LIVING GOD’S PURPOSES

SERIES: PRACTICAL FAITH

TEXT: JOSHUA 23:14; 1:1-18.

Living God’s purposes is to understand that God put us on this earth for a reason. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. God wants to use us for a great purpose beyond what all of us could possibly imagine. We have a problem when it comes to God’s purpose and that is because of the barriers we put up in our minds and hearts. Barriers that say “How could God ever use someone like me?”

For God to use us for His great purposes, we have to change the way we think. The Bible says “As a person thinketh in their heart that is who they are going to be–(Proverbs 23:7).

Since God has a plan and purpose for our lives, what we need to find out is His purpose and plan for our lives.

The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”

What the apostle Paul is saying is that God’s plan and purpose for our lives is mind -boggling. In fact it is so fantastic that we can’t even imagine it.

Through Jeremiah the Lord says “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you… thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”- (Jeremiah 29:11).

To understand God’s purpose for our lives we must know that God does more (Ephesians 3:20) Paul says that God is able to do abundantly more for us that what we would ever possibly ask or even imagine.

God wants to use us in great and mighty ways. As we look at the life and ministry of Joshua, we see four things we need to do if we desire to be used by God for His purposes. Let us learn:-

DUMP THE DOUBTS.

• One of the biggest purpose busters there is doubt.

• We must let go of our doubts so that we can move forward into the plans and purposes of God.

• Doubt limits our potential. It causes procrastination which causes us to miss out on God’s best.

• Doubt is seen in the words we say with our mouths when opportunities arise.

• When we say words like “I doubt that God could use me like that”–(James 1:6-7).

• Before God can use us we’ve to deal with our doubts.

• Joshua had a doubt problem. In the military they call it “confidence problem”.

• Joshua was taking over from a great leader- Moses!!

• God had to deal with Joshua’s confidence–(Joshua 1:9).

• God was telling Joshua to dump his doubts because God was going to be with him.
• Doubt is a choice people choose to doubt rather than living by Faith.
• Many people believe their doubts and doubt their beliefs.
• Instead let us dump our doubts and believe in what we say we believe in.
• There are two things that cause doubts.

• Comparing ourselves.

• Instead of looking to God we start looking at everybody else.
• It is true that others may have greater talents better abilities, more education and experience.
• The Bible says that comparing ourselves with each other is a foolish thing to do–(2nd Corinthians 10:12).
• Joshua was constantly comparing Himself to Moses, but God assured Joshua of His presence just like He gave Moses His presence.(Joshua 1:2)

• Remembering our failures.

• Remembering our failures is like replaying a move in our minds over and over again.
• God does not want us to focus on our past.
• Instead think about the great people God used, consider their past.
• Moses was a murderer before he became a deliverer.
• Jacob was a liar and a manipulator before he became the father of Israel nation.
• King David was an adulterer and a murderer before he became “a man after God’s own heart.”
• Abraham was a worshipper of idols before he became the father of faith.
• Apostle Paul was a terrorist before he became the greatest of the Apostles of Jesus Christ–(Philippians 3:13).
• But God used them as He wants to use you and I.

BELIEVE GOD’S PROMISES.

• This is where “the Rubber of our faith meets the road of life.”

• At the very beginning God reminds Joshua of a promise He had given and made to the children of Israel. (Joshua 1:3) “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I was with Moses.”

• When God makes a promise He keeps it.

• God says, He will use you and me-He will.

• At the end of His life, Joshua confirms this reality-(Joshua 23:14).

• If you want to be used of God, then believe His promises.

• If we want to know the promises of God – we must study the Bible-(Romans 10:17).

• To Joshua God promised three things:-

Strength–(Joshua 1:5) no one will ever start before you.

• “Where God guides God provides”

Success–God promised Joshua strength and then success.

• Several times God told Joshua that he would be successful.
• Success is when you reach your goals.

God promised Joshua–Support (Vs. 9).

“God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s support”

• Success doesn’t happen unless there is obedience.
• Obey–God works with those who obey him-(Joshua 1:8).

LEAN ON GOD

• To lean means to depend on whatever we’re leaning upon.

• If you lean on a wall, you depend on the wall to hold and support you-(Joshua 1:5).

• God was telling Joshua, Joshua you can lean on me.
• Joshua leaned on God for the defect of Jericho, but he did not lean on God for the battle in AI and he failed-(Proverbs 3:5-6).
• Who are you leaning on for your success?
• If you lean on others you will fail, if you lean on yourself you will fail.
• Lean on God your strength.
• Faith that is practical leans on God. Our God keeps His promises.

STEP OUT IN FAITH.

• There comes a time when we stop discussing what God has called us to do and actually do it.
• There comes a time when you stop praying about it and actually step out and do it.
• Joshua had to command the officers of the people (Joshua 1:10).
• See what King Solomon said in ( Ecclesiastes 11:4)
• Solomon was saying if we wait for the night time it many never come.

CONCLUSION 

• God wants us to believe Him for the great things He has called us.
• If God is not using us, then we’re wasting the life He has given to us.
• Let us dump our doubts, believe in God’s promises, lean upon the Lord and step out by faith into the plans and purposes of God.