Bonus episode: I need to follow the Commander of Peace

Big Idea:

Follow the Commander of Peace (let Him direct your life).

Intro:

Hi Church Online - thanks for joining us!

So… I didn’t plan on being the one speaking to you today. However, both my family and our leadership team were thrown a few curve balls this week - if you will, we faced a few stressors. And potential for stress was right there waiting for me.

Most of you know, stress is something we’ve been talking about for the past month. We’ve been in a sermon series titled, “Why am I stressed?” And with the help of a book I’ve been reading, “The Stressless Life” by Vance Pitman, we’ve discussed what stress is, what God says about it, and what can we do to overcome it.

For example, we’ve defined stress as...

Stress being the fearful concern experienced when life’s demands seem greater than my ability to meet them.

We’ve also talked about...

Stressors, which are not stress, but rather the circumstances in our lives that create the levels of pressure, tension, and strain that can lead to stress.

…like the curve balls I was thrown this week.

And we’ve talked about what God says about stress. He says...

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God doesn’t want us stressed. He wants us to have peace, which is...

[Peace is] the sense of divine favor arising from confidence in God and your relationship with Him.

And over the past four weeks, we’ve seen (using God’s word) that we can live with peace instead of stress, when we understand and practice the truths that...

We need rest (biblical rest leads to peace).

We need to know God (because know Him leads to peace).

We need God’s wisdom (for decision-making that leads to peace).

We need to protect our hearts (because spiritual attacks can create stress, but a protected heart produces peace).

And guess what… I found peace this week even though life threw more curveballs at me than Janelle shooting paintballs at me (joke from last week). I mention this not to say I’m an expert at living in peace - far from it! Ask my family! But, as I practiced what I preached, I’ve personally experienced that this stuff works! And I’ve tasted the Lord is good and does want me to live with abundant peace!

When these stressors came at me, and I saw stress waiting for me like some creepy creeper… I also knew...

I was well rested. I had some margin built into my life which allowed me the flexibility to respond to the stressors in peace, and not stress.

I also knew God as I should. I remembered that as Christian, when I am correctly following Him by faith, that everything that happens in my life has first passed through His sovereign hands. And because He wants me to live with peace, I can be confident these circumstances were meant to bring about greater peace.

I had God’s wisdom to quickly decide what to preach, for a message I had not planned for. As I sought His face, He quickly gave me what to say from His word. And I was filled with peace.

And while the devil would have me stress about it, my heart was protected and I found peace instead.

And so, the plan for today is to give you a Bonus Episode on stress! I’d like to spend some extra team on “how” to live with peace instead of stress. Not necessarily adding any new ideas, but maybe expanding and clarifying what we’ve already discussed. And the reason I think this may be helpful is because a lot of the previously-discussed “how,” involved both “faith” and “faithfulness.”

What I mean by that is...

The “faith” things are responses that involve completely relying on God. Things that don’t require any physical action on our part, but rather simple trust.

Yet, I also shared “faithful” responses. Meaning, while saying, “Trust God!” I also said, “Oh yea… PRACTICE DOING THIS!”

And it wouldn’t surprise me if ya’ll went home and thought, “Wait, how do I blend faith and faithfulness?” And if that’s true, that’s what we’re going to talk about today. And to do that, I’d like to look at the story of a man named Joshua.

Exposition:

For those who don’t know who I’m talking about, Joshua started off as Moses’s assistant. He did this faithfully for 40 years. Then, Joshua faced an unbelievably huge stressor… he was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

This was potentially stressful for many reasons:

The Israelites were punks. They were hard-hearted and often rebellious against God, let alone their leaders - like Moses.

Moses was a “G.” Meaning, he was the man when it came to leadership. And God had used him to do impossible things. In other words, filling his shoes was no small task.

Although God had promised to give the Israelites the Promised Land, this was no easy task. Joshua personally knew this. 40 years earlier, him and 11 other men scouted out the land. And only two of them - Joshua and Caleb - returned having the faith to enter the Promised Land. The reason why they needed “faith” was because there were giants in the land. The Promised Land wasn’t empty and just waiting for the Israelites to move in… entering the land also meant participating in the removal of the current residents. And again, the many residents were scary.

All this to say, when Moses died and God told Joshua it was his turn to lead, it was a super-stressor. I imagine Joshua thinking...

If Moses couldn’t control these people, how will I?

How can even fill a fraction of Moses’s shoes (the man who delivered us from Egypt and personally met with God on the mountain)?

How can I successfully lead people into a land filled with giants and other enemies?

These stressors had the potential to stress Joshua out! But as we’ve discussed, stressors or circumstances don’t HAVE TO result in stress. Actually, God would rather them produce peace. And we see that in Joshua’s story because look at what happens...

Joshua 1:1–2 ESV

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

You can feel the potential for stress arising in Joshua... But look at what God says next...

Joshua 1:5 ESV

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

And then He says...

Joshua 1:9 ESV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God tells Josh, “I know these circumstances seem scary. I know the stressors have the potential to produce stress. But I promise you can have My supernatural peace instead.”

I wonder how many of us need to hear this today?

What stressors lies before you?

Maybe stress (and the resulting fear) have already crept into your heart.

Do you need to hear the promise of God to Joshua?

Although it was made directly to Joshua thousands of years ago, I believe the truth of this promise is eternally available to all of God’s people - including us! The reason I believe this is God’s word also says...

Romans 15:4 NLT

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Therefore, the truth is...

God promises to never leave or forsake His people (past, present, future)...

Since that’s true, we - TODAY - never have to fear or be stressed. We can have peace BECAUSE God is with us.

Do you believe that? Do you believe God’s promise of peace towards your life today? Joshua did! Which is why...

Joshua 1:10–11 ESV

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ”

With supernatural peace protecting his heart, Joshua tells the people, “God’s with us, let’s go do the impossible.” But as Joshua walks by faith into the Promised Land, he had to learn to balance both “faith” and “faithfulness.” For example, the first city Joshua encountered upon entering the land was Jericho.

Jericho was a fortified city with a high wall. It would not be easy to overtake. And yet, the Israelites were NOT TO STRESS, but rather rest in God’s PEACE.

Joshua 6:2 ESV

And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.

And the Hebrew language used is written in the “prophetic perfect.” And it means what God has promised for the future is already finished since the eternal past, even if it hasn’t started (time-wise) in the present. Therefore, this first battle would require “faith.”

This is supported by the God’s instructions that followed...

Joshua 6:3–5 ESV

You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”

God promised that if they would trust Him, he would do all the work. They only needed to have “faith.”

And isn’t that similar to the responses we’ve discussed regarding how to properly produce preace instead of stress? For example… in order to produce peace...

We need to rest. We need to take all the cares we and lay them at the feet of Jesus.

We need to simply trust in who we know God is.

We need to believe His word in our decision-making.

We need to remember to “look up” towards God, who personally protects our hearts during spiritual attacks.

These are all “faith” things. They do not require physical action, just as the walls crumbling down at Jericho required no action on behalf of the people.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute. It did require action! They had to walk in circles and shout on the final lap!”

Come on… really? Those “actions” literally did nothing to physically impact the structure of the wall. That was all faith. God alone did that.

When the people practiced “faith,” God fulfilled His promise...

Joshua 6:15–16 ESV

On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.

Joshua 6:20 ESV

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

My friends, right now there are stressors and stress trying to destroy your life, but God promises you peace... if you believe Him by FAITH. When you do, in the same way the walls of Jericho fell, the walls of anxiety, worry, and stress will fall… and PEACE will enter your life because God promises that will happen. And God always fulfills His promise!

… but now, let’s turn to the next city Joshua and the Israelites faced - the city of AI. God’s strategy for this city was different. This time, it required, “faithfulness,” or a response of physical action.

As we’ve discussed how to produce peace instead of stress, we’ve discussed “faith” responses, but we’ve also discussed “faithful” (action-based) responses like...

In order to rest, you may need to build margins in your life (space in your schedules). That’s an active response.

We may need to discipline yourself and consistently read God’s word (like some of us have been doing the Proverbs Challenge - reading a Proverb a day for the month of December), so we can have God’s wisdom for our decision-making.

We may need to push against our natural desire to isolate during difficult spiritual attacks because we know we’re spiritually safer with our church community. Therefore, we may actively make ourselves join a Life Group.

Responses like this are “faithfulness” - THEY REQUIRE ACTION ON OUR BEHALF!

That’s what happened in AI. There was no walking around the city and letting God knock down the walls. This time was different...

Joshua 8:1–8 ESV

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.” So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night. And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready. And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So we will flee before them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will give it into your hand. And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.”

You see the difference? There is active strategy requiring physical participation. And sometimes in our battle against stress, we need to actively participate!

But now we arrive at the question we started with: How do I know when it’s time to use “faith” and when it’s time to be “faithful?”

I think we find a helpful answer in the story of Joshua… right before he entered Jericho.

Joshua 5:13–15 ESV

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

So, Joshua is getting ready for battle when he sees what appears to be another soldier. He yells out, “Hey homes… what set you from? You with us or against us?”

And I love the answer. The solider replies, “No.” In other words, “I’m the One asking the questions, homie. I’m the commander of the Lord’s army!” Aka - it’s Jesus, fool.

And Joshua was like, “Oh my bad, I’m sorry master.” And what he adds in verse 14 is key for us, “What does the Lord say to his servant?”

Do you know how Joshua knew whether his response was “faith” or “faithfulness” in order to find peace? He asked the Commander of Peace.

Do you know how to find peace in this stressful world? Do you want to know whether your response needs to be one of “faith” or “faithfulness.” ASK THE COMMANDER OF PEACE.

You need talk with Jesus and let Him lead you into peace. He will let you know whether your response is “faith” or “faithfulness.”

In rest, He will let you know if you need to stop all activity or proactively build margin into your life.

In knowing Him, He will let you know if you need to be active or passive in experiencing His goodness.

In wisdom, He will let you know if you need to pray and listen… or seek His word as one digging for treasure.

In protecting your heart, He will let you know if your next step is to “armor up” or “look up.”

Finding peace is found by following the Commander of Peace.

Response:

As we close, let me leave you with this thought…

You can’t find peace by doing whatever you want.

Joshua was always faithful to follow the Commander of Peace. And he successfully led the Israelites into the Promised Land. But after Joshua died, stress overtook the land. Time and time again, the Israelites were conquered by foreign enemies, even though God had promised them peace. Do you know why?

Look at what the writer of Judges says (the book after Joshua that describes this time)...

Judges 21:25 ESV

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

They had no peace because they did whatever they wanted...

Does that describe your life? Or, do you follow the Commander of Peace? Your answer will likely indicate whether stress or peace reigns in your life.

Here’s the good news today. The Commander of Peace (Jesus) loves you, is patient with you, and is present today to give you victory and peace. To take away the sin and stress in your life.

Wherever you are in your journey between stress and peace, turn to Jesus today. Repent - turn from your sinful choices to follow your own ways… the ways that have resulted in more stress. And by faith, follow the Commander of Peace. Put your faith in Him. Trust Him. Obey Him. He will lead you into abundant life.

Here’s 3 simple ways to practice following the Commander of Peace:

Read your Bible. God speaks by His living Word.

Be with God’s people. Be in church. Be in Life Group. Live actively in biblical community. God speaks through His people.

Pray. In every circumstance, before you respond, ask, “God, how should I respond?” God speaks directly to His people.

If you practice these things, you’ll be on your way to living with supernatural peace!

Let’s pray...

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