14 August 2005
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker’s Multicultural Gospel Service, Taegu Korea
BIG IDEA: GOD HAS A WILL FULL OF BLESSINGS FOR EACH OF US THAT REQUIRES US TO STRUGGLE NOW - with fears, frustrations, and faith - IN ORDER TO FULLY APPRECIATE HIS BLESSINGS LATER.
REFERENCES: Genesis 13:14-17 KJV (God renews His promise to Abram); Psalms 50:10 GW (Every creature in the forest, {even} the cattle on a thousand hills, is mine); Psalms 127:1 KJV (Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain); Joshua 1:1-5 KJV (Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses….); Peter 5:6 (Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time"); Hebrews 11:30 (By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days); Ephesian 6:11-14 KJV (Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: JOSHUA 17:14-18
II. READ THE PERICOPE: JOSHUA 17:14-18
III. READ THE TEXT: JOSHUA 17:17-18 (And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to OVERCOME their fears and frustrations through their obedience, and faith in God’s WORD and God’s POWER.
V. SERMONIC: "Go On"
INTRODUCTION: (… Just in case you’re not aware of what’s going on … every First Sunday is the Multicultural Gospel Service’s Communion Sunday. Every Third Sunday is the our “Women in Action Sunday”. Fourth Sundays are our “Family and Friend” Sundays; and Every Second Sunday is our Youth In Action Sunday. *Therefore, please join me in surrending to God a round of applause FOR OUR YOUTH …
here - in the CP Walker’s Multicultural Gospel Service.
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Move 1: In my studies, I came across some information written by a Family counselor, “Dr. Ellen Jackson, and author of 10 Pictures Books That Help Children Deal With Challenges”,
a. Dr. Jackson says that many parents and teachers have discovered that books can be wonderful therapy for children. Without life experience, children do not know what to do when problems arise.
b. Books teach children the consequences of behavior – WHAT ACTIONS GET REWAREDED AND WHAT DOESN’T WORK.
c. Books also suggest ways children can cope with their emotions if a problem can’t be solved. Dr. Jackson says,
d. “A well-chosen book can provide a way for parents and teachers to talk indirectly about difficult subjects.
d. Sometimes a book will feature an animal character or use humor to make a point.
e. This allows children to get some distance from their FRUSTRATIONS OR EVEN LAUGH AT THEM.”
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MOVE 2: In fact, TWO OF THE 10 BOOKS I believe can help our young MCGS children, today, deal with common problems . The first book is, “THE KNIGHT WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK” by Barbara Shook Hazen.
a. In this particular book – Brave Sir Fred has a secret. Although he’s not scared of spiders and monsters, Sir Fred is afraid of the dark. THE KNIGHT WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK is a good book about facing and overcoming fears for ages 4-8.
b. The Second Book that I believe will help children deal with common problems is “THE TENTH GOOD THING ABOUT BARNEY by Judith Viorst.
c. In this book, my brothers and sisters, the author talks about what happens … “When Barney the cat dies. In fact, the author says that when Barney the cat dies, everyone is sad.
d. Therefore, Barney’s family decides to have a funeral and think of all the nice things they can say about Barney.
e. THE TENTH GOOD THING ABOUT BARNEY IS A GOOD BOOK about death … and grieving the loss of a loved one that is designed for ages 4-8.
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MOVE 3: BOOKS ARE WONDERFUL WAYS for parents and teachers, alike, to talk indirectly about difficult subjects.
a. ALONG THE SAME LINE OF REASONING, The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthian 10:11 that …
b. events in the Old Testaments … are all warning markers—DANGER!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they were at the beginning, and we’re at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were.
c. Now, in our TEXT TODAY, GOD uses the events OF THE TRIBE OF JOSEPH DEMANDING A LARGER PORTION OF LAND to teach US ALL,
d. … HOW to OVERCOME OUR FEARS AND FRUSTRATIONS through OUR OBEDIENCE, AND FAITH in God’s Word and God’s Power.
e. For don’t you remember the PROMISE GOD MADE TO ABRAM IN GENESIS 13:14-17?
f. FOR THE LORD said unto Abram, after … Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
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MOVE 4: Now, the Book of Joshua picks up where the Book of Deuteronomy leaves off. Therefore God charges Joshua in Chapter 1:1-5 to GO ON.
a. In fact, the Scriptures says, … after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
b. …Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses….);
c. My brothers and sisters …the nation had mourned Moses death for 30 days (Deut. 34:8).
d. God had now instructed Joshua to prepare to enter the land of Canaan – The Promise Land.
e. Therefore, in our text, this afternoon, AFTER many years and battles had
been fought and won - Joshua had obediently distributed the territory as he had been INSTRUCTED BY GOD..
f. But the Tribe of Joseph wasn’t satisfy.
g. They were DISGRUNTLED, disappointed, and frustrated about their INHERITANCE.
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MOVE 5: MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SOMETIMES WE AREN’T HAPPY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN GOD – especially when we’re comparing our BLESSINGS WITH THE BLESSINGS OF OTHER BELIVERS.
a. In fact, at first glane, it appeared as if God had done them an injustice. They were all God’s Children;
b. But it jus look like God had given others more than he had given them.
c. They didn’t FEEL LIKE GOD CARED.
d. And they didn’t feel like God had GIVEN THEM ENOUGH.
e. Like some of us - They wanted more. They wanted money; a better job, more education, another car.
f. What they had … wasn’t enough. They wanted more!
g. For you see, like we do – before we get paid – they had NO DOUBT already divided their inheritance. They figured God out in advance.
h. They had invision things that they were going to do with their Land, and IN THEIR OPION, what they HAD receive WASN’T ENOUGH for them.
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MOVE 6: So, they murmured and complained to Joshua (their leader) about the gift that they were given.
a. Like we do, they carried their issues to the Man of God, hoping to that their request would be at the expense of others..
b. Even though ,with the exception of the TRIBE of JUDAH, no other tribe had been given more land.
c. They wanted more.
d. For the Scriptures says, “The tribe of Josheph said, “The hill country is not enough for us; yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-she’an and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.
e. Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manas’sseh, You are a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”
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MOVE 7: Joshua encourage them to FIGHT A GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.
a. He encourage them to TRUSTING GOD FOR THEIR VICTORY.
b. Stop worry about things that they had no control of; while taking responsiblility for the things that they had control of.
c. Don’t let the sixe of the enemy scare you.
d. Go On … go after your goals …
e. Don’t allow the enemy’s weaponry to make you feel POWER-LESS …
f. God is on your side.
g. GO ON attack your fears, and FACE YOUR CHALLENGES with God by your side..
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MOVE 8: I can hear Joshua saying to the tribe of JOSEPH …
a. Remember every place that the sole of your feet shall tread upon … has been given to you.
b. As God was with Moses, and me; He will also be with you.
c. Go On!
d. stop avoiding your FRUSTRATION. Face your frustrations HEAD-ON.
e. You have been given the victory – the gift belongs to you.
f. But you have TO DO SOMETHING …
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CELEBRATION:
IF YOU’RE GOING TO POSSESS WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU …
YOU CAN’T BE DISCOURAGED BY THE THREATS OF SUPERIOR education;
YOU CAN’T BE DISCOURAGED BY WHAT YOU SEE, AND WHAT YOU DON’T SEE;
YOU HAVE TO GO ON …
REMEMBERING THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILL BELONGS TO THE LORD;
Remember .. YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENTHENS YOU…
GO ON …
FACE YOUR FEARS, TACKLE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS, TRUST GOD TO WORK IT OUT THROUGH YOUR OBEDIENCE HIS WORD…
