His Honor _ "God Saves"

· I have been thinking a lot about my journey this year.

· There has been a lot of, Just stuff that has happened. I keep asking myself, did I represent God well? Through all of the challenges, did I place my faith and trust in the Lord?

· Did my emotions control me? With fear, anger, with Just being exhaustion and frustrated to the point that “I failed to Honor My Holy God” I’m I at my breaking point?

· We see Moses at His breaking point, he sinned before God. Lashing out at the people and Striking the Rock. It was in that moment that Moses would lose his reward of entering into the promise land.

· Not only that, But there is over 600,000 men plus woman and children getting ready to enter the Promiseland. They will have to enter the land without their leader.

· You know, no matter how impossible life feels, God has a way of preparing us for what is to come.

Missions Statement:

Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Deut. 8:2 (NLT)

He Prepares us by humbling us and testing us, for one reason! To Honor Him.

Honestly, what good are we if we have never been tested?

Do we say “it’s too hard!” – Then we might not be ready

Or

Can we say “I would never, disobey God” – How well did that workout for Peter?

The man that was appointed to Lead the 600K was well tested, battle hardened man of the Faith.

Joshua -

1. Gave a good report of the land along with Caleb. Who wanted Israel to take the land by faith

a. (Num 13:30–14:38) - Faith

2. Led, the army of Israel against the Amalekites

a. (Exod 17:8–16)- Willing to Fight

3. Helped Moses at the “Tent of Meeting”, following the golden calf

a. (Ex. 33:7-11) - Knew how to Follow

He was well tested by God. These three tests , we learn a lot about Joshua, and through these his trails, We learn about his proven character.

What we Learn from Joshua

1. He has incredible faith - despite what the other spies said he stands firm on the promises of God

2. He is willing to fight for Gods people, and preserver - by defeating the Amalekites, As God commanded

3. He is willing to serve. - He not only follows the commands of Moses to led an army, But also cares for Moses as his assistant

· A commander of an army, one that seemingly has great power and authority, is also the assistant to Moses. clearly a humble man that, sees all good work as a service to God Himself.

· We also learn something incredible about Joshua by his name. - (Yeshua, we get the Greek Ἰησους, and the English name Jesus) Meaning “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation”

So Moses, whose name means “he is drawn from water” - not only is he saved from the Nile but rescues Israel at the Red Sea. (Moses, is clearly living up to his name)

Now, Joshua comes, called by God to save Israel from the wilderness , and his name means “God saves”

· Clearly God had a hand on Joshua at a young age, and When Joshua was tested, he represented God to the best of his ability. He showed his faith in God meant more to him than anything else.

Joshua would go on to say later in his life

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve…… But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Josh. 24:15 NLT

· Gods always looking for people willing to serve Him, with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

LW: Johnathan last weekend talked briefly talked about Re-birth has we enter the new year. It was after the sermon that God placed something on my heart.

· Thinking about all the trails that the Israelites have gone through. We don’t compare, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t being tested.

· I begin to wonder, what if I’m disqualified, what if I’m not yet qualified and being tested and humbled. I’m I qualified, to lead Gods peoples, will I have be qualified?

· More trails are coming for all of us. We will be judged by How we represent God! And How we Honor His holy name. (Just like the people of Israel).

· How we represent God is our test. No matter How hard life gets, how we respond to God is our test. When trails come, we have a choose to obey the word of God or create our own path.

· I want to be ready, I want to know where I’m at , and I want to know where we are as a Church Body.

· What I would like us to do as we close this chapter of the wilderness experience, and begin a new experience. Is ask ourselves “where are we in our service to God?”

Four Stages of Service in the Church

I have broken it down to four stages.

1. Never-Qualified

2. Not yet- Qualified

3. Disqualified

4. Qualified

As we go through though this, be honest with yourselves. And do not Judge others.

Each one that I have listed, Will also show their Identity in the Church, Their Role in the church, and give a biblical example.

again (This is not to judge but to evaluate)

· Never-Qualified

· Now there are those who never care to revere God has Holy. (NON-Believers)

· Identity in the Church:

Yes, they live in the church, are those people that are just along for the ride. Show up Sundays (maybe) and live their life like nothing happened.

· There Role in the church :

Seat warmer, No change in life, no care to guard themselves from sin.

· Biblical Example –

Biblically this is Cain, Esau, Pharaoh, Jezebel, (Judas, Ananias and Sapphira)- Evil people that God uses to work His will through, as nothing more than a tool. But they have no care for Him, and in the end they are thrown into hell -

KEY: Because they never cared to give God the Glory that is rightfully His

· Not yet- Qualified

· This is the new believer - The one that is tossed around like waves – The Bible says

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Ep. 4:14

(NLT)

· Identity in the Church:

I’m not judging, new believers. for they typically have more passion for the gospel than anyone else. They have great potential to serve God.

But, they have yet to be tested or battle hardened.

· There Role in the church :

Their role in the church is to learn, ask questions, and serve to find their calling, for the service of God.

Biblical Example –

Biblically this is, well, fill in the blank______. Paul the murder, Peter the denier, Thomas the faithless,

· we have all been here, When I was young in the faith, I made a lot of mistakes, my faith was tested regularly, and I have failed many tests.

The reason I say my faith is strong NOW is because It has been tested.

“A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.” ~ Greg Laurie

All these great man and woman of the Bible started off sinful and broken. But finished strong and willing to die for the Lord.

KEY: Great potential to serve God. But needs Battle hardened

· Disqualified –

· Disqualified are those who Love God, but have made horrible mistakes. They are Disqualified from service. Hopefully for a time. If they continue,then they will find themselves in the first Category.

What Separates this group from the Not yet- Qualified is they know better.

· Identity in the Church:

They become Disqualified when they stop revering God has being Holy. Trails come, and they will. And they turn away from God, and follow their own path. This is a warning, because even the best Christians can fall into this level of sin.

There Role in the church : Is to Actively seek forgiveness. First from God then the ones they hurt.

· Biblical Example

Believe it or not they are still in good company. This was the case for Moses - God could have used him but instead he did not glorify God, when he struck the rock the second time.

Even after he was disqualified to enter the Land, He sought after God. And eventually commissioned his successor “Joshua”

· Did you know that God did allow Moses to enter the Land? (Transfiguration

Mt. 17

)

*even the Disqualified have Hope*

KEY: Disqualified when they stop revering God has being Holy

Qualified

First let be clarify= *We cannot qualify for Grace* For Grace is the means in which God works.

· We are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, All for the glory of God alone.

Here is what the Bible says about being qualified

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Ep. 4:11-13

(NLT)

· Identity in the Church:

This is the mature Christian. Their faith has been tested ( How many has had their faith tested? Did you come out stronger?)

Their Role in the Church: Is to build up other believers. Using the gifts that Christ gave them to build His church

This word “equip” is καταρτισμὸν – means bring to completion.

So they are to continue to do this until they are called home.

· Biblical Example

Again, fill in the blank______. Let me Go to Paul.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

2 Tim. 4:7-8

(NLT)

KEY: Remaining faithful

Moving On

Moving to the next chapter in life is not going to be easy, The Israelites entered the promise island, fought wars and were held captive for hundreds of years. Before there savior -Christ Jesus appeared – and even now we wait for His trumpet return

1. It will require Faith -

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Heb. 11:1-3

(ESV)

Faith is the assurance of hope

2. It will require Perseverance

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Jm 1:12

(ESV)

It’s a fight, brothers and sisters. Be prepared

3. It will require Service to Others -

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Gal. 6:9-10

(ESV)

· I say this because it’s easy to collapse in on ourselves when difficult times come.

· Even with all the faith in the world, we still have a responsibility to love. We have a responsibility to respond to Gods love by showing his love to others.

It’s important for us to remember that we are a body.

That means

We are not alone in our faith - we share our faith so we can have incredible faith has a member of the body

We also fight as one, preserve as one - since we are members of the same body we must be willing to fight and train up other members of the body.

We serve each other in any manner necessary - because we know that being humble means that all good work is a service to God Himself.

Jesus is perfect for us. The Qualifier

He qualifies us, All credit for the Body Goes to the head of the church, Who’s name means “God Saves” that “God is Salvation” - He is the Holy One that led’s us home

1. He is our incredible faith - The Author and perfecter of our faith

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Heb. 12:2

(NLT)

2. He is willing to fight for Gods people - the Great Sheppard

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Is. 41:10

(ESV)

3. He is the Great servant. - He is the Lamb

I could point to all the great works He has accomplished - but there is one that He has done for all of us.

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

2 Cor. 5:15

(ESV)

Closing: Church I’m nervous, scared, and exited for what is to come.

There is one Question I have been thinking about a lot recently

· How does our circumstance and/or suffering fit into Gods sovereignty?

Another way to ask this question is

· How is our testing fitting into Gods Perfect plan? (Because Right Now it doesn’t feel perfect)

Even though I’m full of emotions, for what is to come. I will choose not to rely on my Emotions Instead, I will rely on Gods protection has the good and great shepherd.

Read

Psalm 23

:(NLT)

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer