Wesleyan Church District Superintendent

Joshua: Be Courageous God Remembers: Joshua 14:6-15 April 27. 2014 Please turn to Joshua 14:6-15 Michael’s Personal Goal: In the strength and rest of the Lord, I will run the race God has put before me with great perseverance. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest … Hebrews 4:11a “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthews 11:28-30 App: Whatever you’re facing isn’t a problem when God is on your side So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. Joshua 14:10b-12a Challenge: To practice living our lives as if the best opportunities are always just around the next corner Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1Timothy 4:12 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! Joshua 10:14b App: The Lord is alive and well and is actively participating for and with those who are putting their trust in Him “…the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2Chronicles 20:15c “…the battle is the LORD’s…” 1Samuel 17:47c App: Stop in the midst of the madness and remember what God has done Joshua 14:6-15: Keys to Caleb’s perseverance 1.(V 15) It’s time, in God’s strength, to face our giants 2.(V 8a) It’s time, in God’s strength, to get over it and move on 3.(V 8b) It’s time, in God’s strength, to get our eyes back on Jesus 4.(V 9, 12) It’s time, in God’s strength, we walk in His promises What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Easter SundayGod of the Living!April 20, 2014Please turn to Luke 24:1-12: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you…” Luke 24:5b-6a“…who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 1:4•The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He says He is•The resurrection also proves that Jesus does what He says He will doWe were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4Attempts to Undermine Resurrection:1.Soldiers guarding tomb paid to lie about what happened2.Many theories offered (Swoon Theory) (ref. 1Corinthians 15:3-7)Sadducees: deny resurrection of the dead (ref. Matthew 22:31-32, Romans 6:4) Great RelationshipsYet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13 Great PurposeAll this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into His friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. 2Corinthians 5:18 GNV Great Risks (ref. Matthew 16:24-26) Great Celebrations (ref. Philippians 4:4-7) Great Hope (ref. 1Corinthians 15:51-57)What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Matthew 21:1-11

Joshua: Be CourageousThe Day the Sun Stood Still: Joshua 10April 6, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: for a renewed-increasing awareness of God’s presence, interest and involvement in the daily affairs of my lifeV 1-8: When your enemies join forces against youFirst (V 5-8): When problems compound against youApp: Greater challenges are greater opportunities to see God’s handSecond (V 6-7): Integrity with difficult peopleApp 1: How quickly would you come to the aid of someone you’ve recently forgiven for betrayal?App 2: Realizing you’re on a path to destruction doing life without God, call on JesusApp 3: As a Christ follower finding yourself in situations bigger than you, call on JesusV 9-14: God’s unlimited potential"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”App: Let’s not limit God10:14b, 42b: God is with us “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you greatand unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Psalms 91:14Psalm 46:1-11All: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Leader: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. "Selah"All: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. Leader: God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. All: The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Leader: "Selah" 8Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations He has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. All: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Leader: The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. "Selah" What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Joshua: Be CourageousCaught Off Guard: Joshua 9:1-27March 30, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: To accept personal responsibility for my own mistakesApp: Are you intentionally aligning yourself with the Lord and His purposes? V 1-4a: Three reactions to the Lord’s coming1. Attempt to unify against the Lord 2. Attempt to unify with the Lord on your terms Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1Peter 5:83. App: Surrender to the Lord on His termsObservation: V1: Kings (monarchy) Vs V 2, 4: People (republic)V 4b-6: Peace treaties with the enemy“Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.” Deuteronomy 7:2bApp 1: Be alert to the fact that God’s enemies quote ScriptureApp 2: God doesn’t want us entering into binding agreements with non-believersDo not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2Corinthians 6:14V 7-20: Owning up to our own mistakes App: Leaders make mistakes. Lead anywayApp: Consider promises to God you haven’t owned up toApp: What mess are you in because you failed to inquire of the Lord? It’s time to own itTrust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Joshua: Be CourageousBack to Basics: Joshua 8:30-35March 23, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: To cling all the more to Jesus, the path to all blessingWhy an altar of uncut stones? God wants altars that give Him glory and not man. (ref. Deuteronomy 27:1-7)“…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9App: What is it you think you need to do before you can come to God?Burnt offerings: animal sacrifices that represented a total consecration of self to God“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy (In light of what Christ did for us), to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1Fellowship offerings: animal sacrifices to be shared with gratitude, fellowship and commitment App: God invites all to partake in the sacrifice of His SonV 32: Back to Basics“7Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:7-8Tablets of Stone: External Law condemnsTablets of Heart: Internal Law blesses“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: 16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17Then He adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.” Hebrews 10:15-18App: The stones at Mt. Ebal remind us that victory is in surrender to the Lord Jesus allowing the Holy Spirit to rule on the thrones of our lives8:32-34: Blessing Vs Cursing (ref. Deuteronomy 27:15-19)What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Joshua: Be CourageousVictory God’s Way: Joshua 8March 16, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: To gain victory in areas of past defeat in the strength of the Lord.Review: 2-fold Cause of Defeat at Ai1.Sin in the camp (ref. Romans 5:12b, 19)App: Rely on Christ for personal victory and as a cover for those we love.2.Relying on self rather than GodApp: We must learn to wait on the Lord.8:1: Back to place of previous defeat (ref. Matthew 16:16b-19, 26:31-35) “If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; 24though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24. (Also see KJV)Application Questions:Where have you messed up?How might God take you back there for the win?•Is there sin in the camp that you need to deal with?•Were you relying on your own strength and wisdom rather than God?Will you go with Him back to that place for victory? In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:4-6V 2: God’s limitless creativity Notice the king’s names aren’t givenApp: Earthly achievement won’t matter at the judgment. Do we know God? Notice this time they get to keep the plunderApp: Proper connection to God is the position of blessing.Notice God’s battle plan at Ai looks nothing like JerichoApp: Rely on God’s leadership and not formulas.V 18: The battle is the LordsMoses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Exodus 17:10b-11V 29: Dethroning false kingsApp: What King in your life needs to hang on a tree? App: Who/what is keeping you from full surrender to Christ? What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Joshua: Be CourageousAchan’s Sin: Joshua 7March 8, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: To accept the reality that my choices impact those I care about most and therefore to live above reproach.Valley Mountain Tops and on Mountain Tops ValleysThe city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. Joshua 6:17-18Two Parallel Stories in Today’s Text: 1.Achan’s Sin2.Israel’s defeat at AiV 1: Why is the entire nation held liable for one man’s sin?V 2-5: When victory becomes a liability1.There’s unattended sin in the camp2.Pride: listening to man, not GodPride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.Proverbs 16:183.There’s no sense of waiting on the LordApp: Wait on the LordWait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalms 27:14V 6-10: God has the whole pictureApp: Practice praising God in the tough timesWhy is the entire nation held liable for one man’s sin? (V1, 11-26)1.God warned them that this would be the case (6:17-18)2.In God’s economy we are all interconnectedApp: God help us live believing our actions impact those around usDidn’t Achan confess his sin in verse 20?1.There’s a difference between admitting to something because you got caught and confessing sin with a repentant heart2.God systematically went through a process allowing Achan to come clean, but he chose to hide…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:23…the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23 (ref. Is. 26:21, 2Cor. 6:2, 2Pt 3:9-10a) What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Joshua: Be CourageousWalls Come Tumbling Down: Joshua 6March 2, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: To challenge all of us to believe God for our city by joining together for a series of Prayer Walks: March 10-14•Is God just or unjust?•Do I trust Him and His judgments?•Will I seek to define God by my limited understanding, or will I seek to understand Him as He is?V 1-14: God’s “Unconventional” WaysApp: If God tells you to do something, no matter how crazy it may seem, do it V 2: Fighting From VictoryApp: As believers our battles are against a defeated foeThe reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1John 3:8c V 15-27: Set ApartApp (V 19): Give your first-fruits to the LordProblem (V 21): Why “every living thing”Answer 1: God gave them time to align themselves with himApp: Are you seeing what the Lord is doing? Is that causing you to align yourself with Him or defend yourself against Him? Answer 2: Evil ran so deep that allowing them to live would have been like a surgeon intentionally leaving malignant cancer cells in a patientThe Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9Answer 3: Rahab is proof that God would have saved anyone who would be savedClosing Thought 1: Conflict in the Christian’s Experience"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:18-19Closing Thought 2: You Are Living in Certain VictoryApp: “Shout, for God has given us the world”"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?