Here we are: the very beginning of 2011! A new year, a new opportunity to be all you can be in Jesus!

Someone has calculated that there are 31,536,000 seconds this year (same as most years'!) so what are you going to do with them all? Thing is, all time is spent or invested – and once it has gone it’s gone. So make the most of this wonderful new start God has given you.

 

-oOo-

 

Also, Ruth and I wanted to say a huge, great big “thank you” to the whole church family for your fabulous Christmas gift to us! It was completely unexpected and totally amazing and overwhelming – it truly means a tremendous amount to us – thanks!

 

-oOo-

 

And don’t forget that this Sunday (9th Jan) is our 2011 Vision Day: starting the New Year with fresh perspective! Come along for an insight into God’s plans for MSCCentre, for some special worship and for a bit of fun, as well!

We’ve been talking a lot about being the Joshua generation that have entered in and can now take possession of the Promised Land. Over the last month we have looked at these principles from Joshua 5:13 onwards.

After speaking about (1) recognising the problem, (2) positioning yourself for fresh revelation, (3) praising God for who He is, and (4) receiving the prescription for action we move onto the next stage in this process of possessing which is:

5. Putting the prescription into practice
Sometimes God’s prescription to us for dealing with obstacles or problems in our lives don’t seem to make sense to human eyes. Just take a look at Noah and that ark, Moses and his stick, Naaman the leper, the blind man and the pool of Siloam or Ananias and Paul. They all were given strange prescriptions – and it was no different for Joshua. And did Joshua question or argue with God. No. We read that he simply accepted the word of the Lord and put it into practice.
That should be our response. When God reveals to us His prescription to overcome the obstacle we should be willing to:

• - Be obedient: say “yes sir!” and do as He says!
• - Be persistent: keep following the prescription
• - Apply your faith: take action believing God will do as He promises

6. Possess the Land
Someone has once said:
“If you want something you have never had, then you have to do something you’ve never done.”

The Israelites didn’t just receive the Promised Land, they had to take possession of it. Similarly, the heroes of faith noted in Hebres 11 didn’t just receive what was promised, they gained it. Taking possession of what God has for you and me means that we need to do something. It is us that take possession, that gain the promise, not simply receive passively from God all that He has promised in Jesus by the power of His Spirit.

To gain the Land we need to be courageous. It has been said that “cowardice turns pilgrims into wanderers.” This was certainly true for the Moses generation.

But courage, on the other hand, turns pilgrims into possessors. Courage and faith turned the Joshua generation into a nation that took possession of the Promised Land.

Let’s be a Joshua generation that take hold of all the promises that God has for us in our lives and together as the people of God today.

The principles we are looking at this month are found in Joshua 5:13 onwards:

 

• 1. Recognise the problem
• 2. Position yourself for fresh revelation
• 3. Praise and worship
• 4. Receive the prescription
• 5. Praxis: put the prescription into practice
• 6. Take possession

 

Last week we looked at 1 and 2. This week we take the next two…

3. Praise and worship
Joshua’s response to the fresh revelation was to fall facedown and worship. When was the last time you received a fresh revelation of God that caused you to automatically worship Him? The disciples in the boat were stunned when they saw Jesus walking on the water and were even more amazed when Peter joined Him! But when Jesus entered the boat they turned the revelation into immediate worship. We should do the same because (i) God simply deserves it; (ii) as we worship we align ourselves with His power and resources (as Joshua did); and (iii) we acknowledge and accept His command over us.

4. Receive your prescription for action
“See!” is the first instruction the LORD brings. “See, the situation is different from My persepective”, says God. He is going to move on to more detailed prescription, to more detailed instructions of actions Joshua and the Israelites must take. But first, God wants Joshua to see from His perspective. To see with prophetic vision. To see himself as God sees him. To see the outcome as God sees it. To look with the eyes fo faith into the word of God and believe it to be so.

Someone has once said, “If you do not see what you cannot yet see then you will not see it.” How do you see your situation today? If you see yourself, your God and your situation with the eyes of faith you can begin to take possession of the Promised Land.

Remember: as you align yourself with God’s authority and power, submit to His command and see from His perspective you will be well positioned to take the next step!