTURE Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. After Moses died God told Joshua to move forward to possess the land. God could have started out by asking Joshua to move forward, but he started his conversation with Joshua by acknowledging Moses death. He was saying, Yes, Moses is dead, but stay no longer and grieve for him; it is time to move. The entire Israelite camp is mourning Moses death. He was a great leader. He was humble, loved the people and the Bible says he talked to God face to face. He is called a friend by God. But because he lost his temper and patience with the people and struck the rock God is not allowing him to enter in and he dies on the mountain that overlooks the Promise Land not long after they return to the edge of The Land once again. THE TIME HAS COME TO GET UP AND MOVE. This is where many of us fail. We never put legs to our prayers. We never walk away from what is holding us back and forward to what God has for us. We want change, but we don t want to do anything different. We don t want to believe for anything new. We don t want to hope for better things. SOME OF US ARE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF PROMISES, BUT WE MUST CROSS OVER TO RECEIVE THEM. GET UP WALK OUT OF THAT THING YOU ARE SITTING IN. BE IT GREIF, FEAR, BAD COMPANY, DOUBT, SIN, DISAPPOINTMENT, UNFORGIVENESS OR HURT. GET UP AND MOVE. 2. YOU MUST ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE the time has come for you God told Joshua to possess the land. This was not an easy thing. This was not a decision to accept lightly. Direction from God always comes with challenges. Joshua knew that in taking the Promise Land there would be many challenges, many dangers and enemies to conquer. The first challenge was the Jordan River.

4 JORDAN RIVER AT FLOOD STAGE: The Jordan River was at flood stage during this time of year. How much better would it have been to cross when the weather was dry and the river was low. The average width of the riverbed is about 98 feet while the depth ranges from 3 to 10 feet. During flood times, the Jordan swells to a width of one half mile in certain areas. DIRECTION FROM GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS COME AT PERFECT TIMING. GOD S TIMING IS NOT ALWAYS OUR TIMING. God told Moses, The time has come. God s timing is not always our timing. God will move on our hearts to do his will at some of the most inopportune times. Inconvenient times TO MOVE FORWARD INTO NEW THINGS THE HARDEST STEP IS USUALLY THE FIRST. Joshua 3:13-15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea [c] until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground. GOD WANTS US TO STEP INTO THE UNTAMED RIVERS AND FACE THE CHALLENGE. GOD OFTEN REVEALS HIS POWER BEST IN TIMES OF GREAT CHALLENGE. 3. YOU MUST EMBRACE THE TRANSITION GOD WAS POSITIONING JOSHUA TO DO GREAT EXPLOITS. IT WAS JOSHUA S ABILITY TO EMBRACE TRANSITION THAT BROUGHT VICTORIES AND THE OPENED THE WAY FOR GOD S PEOPLE. Joshua 3:2-4 Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. 4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you.

5 When you are in transition you are going to a new place you have never been. You are leaving a place that you know and going to a place unknown. A new place that is unfamiliar. Transition can be uncomfortable because we don t have the security of the familiar, so we cannot rely on our feelings, or by what we see, or our own knowledge. We must rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is our guide. DURING TRANSITION YOU HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING. It says this about Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2. who for the joy set before Him positioned Himself on the cross to bring the greatest transition in the history of mankind. THE KEY TO EMBRACING TRANSITION IS THAT YOU MUST HAVE A PASSION FOR WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE NEW DAY, THE PROMISED LAND OR THE GREATER GLORY ARE OUR DESTINY. WE MUST BE WILLING TO SET OUR FOOT IN THE SWOLLEN JORDANS OF OUR LIVES TO POSSESS WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE. WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITHIN US UNTIL WE ARE CALLED UPON BY GOD TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. TO PART THE RED SEA, STEP INTO THE SWOLLEN JORDAN OR BRING DOWN GOLIATHS REQUIRES FAITH. NOT EVERYONE WILL RISE TO THIS LEVEL, BUT THE ONE WHO KNOWS GOD INTIMATELY, HAS TALKED FACE TO FACE AND LISTENED WITH A SENCE OF DESTINY. WILL YOU ALLOW GOD TO POSITION YOU FOR GREATNESS AND DESTINY? WILL YOU EMBRACE TRANSITION? When God leads us to go against opposing forces, things do not always work out until to step into it. Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. (Josh. 3:3-5) God did not tell Joshua what he would do. Joshua just believed he would do great things! 4. WHEN YOU COMMIT TO GOD S PLAN HE COMMITS HIS POWER AND PRESENCE TO YOU 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

6 In essence God said, if you accept the challenge; I will never fail you or abandon you. God reminded Joshua that no one would be able to stand against Joshua, not because of his power, but because of God s power. When we accept the challenges God asks of us, he commits His presence and power to us. 5. TO POSSESS YOUR PROMISE WILL REQUIRE STRENGTH AND COURAGE COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR AND STRENGTH IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF WEAKNESS. Those who walk in strength know where their strength comes from. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Those who move forward in courage trust in God despite their fears. 6. SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON HONORING GOD S COMMANDS VS. 7 Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Three things hinge on your success: 1. You must be complete in our obedience to the Word. 2. You must be consistent in our obedience to the Word. 3. You must continually look into God s Word. We are to obey ALL of God s word, not pick and choose what we will obey. Or not measure our obedience by a percentage or by others obedience. God said, Do not vary from the law. Joshua was to obey the entire law and do so, every day! This was not to be a weekend religion! YOU CANNOT HAVE SUCCESS IN GOD WITHOUT OBEDIENCE. YOU CANNOT HAVE OBEDIENCE WITHOUT INTENTLY LOOKING INTO THE WORD.