Not So Fast

Review

We cannot forget the Holy Spirit!

We must position ourselves daily so that we recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit and not question His identity.

Transition

The Israelites, under the guidance of Joshua, who was under the guidance of God; obtained victory over Jericho

They shouted and the walls fell!

They experienced victory at Ai.

This caught the attention of all the neighboring countries and people in the land.

Intro

On his journey, Joshua experienced something we all have experienced or at least will experience on our journey to where God is leading us.

He experienced frontal attacks from enemies - Jericho,Ai - the kind of attacks that were obvious, straight forward, full on attacks - no questions asked.

But he also experienced an attack that was not so obvious. It was a sneaky, under handed attack that blindsided him and caused - I’m certain - an embarrassment on his part; and caused Israel to pay dearly.

Joshua 1:1–9 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. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 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. 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 1:

We must see or inquire of God before we make a move

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

God’s Word says we have an enemy, and when he invokes frontal attacks they are not left to subtlety.

1 Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

When the enemy reverts to trickery and deception, we are sometimes slow to recognize him.

The problem with this is our natural senses lead us astray.

In these cases we are not dealing with a noisy lion but a sneaky liar.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Good people can get off track if we don’t seek God first.

We have to slow down and remember that just because something may look okay, doesn’t make it okay.

Osborne vs Bethel

The leaders of Israel should have quieted their hearts and seek God’s counsel on this matter.

How often have you come to a circumstance where you felt something was happening? Not quite right?

A great example is Rebekah in the Bible

Genesis 25:

Genesis 25:22 ESV

22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

Have you ever felt a “jostling” in your spirit but you’re not quite certain what it is?

More Than Once

We need to seek/ask God more than once. Not just assume the direction will stay the same in situations/circumstances.

David models this truth for us

1 Chronicles 14:10 ESV

10 And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.”

1 Chron

The Philistines came back to the same valley; and David again inquired of God

1 Chronicles 14:14 ESV

14 And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees.

This time there was a different strategy that God used to bring about victory.

David showed a humble attitude and asked for fresh direction

“That you despair of yourself and doubt your own power does not displease me; but this displeases me, that you also despair of the power of God.” - Martin Luther

Ask,Wait, and Listen

Good decisions are more important than quick decisions.

Society tells us differently

We have to remember that for 40 years, as the Israelites journeyed, the cloud/fire did not follow them; they followed the cloud/fire.

They weren’t always lead to easy places. Sometimes the cloud lead them to hard places.

But it was all part of God’s plan.

What does a wise decision require?

1 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

According to this verse

A wise decision requires discernment.

We need this gift more than ever in our society and time we live.

Initially something that seems like an open door from God can actually be a trap.

We must inquire of God and seek His counsel and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us so we don’t miss out on what He has planned for us.

God is serious about our inquiring of Him

Isaiah 30:1–2 ESV

1 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; 2 who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

Isaiah

Beyond Sensible

There will be times God’s leading will not make sense to us at first.

What do you think could have been some of the thoughts going through the Israelite soldiers as they marched around the walls of Jericho and stopped for the day?

There is a place for human judgment and logic - but not if it undermines God’s plan and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

We must never accept something as good until we have sought God through prayer.

Joshua found this out the hard way - he moved too fast

True greatness is found in simple surrender to God’s plan for our lives.

Mark 3:35 ESV

35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Doing GOD’S will is how we attain intimacy with Christ

We can learn God’s purpose for us as we fill ourselves with His Word and then look to Him for direction with a surrendered heart.