God is In Control

Introduction:

· Have you ever felt as though your world were out of control?

YOUR THEME THIS YEAR HAS BEEN “GOD IS IN CONTROL.” LET’S LOOK AT WHAT THAT MEANS.

I) God Has Purpose For His People

A. In a Time of Great change…(vv. 1-2)

i. Israel’s time of transition: The future is completely up in the air

1. Joshua & Israel are sad because Moses is dead…(vv. 1, 2)

2. …But also: Moses had failed, the people had failed…was God finished?

ii. Have we ever experienced this?

1. Sometimes we feel as though our lives are turned upside down

2. EXAMPLE: Your best friend moves away; your parents get divorced

B. …God sticks with His plan

i. God Graciously reiterates His Plan (vv. 3-4)

1. In spite of their failures, God remains faithful to his purposes! (Dt. 18)

2. God doesn’t change – even when we fail, or the world changes!

ii. God graciously has a mission for you (see Mt. 28:18-20)

1. What does land in a country thousands of miles away have to do with us?

2. Jesus repeats these same words: God invites us to join him in his work

3. EXAMPLE: Telling friends about Jesus; serving God as a student; learning to Love God

NOW, NOTICE THAT GOD MAKES A PROMISE TO US AS WELL.

II) God Has a Promise For His People (vs. 5)

A. God Promises that No One can Stand Against Us (vs. 5a)

i. Israel would go into battle against a lot of stronger, more powerful enemies

1. Canaan would make “an R-rated movie seem like a Disney movie”

2. Sometimes: if your friends don’t share your faith…but others: Bullies?

ii. Yet: No one will stand against us!

1. God would not allow anyone to defeat His people

2. No one can stand against you: what God thinks of you > more important

B. God Promises Always to Be with Us (vs. 5b)

i. Not only this, God would be with Israel

1. Since God was with Israel their success was guaranteed

2. Not forsaken: “forsake” = reject completely – which God will never do!

ii. A Promise for us

1. We face: loneliness; tough times at school; fight with your friend

2. But God Is With you!!

GOD HAS A PURPOSE, HE PROMISES TO ALWAYS BE WITH US – AND THEN HE TELLS US WE CAN BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

III) God Has Encouragement For His People (vv. 6-9)

A. God Urges Us to Be Strong & Courageous by Obeying Him

i. Obedience to God was meant to help Israel Flourish (vv. 7-8)

1. God urges Israel – be strong & courageous as you obey so you flourish!

2. Why? In the bible, God’s commands and laws were seen positively

ii. Obedience to God means “chewing on” his word (vs. 8)

1. So: Meditate on God’s word, study it, know it

2. EXAMPLE: Chewing Gum – and loving God’s Word

B. God Assures Us that He IS With Us Always, to the End of The Age

i. God’s Promise & Our Obedience: How do these fit?

1. Earlier we said God’s mission was guaranteed, now they must obey?

2. We see that disobedience brought failure and misery

ii. Jesus is our true Israelite who secures success through His obedience

1. Our hope: Jesus obeyed for us so that we may “go into all the world…”

2. And, we can know that “Jesus will be with us always.

Transition:

Conclusion

Gods’ purpose, God’s promise, God’s encouragement!