Mission Possible

Getting my licenses was awesome.

I remember when I got my first car, it was a manual, meaning I had to manually change the gears it wouldn’t automatically shift fire me. My youth pastor at the time taught me how to drive it and let me tell you it was rough!

After I got the hang of it, I drove the car home, and luckily I hit every green light because I was nervous about having to stopping.

That evening I had to get ready for my shift at Sonic. I got in my car, started to drive off and sure enough I hit the first red light. I remember looking straight at the light anticipating it to change. One hand gripped the stirring wheel the other on the stick shift, preparing myself to start going as soon as it changed so I didn’t have to deal with angry people behind me.

Boop. It changed to green light, and I killed the car! I panicked and tried to turn it back over but it wasn’t going. AH! I calmed myself down to get it running and peeled off.

I wish I could say that was the last time that happened but I hit every red light on my way to work and at every one I broke down! It was embarrassing but after the embarrassment wore off I gave myself some grace because I was just learning.

The goal should not have been to be the first to jump out on the green light. It should have first been get the car in gear. Then move forward.

You all have started back at school and have launched into new schedules and some even new schools.

The first day might have been a train wreck or you just were filled with anxiety, anticipating what could go wrong.

Or this is your second year, third year in your school, you got it. Its just a cake walk. You are cruising right a long with nothing to worry about. There is a mission, Are we living like it?

Jesus calls us not to just get through the day or get through High School, but rather He tells us, “Go and make disciples of ALL nations.” Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This year I don’t want you to have the same attitude as last year, just trying to get through the day. There is a mission that we are called to, and I want you to live this school on mission.

Turn with me to Joshua 1.

If you are not familiar with history or scripture, Moses was a prophet chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of capativity and into the promised land. He got them all the way to the door of the promised land but couldn’t go in because he was disobedient. He had an assistant named Joshua son of Nun.

God gave Joshua the mission to lead the people to claim the land that God has given them to possess. God promised Joshua that He will be with him all the days of his life. So he goes on to commission him.

Joshua 1:6–9 ESV

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 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.”

Joshua was called to be bold in God, not in himself.

Be strong and courageous for you will cause the people to inherit the land.

Be strong and courageous in obeying the law and not straying away from Gods commands.

Be strong and courageous because the Lord is with you wherever you go.

Joshua wouldn’t be able to lead the people without God. He wouldn’t be able to lead the people without Gods commands. He wouldn’t have been able to be courageous if God wasn’t with him.

He needed Gods strength and courage to conquer the land and divide the land as an inheritance. You could imagine the daunting task and how big the shoes you were called to fill after Moses left. He needed Gods help!

He also needs to meditate on the law. There would be times when he could go right or left, but it was the Lords direction that would lead to prosperity and blessing.

He was to say it and quote the torah.

He was to meditate on it, and ponder on the torah.

He was to obey and do what the torah said to do.

The Lord is going to be with him. He wasn’t to be afraid or frightened, but he can trust in the Lords strength.

To Live onmission, you must be strong and courageous IN THE LORD.

We all share in the same mission. Make disciples of all nations! Share the good news of Jesus.

We are all dead in our in, but through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, you can have life with God.

And it could be daunting. You don’t want to be different or singled out, but take courage because the Lord is with you.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

I don’t know what to say? Trust the Lord will give you the words to speak. Its not on you to get the words right, we just need to be obedient.

Heres 3 things that I want you to take away from this and prepare yourself for the mission.

Embrace the Mission

Joshua had to embrace the mission that God set before him. To be Strong and Courageous because he will be used by God. You also will be used by God to do more than what you ever thought you could do. Why? Because His spirit is at work within you.

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Just as God's Spirit empowers you to do more than you can imagine, storing up His Word in your heart will strengthen and guide you.

Store up Gods word.

Storing up His Word in your heart will strengthen and guide you.

God commanded Joshua to meditate on Gods word day and night. He wanted Joshua to know what was right and what was wrong. To keep him from going down a wrong path.

Jesus says at the end of His sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:24 ESV

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Obeying His word is like building your house on a firm foundation.

‌Be embolden by the Holy Spirit.

Gods presence and strength will guide you and support you through every challenge you that may come your way.

Joshua was encouraged by God that he can lead these people, not because of his ability, but because of Gods ability. Listen to this, the we have an advantage over Joshua. As believers we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. He is moving in our lives and He gives us POWER!

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Be strong and courageous. Matthew 28:20 “20b … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

The great commission is possible because with God ALL things are possible.