DEFINING MOMENTS – PART THREE
TRUSTING IN THE FUTURES
JOSHUA 24:14-18 - DR. LARRY L. THOMPSON (2015)
Introduction:
(Pastor opens with story of visit by President of Insurance Company – “You’ve just made the biggest mistake in your life!”)
Cody Delistraty has published his study, “Seven Ways People Define Us.”
Sociologists say one of the best ways to judge a person’s character is by watching the way they order coffee. Ordering coffee is such a daily mundane task and yet listen to what the author says:
“Pay close attention to how people order their coffee. There’s no practical reason to be kind, patient or even to tip decently to the person waiting on you. Most people only see the cup a coffee; they fail to see the person who serves them. Many people are talking about their own personal “defining moments” in life. However, in their preoccupation with self, they have missed great opportunities to be the catalyst for a defining moment in the lives of others.” Dr. Cody Delistraty
Let’s start with clarifying a defining moment in life: A defining moments is a choice that you make, or an incident that happens to you, which causes something in your life to dramatically change. The defining moment is something that will forever define some aspect of your life.
All of us will experience many opportunities of defining moments throughout our lifetimes. Some major defining moments would include:
• Getting Married
• Having Children
• Your first job
• College Graduation
• A Divorce
• The Death of a Family Member
• Committing your life to Jesus Christ
Two important facts about defining moments:
• You are not limited to just one defining moment in life.
• Defining moments will impact your life; so much so, you will never be the same again.
The Bible is a great place to see good examples defining moments. Today I want us to look at the futures. Some people say it is good idea to invest in futures, others tell us to stay away from futures. However, today I want to illustrate a sure bet when you consider your spiritual futures and I want to use Joshua as the example. Here is a young man that was mentored by Moses and when the time came for his more important challenge in a defining moment he was ready to meet the challenge with faith.
“When Moses had finished giving these instructions to all the people of Israel, 2 he said, “I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan River.’ 3 But the LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will lead you across the river, just as the LORD promised.” Deut. 31:1-3 (NLT)
This was a defining moment for Moses, it was a defining moment for Joshua, it was a defining moment for the Children of Israel and it would be an historical and spiritual defining moment for who love the Lord and are followers of Christ.
Joshua would have several other defining moments in leading the children of Israel.
• Preparing the people to cross into the Promised Land
• Standing at the Jordan River and trusting God to get His people across safely.
• Joshua’s defining moments became defining moments for those who followed him as he was following God.
• They put their feet into the Jordan and God parted the waters for them, just as He had done for them at Red Sea a generation earlier.
• The impossible task of taking the walled city of Jericho; yet they obeyed God and created a defining moment memory.
• Defining moments are not only triumph, they can also be found in tragedy. Following the victory at Jericho they faced defeat at Ai. How would God’s people respond to defeat? How they responded would also be a defining moment for Gods’ people and His historians. YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY YOUR DEFEAT: BUT YOU ARE DEFINED AT HOW YOU RESPOND TO YOUR DEFEAT! You are either a Conquer or Coward…and that too is a defining moment in life.
Finally, after the wars had been fought, just as Moses passed the mantle of leadership to Joshua to help prepare God’s people for the future, now Joshua would continue that pattern and prepare God’s people for their own defining moments as a nation. Listen to this great leader of the Lord’s people…
“So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT)
THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT IN HISTORY OF ISRAEL! From this moment on, the nation of Israel is going to make a decision that will define their destiny.
• They will either be a people that is going to serve God or a people that is going to serve false gods?
• Will they be a people that depend on God; or are they going to depart from the dependent to an independent relationship?
• Will they walk by faith, trusting God; or will they walk by sight, trusting in their own strength and knowledge?
• Will they live in fellowship with God, clean people in the midst of a pagan culture; or will they allow the evil culture to influence them?
• This was now a defining moment for God’s people, not just God’s leader!
Here is my concern; Those of us in this culture today are faced with the same defining moment; and it would sound exactly the same.
Are we going to allow Christ to rule our lives? Will we reflect His love? Will we share His life and message with others? Are we committed to worship Him and praise Him? Are we willing to learn about Him seven days a week or one day a week? Listen to the answer of the People of God!
“The people replied, “We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods. 17 For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. 18 It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for He alone is our God.” Joshua 24:16-18 (NLT)
Just as our spiritual ancestors of thousands of years ago answered this call and had this defining moment; we too must decide how we will respond! We are living in days that require a defining moment in order to live by faith in obedience to Christ.
Allow me to share three areas of instruction regarding your defining moments in the future as a follower of Jesus Christ…
I. IN FUTURE DEFINING MOMENTS …PAIN MAY BE YOUR PARTNER (John 21:15-19)
“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” John 21:15-19 (NLT)
Your defining moment may come from the midst of pain, not prosperity. It could be a physical pain, an emotional pain but regardless it is a pain that causes you much anguish. It is intense and it is deep. The Apostle Peter is a good example of someone who had a defining moment because of a great emotional pain.
He had betrayed Jesus three different times in one night. His heart was broken because he did something he thought he would never do. Scripture says that Peter wept bitterly because of his actions.
Peter was faced with a defining moment. Either he could give up and run away or he could face the others and face Jesus. Peter chose to stay and follow Christ. He decision and his defining moment was based upon his pain.
II. IN FUTURE DEFINING MOMENTS …TRUTH WILL TRANSFORM YOU (Acts 9:1-6)
“Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:1-6 (NLT)
For the Apostle Paul, the truth that transformed him is the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord, Messiah, Master and Savior. He is exactly who he said he was and I missed that truth until now.
Often I hear people say, “God would never love me enough to forgive me and give me eternal life. Think of Paul! He was helping to kill Christians, imprison them and had them whipped and beaten and killed. However, once Paul had his defining moment with Jesus Christ, he shaped the history of Christianity speaking in the love, power and authority of the one who revealed Himself.
III. IN FUTURE DEFINING MOMENTS…PLEASING GOD IS YOUR PURPOSE (Mark 1:9-13)
David was such a man. He had a deep, irresistible love for God and even though David stumbled and fell he knew that God loved him and when he asked for forgiveness God would forgive him. The reason he asked for forgiveness was because of his love for God. He had hurt God and when confronted with his sin David’s love for God caused him to repent.
Each of these examples that I have shared with you this morning all have something in common. Defining Moments will Change Your Life!
If that is what a defining moment is, some of us this morning in this church desperately need our defining moment. We need a defining moment in our health; we need a defining moment in our marriages; we need a defining moment in our finances; we need a defining moment to break the bondage of addiction; and we need a defining moment to break the doldrums of our spiritual condition.
ONCE GOD HAS ENTRUSTED YOU WITH A DEFINING MOMENT YOUR OBJECTIVE IS TO PLEASE HIM AN HONOR HIM. LOOK TO JESUS IN MARK 1:9-13…
“One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” 12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of Him.” Mark 1:9-13 (NLT)
CONCLUSION: THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
1. Defining Moments May Not Be Comfortable Moments
2. Defining Moments Are Directed by Faith…Not Fear – some have never had a defining moment because the thought of stepping out in faith terrifies you, what Jesus asks of you is not “logical!”
3. Defining Moments Requires Your Security to be only in Your Savior
