Growing in Grace

Glory Days Joshua 23 In spite of the odds against Joshua, God guaranteed the conquest. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. -Joshua 1:5 God gives you the same promise. . . . God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" -Hebrews 13:5-6 If the Lord is my helper, what can anyone do to us? God not only steps with you - He fights for you. The Hebrews took the land not because of their skill but God's. Throughout the book of Joshua, God does the fighting. (Joshua 1:11; 1:13; 3:5; 4:23; 6:16) "The Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you." (Joshua 23:9-10) This is Glory Days living. ". . .But with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people g...

Glory Days Joshua 21:43-45 Faith is a choice. Promised Land people risk the choice. "God keeps His promises. Trust Him." The Lord gave. . . rest. . . according to all He had sowrn to their fathers (v. 44). Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken. . . All came to pass (v. 45). God promised to bless Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). This promise was partially fulfilled in Joshua and completely fulfilled in Jesus. In Jesus every person has hope and the possibility of redemption (2 Corinthians 1:20). Promised Land people choose to believe that God is up to something good even though all we see looks bad. When fears, doubts or guilt overwhelms you, remember "But God said. . ." When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. -Isaiah 43:2 His divine power has given us everyth...

Glory Days Joshua 14:6-15 All people have problems. But not all people see problems the same way. Caleb faced his problems with faith. While the ten other spies were too afraid to take the land of Canaan, Caleb, along with Joshua, believed they could. God said of Caleb, "My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly." (Numbers 14:24) Caleb "wholly followed the Lord." His mind was centered on the Lord. Promised Land people do not deny the presence of problems, but they immerse their minds in God-thoughts. Make a deliberate decision to keep your thoughts on God . (Colossians 3:2) Turn a deaf ear to doubters . Caleb chose to ignore the ten doubters. He filled his mind with faith. Caleb lived with a highter call. He desired to have the land of Hebron to take care of it. Do you have a holy cause? A faith worth preserving? A mission worth living for? In the kingdom of Christ we gain by giving, not taking. We advance by serving , not dem...

Glory Days Joshua 11-12 The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others (1 Corinthians 12:7, CEV). Each of us. . . has a special way. . . This is you at your best. When you stand at the intersection of your skill and God's call, you are standing at the corner of the Promised Land and Glory Days. This is Canaan. One command in the book of Joshua: know your territory and possess it. Joshua's first goal was to establish Israel in Canaan by taking the land, neutralizing the enemy armies and eliminating the kings. The inheritance was for everyone, but the assignments were individual. Jesus distributes unique gifts also (Ephesians 4:7-8). Everybody gets a gift (1 Corinthians 12:7). Our inheritance is grace based and equal. But our assignments are tailor-made. Do you understand what God desires for you? (Galatians 6:4) You be you (1 Peter 4:11). Ability reveals destiny. Your skill set is your road map. What you do for a living should conform to your design....

Glory Days Joshua 9-10 How bold are your prayers? Boldness in prayer is uncomfortable for some. But we are "to come boldly to the very throne of God." (Hebrews 4:16) Joshua entered into an alliance with the enemy because they didn't seek the counsel of God (Joshua 9:14). At every decision - ask Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (P roverbs 3:5-6). He gives us enough light to take the next step. We experience Glory Days because we learn to hear God's voice (Isaiah 30:21). Wait until God speaks before you act. Consult God in everything. Call on God for great things. Joshua prayed and asked for the sun and moon to be stopped (Joshua 10:12-15). God heard Joshua's prayer and did what he asked. When you face a battle, don't give in. Respond in prayer - honest, continual and audacious prayer. Call on God. Declare the name of Jesus. -...

Glory Days Joshua 8:30-35 "Life comes with voices. Voices lead to choices. Choices have consequences." . . .Glory Days happen wehn we make good choices. Joshua built an altar to the Lord. Burnt offerings and peace offerings were made. Joshua wrote the law of Moses on the stones (Joshua 8:30-32). It was customary for kings to commemorate military achievements. Joshua, however, didn't memorialize his work. He celebrated God's law. Their strength came from keeping God's law. Heeding God's Word is fighting God's war. Conquest happens as the covenant is honored. "Obedience is the key to all doors." (C.S. Lewis) AS we obey, we open the door to God's favor (Exodus 20:6). Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24). Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22). Voices await you today. Remember ...

Glory Days Joshua 8:1-29 Joshua suffered a humiliating loss against the people of Ai. Joshua cried out to God in defeat. Failure finds us all. But God uses failures. God quickly and urgently told Joshua to get on with life (7:10; 8:1). Though you fail, God's love does not. Face your failures with faith in God's goodness. God's Promised Land offer does not depend on your perfection. It depends on His. You must believe God's grace is greater than your failures. You can arise and go to your Father. Put God's plan into place. When we follow God's strategy, victory happens. Joshua's second attempt to take Ai was successful. Failures are fatal only if we fail to learn from them. -From Glory Days by Max Lucado; chapter 10

Glory Days Joshua 7 Everything begins with faith. The absence of it results in wilderness years. The presence of it results in Promised Land living. . . Joshua trusted God. Most followed his example. Achan did not. Achan stole some of the items that were to be dedicated to the Lord (Joshua 7:1). God is enough . He cared for the Israelites in the wilderness. In the Promised Land, God was the sole source of blessings. God knew that if the soldiers collected treasures they would stop trusting Him and start trusting stuff. The Israelites were chased from Ai. Joshua cried out to God. God revealed that someone had stolen goods (vv. 11-12). Joshua reviewed each tribe, family and man until Achan was revealed and he confessed. "I saw. . . I wanted. . . I took." (vv. 20-21) Achan didn't trust God. Achan and his family were publicly executed and their possessions burned. This is a solemn waring to us. God is jealous for our trust. He demands it. What would a search of y...

Glory Days Joshua 6 Mighty Jericho crumbled. Joshua didn't bring the walls down. God did that for them. God will do that for you. Your Jericho is your fear, anger, bitterness, prejudice, insecurity about the future, guilt about the past, negativity, anxiety, proclivity to criticize, overanalyze, or compartmentalize. Your Jericho is any attitude or mind-set that keeps you from joy, peace or rest. . . To live in the Promised Land, you must face your Jericho. It's not always easy. Satan must be moved off before the saint can move in. He will resist. But Satan has no authority over you. . . God's word to Joshua is God's word to us: "Be strong and of good courage." (v. 6) Take the land God has given you to possess. . . You are a coheir with Christ. Every attribute of Jesus is at your disposal. The question is not will you overcome? It is, when will you overcome? Life will always bring challenges. But God will always give strength to face them. . . Live ou...

Glory Days Joshua 5:13-15 Joshua was near Jericho (Joshua 5:13). Perhaps you are facing a challenge unlike any you have ever faced before. It sits between you and a Promised Land. . . Like Joshua, you don't have to face your Jericho alone (Joshua 5:13-15). The guest was Jesus Himself, the "Commander of the army of the Lord." . . The Lord's army is made up of God's angels. Their presence is a Promised Land perk. All God's chidlren can be sure of God's angels. Joshua, like you, needed the reminder of God's presence. You will never face a Jericho alone (Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 1:3). All authority has been given to him. His presence is part of our inheritance. God comes to his people. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) We must look up (Psalm 121:1-2) "We are never so strong or mighty that we do not need to worship. Worship-less people have no power greater than themselves to call on . The worship-less heart faces Jericho all a...

Glory Days Joshua 4:1-5:12 The book of Joshua isn't about claiming real estate for a dislocated nation. It's about preserving a stage for God's redemption plan. Satan's counterstrategy was to contaminate the Promised Land and prempt the promised child. Joshua's battle was a spiritual one. So is ours. (Ephesians 6:12-16) Satan is a real and present foe of our faith. Any person wo has dared to draw near to God has felt Satan's attack. He has one objective: to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). After the people had crossed the Jordan River, Joshua commanded one man from each tribe to get a stone from where the priests stood. He stacked them and told the people they were to be a reminder of what God had done (vv. 21-23). The secret to survival in enemy territory? Remember what God has done. Satan has no recourse to your testimony. Your best weapon is a good memory. Remember whose you are. God commanded the men to be circumcised before they continued ...

Glory Days Joshua 3 Do you question your place in God's family? Is it safe to unpack your bags? God answered this question at the cross. When Jesus died, He declared for all who believe, "This child is my child. My covenant will never change." Promised Land people believe this. They place their trust in the finished work of Christ. The followers of Joshua looked to the Jordan River to convince them of God's presence. The Jordan was swelled to a mile in width with turbulent waters at the time the people were commanded to cross. After three days of camping at the edge of the river, God told the people to follow the ark of the covenant. As soon as the priest's feet touched the water, the rushing water stopped 30 miles up river. All the people of Israel were able to cross over on dry ground. Joshua had told them, "By this (crossing) you shall know that the living God is among you" (Joshua 3:10). Photo Credit For Joshua's people, assurance ...

Glory Days Joshua 2 God makes music out of riffraff. Joshua sent two spies to view the land, especially Jericho (Joshua 2:1). The spies entered the city and met Rahab the harlot. Rahab's profession is not kept a secret from us. It is mentioned five out of eight times she appears in Scripture. Rahab hid the spies and the king sent soldiers to get them. She lied and told the soldiers they had just missed them. Rahab believed God had given the Hebrews their land. The people of Jericho had heard what God had done and were scared. She confessed belief in God (Joshua 2:9-11) Photo Credit The Promised Land is not for a chosen few. We've all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. God does have a place for the Rahab's of the world. Like Rahab, we can all experience God's grace. Our stories become "I was. . . but now. . ." Rahab tied a scarlet cord in her window just as the spies told her to. She gathered her family and they waited. Because of Rahab...

Glory Days Chapter 3 Joshua 1:7-18 God's command to Joshua was to read the Word of God. The Bible is the most important tool in our spiritual growth. 2 Timothy 3:14-16 tells us the Bible exists to make us "wise for salvation through faith" (v. 15). How do we know the Bible is inspired by God? 1) It is remarkable in composition: It was composed over 16 centuries by 40 authors in three different languages, yet still singular in theme. This shows one mind and one designer. 2) It is remarkable in durability: It is the most published book. It has been translated into 1,200 languages. It has outlived its opponents. 3) It is remarkable in prophecy: There are more than 300 fulfilled prophecies about Christ written at least 400 years before he was born. Does the Bible make a difference? Only when you let the truth of Scripture be the authority in your life can you know whether it works. Scripture mixed with obedience brings positive results. Photo Credit Glory ...

Glory Days Chapter 2 Joshua 1:1-6 In Joshua 1:1-6 we read about the death of Moses and the leadership of God's people was given to Joshua. Moses may be dead, but God is alive. The leader has passed, but the Leader lives on. Joshua had reasons to say "I can't" to God's assignment: 1) Moses was gone. 2) The people were inexperienced. 3) The Canaanites were ruthless But God gave Joshua reasons for faith: "Arise, go over the Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them" (Joshua 1:2). Joshua wasn't sent to take the land, but to receive the land God had taken for him. Joshua received his inheritance. Have you received yours? If you have given your heart to Christ, God has given Canaan to you. He "has blessed (you) with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly palaces in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Conversion is more than the removal of sin. It is a deposit of power. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 13:21,...

Following our women's retreat, I read Max Lucado's book "Glory Days" which our speaker, Gail Mays, had mentioned. It really enhanced what was shared at the retreat. I'll share some of the highlights I gleaned from each chapter. Photo Credit Glory Days Chapter 1 The Israelites had a three-part pilgrimage. The first part of their journey found them fleeing Egypt where they had been slaves to Pharaoh. The Israelites then spent forty years wandering in the wilderness as slaves to fear. They had refused to take the land that God had promised them out of fear of the inhabitants. The final leg of their pilgrimage was into Canaan, the Promised Land, as people of the promise. We can parallel our own lives with that of the Israelites. Our Egypt days were the days we spent prior to salvation. We were slaves to sin. Anytime we find ourselves in the wilderness, we are there as a result of living a defeated Christian life. But our final destiny is also Canaan, the Pr...