Sunday, October 7th 2007 “Claiming Our Promise Land”
Today’s Scripture is Joshua 1:1-2
Joshua said: “THIS LAND WE STAND ON IS OUR LAND!”
We are taking a bold new step in claiming Santa Maria for God!
There are parallels between Joshua’s leadership of Israel and Hope Community Church!
I. The Parallels:
1st The call is From God!
Joshua 1:1-4
God gave a “Call To Claim The Land”
Our Ten Acres was promised to me—many years ago!
Joshua 1:5-6
God promised me that He will be with us just as He was with us in the beginning!
The promise is for absolute victory.
Just one thing Joshua need to do: Trust God!
The same promises God made to Joshua are in force for you and me this morning.
You can still count on the Lord to do everything He promised Joshua He would do!
Questions
1. What is your promised land?
2. What must we do to claim our victory?
II. The Parallels:
1st The call is From God!
2nd The challenge is The Same! We stand together: All for one and one for all!
Joshua 1:10-11
The same is true for us today. Before we can enter our Canaan, we have to prepare for that land.
Joshua 1:12-15
A challenge to responsibility - Just what does that look like?
1. Just like the Israelites—we to must look around and see our brothers and sisters and help them find rest, just like the Lord has given us rest!
2. Joshua’s challenge: “We are one even though we are 12 different tribes and if anyone attacks one tribe—they attack all 12 tribes!”
Questions
1. How can we prepare for the “promised land” God has promised us?
2. What responsibilities do we have to fulfill after we receive our “promised land”?
III. The Parallels:
1st The Call is From God!
2nd The Challenge Is The Same! “All for one and one for all”
3rd The Commitment Must Be Maintained!
Joshua 1:16
They commit themselves to a life of surrender
Numbers 13:1-33
Numbers 13:1-2
They had been ready to go into the Promised Land before but a “Bad Report” had been spread.
Numbers 13:21 Equal representation from 3 million Israelites
Twelve men---under instruction---they took 40 days to make the trip!
Twelve men came back with a report!
The Majority Report - All 12 saw the same thing but 10 saw it one way and 2 saw it another way!
Numbers 13:27
Everything is sounding O.K. until they get to the "BUT!"
Numbers 13:30-33
The Minority Report! Caleb and Joshua’s Report
What Giants are You facing?
Your marriage? Your financial dilemma? Your children? Your habits?
Questions:
1. Do you sometimes feel like a grasshopper up against a “giant”? When?
2. What can we do when we feel afraid of the “giants” in our life?
3. Is anything keeping you from receiving your “promised land”?
About Us
- Hope Community Church
- Santa Maria, California, United States
- Real People, Real Issues, Real Life Hope Is Real! Hope Community Church is committed: To demonstrating God’s love through building families & sharing hope. To minister to all levels of a persons life; child, adult and senior. To providing a safe environment for all to flourish spiritually and physically. To see people totally radically changed and to build up the body of Christ. This will be accomplished by providing meaningful worship and praise services, Bible-based preaching and exhortation, comprehensive education and discipleship programs, in-home ‘Life Groups’ and extensive outreach efforts. Programs will be designed to minister to people across all demographic groups (men and women, married and single) and in every age group (children, youth, college/career, and young, middle and senior adult).