LIFTERS OF THE ARMS AND STONE MOVERS?
CLAIM MORE ---
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How often do we as Christian workers forget that God is a rewarder?
Remember this: God loves His people and He is faithful to reward them.
The fulfillment of Divine Promises and His blessings depend on our submission, cooperation, faithfulness, trust and obedience. Yet God has grace and mercy
for us.
No man is an island to himself. Our choices affect other people.
God desires us to prepare to possess and be blessed.
I. THERE WAS A GREAT PROMISE FROM GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.
A. GOD HAD A MAN --- HIS NAME WAS JOSHUA.
Joshua had big shoes to fill at the passing of Moses.
B. GOD REASSURED JOSHUA THAT THE HOLY PRESENCE WOULD LEAD AND GUIDE HIM TO GUIDE THE PEOPLE TO THEIR DIVINE INHERITANCE AND PROMISES.
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
II. GOD HAD A GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS.
GOD’S PLAN IS TO MAKE THEIR WAY PROSPEROUS.
A. God will not allow Joshua to drown in the stress of the problems before them.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever
thou goest.
B. GOD WANTED TO ENCOURAGE HIS MAN ABOUT THE BIG DIFFICULTIES HE WOULD FACE.
C. 4 x’s in one chapter God tells Joshua BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE.
D. Beside God encouraging Joshua, Moses had encouraged Joshua before his exit.
III. GOD’S DESIGN WAS THAT JOSHUA AND THE PEOPLE PREPARE THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEARTS TO RECEIVE THE PROMISE.
THE PEOPLE HAD TO LEARN AGAIN --- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ---
GOD SAYS: AS WE ENTER INTO THIS NEW LEVEL OF FAITH --- WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE CAN DO.
Joshua 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they
did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
A. God had been feeding the people and God had been taking care of problems:
NOW THERE IS A PARADIGM SHIFT --- GOD IS GROWING HIS PEOPLE TO GROW, TO DEVELOP, TO TRUST AND TO LEAN ON HIM.
B. THERE HAD TO BE A SHIFT IN THE MINDSET OF GOD’S PEOPLE... THERE HAD TOBE A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL PROCESS THAT NOW WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK AND BRING ABOUT GOD’S PLAN.
C. THE MANNA WAS VERY GOOD, 6 X’S A WEEK FOR 40 YEARS.
BUT THE PEOPLE KNEW MANNA WAS NOT AN ETERNAL GIFT FROM GOD.
MANNA WAS A STOP GAP PROVISION.
D. QUIT CRYING, GOD IS CALLING YOU TO CHANGE!
IV. GOD HAD TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT JOSHUA WAS CHOSEN AND A GIFT FROM GOD TO THEM.
A. We need a healthy respect to the proven man of God.
B. We often see the man in the man of God, it is not the man --- it is OF GOD!
Joshua 4:14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
V. WHILE WE NEED TO LEAVE FINGERPRINTS THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN GOD’S PLAN, WE MUST LEAVE HEART PRINTS IN OTHER PEOPLE.
THERE MUST BE A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY!
Joshua 5:15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
VI. THERE WAS A GREAT PROMISE FROM GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.
BUT WHAT ARE WE LACKING? QUIT DUSTING THE TROPHIES, THERE IS MORE TO DO!
A. Joshua had been very busy...
Joshua 13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
B. THERE IS A POINT IN GOD’S WORK THAT WE COULD TEND TO SIT DOWN AND DO NOTHING.
WE MUST FINISH THAT BEFORE US.
Joshua 18:2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?
4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the
inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
C. There are 12 tribes that received the Promise.
Only 5 tribes had received their Promise.
D. 7 tribes seemed to be satisfied and had excuses why they had not received their Promise.
VII. DEVELOP A PLAN, --- NO ROOM FOR SLACKNESS ---
DON’T STAY HERE WITHOUT CLAIMING THE PROMISE.
Joshua 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?
Joshua 18:4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to
the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
VIII. WHEN ALL HAD BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT AT AI,
DEFEAT HAD SHAKEN THEIR CONFIDENCE --- GOD GREW ANOTHER PLAN...
Joshua 8:18 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the
spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
Joshua 8:26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
IX. BUILD A SUPPORT TEAM, NOT ONLY OF LIFTERS OF THE ARMS AND OF STONE MOVERS.
A. Remember when Moses was the leader.
B. We are introduced to a man named HUR!
Hur is mentioned twice in the Bible, both times in supportive roles.
C. HUR WILL FOREVER BE RECORDED AS A HELPER TO ACHIEVE VICTORY.
Exodus 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one
side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
D. WILL YOU MOVE THE STONE AND PLACE IT UNDER THE PREACHER TO SUPPORT HIM?
E. WILL YOU BE A LIFTER OF THE ARMS AND REACH INTO THE DIVINE STOREHOUSE OF DELIVERANCE?
E. God’s sweet Spirit will help us know how to accomplish God’s will.
God’s will for us is progressive and continual.
To live in His blessings we need to cooperate with others and His Plan.
We have work to do.
F. Possess God’s blessings and move away and avoid the traps that will hinder Divine Deliverance.
G. The church needs you today! Are there areas we have not claimed?
Identify those areas and develop a strategy to bring about the Promise!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Please? Pass it on to another?
