Pathway to the Promised Land
Numbers 13-14
A. There is a Promised Land for the Church
Promised Land: a place for this church to be
that is better than where we are now
God does have dreams and desires for the Church
He has put us in where we are for a reason.
He allows us to be a part of his church, not
only for our own blessings, but for the
blessings of those who are yet to come.
Do you realize we need to be living and planning
for people who will become Christians here in
the future. People we don’t even know today.
But if we plan for them, if we pray for them,
God will send them. God will send us to them.
B. God calls the church to have vision
It has been said that if you do not know where
you are going… any road will take you there.
Outreach- we are surrounded by a community that
needs Christ. I believe we are the church to
help them have that need met.
Prayer- We need to get serious about prayer.
I’ve been praying for this church.
Building- We have money in the bank and an open
field. Having a hefty savings and a nice lawn
are not part of God’s plan for this church. We
had almost 80 kids at our New Year’s Eve
party. Our youth need a multi purpose
building. When I drive to the office, I see it.
Worship- Worship leader, dual services.
Discipleship- Our members growing not only
closer to one another, but loving God more, and
growing closer to him every day.
C. Some see giants, some see blessings. What will
we see?
That will not work.
We’ve tried that before, it didn’t go well.
I like our church the way it is now.
Being a kid on the 6th grade playground, I
remember the awful experience of running to the
ball field at recess only to hear those awful
words shouted just before I joined in the
game…”No more players!” How many games I had to
sit and watch because the kids wouldn’t allow
just one more player.
When we say we like our church just the size it
is right now, we might as well stand and
yell “No more players!” When we take all the
best seats and parking places, we might as well
stand and yell “No more players!” When we
neglect to welcome new people or invite our
friends and neighbors to church, we might as
well stand and yell “No more players!” Can the
church ever be to full for one more soul to come
to Christ and be changed for eternity.
We don’t have the money.
(Who does the church belong to? Who has all the
money?)
Some people might not like the new changes and
quit coming.
We must do what we feel God is leading us to do,
not just what the majority want.)
D. The journey requires much
Faith- God has led where we are for a reason.
Let’s trust him.
Obedience- (Let’s go back to Egypt. Let’s
choose a new leader.) Many a minister has been
released for trying to lead.
A new preacher at the local church walked into
the auditorium of His new church. He thought it
would be best to move the piano from the right
side of the stage to the left side of the stage,
so he moved it. Soon after he was fired for the
disruption caused by the new placement of the
piano. Five years later he returned to the same
church to visit with the minister who stepped in
when he was fired. They walked into the
auditorium and there was the piano on the left
side of the stage. The once fired preacher
asked "How did you get the piano to the left
side of the stage? They fired me for moving
it." The reply from the other minister was
plain. "I came in every day and moved the piano
to the left three inches."
Sacrifice- Joshua and Caleb did not deny the
existence of giants, they just believed that God
would deliver them.
We will have to sacrifice to get to the place
where God wants this church to be.
D. With God we can do anything, without Him we can do
nothing
After they rebelled, the Israelites decided to
go into the promised land, against God and they
were destroyed.
Everything done in the church must be done
according to the will of the Lord and not done
merely by human wisdom. It must all be done for
the glory of God and the glory of men.
E. Who is ready to journey into the Promised Land?
Will you commit to praying for the church and
it’s leaders?
Will you be willing to sacrifice so that others
can have their lives and eternities changed?
Will you get excited about the future of this
church, and where God wants to lead us?
Maybe today your journey to the ultimate Promised Land, which is heaven, needs to begin today. Perhaps today you need Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Come today, believing that Jesus is the Christ. Confess him before men, repent of your sins and turn your life over to God. Be immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit living in you.
