Pastor Clay NeSmith | Sep. 17, 2023
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? ... Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
The Christian life is about movement. The Spirit of God is moving; He moves in us and works through us. If we are going to do everything God intends for us to do, we can’t stay the same. We can’t stagnate and stop growing spiritually.
There are two keys to moving with the Spirit of God, and we can see those keys in the leadership of Joshua.
Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
God often takes us to places our flesh doesn’t want to go, and it takes courage to follow His path for our lives. We gain courage by listening to God and trusting what He says. Having courage means building it along a journey through trusting the plan and the Designer who crafted the plan. Be mindful of what is feeding your mind and what environments surround you. Listen to God and let Him change the way you think, so that your thoughts are renewed.
Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
A big task is easier when you are surrounded by people who are all focused on the same end goal. Momentum comes from being proud of what God is doing in those around us. It comes from teaming up with those people to accomplish great things. Plant yourself in a group of people who are courageous and who are letting God transform them - people who will celebrate with you and encourage you on your journey.
Thank you for your Spirit and for the people around us. Transform our thinking so that we can become more spiritually mature. Keep us in step with the Spirit.