Making A Mark For Our Master

Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace.

A Country preacher had spend the week at a preaching convention in a near-by city. When he came back to his local Church, he decided to try out some of the new words he had learned. He asked one of his members did he know what “status-quo” meant? He replied, he didn’t rightly know, but he did think it was a Latin word which means as a Church we are in a mess.

Beloved, we are in a mess when we try to just hold on, and do not make a mark for God. Some are making a mark for the devil, but you and I as God’s children should have a desire to make a mark for out master.

You can search the Bible and find many who left their marks for God such as Moses, Abraham, Elijah, John, and Paul. But I want you to notice a man who even though had a hard time he left a mark for God. His name was Joshua. He didn’t inherit a good situation from Moses but he did a good job according to Joshua 24:31 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel. {overlived...: Heb. prolonged their days after Joshua}

Lets look and see some of the secrets in his leaving a mark for God.

I-WE NOTICE THAT JOSHUA WAS POSITIVE:

Numbers 14:6-8 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, [is] an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

1-The people of Israel had been wandering in desert for 1 1/2 years since they were delivered from Egypt. They are standing at the border of the land of Canaan, the promised land. Twelve spies are sent to determine if the land is ready to be taken. They report that the land flows with milk and honey - it is rich with resources. However, the people that live there are powerful. Caleb and Joshua urge them to take the land for the Lord will give it to them. The other ten spies are afraid and cast fear upon all the people. 1

2-Johua had a positive outlook, he had a look of faith. He saw something bigger than the walled cities, bigger than the iron chariots, bigger that the giants, he saw that God was in it.

3-So many in our Churches have a negative outlook. Many act like that God is dead for they limit the power of God.

4-Jerry Vines says that many have been infected by “Aunt Susiam”. He said, Aunt Susie was always complaining at Church about something. One day, a man said to her, look, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming. She snapped back, yes, but it is a raining somewhere. 2

5-She has the same negative attitude as the lady who came to business meeting. She was asked how she going to vote on a certain issue. She said, she hadn’t decided yet but either way, she was going to be very bitter about it.

6-Spud Webb who is only 5’7” after winning the nba dunking contest was asked how did he do it” he said, I just believed that I could.

ILLUSTRTATION: Two boys on the school playground were discussing a classmate. One of them remarked, "He's no good at sports." The other quickly responded, "Yes, but he always plays fair." The critical one added, "He isn't very smart in school either." His friend answered, "That may be true, but he studies hard." The boy with the mean tongue was becoming exasperated with the attitude of the other. "Well," he sneered, "did you ever notice how ragged his clothes are?" The other boy kindly replied, "Yes, but did you ever notice, they're always clean!" Every negative observation was countered by a positive one. It's a pity we don't have this kind of perspective as adults! 3

7-If we are going to make a mark for God, we will have to have a positive outlook, a trusting faith in our Lord.

8-Corrie Ten Boom said, Faith is a

_F_antastic

_A_dventure

_I_n

_T_rusting

_H_im

II-WE NOTICE THAT JOSHUA WAS OBEDIENCE:

Joshua 11:15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. {left...: Heb. removed nothing}