JUMP!

Have I not commanded you? “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

FACT: Most Americans have never taken a significant risk in any area of their lives. The ease of our lifestyle and the comfort of our standard of living has, in many ways, created a risk-averse societal perspective. In America we love our life, and so we like to stay in the “safety zone.” Most people stay within their family boundaries for their entire life. Many have never ventured outside of the state in which they live, they will never see the shores of a foreign country. Few people have ever jumped out of a plane, scuba dived, gone over 70 mph in a car, or played a contact sport.

But in the context of our Christian walk, there is this thing called FAITH, and faith often requires us to be willing to step outside of that safety zone, and take a risk.  My question to you this week:  Are you living in the “spiritual safe zone?

This Sunday we’ll be hearing from some of our CCW folks who took a risk, stepped out, and obeyed God.  They got on a plane and flew to a far-away country.  They took a venture of faith, and Sunday you will hear their story.  Don’t miss it.

Pastor Clay

Stepping OUT and Stepping UP

Last night we covered Joshua chapters 4 & 5 at our midweek service, and one of the points that really hit home was the fact that Joshua was a man that not only stepped OUT, but he also stepped UP! In other words, he was not only obedient to the task that God had called him to, but he stepped up to the role that God had called him to.

An interesting thing happened right after all the men were circumcised in Joshua chapter 5. God told them "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." In other words, the shame and disgrace of being slaves and being in bondage was OVER, and the Israelites were being brought into a new phase of their relationship with God – from being slaves to being FREE! Jesus spoke of this in John 8:

John 8:34 "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Joshua and the Israelites were in a place that they not only were to obey the task God had put before them, but they were to begin seeing themselves as a people who had been delivered – who had been redeemed! They not only were to step OUT to obey God, there were to step UP to be the people God called them to be. Joshua was not only to step OUT to obey God, he was to step UP to be the leader God called him to be, to walk fully in the role that God had called him to.

And what was the key to his success? His complete submission to God! When confronted with the Commander of the Lords army, a pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, …Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" (Josh 5:19)

To listen to the Joshua series, CLICK HERE.

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay