Recognizing Gods Voice Series

TITLE: How to Recognize God’s voice

TEXT; Joshua 1

THEME: spiritual victory, the promises of God, Joshua, spiritual warfare

P.S. The voice we listen to will determine the direction we will walk. If we listen to our emotions we will remain in the spiritual desert. If we listen to the whispers of the enemy we will by intimidated. If we listen to voices of our critics, we will be distracted. Only if we regularly hear the voice of God will we have the courage to do God’s will and overcome the grasshopper complex.

In times of war it is absolutely imperative to have clear lines of communication. A faulty communication system can spell disaster for a unit going into battle. Proper two-way communication inspires courage, gives guidance and unifies the attack.(Lutzer, Grasshopper complex p.34).

ILLUSTRATION: From the magazine of the Naval Institute, Proceedings, Stephen Covey captured a great truth on the importance of communication

.

While on manoeuvres, a battleship lookout noted a light in the dark, foggy night. After noting the light’s coordinates, the captain recognized his ship was on a collision course with that other vessel.

"Signal the ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees."

The return signal came, "Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees."

The captain said, "Send, I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees."

"I’m a seaman second class," came the reply. "You had better change course 20 degrees."

By this time the captain was furious. He yelled, "Send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees."

The reply..."I’m a lighthouse. Your call"

(The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey, 1989, pgs. 32-33)

The Bible says that we are in a spiritual battle that can only be fought with spiritual weapons. In order to know the strategy of the battle plan we must be in constant communication with our, Commander in Chief

One of the great truths of the Bible that gives us encouragement during confusing times is that we can both know and understand the voice of God. Our relationship with Him is a two-way communication where we can express our love, desires and fears to Him, and He will reciprocate with His love, assurance, guidance and will for our lives.

There are many Christians today who are trying to fight their spiritual battles with their communications system in disrepair. They are not in daily contact with the Lord in prayer, and therefore suffer from spiritual fatigue. They are , in effect, fighting on their own without direction andconfidence.

P.S. The voice we listen to will determine the direction we will walk. If we listen to our emotions we will remain in the spiritual desert. If we listen to the whispers of the enemy we will by intimidated. If we listen to voices of our critics, we will be distracted. Only if we regularly hear the voice of God will we have the courage to do God’s will and overcome the grasshopper complex.

Lets consider the three commands that God gives to Joshua:

1. LET GO OF THE PAST:

The Book of Joshua begins with the statement, “Moses my servant is dead, now go...”. With Moses dead, Israel was still short of its goal...The Promised land. The option was open to them, they had learned to survive in the wilderness 40 years, so why go on?

It wasn’t God’s will for them to remain in the wilderness. He had better things in store for them. He had more for them than just the desert life of frustration. God needed a person who would take the people forward! Joshua was His man. Joshua was not content to just sit around with the present comforts. He wanted to do something significant for the Lord

ILLUSTRATION: In attempting to recruit john Sculley, the 38-year old President of Pepsi-cola, Steve Jobbs, Founder of Apple Computer, issued a tremendous challenge to Sculley. He asked, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”

.They had a choice. They could exist with things as they were or follow God’s commands and accomplish great things for him. This begs the question, ‘Are we satisfied with living on someone elses experiences with God? Are we content to just make ‘sugar water’ for the rest of our lives, or do we wish to so something that will have eternal consequences?

Sooner or later we will have to face a similar choice. Will we press onward toward spiritual victory in the promised land of God’s provision?

If you are content today to just exist and survive, then you need to be aware of the consequences of your choice. If you choose to just exist in your Christian life then you will also experience the flustrations that plagued Israel for 40 years of wilderness wandering:(Question: why is it important to choose the desert or Canaan?)