Blessing – Doing what it takes.0824AGCeBlessings#3
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
How to make your way prosperous?
We need to operate in a correct balance between what we need to do and what God will do. If it is based on my doing things, it is works. If it is just assuming that God will do it all – I just sit back and let Him, then its presumption. The answer is in our attitude – one of faith which acts in faith.
We do know what God will do – fulfil his promises. His promises are in His word. And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. ( Ro 4:21)
He will perform according to the promises in His word and He will act according to the principles and patterns that we can find in His word.
Ref: Blessings #1 and #2: (Last two sermons)
#1. We need to know that we are blessed – it’s for us. The blessings of Abraham are ours.
#2. We need to stand on the promises. We have a choice to make:
On God’s side? In the blessings of the Covenant?
Or on our own side – doing our own thing, going the world’s way.
3. Next: We need to do what it takes. Faith is sure when actions follow.
James 2:21-23 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. I like to replace the word works with “action” to get the meaning clearer. So, read it again with the word "action".
So:- What must WE DO to allow God to work or what attitude – or ways of thinking do we need to cultivate to be able to walk in the blessings which our ours – given to us by God?
He said to Joshua: meditate on the BOOK of the Law day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Our book is now the full revelation of God’s blessing - the New Testament. It explains more fully God’s intention to bless the whole world and the Gospel – meaning good news, tells us that if we believe in Jesus we receive the fullness of blessings – The empowerment to prosper in all things.
The word we should meditate on says that we are blessed with salvation, faith, redemption, righteousness, health, prosperity, good relationships, sound mind, wisdom, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ( and all that He brings) and most of all entering into and staying in a loving relationship with God our Father.
Back to Joshua.
Filling your mind with what God says is better than what the world, the flesh and the devil have to say because what God is saying has got to be the best. We have to work at this. The normal thoughts that occupy our minds can be very strong. The sources are inside us. Physical pain, emotions, images, hurts, expectations, learned responses, dreams and visions, fears; rational and irrational. What a lot of work it takes to think differently! So meditate on what God has to say about every situation. Let His peace in.
We Can Meditate on Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This means saying it to yourself. Mutter it again and again.
Say it out loud. Let your ears hear it. Because So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Ro 10:17)
Let your insides know how to enter in to God’s peace.
Confessing the word of God is not a magic formula. It is putting God’s word into your heart. So what you say and believe inside and how you will act or react comes from this treasure inside not what you learnt from worldly thinking and attitudes = the flesh nature. This is a weapon with divine power
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
He wants us to prosper and have good success. Deut 28 says “everything we set our hands to ….” is to succeed.
The word also talks to about increase. That was God’s first command to Adam.
Gen 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Multiplication is increase. It’s basic to God’s plan for us. It’s a blessing.
So; the command is be careful to do all that the word says.
Action proves faith. Action follows real faith But also we see that when WE decide to act then the faith comes up from inside. It’s God supply from the Holy Spirit within that comes into action. An example is when we lay hands on the sick – that action calls faith from both of the people.
There is something here with confession as a faith action. I say it. I am standing on this word from God. For example; I expect God to be there to confirm His word when I speak it. He tells us to open our mouth, speak, and he will fill it. Psalm 81:10
Positive confession. Confession even works in the world. E.g., assertiveness, pumping up one’s self or the coach encouraging his team with self talk. In the same way negative confession brings faith for disaster, calamity and insurmountable problems and difficulties. When we worry, we are confessing problems which we confidently expect to come to pass and we say “I knew it would all go wrong” when it does.
Joshua 1 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua’s need was strength and courage as the general of the invading army.
The promises to him were both specific for his role as well as general. So too are the promises to us. What does God want of you? There are specifics available to you, blessings so that you can be God’s general in what ever area he requires. He also says “prosper and have success” again generally and in what ever area. As members of His church there is a commission to make disciples and preach the gospel. I hear that there are signs of revival all around and I believe that God wants things to happen here as well. For example when the multitudes are saved we will need to disciple them. That will take money. No wonder he wants us to prosper financially. We need to be able to give, support reach out to others.
The blessings are equipping us for His work – blessed to be a blessing: salvation healing, health, righteousness, good relationships, favour, and finances.
We need to get our thinking lined up with God’s view of us. I was brought up to be very careful with money – we didn’t have much. What we did have was saved for. – It’s called Poverty thinking! –
My need is to meditate on the promises in scripture Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I can then move out of poverty thinking into a place where I believe that God is my supply, that as I am a thither and a giver my God will supply. My thinking needs to stay in the place where I agree with God’s promise – He name is Jehovah Jireh – He is my supplier. So I have to look at the needs and say that I can not only afford these but the bills are paid. – no worries I have faith in His supply. I am blessed. Will you say this with me?.
I am blessed. All the promises of God are Yes and so be it to me in Christ Jesus.
Read this out loud
I have the blessing of salvation, health, wealth, success and prosperity. I can always give tithes and offerings.
I can give of my time and talents.
God is my supply.
Every thing I set my hand to prospers.
Increase belongs to me.
My family is blessed. My church and my pastors are blessed.
I rejoice and declare the goodness of my father God.
I love the word of God.
I love to read your word and allow it to speak to me deep inside.
I love you Jesus and I rejoice in my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
So be it.
