Restore final

“Forward Restoration”

We are bringing our sermon series entitled “Restore” to a close today.

Remember with me that our theme verse for the series has been Joel 2:25 where God promised that He would “restore the years that the locust has eaten.”

This tremendous promise came at a time of great devastation for the people of Israel.

They anticipated God’s provision of restored years, and in like manner, we also anticipate God’s promise of restoration for us today.

When we think in terms of restoration we tend to think of something being brought back to a prior condition.

For example, when we restore a piece of furniture, we do not make it new again but we attempt to bring it back to it’s former new condition as best we can.

But what if God’s restoration is forward instead of backward?

Could it be that within God’s promise of restoration we actually have an outcome better than the original?

I would suggest that God’s version of restoration turns out better than the prior state.

His intent is not to take us back to a prior state, but rather to move us forward into a greater level of Kingdom living.

Introduction:

The children of Israel lost 400 years to Egyptian bondage.

They suffered under the extreme persecution of their captors and reached the point of crying out to God for deliverance.

As God turned His ear to their cry, a deliverer was appointed to lead the people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

As they depart, God provided for their every need, but they became entrapped in their complaints and an entire generation died in the wilderness never reaching the Father’s promise.

Moses, the great leader appointed by God, faithfully led the people for 40 years.

His character and perseverance in the face of continued trials and tribulation stand as a testimony for us today.

Moses was appointed and anointed for the task of his assignment.

There came a time however when his leadership came to an end and a new leader was appointed by God to finish the task of leading the people into the Promise Land.

Primary thought: With each step forward toward restoration, an ending is required.

[Joshua 1:1-2 ESV] 1 “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 "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.”

The children of Israel experienced an ending forced upon them.

Moses has died and is no longer available to continue leading. His remains reside in the wilderness as a new generation anticipates steps forward with questions as to who will lead them now. With the loss of friends, family, and years in the desert, they are now faced with the need to release the wilderness in order to obtain the Promise.

None of us like change, especially when it is forced upon us. The people had no say as to the loss of their beloved leader. Moses, the servant of the Lord, was dead, and a new leader was tapped on the shoulder by God. In the appointment of new leadership, two commands were given . . . arise and go over.

The thought of arising would indicate that a choice of the will must be enacted. We must purpose within ourselves to arise. This would indicate that each person was required to rise up within themselves for the sake of moving forward into God’s purpose and promise. For those unwilling or unable to arise, the result would be the missing of God’s restoration of promise.

Not only did God instruct Joshua to arise, but He also told him to “go over.”

This statement simply reveals God’s intended purpose to lead us forward. We also must “go over” and in so doing, we choose to follow in the footsteps of the Father into His promise. However, our going over is often met with obstacles and challenges. The timing of God’s call to go over was at full flood stage of the Jordan river. Couldn’t God choose a better time for them to “go over?” Why now?

Going over is never convenient.

We don’t get to pick and choose when we cross, that is up to God to decide. When He says it’s time, we simply prepare to step in a place and direction dependent upon God’s provision to supply the way where there seems to be no way.

[Joshua 1:6-7 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.”

Strength and courage . . .

The word “strong” in God’s instruction to Joshua means; “to restore to strength.” This is in view of the fact that the current generation did not witness for themselves the miraculous deliverance of God on behalf of their parents. They were going to need strength at a personal level. The testimonies of their parents would be insufficient to generate the needed strength for them to cross over into the promise land. This aspect of restoration is pointed forward. The needed strength and courage required of them would not come from a past experience but would develop as they stepped forward in obedience.

The thought of “courage” compliments God’s command for strength. Here courage is “to be secure for oneself.” Once again we see that the command of God must be executed at the individual’s level.

### Vicarious Christianity Will Not Sustain Us Moving Forward Into God’s Promise

In *Joshua 1:6*, God commands Joshua to "be strong and courageous," as he prepares to lead Israel into the Promised Land. This call to strength and courage highlights a critical principle: we cannot move forward into God’s promise relying on the experiences of others. Each of us must have a **personal encounter** with God that strengthens and equips us for the journey ahead.

**Vicarious Christianity**—living our faith through the experiences of others—will not be enough to sustain us when we face life’s challenges.

#### I. **What is Vicarious Christianity?**

- **Definition**: Vicarious Christianity is a belief system where our relationship with God is dependent on the spiritual experiences, testimonies, or encounters of someone else rather than our own.

- It’s when we rely on what others have said or experienced in their walk with God, but we lack a personal connection or relationship with Him.

- We may attend church, hear about God’s faithfulness, or even be moved by others’ stories of miracles and answered prayers, but we remain at a distance, never fully experiencing God’s presence for ourselves.

#### II. **Why Vicarious Christianity Falls Short**

1. **Secondhand Faith Cannot Sustain Us**

- Hearing about God’s power and faithfulness from others can inspire us, but it cannot substitute for a **personal relationship** with Him. The Israelites under Joshua’s leadership faced the daunting task of crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land. They couldn’t rely on their parents’ stories of crossing the Red Sea; they needed to experience God’s miraculous provision firsthand.

- Just as Israel needed to witness God’s power for themselves, we also must have **personal experiences** with God to build our faith, especially when we face challenges and trials.

2. **Lack of Strength and Courage**

- The strength and courage required to move forward into God’s promise cannot be transferred from someone else. Each person must develop their own faith and trust in God.

- **Joshua 1:6** reminds us that God’s command to Joshua was personal: *“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land.”* Joshua needed his own courage and his own strength to lead the people. The stories of Moses’ leadership, while inspiring, wouldn’t have been enough to sustain Joshua’s resolve to step forward in obedience.

- Today, many Christians remain spiritually weak because their faith is not deeply rooted in personal encounters with God. Without this foundation, they lack the strength to face life’s spiritual battles or the courage to cross over into the promises God has for them.

3. **Encouragement is Not Enough**

- Testimonies of God’s faithfulness can be incredibly encouraging. Hearing how God has worked in someone else’s life often stirs our hearts and gives us hope. However, encouragement alone will not carry us through our personal trials. We need **our own faith stories** to stand on when life gets hard.

- Consider the story of David facing Goliath. While he may have heard about God’s past deliverance of Israel, what gave David the strength to face Goliath was his **personal experience** of God’s deliverance from the lion and the bear (*1 Samuel 17:34-37*). Without these personal encounters, David’s confidence would have been hollow.

#### III. **The Cost of Vicarious Christianity**

1. **Stunted Spiritual Growth**

- Vicarious Christianity keeps us spiritually immature. Without personal encounters with God, we never grow in intimacy with Him. We may go through the motions of religious life—attending church, hearing sermons, or engaging in worship—but if our faith is always secondhand, we remain spiritually stagnant.

- When trials or challenges arise, those who have relied on the experiences of others often lack the **depth of relationship** needed to persevere. They fall away because their faith was never truly their own.

2. **Weakness in the Church**

- The Church today suffers from a lack of personal engagement with God. Many Christians know about God, but few truly **know Him**. This disconnect weakens the Body of Christ because it produces believers who are ill-equipped to handle spiritual challenges.

- When difficult times come—whether it’s personal loss, persecution, or temptation—those with a vicarious faith often fall away because they haven’t developed a personal trust in God’s faithfulness. They’ve never learned to stand on God’s promises for themselves.

3. **Missed Promises**

- One of the greatest dangers of vicarious Christianity is that it prevents us from fully walking into the promises of God. Just as the Israelites had to cross the Jordan River by faith, we too are called to step into new seasons and challenges with personal trust in God. But without a personal experience of God’s presence, we are often too afraid or too uncertain to step out in faith.

- The result? We miss out on the fullness of what God wants to give us. The **strength and courage** required to possess God’s promises come from knowing Him deeply and personally. Without that relationship, we remain on the outside of God’s intended blessings.

Hearing of God’s faithfulness from others is encouraging, but unless or until I receive God’s faithfulness at a personal level, I will always be restricted to the encounter of someone else. Vicarious Christianity has cost us severly. The Church today suffers as a result of people who have never encountered God at a personal level. As a result when they are faced with the need to “cross over” they lack the needed strength and courage to do so.

[Joshua 1:10-11 ESV] 10 “And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 "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.'"

Pass through, prepare, and possess . . .

### Sermon Applications: "With Each Step Forward Toward Restoration, an Ending is Required"

Focusing on *Joshua 1:10-13*, we see that God commanded Joshua and the Israelites to "pass through," "prepare," and "possess." These three actions provide practical steps for us as we step into God’s restoration. The central thought is that **with each step forward toward restoration, an ending is required**. Let's explore how this applies to our lives today.

#### I. **Pass Through – Moving Beyond What Was**

- **Scripture Reference**: *Joshua 1:10-11* – "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, 'Prepare your provisions.'"

- **Application**: The first step toward restoration is passing through the place of familiarity and comfort. In order to move forward, we must leave something behind. This requires us to:

- **End relationships, habits, or mindsets** that are holding us back from experiencing the fullness of God’s restoration.

- **Identify what needs to be left behind**: Is there an attitude of unforgiveness, fear, or bitterness that you need to end? What is preventing you from stepping into the new season?

- **Make a conscious decision to move**: Just as the Israelites had to physically pass through the camp to get ready to enter the Promised Land, we must be willing to take steps of action, trusting God even when it means letting go of what we know.

- **Personal Reflection**: What is God asking you to "pass through" in your life right now? What must you leave behind to move forward?

#### II. **Prepare – Letting Go of the Old to Embrace the New**

- **Scripture Reference**: *Joshua 1:11* – "Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan."

- **Application**: Preparation is not just about physical readiness but also about spiritual and emotional preparation. To step into God’s restoration, we must be willing to end certain things:

- **End procrastination or fear of the future**: We often hesitate to prepare for the next stage because we are afraid of the unknown or because we cling to the past.

- **Prepare your heart**: Spend time in prayer and reflection. Ask God to show you areas of your life that need closure or resolution.

- **Practical Steps**: Like the Israelites who had to pack provisions for the journey ahead, we too must prepare by:

- Strengthening our faith through God's Word and prayer.

- Addressing practical needs in our lives (relationships, finances, health) to step into the next season.

- **Personal Reflection**: What areas of your life need to be prepared for the next season? Are there lingering attachments to the past that need to be released so you can embrace the new?

#### III. **Possess – Stepping into the Promise by Faith**

- **Scripture Reference**: *Joshua 1:11-13* – "…go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you."

- **Application**: Possessing what God has promised requires boldness, action, and sometimes the ending of comfort zones. The Israelites couldn’t possess the Promised Land without leaving behind the wilderness.

- **End complacency**: Many times, we grow comfortable where we are, even if it’s not God’s best for us. Restoration requires stepping into something new, which means leaving the familiar behind.

- **Take steps of faith**: God’s promise is guaranteed, but it’s up to us to take action. What practical steps do you need to take today to possess God’s promises in your life? For some, it may mean taking a new job, starting a ministry, or reconciling with someone.

- **Trust God's timing and provision**: Possessing the land was not going to be easy—there were challenges ahead. God’s instruction to Joshua and the people was to be *strong and courageous*. Even though the path may seem difficult, we must trust that God’s provision is enough.

- **Personal Reflection**: Are you ready to "possess" the promises God has given you? What practical steps of faith is God asking you to take today?