Sermon Central
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What Lies Ahead
Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 14, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Is there a yardstick for success? How do we measure it what are the gradations? God’s word and God’s will is the clear measure for success. The book of Joshua clearly tells us as a church and individuals how to have spirtual success.
Intro: What does tomorrow hold for Perche? Can we find it in a sliver ball? Is it hidden in a fortune cookie? Can the lucky eight ball tell us? No none of those are very useful. However, God’s word clearly tells us what lies ahead. Joshua chapter one explains that what lies ahead for Perche Baptist Chruch is Success and Prosperity or failure and spiritual destitution.
How can we measure success? Can you do it with a yard stick? Is there a tape measure marked in degrees of success. No!
Success is based on our choices and response to God and His word.
So pay attention and we will see exactly what lies ahead for Perche Baptist Church!!
1.2 “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.”
I. Success belongs to the church united.
It was not simply a person (Joshua) that would receive the promises of God it was a people. If people do not accept Jesus as Savior and follow him as Lord then the promises and prosperity of God are still blocked by the Jordan of indecision.
Joshua was to lead but the success and the promise of the good land was based on all the people crossing the Jordan.
We see this in the book of Acts. Acts Chapter 2.37-47 tells us how the early apostles and disciples were united in the same mind and spirit of Jesus Christ. It says they had all things in common. They were united in the ways and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Living and proclaiming the word of God.
As they did this in unity look at what the Bible says happened,
Acts 2.47 they were “praising God, and having favor with all the people and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
We also see in Joshua 7 that Achan made a terrible decision.
His decision to disobey God’s direct word caused the army of Israel to be defeated.
As a community of believers as was said in the movie White Squall “where we go one we go all.”
Our choices have direct impact on the success of the Church as a whole.
Just one bad choice can affect what lies ahead for the church.
You might think I’m not important the decisions I make in my life do not affect the church.
We see in Achan’s and Israel’s life that is not true. The decisions you make affect the witness, and success of this church.
That is why we must remain united in God’s will for success (that does not mean we all think alike. It means we do not allow our different ideas and opinions to divide us)
A) We are united in claiming the promises of God.
B) We are united in proclaiming the promises of God.
If we are truly united for the Lord Jesus we will standup, standout, and step forward for God.
1.8 “This book of the law shall not depart from you mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”
II. Success belongs to the church that absorbs God’s Word.
A) Memorize God’s word
Psalm 119.11 “Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Memorizing God’s word can be understood as taking a spoonful of food and placing it in your mouth.
B) Meditate on God’s word
Meditating on God’s word is chewing up the food you placed in your mouth so you can digest it.
(Oh that God’s people desired the meat of the word of God)(There are malnourished Christians all over the US. What is the sad story behind this? God’s word is more available in the Untied States than any other country)
How many Christians know more about Baseball team stats than His Holy word?
How many Christians know more about Football team stats than His Holy Word?
Work, Hobies, movies, games, etc. . ?
Question: What exactly do you do with God’s word you receive on Sunday, any other day of the week?
When you face choices that you don’t have an answer turn to God’s word!
1 Corinthians 14.33 “for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,”
What choices do you or our church face today? If the answer to the question leads to confusion then the answer is not of God.
Joshua’s victories did not come from the strength of his arm but His submission to the word of God and the God of the word!!
