Easter Eggs Part II Strong and Courageous

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

 

Everything points to one thing!

 

Everything in the Bible, and indeed in the whole of creation, points to one thing, God’s plan for mankind.

 

No one verse in the Bible tells the whole story although John 3:16 does a great job giving the overview. But so does Genesis 1:1-3. The Bible tells only one story. And it just keeps reiterating that one story over and over in one account after another from Genesis to Revelation. God’s plan for mankind is redemption.

 

God saw fit to share a behind the scenes look at life through the characters and accounts of the Bible so that we might learn from the victories and failures of others. Each story is aimed at teaching truth, hoping we will learn to walk in the blessings of God.

 

This is the reason Jesus taught truth through the use of parables, God expects us to insert ourselves into each story to help us learn what we should and should not do in order to please Him and prosper in this life.

 

Last week, in Part I of this series, we learned The Art of Overlays. 

 

An overlay is an attempt to reinforce the truth of God’s word in our minds by inserting ourselves into a Biblestory to help identify the other characters and the outcome. Once we see ourselves in light of God’s Word and the truth He wishes to highlight in our lives, it is easier to know what we can do to please Him in our current situation. 

 

An overlay helps us to break the Bible code and reveal the hidden meanings contained in the passage. The overlay we chose last week was to see Jesus as Moses in the 1st chapter of Joshua. This overlay would make Joshua the Church. (For reference, please view the notes from Part I, Easter Moments, The Church, March 10, 2024, at www.EZSermons.com.)

 

Our conclusions last week were two fold:

1. God has His victory already planned.

2. Our part is to make disciples.

 

Today we pick up where we left off last week in:

 

Joshua 1:6  “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”

• This is a picture of Discipleship and the Great Commission.

• It’s among the first things God said to Joshua after Moses was no longer on the scene.

• Moses was in heaven and Joshua was left on the earth to carry on.

• God told Joshua to help others get what He hadalready given them. 

• Remember, God knows the end from the beginning, and He expects us to act like it.

 

Almost 42 years ago, on July 4, 1982, I was the pastor of Word of Faith Church in Simms, Texas. I had secluded myself for 3 days that week to fast and pray. While I was worshipping God that day, I had a deeply moving spiritual experience and was drawn into what I can only describe as the presence of the Lord. Something like a cloud moved into the room. I bowed down on my face and began pouring my heart out to the Lord.

 

To this day I still have vivid memories each time I revisit that moment. I remember hearing myself crying “Bless your people God. O God, bless your people.” Suddenly a voice, like rolling thunder, pierced the veil of my soul. The immeasurable depth of that voice startled me. It was so close and so far away at the same time. It filled everything. It was everything. I felt the words passing through me. I knew it was the voice of almighty God. He said:

 

“I have blessed My people. Now you go and you teach them how to walk in My blessings.”

 

With that, the presence of God withdrew from the room in the same manner it had come, and I was left there on the floor with the calling of God deeply and immovably planted in my heart. Since that moment I have not hesitated, been confused, or missed an opportunity to teach someone how to take the next step and please God. There is always something you can do to please God. Not everyone listens, but that hasn’t stopped me.

 

The calling we read which was on the life of Joshua is the same calling that is on the Church today. It is the Great Commission. Help others get what God has already given them.

 

It is simple, but it is not easy. Joshua 1 was not written so that we might stand in awe of Joshua, or so that we might learn some history lesson. Joshua 1 was written for us to know and to have confidence in God’s calling on our lives.

 

What if Joshua 1 had your name on it? What if a messenger sent from God spoke these words directly over your life? Well … here I am, sent from God, with a message from heaven for you. (Read the Overlay Edition – It’s a work in progress.)

 

Joshua 1 OE

7  “Only be strong and very courageous, that you (the Born-Again Believer) may observe to do according to all the law (the Word) which Moses (Jesus) My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

8  “This Book of the Law (the Bible) shall not depart from your mouth, but you (the Believer) shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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 (God) not commanded you (the Believer)? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

 

• Doesn’t this sound exactly like the end of each one of the Gospels?

• Jesus went to heaven and the Church went into all the world.

 

Next week we will conclude our overlay series of Joshua 1 with Part III - Answered Prayer. The following Sunday we will celebrate the Resurrection as a family! Our Take-Aways today:

 

1. Everything points to one thing – God’s plan for mankind.

a. God’s plan is redemption.

b. The Church has been called by God to lead His children to obtain their inheritance.

2. God has blessed His people.

a. Do you know how to walk in the blessings of God?

b. Have you gotten yourself ready for what God already has ready for you?

 

The first step into the inheritance prepared for you before the foundation of the world is to be Born-Again by the Spirit of God. You need to be a member of the family if you intend to inherit family land.

 

Today you can begin a new life as a new creation in Christ Jesus. If you believe in your heart and ask Jesus to forgive you and save your soul, He will. Once you invite Him into your life you will know the difference. The Bible and life itself will take on new meaning and you will begin to see things the way God sees them. 

 

As you grow in Christ, you will become spiritually stronger. God will give you His Holy Spirit and angels on assignment to help you and guide you and to take you to the Promise Land when it’s your time. 

 

Jesus will help you get on the right road and also help you to recover from any unfortunate falls. He will love you, forgive you, teach you, and use you as a light shining in the darkness of this world so that others might come to the light and see the truth and get saved themselves. 

 

Eternity is waiting just like the Promise Land was waiting on the Children of Israel to grow up and cross over. Be strong and courageous! You’re being given the chance to cross over the Jordan instead of dying and being buried alone in the wilderness of this world.

 

Let’s pray right now. Next week – Answered Prayer!