SCRIPTURE: JOSHUA 24:1-15
TEXT: NUMBERS 13:16
OPENING: As we continue in our series, GRASSHOPPERS VS GIANTKILLERS WE COME TO JOSHUA, the best known of the 2 Spies. JOSHUA was GOD’s choice to follow MOSES AS THE LEADER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
A baby was born into slavery to the tribe of EPHRAIM Named Hoshea . He watch YAHWEH delivery from slavery, through the 10 plagues and across the RED SEA. He was about 40 !
He became MOSES ASSISTANT AND MOSES CHANGED HIS NAME FROM HOSHEA( salvation) to JOSHUA ( LORD SALVATION)
JOSHUA NAME CHANGED SIGNIFIED ALOT OF THINGS. It is best reflected in JOSHUA 24:15
” AND IF IT SEEM EVILTO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD, choose for your YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE gods WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED THAT WERE WITH THEM ON THE SIDE OF THE RIVER, OR THE gods of THE AMORITES IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
Notice what JOSHUA SAID THE LORD SAID IN V13 ” I HAVE GIVEN YOU A LAND FOR WHICH YOU DID NOT LABOR AND CITIES WHICH YOU DID NOT BUILD AND YOU DWELLING IN THEM , YOU EAT OF VINEYARDS AND OLIVES GARDENS YOU DID NOT PLANT! GOD HAS DONE THAT FOR US
JOSHUA TRULY UNDERSTOOD HIS NAME CHANGE! DO YOU?
” IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATION OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND ALL THINGS BECOME NEW. ” 2 tCORINTHIANS 5:21
YOU WILL NEVER BE A GIANT KILLER LIVING IN THE PAST, playing with the old gods , NOR WILL YOU BE A GIANT KILLER PLAYING WITH THE gods OF THIS PRESENT AGE.
OUR FATHER IS LOOKING FOR SOME CHILDREN THAT WILL DARE TO WALK IN THEIR NEW LIFE AND MAKE UP THEIR MINDS LIKE JOSHUA THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SERVE THE LORD!
WHAT MADE JOSHUA DIFFERENT 5 F’s this Morning
1) FAITH; BASED COMPLETELY UPON GOD.
NUMBERS 14:6 HIS NEW NAME JOSHUA ( Jesus in the Hebrew). ALL GOD HE KNEW GOD WAS ABLE . HE TRUSTED GOD. HE OBEYED GOD
THE ONLY TIME WE SEE HIS FAITH FALTER IS IN JOSHUA 7 at AI. We all will have an AI IN OUR LIVES. Where we lose FOCUS!
2) FOCUS : UP UNTIL AI, JOSHUA HAD BEEN FOCUSED ON HIS GOD BUT IN THIS EXPERIENCE WE FIND HIM QUESTIONING GOD? JOSHUA 7: 7
FOCUS DEVELOPS FAITHFULNESS! SHOW ME A PERSON THAT IS NOT FOCUSED AND I WILL SHOW YOU A PERSON THAT WILL FAIL IN THEIR FAITHFULNESS
JESUS SAID ” SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND “. HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS”
Matt 6:33
3 FELLOWSHIP; FOCUS DEVELOPS FELLOWSHIP.
JOSHUA’s FOCUS DEVELOPED FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS GOD AND WITH OTHERS
NO MAN IS AN ISLAND UNTO HIMSELF( John Donne)
Hebrews says FORSAKE NOT THE ASSEMBLING OF YOURSELF TOGETHER. DONT SAY YPU HAVE FELLOWSHIP AND DONT BE A PART OF A THRIVING BODY OF CHRIST.
JOSHUA SPENT THE 40 years in the WILDERNESS WITH THE CHILDREN THAT REBELLED BUT HE STAYED IN FELLOWSHIP AND WAS FAITHFUL
4). FIGHTER- HE WAS A WARRIOR. EXODUS 17: 8-15
AMALEKITES WERE CONSTANTLY WARRING WITH ISRAEL. ALLEGORY OF OUR FLESH
We have been given ARMOR SO WE CAN FIGHT EPHESIANS 6:10-18′
5). FAVORED: JOSHUA WAS CALLED – CHOSEN- APPOINTED TO BEAR FRUIT.
JUST LIKE US . Yet we walk around talking about all our problems
YOU ARE BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED
CLOSING: WHAT IS YOUR DECISION TODAY? A MADE UP MIND IS 80 % of THE BATTLE.
JOSHUA SAID” AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!!