Cross Creek Community Church, Pastor Dave Martin January 3, 2010

“Crossing Into Victory”

Series Part 1 of 5 ~ Joshua 1:1-9

 

“Crossing” – A journey into a New Year… ultimately into eternity… Live in victory NOT regret!

• We “cross” bridges everyday… relationships, employment, career, spiritual decisions, eternity
• Everyone is on the journey of life… we crossed into a new decade 2010… what will it hold for you?
• New Year’s often brings with it new resolutions, top 10 for 2010… 10) Get organized  9)Help others       8) Learn something new   7) Get out of debt 6) Quit drinking    5) Enjoy life more  4) Quit smoking          3) Tame the bulge   2) Get fit in fitness   1) Spend more time with family & friends

 

Most everyone desires to be Victorious in Life/Successful... but what exactly is it?

• Winston Churchill, the English Prime Mister, graduated last in his college class.
• Thomas Edison, the American inventor, had only three months of formal education.
• Professional quarterbacks complete only 60% of their passes….Basketball 50%  shots. Baseball 25% hits

 

Two measures of Victory/Success… God’s standard or the world’s standard

• We can be highly successful by world standards… seemingly living in victory…
• We can have position, power, prestige, possessions and yet still feel empty/unfulfilled inside
• We can have the greatest education yet still have a dysfunctional family… striking out with God

 

For 40 years Joshua faithfully served along side Moses.  He saw the cruelty when they were slaves in Egypt.  He saw the plagues God poured against Pharaoh.  He was there when they got boxed in between the Red Sea and the powerful Egyptian Army.  He watched as Moses lifted His staff and God parted the Red Sea, ‘crossing over’ on dry ground.  He stood in amazement and awe as God led the children of Israel with Pillar of Cloud and Fire across the desert wilderness.  Joshua was one of the 12 spies who spied out the Promise Land of Canaan 38 years earlier.  A growth process filled with experiences of life… like each of us here…

·        Joshua and the Israelite are about to “Cross Over” – into the Promised Land… “Crossing into Victory”

 

To get the context lets read Joshua 1:1-9

 

•  Illustration of unpacking a toolbox… Each tool is important intended to perform a certain function…

I.       Toolbox of Salvation

“Moses the servant of the Lord…”v1  “Moses My servant…”v2  “My servant Moses…” v7

·         Moses is called God’s Servant 16 times in the book of Joshua alone!  The end of Joshua’s Life he too was called the servant of the Lord!   Joshua 24:29 After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.

 

 “Servant” (Used 726 times in Bible in various forms) – bond slave, surrendered to their Master

·         A person who has crossed over from death to life through Jesus Christ… They have trusted in Jesus…

·         Called salvation, saved, born again, Christian, believer, follower, redeemed, new man, cleansed frm sin

·         You  must have the toolbox of salvation… that’s the bridge to victory… to gain a “decisive victory”

·         Servitude requires a humbling of our hearts, a willingness to do whatever for your Master… obedience

 

Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

James 4:6b  “..."God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

From darkness into light… from being lost to being found… from enemy with God to a friend…

 

Be Positionally Secure in Christ… do you know for sure if you are going to heaven?  Secure in Christ

 

 

II.     Tool of Faith

Joshua 1:1-6 ¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ² "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.

 

God’s Promised Blessings…

·         V4 - Expanding Influence (Acts 2:41-47)… your spouse, children, family, co-workers…

·         V5 - Supernatural Protection (1Pet 5:18; Eph 6:10-12)… driving, health, unseen world, culture…

·         V5b- Presence of God (Acts 4:31)… WOW – you have everything… peace, hope, contentment…

·         V6 - Divine Promotion (Act 5:38-39)… Joshua, David, Daniel, Peter, Moody, Billy Graham…

 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

·         Humble, broken seeking God, believing and trusting His Promises… do you believe?

·         Joshua about to enter the Promised Land… flooded Jordan River… Bad guys on other side…

·         New leadership capacity, now leading 2 million Israelites… Joshua trusted God…

·         I imagine Joshua was a little shaky, weak, doubting, scared, apprehensive… yet he didn’t quit.

·         Do you believe God desires you to be victorious?  Believe He wants to restore broken relations?

·         Do you believe God has a perfect plan for your life? Do you believe He will protect you?

Be Trusting God’s Promises

 

III.    Tool of Discipline  (God encouraged Joshua… and gave Him something absolutely vital to sustain Him)

Joshua 1:7-9 ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

·         Joshua leading 2M of God’s chosen people… Key, essential, supreme importance – stay connected

 

Vital Power Connection…

·      Reading God’s Word – no better time to start than NOW… A Christian but NEVER read thru Bible?

·      Meditating on God’s Word – “ruminants” animals chewing the cud – thoroughly digest food

·      Obeying God’s Word with Action – not just a hearer but a doer of the Word… changes seen

 

I wonder what happens when I remove the power from this drill?  We MUST stay connected Jn 15:5-vine

 

CHRISTIAN, listen very carefully… Have you ever wondered why bad habits keep hanging on?  Why I’ve lost my passion for the Lord?  Why my church attendance is so erratic?  Why I can’t get victory over my addictive behavior?  Why relationships around me are in chaos?  Why the world has such a grip on me?  Why I feel so powerless as a believer?  Why I am seldom happy and often troubled in my soul? (You might not be a Christian and may need to get saved)

 

·         I believe the main reason we have never “Crossed over into victorious living” is because we fail to connect in God’s Word… Do we read it?  Do we meditate upon it?  Do we faithfully obey it?

·         We can become calloused in our hearts… tolerate sinful behavior… as the world goes to hell

 

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

·         We try everything & as the last resort turn to God for answers… We need discipline in our lives!

·         EVERYDAY getting connected with your heavenly Father through His inspired Word…

 

1 John 5:3-4 ³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

 

Be Willing to Participate – a decision to choose to become engaged spiritually… Own your faith!

 

 

Application: Be in Position for “Victory”

Joshua 1:8b-9  “…Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

 

ü  Carve out specific quiet time with God – 6am/9pm/noon… It won’t happen unless you… do it!

ü  Commit to Read through the Bible (yellow sheets) – Book at at time or skip around… do it!

ü  Connect & Grow with a Small Group (Feb 1^st) – next week begin to sign-up… do it!

 

Sounds like a NIKI commercial… JUST DO IT…

 

By faith Joshua crossed the Jordan, defeated the enemy and secured the Promised Land, winning the victory

 

2010 can be a spiritually life changing year for you…

Choose to open your toolbox of salvation and begin to immerse yourself in God’s Word!  “Cross into Victory”

 

Let’s Pray

 

Cross Creek’s 2010 Animal Slideshow!