“Advocate or Adversary?

1 John 1:1-2

The paradox

There is a requirement

There is a reality

The person

The act of advocacy

The act of propitiation

The problems that arise

The desire for self-sufficiency

The desire for self defense

1 John 1:5-10

“Back to the Basics”

The Facts are based on four questions

Where did I come from?

What is the problem?

How do I fix the problem?

Where am I going?

The Faith has two expressions

There is “Sonship”

There is “Fellowship”

There are two real but misleading Feelings

Compromise leads to the “feeling” of alienation

Comparing leads to the “feeling” of arrogance

Jesus Centered

• We believe that Jesus is at the center of everything we do. Therefore, we will keep the focus on Jesus, not secondary topics.

Rooted in Scripture

• We believe the Bible is the final authority for every matter or issue for individuals, families, and the church. It is essential that Christians not only learn about the Bible, but memorize scripture and be “prepared to give a reason for the hope we have in Christ.”

Committed to Families

• We believe that God created families to model all human relationships and ordained marriage between a man and women. The church will make every effort to be a resource to families and marriages as well as to those who are not married to develop Godly, healthy relationships.

A Haven of Grace

• We believe that God’s grace is at the heart of the gospel. Because God extends his grace to us, we extend grace to others.

Missional: Local and Global

• We believe that it is our Biblical mandate to be “on mission” for Jesus. We fulfill that mission by engaging our culture both in East Alabama and around the world for the purpose of sharing the gospel message.

With a deep brokenness over the state of racial issues in our nation, we talked about how we as believers should view and understand race in light of God and the gospel.

Introduction

Hoshea – son of Nun – name means “salvation.”  Moses changed his name to Joshua – means Jehovah (Yahweh) is salvation.

• Born in slavery.
• Part of the Exodus, about 40 years old when they left Egypt.
• Had witnessed the miraculous interventions of God as they traveled through the desert.
• Obviously caught the eye of Moses and God tapped him to become second in command.
• Moses changed his name from Hoshea to Joshua to honor Joshua’s recognition that it was God who was saving the people of Israel.
• Exodus 17 records the conquest of Joshua (by name) against the Amlekites long before spies went into the land of promise.
• Numbers 13 shares the story of Joshua leading a band of spies into Caanan.
• Ten of the twelve reported, though a land of plenty, it is inhabited by warrior people with fortified cities - we can’t do it.
• In Numbers 14:9 Joshua and Caleb declare their faith in Jehovah God, “Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but THE LORD IS WITH US. Do not be afraid.”
• This became the clarion call for Joshua throughout the remainder of his life.

Four Lessons

1. Fathers need to be men of faith with a laser focused relationship with Jesus Christ. (Numbers 14:9  “…the Lord is with us.”)

Joshua had faith in the Lord God. God had demonstrated repeatedly that his promises were true. “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the one who is leading.” (Oswald Chambers)

Objects of Faith That Will Fail

• Personal abilities
• Earthly possessions
• Other people

“May nothing entice me until I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs – let them come to me provided only I make my way to Jesus Christ.” (Ignatius Antioch)

1. Fathers need to be men of obedience. (Numbers 14:9 “…do not rebel against the Lord.”)

Joshua’s command to the people was to NOT rebel against the Lord, yet they did rebel, and they paid the price for their disobedience by wandering in the desert for forty years before entering Canaan – the Promised Land. 

It is human nature to make your own rules, and go against what God teaches in the Bible. Obedience requires a transformed heart. Romans 12:1-2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

“What an incredible witness it is to a lost and fearful society when the Christian acts like a child of God, living under the sovereignty of the Heavenly Father.” (Henry Blackaby)

1. Fathers need to be men of courage. (Joshua 24:15 “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”)

When Joshua became the leader of the Israelite people, God told him to be strong and courageous, for the Lord God would be with him. Courage is not the absence of fear, nor the “throw caution to the wind” swashbuckling, Rambo approach to life. Rather it is making the choice to live according to God’s truths even in the face of opposition no matter the cost.

Courage To:

• Pursue God with all your heart – to have a Godly character.
• Love and serve your wife, family, and others in a Godly way.
• Stand for justice, show grace and mercy, strength, perseverance

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

The Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 6:13

1. Fathers need to be men of legacy. (Joshua 4:21 “When your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell the ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’”)

Joshua left a path for those coming behind him to follow that pointed his people to faith in God.

• Tell your story.
• Tell it often.
• Put down spiritual markers.

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” (Billy Graham)

Dr. Jeff Meyers speaks about how their is no more room for wimpy Christians.