Sermon Central
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Journey To The Promise Land
Contributed by Brian Menear on Jun 14, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: How do I cross my own river Jordan and get to the Promise Land?
Journey To The Promise Land (NIV)
GE 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.GE 12:2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.GE 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
God calls Abraham to leave his land. Not an easy task. Dangerous, Risky, Unknown Destination. But he obeys.
Where was God asking Abraham to go?-The Promise Land/ “Land of Milk and Honey”
God also calls us to begin a journey to our own “Promise Land” Abraham didn’t ask any questions of God, he just did it. We on the other hand will always have questions to God about his plan for our journey.
Questions we may ask about the journey.
1 Is the destination worth the journey?
2 Will there be trouble during my journey?
3 What am I to do when I get there?
4 How do I get there?
We will answer these later.
“Promise Land”-symbol of great prosperity and blessings in the Bible. A place with the promise of abundant life.
God says “I want to take from where you are to where you need to be, to where I want you, to where I need you.”
Thats what he was saying to Abraham and its the same thing he says to us today.
Fast forward a few generations after Israel is free from Egypt, they are wandering in the desert(Complaining, Disobedient, The generation that had been freed is now gone). Moses is dead and Joshua is in charge.
Joshua stands ready to enter the Promise Land and begin its conquest.
2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. JOS 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Picture Joshua standing on a hillside near the Jordan River- “How am I gonna do this?”
It had already been figured out by God how he was gonna do it! All Joshua had to do was keep his heart open to what Gods plan was.
Earlier we talked about about the Promise Land being a place with the promise of Abundant Life. Theres is a difference between Abundant life and Eternal life
Eternal Life-It is secure, when Jesus took on the job of your salvation he did not fail in this task. Nothing you do can erase the promise of it. The process of an abundant life has begun.
Abundant Life-predicated on your obedience to God’s plan. It is a constant challenge
Abraham obeyed God by his faith in God. We too can do great things by believing and obeying God by faith.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Questions to ask about the journey.
1 Is the destination worth the journey?
Yes!
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" --
2 Will there be trouble during my journey
Yes-
JN 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
