The scene that is the setting of our text, is perhaps one of the most remarkable in David’s life. He was in a very low place. He was on the run from Saul and surrounded by a band of supporters. He is in a cave that was very familiar to him. His enemy occupied a place that belonged to him. Looking out of the cave down to the well of Bethlehem, David was taken back to a time when he was in a better place. At that moment, only one thing mattered to David; the water from that well. The bible says that he longed. The site of that well triggered a long-suppressed memory in his spiritual life. Life had taken David far from Bethlehem, but at that moment, we nostalgia triggered a powerful desire. The words used in the bible are not just that David said something, it says that he cried out for a drink of water from that well. Would that a longing like that would be triggered in us to reach for something from God. Life has a way of pushing us along, and sometimes we need to find a moment of longing for something from God. In the midst of one of his lowest points, David realized that he needed a drink from that well. David had drunk from other wells, but he longed for a drink from that well. That well was surrounded by a garrison of soldiers, but when David cried out, God made a way to get to it. When we cry out to God, He will make a way to satisfy our soul. That same power that was with David is with us. If we will open our mouth and cry out, God will make a way. Life can become distorted and convoluted. The enemy will lie and try to cloud our thoughts. When we have that moment of clarity and call out to HIm, he will make a way.

The scene that is the setting of our text, is perhaps one of the most remarkable in David’s life. He was in a very low place. He was on the run from Saul and surrounded by a band of supporters. He is in a cave that was very familiar to him. His enemy occupied a place that belonged to him. Looking out of the cave down to the well of Bethlehem, David was taken back to a time when he was in a better place. At that moment, only one thing mattered to David; the water from that well. The bible says that he longed. The site of that well triggered a long-suppressed memory in his spiritual life. Life had taken David far from Bethlehem, but at that moment, we nostalgia triggered a powerful desire. The words used in the bible are not just that David said something, it says that he cried out for a drink of water from that well. Would that a longing like that would be triggered in us to reach for something from God. Life has a way of pushing us along, and sometimes we need to find a moment of longing for something from God. In the midst of one of his lowest points, David realized that he needed a drink from that well. David had drunk from other wells, but he longed for a drink from that well. That well was surrounded by a garrison of soldiers, but when David cried out, God made a way to get to it. When we cry out to God, He will make a way to satisfy our soul. That same power that was with David is with us. If we will open our mouth and cry out, God will make a way. Life can become distorted and convoluted. The enemy will lie and try to cloud our thoughts. When we have that moment of clarity and call out to HIm, he will make a way.

Our text is known as the beatitudes. It is a compendium of His doctrine. Some believe that when Jesus went into this setting, he was there for a week or more. Luke’s telling of these events is spread out across the whole book, while Matthew condenses these events from Jesus’ ministry and compiled them in chapters five, six, and seven of his gospel. The principles spoken here are a picture of what it is to live for God. Every aspect of life and living are discussed in these three chapters. Brother Hughes outlines the principles found in these chapters and sets the stage for a series of Wednesday night lessons on Kingdom Principles.

Our text is known as the beatitudes. It is a compendium of His doctrine. Some believe that when Jesus went into this setting, he was there for a week or more. Luke’s telling of these events is spread out across the whole book, while Matthew condenses these events from Jesus’ ministry and compiled them in chapters five, six, and seven of his gospel. The principles spoken here are a picture of what it is to live for God. Every aspect of life and living are discussed in these three chapters. Brother Hughes outlines the principles found in these chapters and sets the stage for a series of Wednesday night lessons on Kingdom Principles.

Our text is a great message of hope. God has equipped us to move forward from where we are with what we have. God wants to give us the fresh opportunity of a new beginning today. He wants us to know that that is unquestionably possible to do that today. Third, God wants to remind us that there are enemies of that possibility. The biggest enemy is our own mind that recalls all the times before we have tried and failed. In our text, Joshua stands at the bank of the Jordan river looking at the promised land. He had been here before forty years ago, but could only look. Now he is standing looking at a promise that is about to be delivered. There would be physical issues to occupy the land, but today the greatest challenge Israel faced was their own fear and doubt. In preparation for their move into their new beginning, God gives words of encouragement and words of warning. Joshua had an entire generation of people who were the descendants of the generation that had failed some forty years before. This new generation faced the same problem as the old one. They had to deal with the reality of what is. That keeps many people trapped in their situation. Joshua’s current reality was that Moses was dead. He now had to lead his people without the leadership on which he had depended for so long. God lets Joshua know that even though Moses was gone, His purpose was still the same. God gives words of encouragement in His Promise, His Words, and His presence. Three times God encourages Joshua. This encouragement was also a warning. It was a warning to be aware of their weaknesses and the area where they are the most vulnerable. Three times, He says Be Strong, and of Good Courage. In doing this, God also let them know about two things that could stop us from moving forward and embracing our future. God tells Joshua: Be not afraid, neither dismayed. These two things are the greatest obstacles to realizing a new beginning. Both will work on our spirit and our mind. While Israel was in Egypt their enemy was around them. When the fled and crossed the red sea, their enemy was behind them. When they came to the Jordan the first time, their enemy was in front of them. On this day, their enemy was inside their own head. The greatest enemy of spiritual progress is not the people around us, our background, or our circumstances, it is in our own head. The word afraid speaks of harassment of the mind. Our minds will talk us out of a blessing by paralyzing us in fear. Living for God does not mean an absence of challenges. God's words to Joshua to be strong and courageous apply to us today. We may not feel up to the challenge, but if we were not, God would not have brought us to this place. The very fact that Israel was on the bank of the Jordan that day, was a testament to HIs promise. If they were not ready, He would not have brought them there. Moses was gone, but God had equipped Joshua to continue. Israel was ready to move into its promise that day. And God was ready to deliver. It’s Moving Day.

Our text is a great message of hope. God has equipped us to move forward from where we are with what we have. God wants to give us the fresh opportunity of a new beginning today. He wants us to know that that is unquestionably possible to do that today. Third, God wants to remind us that there are enemies of that possibility. The biggest enemy is our own mind that recalls all the times before we have tried and failed. In our text, Joshua stands at the bank of the Jordan river looking at the promised land. He had been here before forty years ago, but could only look. Now he is standing looking at a promise that is about to be delivered. There would be physical issues to occupy the land, but today the greatest challenge Israel faced was their own fear and doubt. In preparation for their move into their new beginning, God gives words of encouragement and words of warning. Joshua had an entire generation of people who were the descendants of the generation that had failed some forty years before. This new generation faced the same problem as the old one. They had to deal with the reality of what is. That keeps many people trapped in their situation. Joshua’s current reality was that Moses was dead. He now had to lead his people without the leadership on which he had depended for so long. God lets Joshua know that even though Moses was gone, His purpose was still the same. God gives words of encouragement in His Promise, His Words, and His presence. Three times God encourages Joshua. This encouragement was also a warning. It was a warning to be aware of their weaknesses and the area where they are the most vulnerable. Three times, He says Be Strong, and of Good Courage. In doing this, God also let them know about two things that could stop us from moving forward and embracing our future. God tells Joshua: Be not afraid, neither dismayed. These two things are the greatest obstacles to realizing a new beginning. Both will work on our spirit and our mind. While Israel was in Egypt their enemy was around them. When the fled and crossed the red sea, their enemy was behind them. When they came to the Jordan the first time, their enemy was in front of them. On this day, their enemy was inside their own head. The greatest enemy of spiritual progress is not the people around us, our background, or our circumstances, it is in our own head. The word afraid speaks of harassment of the mind. Our minds will talk us out of a blessing by paralyzing us in fear. Living for God does not mean an absence of challenges. God's words to Joshua to be strong and courageous apply to us today. We may not feel up to the challenge, but if we were not, God would not have brought us to this place. The very fact that Israel was on the bank of the Jordan that day, was a testament to HIs promise. If they were not ready, He would not have brought them there. Moses was gone, but God had equipped Joshua to continue. Israel was ready to move into its promise that day. And God was ready to deliver. It’s Moving Day.

If we were to have had the choice, most of us would not have chosen many of the paths we have taken in life. We would have preferred a less dark or rocky path. This hindsight is not a luxury that we have. Life often happens on dark and rocky roads. Paul knew his way. He knew the hardships that awaited him in Jerusalem. He said, “I go bound.” We are also bound to things in life. We cannot escape the suffering, heartache, and pain that life will bring. Despite what was ahead of him, Paul was going to to to Jerusalem. “None of those things move me.” Nothing was going to change who he was and deter him from his mission. Paul shows us how to face the known and the unknown. Paul was not perplexed by what was ahead of him because he knew who was ahead of him. When He got to Jerusalem, it did not matter how much people hated him, because Paul knew how much God loved him. Bro. Hughes makes several observations drawn from tonight’s text that will allow us to finish with joy.

If we were to have had the choice, most of us would not have chosen many of the paths we have taken in life. We would have preferred a less dark or rocky path. This hindsight is not a luxury that we have. Life often happens on dark and rocky roads. Paul knew his way. He knew the hardships that awaited him in Jerusalem. He said, “I go bound.” We are also bound to things in life. We cannot escape the suffering, heartache, and pain that life will bring. Despite what was ahead of him, Paul was going to to to Jerusalem. “None of those things move me.” Nothing was going to change who he was and deter him from his mission. Paul shows us how to face the known and the unknown. Paul was not perplexed by what was ahead of him because he knew who was ahead of him. When He got to Jerusalem, it did not matter how much people hated him, because Paul knew how much God loved him. Bro. Hughes makes several observations drawn from tonight’s text that will allow us to finish with joy.

In biblical times, oxen were the primary tools of agriculture. Oxen are not pretty. They are large, strong, and messy. To have the benefit, we have to live with the mess. If we want to harvest revival, we have to live with the mess. We cannot reap the harvest without the mess of the oxen. The cost of a clean stable is the loss of the harvest.

In biblical times, oxen were the primary tools of agriculture. Oxen are not pretty. They are large, strong, and messy. To have the benefit, we have to live with the mess. If we want to harvest revival, we have to live with the mess. We cannot reap the harvest without the mess of the oxen. The cost of a clean stable is the loss of the harvest.