Here to There

Joshua 1:1–11 NIV84

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ”

To go from “here” to “there” you cannot continue to do the minimum. What got you here will not get you there. However, if you build on what got you here, you will get there. Progression is the key. Any time you stop progressing you are in a comfort zone. The children of Israel got used to wandering. They got comfortable. When Moses died, they mourned. They got comfortable in their mourning. God had to shake them up. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them.” To get there, there are a few things to do here.

1. Step out of the Comfort Zone

I like sports, I am a fan of San Antonio, then Texas teams

I go to or watch games to relax

I do not want to think while I am watching a game

I want to be entertained

In the comfort zone you can just be a spectator

The comfort zone is a place of mediocrity

The comfort zone is a place of familiarity

The comfort zone is a place of least resistance

As long as you are in the comfort zone, you are not making a difference, you are only watching a difference

You cannot make a difference in the comfort zone

The comfort zone will not get you there

2. Step into the Prep Zone

The prep zone is where you begin to face some resistance

The prep zone is where you are equipped

Many will not make it past the prep zone

Football has a training season, where the team will eventually emerge

The closer the teams get to opening day the smaller the team gets

Much will be required of you

Time will be required (2 a days or like the Navy—bootcamp)

If you complete bootcamp you will become a sailor - a team member

During bootcamp you are prepared to be a Sailor

During the prep season, you are challenged to adopt a new way of thinking and acting

The prep zone is only the beginning

The prep zone is where you get ready

The prep zone helps you look the part

3. Step into the Challenge Zone

Preparation must be complete to be in this zone

In football, I say this is in between the 20s

The challenge zone is a place of more resistance

More people get in the game in the challenge zone

Resistance is difficult but manageable

The challenge zone is where specialties are separated (offense, defense, and special teams)

The challenge zone is for the prepared ones

You will be hit but you will be moving throughout most of the field

The challenge zone is where you stake your claim—I am blessed

The challenge zone is where you develop confidence

4. Step into the Red Zone

The challenge zone can get you to the Red Zone

The red zone is the place of greatest resistance

The enemy will come against you with all he has

The enemy is prepared to attack your weakness

The red zone makes the team smaller

Fewer people reach the red zone

The red zone demands special ability

The some won’t always get in, Acts 19:13-16 “13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”

Don’t be left with your pants down

Be ready

Be fierce

Be loyal

Be strong

Be courageous

Be full of faith

5. Step into the End Zone

Mk 10:29-30 ““Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.” (Mark 10:29–30, NLT)

The end zone is a place of no resistance

The end zone is a place of celebration

The end zone is a place of blessing in this life

The end zone is a place of eternal life in the life to come

The end zone is the place where we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Step into the End Zone

Get the reward