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}
1-He obeyed the Word of God thus he set an example for his followers to do likewise. He left his mark by a good influence before them.
2-There used to be a saying, “I’d rather see a sermon anyday than to hear one.” But some do not want to see or hear one.
3-Some strange people I know- People who talk about prayer but never pray. People who say tithing is right but never tithe. People who want to belong to the church but never attend. People who say the Bible is God's Word to man but never read it. People who criticize others for things they do themselves. People who stay away from church for trivial reasons and sing, "Oh, How I Love Jesus." People who continue in sin all their lives but expect to go to heaven. 4
4-Many times we forget that somebody is watching our lives, and we are either influencing them in good way or an evil way.
5-Jesus said, Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
ILLUSTRATION: G. Campbell Morgan, in his book How to Live, told about a conversation he had after he finished preaching one evening. A man approached Morgan to tell him he had invited a fellow employee, one with whom he had worked for 5 years, to attend the service. He then said, "My suggestion came as quite a surprise to my friend. He responded to my invitation by saying, 'Are you a Christian?' And when I answered, 'Yes, I am,' he replied, 'Well, I am too!' Here we had worked beside each other for years, and we never knew that we were both believers in Christ. Wasn't that funny?" To the man's surprise, Morgan retorted, "Funny? No, it isn't funny at all! You both need to be born again." Whether or not that was the case, I don't know. But it was inconceivable to Morgan that two men could be truly saved and work side-by-side for 5 years and not be aware of their kinship as brothers in Christ.
ILLUSTRATION:A soap advertisement depicted a little fellow looking intently at his shadow that fell across his pathway. The slogan underneath the picture read: "That's the only thing I can't wash out!" As I studied this clever bit of sales promotion, I was reminded of the indelible shadow of influence we cast on others by our example. Wrong attitudes and actions can engrave an impression on their minds that is impossible to erase. But just as we can leave a permanent mark for evil, so we can also leave a lasting effect for good. We should therefore strive to live so that our loving spirit, vibrant faith, and purity of life are never diluted by inconsistency. 5
III-WE NOTICE THAT JOSHUA WAS FAITHFUL:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
1-You and I live in a world where being faithful is not very popular. It is not popular in sports, in politics, in marriage and even in the Church.
2-As we approach the year 2000, we need some Christians with stickability, we need those who will get into the harness of God and stay with it. As one man said, we need some “crazy glue Christians.”
3-A man asked another pastor who knew their new pastor a question concerning him. He asked, how long do you think he will stay on this visitation kick? It is not a kick to him for he has been doing it all his ministry.
4-I heard a story about a preacher who as he was watching TV began to shout. His wife ran into the den and asked him why was he so excited? He replied, I just heard a man say, thats most of the world’s work is done by people who are tired, pressed for time, and don’t feel very good. The reason I shouted was that I qualify for that.
5-When we think about being faithful and serving the Lord, we will get tired but we are to keep on keeping on for the Lord. 6
6-You will choose to serve someone.
7-You may be an ambassador to England of France; You may like to gamble, you might like to dance: You may be the heavy-weight champion of the world; You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls; But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Yes indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody. Well it may be the devil or it may be the Lord but you're gonna have to serve somebody. You will either serve self and Satan or you will serve the Savior
8-D.L. Moody said: I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, By the grace of God I shall do. 7
IV-WE NOTICE THAT JOSHUA WAS HUMBLE:
Joshua 5:14 And he said, Nay; but [as] captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? {captain: or, prince}
1-I know there are some issues in life that are various shades of gray but when it comes to allegiance, you are either loyal or disloyal. There was no place in Joshua's campaign for neutrality. And there is no place today in our campaign, for neutrality. Who's on the Lord's side, who will serve the King? And the Soldier answered, "You ask me whose side I'm on, I'm going to tell you whose side I'm on.
I'M THE BOSS OF THE WHOLE THING." "I am the Captain of the Host of the Lord." "Joshua, you are the captain of the earthly host and I'm the captain of the Heavenly Host and the earthly host and I'm going to deputize you to run this army down here, but remember, you are second in command."You know, it is a great day in the life of a person when he discovers he is 2nd in command. We are not first in command. 8
2-Wakefield tells the story of the famous inventor Samuel Morse who was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know what to do. Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding." Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me."
3-D.L. Moody said, Be humble or you'll stumble.
ILLUSTRATION: The little boy who was outcatching the city fellow using only a switch and a bent pin for a hook. City fellow asked him his secret? he said, I keep myself out of sight.(that what John the Baptist did-must decrease so that he(Jesus) must increase.
V-WE NOTICE THAT JOSHUA WAS ENTHUSIASTIC:
1-When I read Joshua 24:15, I picture a young father running out in front of the people and saying these words. But Joshua at this time was not young but old, around 100 years of age. He was still enthusiastic.
2-When we mention the word “enthusiastic” around Baptist they get scared. They think you are going to talk about some strange people. One pastor said, don’t worry about getting Baptist happy for that remote.
3-I heard of a preacher who was filling in at a small rural Church one night. He said, it was a dead Church and as he preached, he turned toward the windows and looked out at the cemetery. He then told the people that he believed there was more life in the cemetery than in the Church.
4-We shouldn’t be dead but should be happy, be enthusiastic. If Jesus doesn’t excite us something is wrong with our relationship with Jesus.
5-The word enthusiastic means God overflowing in us.
6-When I think of enthusiasm, I think of the man who asked the preacher, do you think John is going to make it to heaven. He replied, I think so if he doesn’t run pass it.
ILLUSTRATION: Christian businessman Fred Smith reports that the membership of the Moscow Baptist church is 5,600, the attendance 6,000, and the participation level almost 100 percent. These Russian Christians are zealous for their faith. The pastor told Mr. Smith, "In Russia, we have no four-wheel Christians." He coined this phrase to describe people who ride to church for their baptism, for the Easter morning service, for the Christmas program, and for their funeral. Sad to say, a large percentage of people in the free world who profess to believe on Jesus are little more than "four-wheel Christians." How about you? Is your church attendance irregular? Do you tend to be a passive observer rather than an active participant in the cause of Christ?
7-Let us make a mark for God by being zealous in our service for Him.
VI-WE NOTICE THAT JOSHUA WAS COURAGEOUS:
Joshua 10:25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
1-Adrian Rogers tells about the man who bragged that he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. Asked why he hadn't cut off the lion's head, the man replied: "Someone had already done that." His courage was weak not strong.
2-It seems in our day, not many have the courage to stand for Jesus in the world. They have no trouble in Church singing, “Stand up For Jesus.” But it is a different story outside the four walls of the Church.
3-Some get their courage from strong drink, but as Christians we get our courage from the Spirit of God. We should follow the example of the early Church in the Book of Acts as they displayed courage over and over again in taking a stand for Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION: In August of 1992 gang members shot a 16 year old boy for refusing to sell drugs for them. While recovering in St. Raphael Hospital Winfred Rembert Jr said "you've just got to do what you think is right. I was doing something I believed in, so I should not be afraid." Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn. offered Winfred a full scholarship to attend their school when they read reports of what had happened. The 15 year old gang member who shot him was arrested and charged with first-degree assault. Sixteen year old Winfred exhibited the kind of moral courage that all Christians need to practice.
Conclusion-We need some people like Joshua who are willing to make a mark for God. Why are so many failing to do so? I think we see the reason in General Booth’s life. He was asked by a reporter, what was the secret of his success in God’s work? He answered, because God has had all of me. Does He have all of you?
