Stand Strong

Intro

the family and I took a trip during the holidays.

(Show some pics from the top)

An incredibly beautiful result, but the in-between was not easy.

We’ve done some woods hiking, we did some of the hiking life group, we walk and are active, but I thought it wise to go from not being used hiking a mountain to choosing a trail that said strenuous… Ah we’ll be fine.

Add to that we brought one water between all 5 of us… Yeah not smart.

If you could have seen us!! Stopped every chance we got.

WE made it but I might say barely.

I really believe that this new year represents new ground that God has for us to walk into.

Stepping into who he’s called us to be and where he has for us to go.

New season and new opportunity to step into new things.

Before you can take new ground, you have to learn to stand strong.

Do you have the stamina, strength and stability in your stance to be able to walk into what’s next.

We barley did.

We’re in a series where were looking at the Israelites journey as they stepped out of the wilderness and began to step into the new land that God had given them.

We started last week and said that Outlook Determines our Outcome every-time.

Perception truly is reality.

After leaving Egypt, where they had been in slavery for hundreds of years, God wanted to bring them into their own land where they would be free and flourish. They had to walk through a large wilderness area to get where they were going. after 2 years they had the change to go into the land and take it, but they were scared of the people who were living there and didn’t trust God.

Because of their unbelief they had to wander in the wilderness for another 38 years.

Now were going to pick up. A new generation is in charge. Joshua is now the leader of the Israelites in the place of Moses.

It’s time to walk into what God has for them. To step into God’s promise.

It’s time to go in and take the land.

The book of Joshua begins their journey heading into to their new land and taking new ground.

But God didn’t start with strategy, or directions, where they were going or battle plans...

He began by encouraging and strengthening Joshua so he would be strong enough to walk out everything he was meant to do.

Before you walk into some new things in your life and take new ground that God has for you, I think he wants to do the same for you and me. I believe he wants to strengthen our stance.

Let’s learn from Joshua.

Joshua 1:1–2a (NLT)

After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you...

Moses has died.

This isn’t just a statement for Joshua its a calling and promotion.

1. LEARN TO LET GO

Moses had been the most influential, greatest leader of recorded time.

He boldly led an entire nation out of slavery and toward God’s plan.

Imagine being the guy that takes charge after him.

the shadow that you’d be in, Moses didn’t do things like that, I can’t lead as good as him....

What would moses do

Joshua, Moses is dead.

You have to let go of what was.

Joshua couldn’t move forward if he was still holding on to what was.

For some of us what we’ve been doing looks like standing, but in reality is we are stuck.

There is a big difference.

Are you standing or stuck?

Stuck in the past. (how things were, a past victory, past defeat/struggle)

Stuck in comparison

Hurt

fear

doubt

Unforgiveness

God’s saying, it’s your time!!! But you gotta let go.

It’s time to get free.

Joshua 1:2–5 (NLT)

“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

2. START TO EMBRACE

God was showing Joshua he didn’t have to hold onto something old but there is better to cling to and be strengthened by.

Joshua, know who I am and know who I’ve said you are.

He had to embrace God’s call for him and his life.

There was no moses safety net. He had to fully trust.

at gym different equipment builds different muscle groups

Have you fully embraced who God is and who God says you are?

So often we have tons of head knowledge “about” God, we know who he is for other people, but we have to know God for ourselves.

mackenzie at the ropes corse story.

She trusted the uncertainty of the fall over the certainty of the harness she was in.

When I feel I’m going to buckle under the weight of life, uncertainties etc. I have to strengthen my faith.

Do I trust that God will bring me through? Do I trust in who he is? Do I believe what he’s said about me.

God has called you. he has chosen you.

he has you. He is able. He is trustworthy and faithful.

Joshua 1:6 (NLT)

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

3. CHOOSE TO REMEMBER

This an echo of what God had already said through Moses.

Deuteronomy 31:6–8 (NLT)

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

We don’t reflect and remember enough.

One of the most empowering things we can do, is remind ourselves of the things God has already said and things he already done.

I have to have reminders.

I go through the post it notes and I live off the notes and reminders app!!

If not, I simply forget.

I don’t intent to, don’t plan to, but I do.

When life shakes, it’s so easy to forget, but we have to pull out the post it and remember who God is and who he said I am and what he has done so many times. He is faithful.

Luke 6:45

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

the enemy wants to control your thoughts and speech by stealing what “stored up”

Joshua 1:7–9 (NLT)

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

4. LOOK AND INSPECT

We have to look down and inspect what we are actually standing on.

You will only walk IN my will, when you learn to stand ON my ways.

Standing on God’s word. It’s not optional.

Doing what he has asked us to do.

So many of us can’t wait for the next, are frustrated at God that it hasn’t happened yet.

And I think God would say inspect your now.

Are you standing on his word and being obedient?

Only Then will you prosper and succeed.

It’s time to get our faith out of theory and put it into action.

This is the year.

As we walked the mountain trail, our strength was part of us but where we stepped was another.

Some ground wasnt’ stable. Easy to slip and had to watch step.

Are you standing on what’s stable?

built on the word. obedient

Before you can take new ground, you have to learn to stand strong.

Be strong and courageous.

There is new ground and promises he’s wanting to fulfill, but first he’s wanting to strengthen where you stand!

You need to let go?

Need to embrace?

Remember?

Or maybe inspect and readjust.

No more half way, it’s all in time.