And God Gave—1

AND GOD GAVE-I—Joshua 24:1-13

Joshua reminded Israel of the extent of God’s giving to produce a viable witness in the world.

God’s giving is intended to produce a viable witness in the world.

What investment has God made in producing a witness(to salvation)?

Investments God makes in producing a witness.

1—Investment in a witness is

An Investment in VISION(:2-3)

Explanation:(:2-3)

:2—“And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham & the father of Nahor, & they served other gods.

“They served other gods”—

:3—“‘Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, & led him through all the land of Canaan, & multiplied his descendants & gave him Isaac.”

“Your father Abraham”— “Father’—implies future—

Working toward the future thru working with the present.

*Vision—to see what is not apparent to the eye.

Vision is not present reality but is future reality!

Vision declares the future as reality.

Argumentation:

Pr. 29:18—“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”

Lam. 2:7-9—READ—:9—“...her prophets find No vision from the LORD.”

Illustration:

Couple/Bought land & trailer/Anticipating marriage/Vision

Application:

?Your Giving reflect God’s VISION?

?What is God’s Vision for you/us/those in our future?

?You apply God’s Vision for the sake of others?

?Has God’s Investment in YOU produced His witness?

2—Investment in a witness is

An Investment in PATIENCE(:4-5, 7)

Explanation:(:4-5, 7)

:4—“‘And to Isaac I gave Jacob & Esau, & to Esau I gave Mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob & his sons went down to Egypt.

:5—“‘Then I sent Moses & Aaron, & I plagued Egypt by what I did in its midst; & afterward I brought you out.”

—400 years in Egypt

:7c— “And you lived in the wilderness for a long time.”

—40 years in desert—

TIME/YEARS—

—Generations

SUFFERING—Slavery, Disobedience, Unfaithfulness

Rejection of birthright

Argumentation:

Rom. 11:25—“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in;”.

We must apply ourselves diligently.

Lk. 21:23-24—“Woe to those who are with child & to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, & wrath to this people, & they will fall by the edge of the sword, & will be led captive into all the nations; & Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Rom. 8:18-22—“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans & suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

Illustration:

Baking Yeast Bread/Rise-Knead-Rise-Knead.etc./Patience needed

Frozen Lasagne/2 hr. cooking time/Patience needed

Parents praying for salvation of children

Application:

?Your Giving reflect God’s PATIENCE?

?Why has God been Patient with you/us/those in our past?

?You easily give up on people/members?

?You apply God’s Patience for the sake of others?

?Has God’s Investment in YOU produced His witness?

3—Investment in a witness is

An Investment in FREEDOM(:5)

Explanation:(:5)

“‘Then I sent Moses & Aaron, & I plagued Egypt by what I did in its midst; & afterward I brought you out.”

Argumentation:

1Pet. 2:16—“Act as free men, & do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.”

1Cor. 8:9-10—“But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?”

Jas. 2:12—“So speak & so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.”

Illustration:

Penned dog/Abused/Set free/Loyal or Wander to its Free-er?

Children/Raised without abuses/Reach adulthood/Freedom/Investment in Freedom

Application:

?Your Giving reflect God’s FREEDOM?

?Why has God given Freedom to you/us/those in our past?

?You Freed from the power of sins that shackle you?

?You apply God’s Freedom for the sake of others?

?Has God’s Investment in YOU produced His witness?

4—Investment in a witness is

An Investment in PRESERVATION(:7a, 8, 10)

Explanation:(:7a, 8, 10)

:7a—“‘But when they cried out to the LORD, He put darkness between you & the Egyptians, & brought the sea upon them & covered them;...”