Sermon Central
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A Higher Life
Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Jan 5, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: A higher Christian life is: 1. Faith in the Promises of God. 2. Consecration to the will of God 3. Fellowship in the presence of God 4. Testimony to the Honor of God 5. Warfare Against the Enemies of God 6. Victory in the Name of God
A Higher Life
Introduction: Some people are content with limping along the fence. Others want to launch out into the deep.
Where true revival is taking place, Christians become interested in doing more for Christ, not less. They are not content with living the same kind of a life that they always have. They want to draw closer to God. They want to quit being ruled by the flesh and start giving in to the Holy Spirit.
I trust that there are some here today who want to live a higher life than you are right now.
Joshua gives us a striking illustration of how the promises of God are to be received and enjoyed. Canaan represents the better land, or the higher life.
Entering that “higher life” did not mean a folding of the arms and a lying down at ease. It meant hardship, warfare, and victory. It simply meant an entering into the plans and purposes of God.
The higher Christian life is a life of
1. Faith in the Promises of God.
(Josh 1:3 KJV) “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”
People who live higher lives are people that rely on and stand upon the Word of God. They stand upon the promises of God.
You will never progress in the spiritual life until you plant your feet in the sure Word of God. Jesus is the Word.
“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”
There will not be a closer relationship with the Lord unless there is a constant trusting in Him.
Yes, there will be Jordans in our path and Jericho walls in our way, but praise God, our faith in Jesus Christ and His Word can help us to cross over our Jordans and knock over our Jericho walls.
(Luke 1:37 MV) “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
We must continue to believe in the promises of God even when things are difficult, even when those around us act as if they do not believe them.
(Heb 11:30 MV) “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”
Let’s cross our Jordans. Let’s knock over some walls in our lives. By faith we can do it. Faith in God ushers us to a higher life.
The higher Christian life is:
2. Consecration to the Will of God.
(Josh 6:18-19 KJV) “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”
At Ai the people of God failed because they were not fully consecrated to the revealed purpose of God.
If you want to live a consecrated life you must have:
a. An understanding of God’s Word.
(Josh 1:8 MV) “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.”
b. An unquestioning obedience to the mind and will of God.
(Josh 1:7 MV) “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.”
c. A sanctifying of ourselves.
(Josh 3:5 MV) “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
The higher Christian life requires:
3. Fellowship in the Presence of God.
The promise given was clear and it was comforting:
(Josh 1:5 KJV) “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.”
That promise was not just for Joshua. It started with Moses… then to Joshua… then to all Israel.
(Josh 3:10 KJV) “And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.”
They are just as good for you as they were for Joshua and the people of Israel.
We see Joshua in fellowship with the Captain, Prince of the Lord’s hosts.
