The Lord will do WONDERS among you!-dani D -Joshua 3:5

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1 The Lord will do WONDERS among you!-dani D -Joshua 3:5 1. Consecrate (vv. 1-5) a. Experience the PRESENCE OF GOD 2. Concentrate (vv. 6-8) a. Embrace the PROMISE OF GOD 3. Commemorate (vv. 9-13) a. Expect the POWER OF GOD THE END is not an EXIT but an ENTRANCE for a new Beginning! In 2017, we might have walked through wilderness, a dry, a lonely or some dark filled times but the Lord in His amazing and unending mercy brought us to this New Year. Wonders for this New Year are waiting to invite you as we begin 2018! Thus, the END is not an EXIT but an ENTRANCE for a new Beginning! As you step into this New Year to start a journey. Be assured that the Lord will do wonders among you BUT you are expected to do three things. 1. Consecrate (vv. 1-5) Joshua says, consecrate yourselves In exodus 29:1 onwards, the people of God were given some things to be observed in order to consecrate: take a young bull two rams(without defect) make a round loaves without yeast (purity) Present it to the Priest, etc a. Experience the PRESENCE OF GOD Ark of the Covenant also known as ark of the Testimony Contained two tablets (10 commandments) Aaron s rod A jar of manna When you experience the presence of God, you can only think, speak and do things that are good, pure, and holy. The Lord is holy so you are expected to be Holy the sons and daughters should and will reflect the father! The heavenly choir singing and praising, Holy, holy, Holy, the Lord God almighty Isaiah says I am a man of unclean lips Ask the Lord to touch your lips #No choice here but ONLY A command. Be Holy! The word of the Lord will keep us Holy.

2 Psalm 119: how can a young man stay on the path of purity, keep his ways pure.??? By living according to you word o We need to Rejoice in it (119:14) o Read it daily (Deut.) o Meditate it daily (v. 15) o Take delight in the Law of the Lord (v.16) Application: Watch your friendship with the world and with worldly friends. Don t be driven away by them! To witness wonders, we need to trust in the Lord, obey his word As Joshua wanted to begin his journey with his people towards the Promised Land, the Lord told him in Joshua 1:8-9: Keep this book of the Law Meditate upon it day and night So that you will prosper and be successful Be string and courageous Do not be afraid. As Joshua and the people of God were starting their Journey towards the Promised Land, the First thing that the Lord wants from his people is Holiness. And thus, Joshua commands his people, saying, consecrate yourselves. Joshua 3:4, But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark, do not go near it. Distance between, the people and the priest bearing the ark. Watch out the three enemies in order to keep yourself holy: World, Flesh and Satan Never allow SIN to WIN Let the Darkness RUN Application: Tempt the Temptation. Find a way to overcome the temptation Example: Joseph and Jesus Be Like Joseph and Run away from SIN Be like Jesus and make sure the SIN runs from you! We need to be consecrated keep ourselves pure As the presence of God goes ahead us and come along with us the Emmanuel is with us always We can be pure and holy And then,

3 2. Concentrate (vv. 6-8) It is very important for the People of to concentrate on the promises and commands that the Lord has given them. It is a wonderful discipline to concentrate on things.and when it comes to spiritual matters it is much more important The people of Israel had to concentrate on the ark of God and its related duties and functions. Verse 6 a says to commands, Take and Pass in Verse 6 b we see the people of God s concentration: Took and went. As you concentrate, a. Embrace the PROMISE OF GOD What were the promises that you received from people? What were the promises that you received from friends? What were the promises that you received from God? Concentrate on those promises as you step into this New Year. Be focused on the promise of God! Joshua 3: 6 says, Take up the Ark of the Covenant and pass on ahead of the people. Application: When you do what the Lord says, He is so pleased to talk to you! Are you willing to talk to God and See Him talking to you? Are you happy and you wanted to hear from the Lord every now and then? Be focused concentrate! Verse 7 says, I will begin to exalt you! Wow! What a promise to embrace as we step into this new year and start a new journey which is unknown, mysterious, unseen, which will have many turns, many surprises, shocking news, etc. It may be ruff and tuff, smooth and sweet, heavy summer and severe cold, heavy raining or terrible stormy. We don t know what it is going to be BUT we know for sure that what the Lord promises will come to pass. Application: Just press on. Yes, that s it!!! So, the Lord says, I will begin to exalt you! Not that you and I can boast but to know that He is with us! Yes He is Immanuel! Always with us! His promises are with us! May the SEVEN precious, significant, and primary promising words shall stay with us in this New Year!

4 1. PEACE (THE PRINCE OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU) 2. GRACE (THE GRACE OF CHRIST) 3. SUCCESS (LET FAILURES BE ASHAMED TO COME NEAR YOU) 4. SOUND HEALTH (NO DESEASE SHALL COME ON YOUR WAY) 5. MERCY (LET THE LORD BE MORE COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY) 6. FAVOR (FAVOR FROM GOD AND FAVOR FROM PEOPLE) 7. PROSPERITY (LET WATER AND MEAL BE SUFFICIENT IN YOU HOME) As the Lord does wonders, we need to prepare ourselves to Celebrate. 3. Commemorate/Celebrate (vv. 9-13) Celebrate the Victory of The Lord!!! As we have the presence of God with us always and Promises to hold on and press on, we also need and have the power of God. Joshua says in verse 9, Come here this is how you will know...he will certainly drive out This is the POWER OF GOD. He is the promise giver and keeper!!! You just obey what he says. He will get into action! a. Expect the POWER OF GOD When you have the power of God, you can get rid of worldly things that are controlled and ruled by flesh! When the people of God was promised the Land, the Lord also told them few things to follow, obey and observe! That is, the Israelites have to defeat seven powerful enemies of the people of God: 1. Canaanites (descended from Noah s grandson Canaan, who was cursed by God) friendship with the world which is enmity against God 2. Hittites (descendant of Canaan who brought FEAR, CONFUSION and DISCOURAGMENT to others) 3. Hivites (descendant of Canaan)-they lived by phrases such as if it feels good, do it, don t worry about what other people think, look out for number one 4. Perizites (the meaning if unwalled city) city of what Galatians 5:19-21 says. So God removed the protection from it city filled with immorality, impurity 5. Girgashites (the meaning indicates as one who returns back instability) 6. Amorites (who were arrogant and boastful in speech and always challenging) 7. Jebusites (who exploited and polluted others through their immoral activities) In order to celebrate the life in Christ, you and I need to please God and avoid doing SEVEN things that the Lord really hates!!!

5 Just like these seven enemies that the people of Israel defeated, we need to defeat these SEVEN enemies. We need to be HOLY; we need to be HEALTHY spiritually! For physical development, we try to build our body. So, Application: Go to GYM and build yourself. Go to HIM and build your soul. -Dani D Just like the people of God were asked by God to defeat these SEVEN enemies, we too have SEVEN enemies that can keep us away from the Promised place the Lord has already reserved for us. These things are called as deadly sins that can keep us permanently away from God. They are proverbs which is part of the wisdom literature. Note down these seven things carefully as they are said wisely! (Proverbs 6:16-19) 1. Haughty eyes (v.17) 2. Lying tongue (v.17) 3. Hands that shed innocent blood (v.17) 4. Heart that devises wicked (v.18) 5. Feet that are quick to rush into Evil (v.18) 6. False witness (v.19) 7. Man who stirs up dissension among brother (v.19) When we overcome these SEVEN sins, just like the people of God would overcome the seven enemies, just like the people of God settled in the Promised Land, we the children of God can possess the promised heaven!!! Their journey continues in us as they marched towards the Promised Land, we are marching everyday let us cross over different rivers that come along our ways or come against our ways. Benny Prasad had some health issues as hindrance BUT the Lord changed his life completely! Let us complete each day in this New Year with the PRESENCE OF THE LORD, PROMISE OF THE LORD and THE POWER OF THE LORD!!! Take a Decision with a strong determination. It can save you from every evil s diversion and the world s distraction. Let us consecrate, concentrate and celebrate each day as it is a gift from God! Let us be HOLY, be HEALTHY, and be HAPPY!!! The world cannot stand before us because the one who is in us is greater, stronger and Holier than the one who is in the world!!! The Lord will do wonders among you!!! God Bless You! Happy New Year!!!