God’s Plan for Success
Did you know that God has plans for your success and prosperity?
He does. In the O.T. it is stated this way… Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
In the N.T. … It is stated… John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
God wants you to succeed, the same way He did the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land
Today we continue our study of our Faith Family Tree as we look at Joshua. There are many, many lessons we can learn from Joshua.
I want you to look at Chapter 1 as we begin to learn from Joshua… really from God… God’s Plan for Success.
God gave Joshua a three point plan…
1 The Israelites stepped out in faith.
2 They sanctified their hearts and bodies.
3 They submitted to the Lord.
As a result, they found success.
The same can be true for us because God is still God and His plan is still the same.
So let’s break it down point by point.
1. THE ISRAELITES STEPPED OUT IN FAITH.
Someone has defined faith as: walking to the edge of all the light you have and taking one more step.
Here is a girl who illustrates faith… walking to the edge of all the brains you have and taking one more step
I like that definition because when does our walk become faith???
When we step out into the unknown
2 Cor. 5:7 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
As long as you are walking by sight… that is not faith
It does not become faith UNTIL… UNTIL we step out… without sight
Joshua and Israel exhibited that type of faith multiple times
1. They stepped into the dry river
2. They marched around Jericho in silence… 6 days
If you ever heard of a ridiculous battle plan… this was it
No siege, no ramparts, no weapons
It was humiliating. It was contrary to ALL battle plans
It took faith the first day.
It took more faith the second day
It took even more faith the third day… etc
We don’t read that any feigned sickness… or hid…or grumbled
THEY STEPPED OUT… farther and farther
And how did God respond to their expression of faith?
He rewarded it.
Go back 40 years… their decision was to NOT step out but stay safe
What was God’s response? PUNISHENT
So don’t miss the biblical principle:
God punishes those who refuse to step out
But God rewards those who do step out… AFTER THEY STEP OUT
We often talk about needing God’s help or strength… but don’t get it
WHY???
Because we are standing where it is safe… where we don’t need it
When will God give us help? WHEN WE NEED IT!!!
Isaiah 40:29-31 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
So… the first thing the Israelites did was…
They stepped out in faith
The next step in God’s plan was…
They sanctified their hearts and bodies
What does sanctify mean?
To set apart as or declare holy (belonging to God); consecrate.
Notice what Joshua TOLD them… Sanctify YOURSELF
Joshua told them… ONLY YOU can sanctify yourself… your heart… your life… your all
That must happen in the heart and spirit and only you can do it.
What did the Israelites do?
They sanctified their hearts to God
Then what did Joshua do?
He circumcised their body… the sign of the people of God
Outward, visible sign and reminder of belonging to God
Like baptism
How do we know they really sanctified their hearts or meant it?
1 The bible says so
2 God accepted them and used them
3 Because they were willing to go “under the knife”
Now, listen… I don’t have any flint knives and don’t come to me asking me to do any circumcisions. Not in my job description.
BUT… circumcision OF THE HEART is still a NECESSARY step to success… spiritually.
While circumcision today no longer involves an “invasive” procedure
God is still looking for His people to be circumcised… in the heart and body
But the circumcision takes place IN THE HEART… but is REALIZED, proven… in the body
Our bodies… mouth, mind, hands, feet, wallet, actions, thoughts are to be set aside to obey and honor God
I said the way we knew the Israelites really circumcised their heart was by their actions
True of you and me today. The only way you or the world can know that you have truly circumcised your heart is by your actions, your life, your walk
IF THE ACTIONS/LIFE DO NOT BRING HONOR TO GOD… THE CIRCUMCISION WAS NOT REAL
So what were the steps to success?
1 The Israelites stepped out in faith.
2 They sanctified their hearts and bodies.
3 They submitted to the Lord.
To what did they submit?
To the stupidest battle plan ever invented.
Years later there may have been one more stupid…
Fighting with torches hidden in clay pots
Now I want you to listen really closely to what I am about to say:
While salvation never needs to be repeated… and while circumcision of the body never needs to be repeated… circumcision of the heart/spirit do need to be repeated/rededicated from time to time
Example: Before day one, they dedicated themselves, and the next day they walked around Jericho… no weapons, no fights, no words… just walked… it felt ridiculous... they felt silly… and when they got back to camp Joshua told them get a good nights sleep… tomorrow we’re going to do it again
They had second thoughts, doubts, pride said “NO”.
They had to re-dedicate… re-circumcise their heart
Harder on each successive day… by day five spiritual circumcision of the heart hurt as much as physical circumcision had hurt.
Jericho response… elaborate
Imagine the atmosphere in the camp on night 4, 5, 6
Depressed, humiliated, angry… “not going back again”
If any talking… grumbling against Joshua
But what happened the next day?
NO STRAGGLERS, no hold-outs, no A.W.A.L.
Why? That night they had RE- circumcised… RE-dedicated
Sometimes WE need to rededicate, re-circumcise our hearts
Because the opposition is so strong,
Because our doubts rise up
Because the task is too hard
But … like Israel… we can re-commit and we can be successful
Look at day seven, see the walls falling and the army killed on the walls hurling insults… see the people huddled in the middle… easy victory
Israel was successful because
1 They stepped out in faith.
2 They sanctified their hearts and bodies.
3 They submitted to the Lord.
It is still THE ONLY plan for success
