Be A Lifter Of The Arms And A Stone Mover

LIFTERS OF THE ARMS AND STONE MOVERS?

CLAIM MORE ---

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How often do we as Christian workers forget that God is a rewarder?

Remember this: God loves His people and He is faithful to reward them.

The fulfillment of Divine Promises and His blessings depend on our submission, cooperation, faithfulness, trust and obedience. Yet God has grace and mercy

for us.

No man is an island to himself. Our choices affect other people.

God desires us to prepare to possess and be blessed.

I. THERE WAS A GREAT PROMISE FROM GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.

A. GOD HAD A MAN --- HIS NAME WAS JOSHUA.

Joshua had big shoes to fill at the passing of Moses.

B. GOD REASSURED JOSHUA THAT THE HOLY PRESENCE WOULD LEAD AND GUIDE HIM TO GUIDE THE PEOPLE TO THEIR DIVINE INHERITANCE AND PROMISES.

Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

II. GOD HAD A GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS.

GOD’S PLAN IS TO MAKE THEIR WAY PROSPEROUS.

A. God will not allow Joshua to drown in the stress of the problems before them.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all

that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever

thou goest.

B. GOD WANTED TO ENCOURAGE HIS MAN ABOUT THE BIG DIFFICULTIES HE WOULD FACE.

C. 4 x’s in one chapter God tells Joshua BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE.

D. Beside God encouraging Joshua, Moses had encouraged Joshua before his exit.

III. GOD’S DESIGN WAS THAT JOSHUA AND THE PEOPLE PREPARE THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEARTS TO RECEIVE THE PROMISE.

THE PEOPLE HAD TO LEARN AGAIN --- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ---

GOD SAYS: AS WE ENTER INTO THIS NEW LEVEL OF FAITH --- WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE CAN DO.

Joshua 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they

did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

A. God had been feeding the people and God had been taking care of problems:

NOW THERE IS A PARADIGM SHIFT --- GOD IS GROWING HIS PEOPLE TO GROW, TO DEVELOP, TO TRUST AND TO LEAN ON HIM.

B. THERE HAD TO BE A SHIFT IN THE MINDSET OF GOD’S PEOPLE... THERE HAD TOBE A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL PROCESS THAT NOW WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK AND BRING ABOUT GOD’S PLAN.

C. THE MANNA WAS VERY GOOD, 6 X’S A WEEK FOR 40 YEARS.

BUT THE PEOPLE KNEW MANNA WAS NOT AN ETERNAL GIFT FROM GOD.

MANNA WAS A STOP GAP PROVISION.

D. QUIT CRYING, GOD IS CALLING YOU TO CHANGE!

IV. GOD HAD TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT JOSHUA WAS CHOSEN AND A GIFT FROM GOD TO THEM.

A. We need a healthy respect to the proven man of God.

B. We often see the man in the man of God, it is not the man --- it is OF GOD!

Joshua 4:14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

V. WHILE WE NEED TO LEAVE FINGERPRINTS THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN GOD’S PLAN, WE MUST LEAVE HEART PRINTS IN OTHER PEOPLE.

THERE MUST BE A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY!

Joshua 5:15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

VI. THERE WAS A GREAT PROMISE FROM GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.