The Victory side of Life#2
Life on A High Plain by Gerald Van Horn
Joshua 1:10-18
We are reminded of what God told Joshua," Go over this Jordan thou and this entire people, unto a land which I gave thee.” This promise set forth for them the possibility of a higher plain. It meant deliverance from the wilderness and into a life of victory even though it meant warfare and conflict.
The heart cry of God’s people is “How can I be the kind of person that God can use?” We must set aside all our inadequacies. If the book is correct you’ll be shocked and mildly surprised at what is required.
Does this infer that only the strong are to lead in the work of the Lord? V.9 If this is so there is little hope for any of us. The Apostle Paul said, “Who is sufficient for these things?”2 Corinthians 2:16.
Notice (v.9) God said, “Be strong!” Why? Surely Joshua was aware of his inadequacy and weakness. In fact he was quite content to play second fiddle to Moses. However one day the call came and his heart failed him.
God said “be strong” meant that the man to whom He spoke felt weak.
God said, “Be not afraid” which meant that the person He was addressing was frightened.
God said, “Neither be thou dismayed” which meant that the man to whom He was speaking was prone to quit.
The world says that survival belongs to the fittest but God says He gives power to the faint and strength in weakness. Often God has to humble us and break our spirit to build us up again. He uses the things that are “not” to bring to pass the things that “are“.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”: Isaiah 40:31.
1. The person that God can use is faithful.
Joshua was Moses’ minister.v.1 What a wonderful word! This carries the thought of service. Joshua was in service for Moses for over 40 years working behind the scene. He was 80 years old when he went into Canaan. Suddenly God thrusts him into the place of leadership. We never know what God is preparing us for in the future but we do know “who” holds the future. So often we murmur about our daily service and think we are ready for the higher plain and when it happens we are not ready. All difficulties are only to prepare us for God to use us in a greater measure.
Promises that Goid gave Joshua * Every place you tread upon will be yours. v. 3-4
* No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. v.5
* As I was with Moses, so will I be with you. v.5
* I will not fail you. v.5
* I will not forsake you. v.5
*You will divide the land for an inheritance. v.6
* I am with you wherever you go. v.9
Sign in a kitchen. “Devine service is conducted here three times a day." How ever menial
the task may be - all is important to God.
Jesus prepared Himself 30 years for a ministry of only 3 1/2 years. He worked as a
Carpenter is His father’s shop. He attended a dead and dry church. One day He stepped out of obscurity into His ministry with the seal of heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus is faithful:
I Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He that calleth you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful.”
2 Timothy 2:3 “He abideth faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 “For He is faithful that promised.”
A verse from a new chorus:
I sing to You Lord,
A hymn of love for your faithfulness to me.
I am carried in everlasting arms,
You’ll never let me go,
Through it all.
2. The person that God can use has a distinct call. v.5-6.
Joshua knew the danger that was ahead. He saw what the enemy could do. A person with the call of God on their life is invincible.
We ask our teachers, “Are you qualified?” When we should be asking. “Are you called to be teach?”
A minister in London was asked “did you have a great revival? How many additions did you have?” The minister replied, “Additions?” “ We had some subtractions!” If you are serving in a position in church that you are not called to do, you need to resign”. May God rise up an Army in our churches that can tear down walls, attack cities and if a river rises in front of them may they go right through.
* Jesus was a person with a distinct call. Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of the sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Matthew 20:28. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give his life a ransom for many.” John 6: 38 “for I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but to do the will of him that sent me.”
Thank God Jesus was faithful to His calling.
3. The person that God can use is a person of the Word. V.8 “Thou shalt mediate therein day and night.” If you need spiritual power, get in the Word. Jesus believed in the authority of the Bible. He defeated Satan with the Word.
“The words that I speak unto thee are spirit and life.”
* Jesus was a person of the Word. In fact He WAS the Word. John 1.
What can one person do?
History is full of accounts of single individuals who made a difference. Here is a list of just a few:
* One vote caused Charles the first of England to be executed.
* One vote gave America the English language instead of German in 1776.
* One vote brought Texas into the Union.
* One vote saved President Andrew Jackson from impeachment in 1868.
* One vote in 1923 gave Adolph Hitler control of the Nazi party in Germany.
* One woman named Esther laid her life on the line to save her people.
* One little shepherd boy defeated a Philistine Giant who threatened to destroy the armies of Israel.
* One little baby came into the world to save the world. John 3:16
Conclusion:
1) Never underestimate your importance in the eyes of the Lord.
2) Believe that this is your hour to do great things for the Lord.
3) Give the Lord praise for everything you do for Him.
4) Be a person of the Word and study to show yourself approved of God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed.
5) Be faithful where you are at in your Christian walk.
6) Do not listen to the nay Sayers.
7) God cannot use you if you are full of self.
