To Commit in 2023

Intro

Joshua 1:10–12 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.’ ” And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,

Moses was dead and it was time to move. it was time to take possession of the ground God had given them.

Now most of the tribes were given land on the other side of the Jordan. But three tribes would remain east of the Jordan. Half of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad. So Joshua comes to them with a special message.

Joshua 1:13–15 ESV

“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

God has given the land that you stand on. But your brothers do not have their land yet. Moses commanded that you help secure their land before you inhabit and enjoy your own.

IE: If you want Gods blessing here, you must finish the task there.

Joshua 1:16–18 ESV

And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

These tribes however did not shrink to the task. Quite the opposite. Bring it on. Lead us Joshua. We will fight with you and our brothers.

In fact they turn Joshua own words back on him. Be strong Joshua. Lead well. We are with you.

Only Be Strong and Courageous.

You see the People of Manasseh, Gad and Reuben, they were home. Joshua knew their temptation would be to rest and take it easy. moses is gone. Lets stop awhile. They could have coward at the thought of Jericho. They could have rejected, the commands of God. But they chose to commit. Because they chose to commit and fight until the job was done Gods blessing fell on them.

So many of us give up with a partial blessing. Hey I love a partial blessing. but you what is better than a partial blessing. A full blessing. Lord Let your blessing rain this year.

Dare to Commit in 2023. I dare you too. Commit like never before. Lay your whole down on the line for Jesus. If you regret it a year from now. I will resign. i have so much confidence in Christ, that I know that it doesn't matter who you are. If you give Jesus everything this year. Your life will be lightyears better next year.

You will be be more joyful, more peaceful, more content. more whole, than you are now. Now life won’t be perfect. But it will be greater with Jesus!

What most of us do, is we hit a crisis, God I need you, God moves, then we rest. But what Joshua demonstrates here is that there is a supernatural power that comes when we say. Lord, I am with you. Until the end. Not just until I get what I need.

So this I challenge you this year. Commit. In whatever you do. Commit. Give it time and let the Lord use you.

There are 4 ways I want to specifically challenge you to commit.

Stop, Breathe, Take a Minute, Proceed

Dare to Commit to the Word of God

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Get in the Word of God and commit to reading it daily. Grow in it. Let it grow in you.

For as you grow in the Word God will build your faith.

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Stop, Breathe, Take a Minute, Proceed

Dare to Commit to Light a Fire

How do I light a fire for the Lord? By building an altar and saying, Lord I am yours.

By yielding your life to the holy one.

The Lords Fire Must Be lit, it must be fed it must be spread

It is lit by the Holy Spirit, fed, by the Word of God, and spread by us going and loving this broken world.

Stop, Breathe, Take a Minute, Proceed

Dare to Commit to a healthy church

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

We are built up in the Lord by gathering together. Scripture says:

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

You will not continue to grow if you neglect the gathering. If you do not commit to the gathering together you cannot expect to grow or make an impact.

Something shifted after covid. A lack of seriousness about church attendance was driven into the culture.

I will go if I have nothing better to do.

Is that what Christ died for? for you and I to causally neglect His bride? sorry I can’t make church today, I’m going to Disney world. I will watch online.

Please. don’t give me that. Jesus laid down His life, so we could do this. and we just neglect it.

Again, I am not talking legalism, but I am saying there are people who will miss 3 months of gathering because they busy up their Sundays. Why? Not because they are sick or because the car broke down, but because they choose too.

What will happen if you neglect the gathering is that you will slowing erode your spiritual defenses.

To truly be strong in this area, you must commit to church attendance at least once a week. Gathering together with other believers to grow. In prayer, in the word, in relationship.

If RC3 isn’t your cup of tea, IO understand. go find a church, that preach the word and commit. For there is power in commitment.

Stop, Breathe, Take a Minute, Proceed

Dare to Give

Malachi 3:10 ESV

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Lastly,

We are in a recession, and the temptation is to pull back on tithing, and giving to missions, and offering. I have heard those voices. I know. But I need you to hear me, if you and I pull back, we are robbing ourselves of blessings.

In the case of tithing, if we do not cross that 10% threshold, we are in sin.

Maybe you say, pastor, what is tithing, I have never hear of it.

Tithing is a spiritual principle, that God calls us to follow. Not so the church gets our money, but so that our hearts remain in a proper place of dependence.

How does it work?

Lets says I make $100. the Word tithe, means tenth, so I am called to give the Lord $10.

So lets say you get a $400/week paycheck, scripture tells us that $40/week should go to the church. In this case River City Community Church. That money goes to pays, bills, ministry expenses,all kinds of things to further the work of God.

God says if you do this I will open up the storehouses and bless you until there is no more need.

Trust me in the Tithe and I will take care of your needs.

But so many Christians do not trust God with their finances, and they never have money. But this room is full of people who can testify that 90% with God is greater than 100% without God.

How? IDK? But its TRUE. I HAVE SEEN IT

Stop, Breathe, Take a Minute, Proceed

Dare To Commit in 2023

I challenge you today. Commit with God in these 4 ways this year and watch your entire life transform before your eys.

Dare to Commit to the Word of God

Dare to Commit to Light a Fire

Dare to Commit to a healthy church

Dare to Commit to Give

Lets Worship