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Week 11 |
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Prosperity and Success 2
Ephesians 5:1-21
Yesterday, we thought about what it takes to be successful and prosperous as a Christian. We established that the kind of success that the Bible promises won’t look like the success that the world is pursuing. Godly accomplishments aren’t measured in the horsepower of the car in your driveway, the square footage of your house, or the size of your retirement portfolio. Biblical prosperity and success are achieved through obedience to the Word of God. To the extent that you are willing to submit yourself to the will of God, you will have more or less success in God’s sight. Let’s spend a few moments looking at a verse that will help you become more successful and prosperous.
Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
First of all, God says that if you’re going to be in a position where your life is prosperous and successful according to Him, you must never be out from under the control of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that anything that controls you other than the Holy Spirit is sin. In Ephesians, God uses the example of wine. When you are controlled by alcohol you’ll do things and say things that you never would when you are sober. Maybe subconsciously you really want to do those things, and outside the control of the Spirit, the wine provides you the excuse to do them.
You don’t have a problem being controlled by alcohol? There may be other things that you’re allowing to take the place of the Holy Spirit in your life. Are you letting a spouse negatively impact how you live for Christ? Does a spouse who would rather sleep in on Sunday mornings control whether or not you go to church? Are you using the lack of commitment by your spouse as an excuse not to server or give as you know you should? Then you are being controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit, and you are sinning. If your job controls you, if a lack of money -- or too much money -- controls you, if you allow your circumstances (however difficult and frustrating they may be) to control you, you are out of the will of God. The Spirit is to fill you up; nothing else can take His place in your life. Ask yourself: Am I living a life of prosperity and success in the sight of God? If you’re not being obedient to Ephesians 5:18, you won’t be – you can’t be.
“Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
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Week 9 |
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Take the Land
Joshua 1:1-9
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon… After reading this verse, you may be saying to yourself, “that’s all well and good for Joshua and the Israelites. They had those big promises from God. If I had assurances from Him like that, I’d be a lot bolder too.” Well, I’ve got good news for you. We have the very same promises from God today as Joshua did some 3000 years ago. You see, the book of Joshua is a book of Old Testament truth that points us to the New Testament reality. Let me prove it to you, look at Corinthians 2:14: "Now thanks be unto God, Who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place."
No excuses here: this verse promising victory is from a New Testament book that was written to the Church. The Old Testament truth in Joshua is directly applicable to us today as a New Testament reality according to 2 Corinthians. What God promised to Joshua, He promises to you and me. God always causes us to triumph, to be victorious, in every place that we put a foot down.
Now, if Joshua got that from God and went in and took the land of Canaan, don’t you think we as believers should be able to take His Word and go in and win, say, our homes for Christ? When you walk through your front door do you enter a place of blessing and rest? (Or is it that way until you get home?!)
Do you know what the cause of all those defeats in the book of Judges is? It is the failure of the Israelites to finish the job of conquering the land after the death of Joshua. They leave pockets of enemies here and there throughout the land that God had totally given to them. God had ordered His people to destroy them all, but the Israelites grow complacent and never complete the job. The peoples that are left in the land become stumbling blocks for the Israelites. Those unconquered regions turn into places of temptation and sin for God’s people.
Have you conquered every place in your house for Christ, or have you left some areas still in the possession of the enemy? What about the TV room? The computer? The bookshelves? The refrigerator? It’s time to get off the couch and take out the trash.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
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Week 8 |
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The Permanence of the Word
Joshua 1:1-9
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. When He said it to Moses, it was the truth. When He says it to Joshua, it is still the truth. You see, it doesn’t matter who God’s Word goes to, it’s always the same. God says, “My Word doesn’t change because the culture changes. My Word doesn’t change because the generations change, or because we went from one century to another century, or because we went from the Old Testament to the New Testament.” How often do we hear: “Well, that’s just your interpretation; it doesn’t mean that to me.” Do we have the right to change God’s Word to fit us, instead of submitting ourselves to be changed by God’s Word? We all think we do at some time or other.
Joshua might be thinking, “You’ve got to understand, God, when You said it to Moses, he was in a completely different set of circumstances. You can’t give me those same words because I’m dealing with those awful Canaanites; they don’t even know about You. So I’ve got to adapt and modernize what You’ve said because if I try to tell them what You say, they’re not going to like it! I don’t want to turn them off, you know.” Let me ask you something, how can you turn someone off who’s not even on? The truth of God’s Word is the same no matter who is hearing it.
You see, God says the same thing to a husband who has a godly wife, as He says to a husband who has a terrible wife who doesn’t submit, won’t listen, couldn’t care less about God: “Love your wife.” God’s Word is the same to a wife whether she has a great husband who loves God and treats her like a queen, or the worst pagan in town who goes out and gets drunk with his buddies every weekend: “Be subject to your husband.” God says, “My Word is the same to you regardless of what your husband or wife is like.” “My word is the same regardless of how much money is in your wallet.” “My word is the same regardless of how you feel today.” Our biggest problem is we come up with excuses, “Well, my situation’s different.” I guarantee you Joshua is thinking of excuses too, after all Moses had some pretty big sandals to fill. But God’s Word to Moses is God’s word to Joshua is God’s word to us. Will you allow the truth of the Bible to dictate your situations, or your situations to dictate the Word?
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
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Week 7 |
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Day 7: Hear and Obey
Joshua 1:1-9
Now therefore arise… “Get up, Joshua! It’s time to get going. Get yourself and your people over that Jordan!” Joshua is the perfect example for us today of a person who hears the Word of God and then obeys the Word of God. That’s what we should strive to do every day of our lives. We hear the Word of God. We reflect on what we’ve heard. We accept and internalize it. Then we live it! That’s what it means to be obedient to the Word of God. This is what God says… so let’s go do it!
You might be saying to yourself, “Well, I just don’t get this. I never know what it is that God wants me to do. How can I be obedient? I don’t know what to do to be obedient in this or that situation.” Let me tell you something. If you’re honestly asking God, “What should I do?” He will be faithful to let you know, and He will lead you in the paths of obedience. If He seems to be taking a long time answering you, you need to be patient and rest in Him. And in the meantime, while you’re waiting to learn what the right thing to do is, don’t do what you know to be the wrong thing! And as long as you don’t do what you’re not supposed to do, you’re doing what you are supposed to do. Your patience and your waiting – your obedience -- will be blessed.
The real problem is, most of the time you already know what the right thing to do is; you’re just stalling and looking for excuses not to do it. You want to do what you want to do regardless of what is right according to the will of God. You pray insincerely, “Lord, please let me know what I should do.” And God provides the answer for you: Your friend says, “Don’t do it.” Your mother says, “Don’t do it.” Your conscience says, “Don’t do it.” But you’ll ignore the answers that you don’t want to hear and you’ll seek out advice – even from nonbelievers! -- as long as it takes until you find someone who says, “Hey, go for it! You deserve it.” The next thing you know, your life is in a mess, your relationships are in a mess, and your job is in a mess. And you’ll turn right around and blame it on God for not coming through.
Is there some area in your life right now that you’re not being obedient in? Take a moment now and get it right before God. Are you praying about a decision that you don’t know the right thing to do and you’re waiting for God to answer? Don’t sin while you’re waiting.
Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams. 1Samuel 15:22
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Week 6 |
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God is the one constant
Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses… “What, Moses is dead?” “Now what are we supposed to do?” “He delivered us from Egypt; he led us in the desert; he talked to God and intervened on our behalf.” “What are we going to do now that he’s gone?” These are the thoughts of Joshua and the Israelites when news of Moses’ death reaches the camp. In a flash, everything they had learned to expect and trust in has changed. No, not everything, for there is One who does not change. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Their situation is now different, yes, but their God is still the same.
People often ask me if I’ve ever met Billy Graham. "Sure I’ve met Billy Graham. I call him “Billy!" I say. Then they wonder how I must have felt meeting the great evangelist. I tell them it was super to meet Billy. But you know what? I’ve met Billy’s boss. I know that even when Billy Graham dies, and the loss to the church will be great, God is still around -- never changing, and never ceasing to bring about His purposes in the lives of people. God is bigger than a Moses or a Billy Graham. God is bigger than the ever-changing and challenging situations that you are made to face each day. In these verses, God is encouraging Joshua of this very fact. He is saying, “You’ve seen that I have been good, Joshua, and I’ve been faithful. I led Moses. But even now that Moses is dead, you can’t get down because I’m still the same and I will lead you.”
When you’ve got thousands in your checking account, God’s the same. When you’re broke with no job, God’s the same. When your children thank you and bless you, God’s the same. When they curse you and disobey, God’s the same. When you’re respected and honored by your spouse, God’s the same. When you’re unappreciated and abused, God’s the same. When you’re the life of the party and center of attention, God’s the same. When you’re alone and frightened, God’s the same. You see, it doesn’t matter what changes around you; God remains constant, unchanged, immutable, and unaffected.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” Heb 13:8
“In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
And they will be discarded.
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” Ps 102:25-27
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