4 Steps

1. The Request Main Scripture Reference

2. The Promise Joshua 5 & 1kings 17:13,15,16

3. The Obedience

4. The Blessing

Starting with Joshua 5 verse 1 we read....... So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we* had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.

Deut. 28:10 10 ..... Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

“As Christians we need to show God’s power and how we are set apart” Do you show yourself as a child of God? Do you walk in His full anointing when you are outside of the church building? Do those around you know that you area Christian? On your job? Neighborhood? School? Family? Also most importantly do you make Hell tremble when you wake up in the morning?

The Request of God:

Joshua 5:2-5 Circumcision of the men of Israel

1 Kings 17:13 The widow was asked to share what little there was of her flour and oil

How the 2 correspond with one another:

The Israelites were asked to remove excess from themselves to cut.

The widow was asked to share and to cut the amt. of flour that she had left to share with the Prophet Elijah.

Ask yourselves this; “what has God asked of you, to cut and to remove from your lives? (Be it some form of addiction or excess, and or maybe He has asked you for some of your time)

One thing I would like to look at, but will really not take up much time with is the verse in Joshua 5:8. Notice how the men of Israel had to stay in their camps till they were healed.

I am sure some of you can relate to this; when God is doing His surgery (His cutting) to remove what is not right or that which might hinder our walk and growth with Him, God would like for us to stay right where were at, to heal. Most of the time this occurs in the body (church). We hear things in the sermon the Pastor preaches and we feel a twinge of conviction. More times then ever, others will also play a part of that correction or direction, and usually Christians will walk off with hurt feelings. Some will even have the thought that the Pastor was wrong for preaching that particular sermon. All too often the brother or sister will leave the body, and enter another fellowship. And what they take with them are those hurt feelings that are open bleeding sores. Because these are areas that needed correction or cutting away. Then what happens is that they infect the new body that they just entered, either knowingly or unknowingly- the cycle will continue....

The Promise of God

Joshua 5:6 Entrance into the promise Land

1 Kings 17:14 Flour and oil will not run dry

Here in both instances you see God’s promise, “If you do.... I will do”

2Cor. 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

The Obedience of Man

Joshua 5:7 The men allowed themselves to be cut, by Joshua

1 Kings 17:15 The widow did make the cake for Elijah

In both cases they took the word of a man, but they were also men of God. How often has God talked to us through others, and we do not heed His words of correction or direction?

The Blessing of God

Joshua 5:12 They entered (saw) the Promise Land and ate of it

1 Kings 17:16 The widow (saw) the endless supply of flour and oil

Through their total act of obedience they were able to receive the full blessings of the Lord!

All too often we as Christians just want God’s blessings, but we fail to be obedient. Many want to receive the blessings of Deut. 28:2-14, but how many look at v. 15-68? - The “curses of disobedience?” All to often we try to short cut what God would have us do. We only want too do steps 2 &4. We tell God remember your “Promise?” and or we say I want the “Blessing” And God say’s, “well what did I say you had to do first?” God’s request and our obedience go hand in hand.

I leave you with these questions only you yourself can answer-

1. What has God asked you to do?