Choose this day

Not sure who is still with us but today is our last chapter in Joshua. A few have requested we continue on forward together in the Word. The more comments and feedback the more likely we will continue on. Thanks so much to Robby and Jack who have been faithful posting. I have grown so much and I am sure others have as well. We truly are victorious. So let's close out with Chapter 24.

Joshua begins by rehearsing for them all that God had done for them. Beginning in verse three, speaking on the behalf of God Joshua, seventeen times in rapid-fire succession Joshua shouts aloud for the Lord, “… I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and (I) multiplied his descendants and (I) gave him Isaac. (4) To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau….. (5) I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to what I did among them. Afterward I brought you out…... (8) And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you. But I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you…. (13) I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.'”

He is asking them to examine the facts and then decide.

Joshua’s primary concern is crystal-clear; He wants them to know who the real God is. It is not with the might of their swords or bows that the victory has been won, but by the power of God. God had done it all. But the people nevertheless have to choose God for themselves – intelligently, decisively and willingly.

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! (15) And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. …”

There can be little doubt about what Joshua is after. The word “serve” appears seven times in verses fourteen and fifteen. Joshua that day called for a decision that would help end the spiritual, intellectual and moral restlessness that marked so many lives. Joshua demands a commitment when he says, “And now fear the Lord and serve him whole heartedly and without reservation.”

We are challenged to go on and by deliberate, daily choices to follow Christ in fearless faith just as Joshua had. It may not make us popular but it will make us powerful as the people of God.

Choosing and blessed to serve with you,
Pastor Joe

Would love to hear from those who haven't posted especially if you would like us to continue

The Truth

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”

- Joshua 23:14-16

Joshua is a witness to the undeniable fact that every word the Lord speaks is true. Every promise is fulfilled. But, He demands that we acknowledge His Kingship and Lordship, that we put Him in the proper place. There's consequence to not doing so. When we haven't, we have no right to those promises and no place in His inheritance. Let's acknowledge Him and His Word and put them in their proper place. The place of our reverence and respect, obedience and service, honor and glory, belief and trust, wonder and awe, praise and worship, adoration and the highest love.

Chapter 18-22 Living in the Blessing

It's one thing to experience victory and blessing, but it's another to remain victorious. In these chapters we are discovering daily obedience to, and faith in, Christ allows us to enlarge our capacity to live a life in His Spirit. In Chapter 18 we see the challenge of resisting change.

Joshua 18:³ Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? God wants to be our refuge and invites us to live in this land but we choose instead to live outside of his blessing after we have obtained it. We neglect being faithful in the word, Church attendance, accountability. It's exciting to talk about possessing the Land, but it would be a shame to possess to the Land and obtain Victory only to loose it. I believe we are challenged to be obedient in the midst of the daily routine and celebrate the daily disciplines that we have strive to conquer. It's like being a championship team that loses in the first round of the playoffs. I am not going to settle for one ring I want the Dynasty,

Joshua 22:5

⁵ But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Dwelling with you,

Pastor Joe

Sharpening the AX

¹⁴ Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?”
¹⁵ So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.” Joshua 17:14-15

The children of Joseph were not satisfied with their lot; there was not enough room for there gifts they thought; they wanted more. Your complaint may be the same. that you don't have enough or given enough responsibility for your abilities. Are you constantly discontented with your present lot? Do you find yourself always wanting a greater role to serve the Lord? Today's reading my be bringing to light that the enemy is still present in your inner being. Do you find yourself saying, if only my circumstances were different! I had a different job! God will keep you where you are until you have lived to the full capacity in your present lot. I love Joshua's answer. If your so great get an ax and start possessing the land, go ahead! We can at any time decide to go it alone without God but in the end it will not be good for us. The Lord may be saying to some of us that we need to step out in faith and cut down some trees that are hindering us from greater opportunity for service for the Lord. So obey God in all things today. Stop the whining! Drive out the enemy! Cut down whatever it is that is preventing you from living a full life in Christ.

Pastor Joe

Good Friday

So I wanted to break away from Joshua today and talk about Good Friday. Today marks the day that Christ was crucified for our sins, the day He took our place, our burden, and our punishment. Today is the day we reflect on the work of our Savior on the cross. Today is a somber day as we read about the brutality, the shame, and the rejection He experienced on our behalf. Today is the day that Jesus went through the most difficult, most painful, most horrible experience that anyone could ever experience for you and for me. Today is the day that He gave the greatest sacrifice, paid the greatest price to purchase us, and showed the greatest love. Today the veil was torn. Without today we would still be lost without hope. Let's take time today to remember, to refocus, and realign ourselves with the work of the cross because our response is thus:

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

Robby

Joshua 13-14

Joshua 14:11-12 (New King James Version)

¹¹ As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. ¹² Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”

I hope you noticed by I am covering two chapters today. Chapter 13 was primarily a list of the land that had been conquered. I think Caleb's response in vv. 11-12 in chapter 14 is amazing. Here we have an 85 year old man saying that he is ready to kick some butt. 45 years earlier Caleb as a spy, returned with a report of the land and was ready to enter but the other spy's were fearful. Saying that the people were taller and greater than them (Duet 1) but not Caleb, the dude is a warrior. We need more Caleb's in our lives that don't walk in fear but ready to take on whoever and whatever is thrown at them. My question for you is are you Caleb or are you someone who walks in fear assuming the worst? There is nothing impossible with our God. Real men follow Jesus. I would encourage you to go pick a fight with Satan today. Stop walking with fear and being a wimp. Don't let an 85 year old dude put you to shame.

Man Up and walk in your inheritance!

Pastor Joe

Details and Enjoyment

Difficult chapter today because there isn't really any action here. We have an account of all of the kings defeated in Moses' time as well as in Joshua's conquest. But something that I got from this portion of scripture is that our God cares about the details. That's why His Word can't be proved wrong. We can base our understanding of history on the Bible because history is based on His plans. And to bring it to a more personal level, He is involved in every detail of our little lives. The word says that even the hairs on our heads are numbered and that He sees each tear that falls. He sees our every private moment and into our very hearts. He cares about the details.
Another thing that I wanted to point out was that Moses spent the time before they entered the promised land in battle fighting through the land. When Joshua entered into it it seemed like there should've just been peace. But we see that he had to conquer 31 kings! Their enjoyment of the promise was dependent on them taking hold of it, believing God in faith, stepping forward and ceasing what God had promised. What are the promises God is telling you to cease in faith in this season?

Robby

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Taking Inventory

"Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses. Joshua 11:15

I am reminded when I had first read through Joshua and I struggled with how the Lord would ask that Joshua or whoever would destroy people completely. I just didn't understand why such harsh orders. Later I would discover that when leaders would not obey the Lord that those nations would rise up again and even commit more evil and more destruction. God is always good and always knows what's best for us and His creation. God has also commanded us to destroy things in our lives. The question for us is, will we be obedient. Sin is our adversary and victory is ours. What has the Lord called you to destroy and you haven't put it to death

^{Romans 6:11}Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

To conquer the land God has for us sin cannot reign in our bodies. I say we have some serious bloodshed today. Wipe it out. All of it! Take The Land.

Viiictoooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Pastor Joe

Fighting for Us

"And as they fled before Israel... the Lord threw down large stones from heaven... There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword." - Joshua 10:11

"... The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel." - Joshua 10:13b-14

This is the God who fights for us. This is the overwhelming victory we have in Christ our Lord. I feel like today the scriptures speak for themselves. Take some time to claim victory in the name of Jesus over your struggles and battles. Let out a shout of victory and thank our powerful and mighty God because He's worthy.

Victorious,

Robby


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sneaky

14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua ymade peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. Joshua 9:14-15

So what's your take on the Gibeonites? Yes they deceived that Israel, but it worked. Joshua walks with integrity and keeps the covenant. Today I am reminded on how many times someone has either lied or even betrayed me. God does take evil and can turn it for good. Making them woodcutter and water carriers is not a bad deal for either party. My whole mindset this morning is that I am accountable for my actions to the Lord. I can't control what others will say and do but I can trust the Lord.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt 633

Joshua did that by honoring the covenant he made, he had to be puzzled and w0nder what am I supposed to do now? Walking with integrity and in truth is always our battle plan.

Lord, help me trust you and walk in truth and righteousness. Be my defender, Be my source, Be my light, Be my center. Help me keep my eyes of others and live my life according to your word. Help me to trust you when life just does't make sense.

Making sense of it all.

Joe

Waiting and Trusting

If only they would've waited!!! We see here at Ai that the Lord says they can take the possessions of the people for spoils. It's so ridiculous when we try to take the blessings of God instead waiting for the Giver of every good and perfect to give them Himself. Taking comes with a price, but when God gives in His time and within His criteria it has no strings attached, tax free so to say. Maybe, like in the case of this chapter, it's not a matter of waiting, but of trusting God to fulfill a desire. You want something and He just says no. Achan made the mistake of not listening and he paid the penalty. If he would've listened, he would've received the fulfillment of his desire 1000 fold at Ai. The Lord has a plan, has you completely covered, and has you completely in mind because He loves you. We read in Luke 12 a few weeks ago in Axiom about this. Let's continue to be challenged in waiting and trusting God. Because He comes through EVERY TIME and you can't tell me any different.

Robby

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Get UP

¹⁰ So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Joshua 7:10

I don't know about you but Joshua is so rich with depth and insight. I love how the Lord told him to Get Up! It's not like Joshua was being lazy. He was praying and interceding and the Lord told him to knock it off. Humbling thyself in the sight of the Lord, prayer, and worship are all good but there is a time to act on ones faith and that pleases the Lord. Joshua role was to hold Achan and the people accountable for their sin. I am sure we can pray for eachother but at times what the Lord is asking us is to point out the sin in another brothers life. By preventing the sin in Achan's life it also prevented damaged in other peoples lives. Nothing seems to anger me more when others have to pay the consequence of someone else's sin. Lord forgive me for transgressing against others.

Today let's get Up and stand up against sin, Ours and in our brothers life.

Getting Up!
Joe

The Battle Cry of Obedience

Joshua's generation had seen firsthand the result of going against the command of God. They and their parents had wandered in the desert for 40 years for their disobedience, but in this chapter I believe the Lord is teaching them, and us for that matter, a very important principle: Victory and blessing come with a condition and that's obedience. Obedience pushes us out of the way, allows God to do His work, and creates a situation where only He can receive the glory. "It's not by strength, not by might, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." Today we're barraged with a gospel that requires nothing from us, but eye service and a smile. But the character of God has never changed:

"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to the law which Moses My servant commanded you..." - Joshua 1:7a

"... abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love." - John 15:9-10

The Lord had given the Israelites very specific direction. They followed it and were victorious because of it. When have you obeyed the Lord and experienced victory because of it? Is there a time you can recall when you failed to do what God asked, resulting in defeat? What is a point of obedience that the Lord is pressing upon you today?

BE VICTORIOUS!

Robby

Law of the loose sandal

"Take of your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." Joshua 5:15

If Pastor Jack wasn't so blog challenged I would have him post today. I was sharing with him about our study in Joshua and he went on to tell me about the law of the loose sandal. In our reading today Joshua receives the same instruction Moses did at the burning bush. The other time this occurs is when Jesus himself asks his disciples to take off there sandals at the last supper. I wish you all could witness Jack's passion and excitement as he tells that it is only the Lord that asks for us to take of our sandals. What are your thoughts on why Moses and Joshua are asked to take off there sandals because they are standing on holy ground? Let's get some discussion and we'll get Jack to chime in today!

Smooth and Jagged Stones

It amazes me to see how the work of Christ is so evident in the entirety of the scriptures. In this portion of scripture we see this evidence as the Israelites are crossing the Jordan. The Jordan represents death and the stones, us. When the Israelites removed the stones from the Jordan to set up the memorial it symbolized resurrection through the death and resurrection of Jesus. When they replaced the stones with ones from the land, it reminds and challenges me in this:

"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life... Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." - Romans 6:4;6

The stones from the land were jagged and crusted with dirt, but those from the Jordan were smooth and clean. They didn't look like those from the land. People who saw the twelve stacked stones would know that they were from the river and that somehow they were taken out. Are you a living and breathing testimony of Christ's work on the cross, a smooth stone from the river, or are you still walking as a jagged crusty old rock? What are some memorials/monuments you've made because of the Lord's work in your life?

May God's Word challenge and direct you today,

Robby

Time For Sanctification

And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you" Joshua 3:5

I have studied Joshua many times and what the Lord seems to be stirring in me this time around are the little acts of obedience that lead to great acts of God glory in the peoples lives. Before the people were to cross the Jordan they were told to Sanctify themselves. This meant for them to remove or divorce themselves from anything that was unclean and devote themselves completely to God. If they had not, would they ever cross the Jordan? I do believe that in order for God's fullness in our lives (Glory) we must lay aside and remove all that is unclean in our lives and be filled with Him his Spirit. What is the Lord calling you to remove from your vessel? I sense the Lord cleansing my thought life that is evil and not edifying and replacing it his with his thoughts towards me and others.

Sanctify!!!

Sent Out! - Joshua 2

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho" So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. Joshua 2:1

What strikes me this morning is that the Lord sends out these spies into hostile territory and endangering there lives. Why are we surprised when danger or others may seek to destroy our lives? As we read of the events today where the spies are hidden, let us not forget the events of our daily lives that may appear to be dire or lost. The spies were not found, captured or killed, within this chapter they escape with their lives and better yet are able to see the promised land. Then enemy is also pursuing us in different ways but just as the Lord directed the steps of the spies we too have a helper who directs our step. My prayer for each of us is that we recognize the danger and who is pursuing us and know that God is with us. If God is with us than nothing will hinder us from entering into our destiny.

And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants or the country are fainthearted because of us." Joshua 2:24

Why are we so surprised when life is difficult and challenging?

Go see and be reminded of the land God has given us!

Joe

Be Strong and of good courage

"This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8

The book of Joshua is a book about victory, inheritance, blessing, peace, and rest to God's people who meditate and walk in obedience to his word. God is calling us to a life of obedience and faith. My prayer and confidence is, as we trust his word we will surely grow and blessings will follow us all the days of our lives. Joshua's life and leadership demonstrated that spiritual maturity is not independence from God, but a responsive dependence on God.

All of us face different and similar battles today the command is to "Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

I believe the Lord is calling us to battle and today is our commissioning if you have decided in your heart to engage in this battle please respond with a simple yes or whatever your war cry may be. I am also asking each of us to pick a verse in Joshua chapter 1 and share how it has commissioned you in the battle you face. The land that was to be given to God's people could only be conquered by a united Israel. I know God, as called us together this day to support each other to defeat the battles we all face. WAR!!!!

Battling With You,

Pastor Joe