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