Pursuing God's Challenges For Us

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Pursuing God's Challenges For Us</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Success in Obeying God"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id169.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being An Example Others Can Follow"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“Pursuing God’s Challenges For Us,” Joshua 13.1-33, Berean Bible Church, Feb 6, 2000am</B></div> <bR> <div>      This was not a time for Joshua to rest on his accomplishments (vs. 1). There was still work to be done. The major threats had been removed, but now it was time for the distribution of the land to each of the tribes of Israel. Much had been accomplished, but the work was far from over. </div> <div>      God has challenges that await us if we follow the vision he has for us. Are we resting on our past accomplishments, not feeling challenged to move forward? Have we faced success or failure, and have given up? How can we resist complacency? How can we make a difference for the kingdom of God? Vision is a mental picture of a preferable future. It is seeing things not at they are but as they good be, envisioning what it can be like when God enters the picture and begins to work.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1.  Pursue God’s Challenges for Your Life (vss. 1-5).</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>A.  Discover the challenge (vss. 2-5). The main task was the division of the land (vss. 6-7). Land areas yet to be taken or settled included along the coast in the south, and the areas in the far north near the sea of Galilee and above. The division of land was part of the command given to Joshua by Moses (Deut 31.7-8). This was not a task to be given to the next leader. The book of Joshua is a record of the fulfillment of promises made to Moses and Abraham; the work needed to be finished for the promise to be fulfilled!</div> <div>      What are you leaving undone? Whether we have faced recent success or recent failure, our work is not yet done. We still have a community to reach with the love of God. We still have a deeper spiritual relationship with God to attain. We can still improve the quality of our family lives. We can still deal with a difficult sinful habit. We can still mentor a new believer.</div> <div>      How do we discern what those challenges are?  1) Through God’s Word, discovering his basic commands and principles; 2) through our spiritual gifts and our passion, experience, desires; 3) and through the available opportunities, and the needs around us.</div> <div>      B. Don’t give in to excuses (vs. 1). It is clearly stated to Joshua, “you are very old” (he was around 80). This statement takes away the excuse if Joshua was tempted to use it. The fact that he was old is used as an incentive. His job wasn’t finished yet, and time was running out. Have you been relying on excuses that have prevented you from doing what God wants you to do? Let them go and pursue God’s challenges for your life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2.  Trust in God’s Power to Face Your Challenges (vss. 6-7).</B></div> <div>      Again, God promised that his power would be at work. This is consistent with God’s original challenge to Joshua, that Joshua should trust in him and know that God would be with him (Josh 1.9). Philippians 2.12-13 tells us that as we work, God works in us to help us do what he wants us to do. He gives us the strength to carry out his work.</div> <div>      To see God at work, he expects us to pray to him, asking him to get involved. He also expects us to remember his promises, the basis for our prayers. Joshua could claim God’s promise of his presence when Joshua was carrying out God’s tasks. To see God’s power, pray and claim his promises. Then pursue God’s challenges for your life by relying on his power.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2000, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>