Victory Life KY

Courageous II

Episode Summary

The only way we become who God has designed and called us to be, the only way we participate in this extraordinary life is by embracing who we are from His perspective.

Episode Notes

• John 10:10,AMP- “...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
• Abundance (perissos) surplus, extraordinary, more than enough, excessive.

• The only way we become who God has designed and called us to be, the only way we participate in this extraordinary life is by embracing who we are from His perspective.

• Isaiah 26:3-4,NLT- You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

• Think about it, right now, what kind of self image would you say you have? What about your in Christ image?

• I bring this up because Jesus’ promises, our inheritance is directly connected to our comprehension of our new identity. Remember, John instructs us that we will prosper as our soul prospers.

• Let’s be more intentional with our God life, like Isaiah says, fixing our thoughts on Him.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18,NKJV-  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

• MSG, “When God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

• This is why transformation is absolutely essential. Throughout our journey of faith, we will all be presented with uncertainty, and it'll be in those times that we'll have the opportunity to trust God.

•  One of the most inspirational OT characters is Joshua, because he represents the overwhelming majority of Christians.

• He's just a regular guy that decided to put his faith in God and do something with it.

• He’s about to become one of God's new leaders, helping people, leading people to step into God's promises.

• Joshua is a great example of how God honors the faithfulness of someone simply willing to do whatever is asked of him.

• What we've got to make sure we don't miss here is that Joshua’s willingness to obey God is what actually open the door for God's advancement.

• Regardless of where we may find ourselves in our journey of faith, let Joshua's example of faith inspires us to keep our thoughts fixed on Jesus.

• Joshua 1:1-9,NLT- After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. 
• 2. He said, Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO LEAD these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 
• 3. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you,
•  4. from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 
• 5. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 
• 6. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 
• 7. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 
• 8. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
• 9. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

• One of the first things we've got to recognize is how God continually encourages Joshua to stay strong and courageous.

• Joshua inspires us that even though we have God’s help, it’s still on each of us to take the necessary steps of faith to embrace our next with God.

• See yourself as a one of God’s courageous, influential followers that have something to offer, that you’re ready to step into God's next for you. Be courageous. 

• Maybe one of our biggest takeaways from Joshua is the reality that, we cannot be who we're suppose to be and who we used to be at the same time.

• Remember what v.8 tells us; Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

• The challenge with this way of life is that His word, His promises, many times take our faith to what seems risky.

• It's in those seemingly uncertain times that we learn to rely on Jesus.

• Like Joshua we've got to allow what God tells us to shape our courage, passion, motivation, even our expectations.

• This means that there will be times when we've got to stop focusing on what we're not, what we don't have, no to mention, the things we think we can't do.

• For many this means we’ve got to stop the double-mined approach to life.

• The more single-minded we are, the stronger our faith becomes, and the more excited we'll be about His promises.

• If you're not here yet, get around some believers that will help fuel your expectations and passion, and at the same time, inspire a little courage.

• Something we've all got to come to terms with is the fact that God will never create a life for us where He won't be needed.

• That's the lesson of the day from Joshua; Be strong and courageous because He's with us. Possessing our promises, just like with Joshua’s generation, it will demand the same kind of faith.

• Ephesians 6:10-11,NLT-  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

• Make no mistake, this is part of the abundant, extraordinary life Jesus came that we could have. This is what God is teaching us through the life of Joshua.

• The thing is, long before Joshua stud in front of the Jordan, God was already working on him. So wrap your head around this, right now, God is preparing you for His next.

• Hopefully one of the most important things we take away from Joshua is the fact that when we find ourselves in uncertainty, we can absolutely trust that God is with us.

• Here’s what ever believer has to come to terms with, and it’s why He repeatedly told Joshua to be strong and courageous, we still have to take the steps of faith God leads us in.

• So, make today the day you start seeing yourself in the light of who and what Jesus says you are.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18,NKJV-  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

• Be intentional about it, because if we don't practice these truths, chances are high that we'll never take the time to develop our God life.

• Here’s a major component of the God life, it demands change. And let's be honest, no body likes change.

• It disrupts our routine, threatens our habit patterns, forces us to reevaluate, and maybe the most difficult, sometimes we have to unlearn familiar behavior.

• The generation before Joshua was unwilling to change. Because of uncertainties, fear, and unbelief they chose to settle for the desert life rather than be uncomfortable embracing something new.

• Think about it, right now, how many of us are standing on the bank of the Jordan, the bank of what God’s promised us and we simply lack the faith to step into the water?

• Afraid to step into the extraordinary life Jesus told us He came to this earth that we could have. This is why God told Joshua, be strong and courageous. Go in and possess the promises I’ve already given you.

• Is it possible that we’ve been comfortable for too long enjoying the blessing of the Lord on our land and just maybe the church has gotten a little complacent, allowing the enemy to come in and take some of what God gave us?

• Remember, Jesus is coming back for a glorious church! Make no mistake, God knows right where we’re at in this unGodly world and He’s anointing us to prepare for His return.

• We’re called to the Kingdom for such a time as this. Therefore be strong and courageous.

• Haggai 2:4-9,NLT- Now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 
• 5, My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.
• 6, For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. 
• 7, I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 
• 8, The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 
• 9, The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!