Psalm 84:5-7

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion.

Romans 5:2b-5

2 And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us..

1. Suffering

2. Perseverance

3. Character

1 Cor. 10:13,13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

4. Hope

Last Sunday, just after church, at 12:39 p.m., my mom took her final breath and woke up in the arms of Jesus! The day before, was her birthday, she turned 89 years old. On Saturday, the Doctors had called the family and told us she could pass that day… But it was just like Mom to wait until church was over last Sunday to go home to heaven. I am glad that Deanie Todd was prepared for eternity! She loved Jesus Christ with all of her heart and she endeavored to do His Will. When I was 15 yrs. old, my dad entered full time ministry as a traveling evangelist. For periods of time, my mom was both mom and dad to my sister and me. Many times I heard my parents in their bedroom praying: “Lord, we consecrate our lives to You! We want to be in your will more than we want anything in this world. We will go where you want us to go. We will be what you want us to be. We will say what you want us to say and we will and we will do what you want us to do."

God loves it when we prepare to do His will!

Preparation is very important in life. Preparation is often the difference between success and failure. Someone said, “Good fortune is where Preparation meets Opportunity!” The Florida State Football team lost a game last season to the University of North Carolina – a game they should have won. Some of the players admitted they didn’t prepare for the game, as they should have.

Joshua chapter five tells us that God wanted to do some preparatory work inside the Children of Israel before they went to war with the Seven Heathen Nations that occupied the Promised Land.

So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel. Joshua 5:1

Note verse 1: The people of the land are extremely intimidated by the presence of Israel. The Scripture says:

- Their hearts melted

- There was not more spirit in them to face Israel – they lost their Courage, and lost their Backbone!

Note verse 2: At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.” Joshua 5:2

God says, before you conquer the Land, I want you to do something. I want every male to be operated on – I want every soldier to first have surgery. “I want the flesh of every soldier’s private area to be cut away."

Circumcision was introduced in Genesis chapter 17. God told Abraham, I am giving you a sign – a symbol of our Covenant Relationship – the sign is going to require surgery - the cutting away of the foreskin of your private area. In my mind, I can see Abraham saying, “God, did I hear you right?” “You want to do surgery where?” “That is kind of a delicate area Lord, how about doing surgery on my arm?” “That would be more comfortable.”

I imagine Joshua was thinking, “Lord, can’t we do this after we fight the battles and take the land?” “Our entire army is going to need time to recuperate and heal.” “Right now, all the nations are afraid of us, can’t we go to war and strike while the iron is hot?”

But no doubt, Joshua remembers the charge God gave him in Chapter One. God told Joshua that OBEDIENCE to Him Was the key to success!

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord—to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. Joshua 5:3-7

God didn’t want men in His army who didn’t bear the mark of circumcision. Because in the O.T. Circumcision speaks of COVENANT COMMITMENT! It was a mark of commitment to God and a mark of personal purity before the Lord.

But what God really wanted wasn’t just the circumcision of the flesh. He wanted a circumcision of their heart!

16 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. Deuteronomy 10:16

6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, And take away the foreskins of your hearts… Jeremiah 4:4

You can be circumcised physically, but not have a circumcised heart! You can bear in your body the symbol of a relationship with God, but not really have a relationship with God!

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Acts 7:51

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, Philippines 3:3

Circumcision of heart is when you completely give your will over to God. A circumcised heart doesn’t try to tell God how to run the universe. A circumcised heart doesn’t tell God how to answer your prayers. A circumcised heart says: “Not my will, but thy will be done.” I completely give my will over go to God. And I have “no will” in this matter.

Both Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 tell us that Lucifer at one time had a great anointing in His life. He led all of heaven in worship, but He wasn’t radically sold out to God. He began to traffic in the anointing – he made merchandise of the anointing and was cast to earth along with 1/3 of the Angels. Rebellion turns angels into devils!

11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.18 “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.”’” Ezekiel 28:11-19

Lucifer’s Sin was Pride – (Pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction.) But when pastors and ministers fall today, it isn’t just the pride – but usually another sin that causes the fall – (Women or Money). The pride is there, but it isn’t always manifesting to everyone.

Pride leads to an uncircumcised heart and uncircumcised ears.

I have been in services where notable miracles have taken place, healings and mighty signs and wonders and in some cases, I have seen pastors and evangelists stop everything to receive a second or third offering – because emotions are high and people are excited – that is Merchandising the anointing.

Some pastor and evangelists pray regularly for spectacular miracles and healings to take place in their ministry – not to help hurting people – but so that they can get the credit and be a “big time” minister. “A big shot preacher.”

In Acts 8, Simon the Sorcerer believed in Jesus Christ and was baptized in water. But when he saw Peter and John laying hands on people and folks receiving the Holy Spirit – he offered them money: “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:18-23

Circumcision of heart is when you completely give your will over to God.

A circumcised heart says: “Not my will, but thy will be done.” I completely give my will over go to God. And I have “no will” in this matter. This is what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will by Thy will be done!” When I first sensed God was calling me into the ministry, it scared me so I backed off my walk with the Lord… It took me several years before I was willing to give full control of my life over to God. Took me some time before I was willing to TRUST God enough to say: “I am yours Lord. I want to be radically committed to you!” “Not my will, but thine be done…”

All Stand – Altar Call

“I want God’s will more than I want anything in this world. I want to love God and to please Him more than I want anything in this world. I love God with all of my heart and I want to fulfill His purposes for my life. I consecrate myself to Jesus anew and afresh.”

Exodus 2:1-10 (NKJV) Moses Is Born

2 And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.

5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”

8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses,[a] saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

1.Be a mother of Courage

2.Be a mother of Wisdom

Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Mark 6:47-52 -47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here![b]”51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed.

Exodus 14:14 NIV -The LORD will fight for you; you need only to BE STILL!

3.Be a mother of Faith

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV) 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track

Have you ever felt frustrated? Have you ever been working toward something, only to have things not work out?

Joshua Chapter 3 is about resolving frustration. In this chapter we read about a nation who numbered about 2 and a 1/2 million people – they have been frustrated for the last 40 years. For 40 years they have been wandering around in the wilderness. For 40 years they have been homeless – sleeping in tents.

These people know if they can just get across the Jordan River, they can reach their Promised Land. But there was a BIG OBSTACLE. The problem was the swollen Jordan River. Normally the Jordan River was easy to cross. But it was the Spring of the year, and the Spring rains and the melting snow from Mount Hermon had created Flood Conditions.

If anyone knew failure, it was the Children of Israel.

If anyone knew disappointment it was the Children of Israel!

if anyone knew what it was to miss blessings of victory – it was the Children of Israel.

40 years earlier their forefathers had stood poised to cross into the Promised Land, but they let problems discourage them and they turned back.

Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. Psalms 78:41

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

God had a strategy to get all 2.5 million people across the flooded river. And God has a strategy to get you into your Promised Land. God has a strategy to get you from where you are to where you need to be.

I have a friend who served as an Associate Pastor for over 15 years. His father was the Senior Pastor and my friend served with His dad. His dad became sick and died, and my friend was named the Senior Pastor. My friend told me that 6 months after he became the Senior Pastor, that it seemed that everyone in the congregation began finding fault with him. The board members were constantly getting on his case, and members of the congregation seemed to always be upset with him… One day he called me and said, “I’m miserable, and though I am supposed to be the leader, no one is submitting and yielding to my leadership as the Pastor. When I started serving at this church, I was submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ and acting like a Christian, and I refuse to fight with people and demand they yield to my authority. I am going to resign and see what God does for me.

3 months went by and became the pastor of a congregation that at one time had run over 500 on Sundays, but had gone down hill and were down to about 50 people on Sunday mornings. He and his family moved to the location of that congregation. He told me that within the first year their attendance doubled. Then it doubled a second time and finally doubled a 3rd time. I saw him in March and he told me he was the happiest he had ever been in his life.

God knows how to get you to your Promised Land. He knows how to get you to where you need to be!

Verse 1 - Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:1-4

#1. v.3 – You Will Never Enter All That God Has For You – If You Don’t Learn To Listen To and Obey The Word of God and the Inward Voice of the Holy Spirit.

A. The people had to decide, am I going to listen to what God is saying through Joshua? Or am I going to ignore what he says?

If you are going to move from Frustration to Occupation, you have to listen to and obey what God says to do.

“If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31

3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Joshua 1:3

6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. Joshua 1:6

#2. For 40 years the Nation of Israel has been following a pillar-shaped-cloud by day and a pillar-of-fire by night. In the cloud was the very Shekinah presence of God.

A. When the cloud moved, the entire nation of Israel moved… When the cloud stopped – 2.5 million people stopped and camped. But now God is teaching a new lesson – He is saying: “I no longer want you to follow the cloud, because My Presence Is No Longer in the Cloud. I want you to learn to follow the Ark, because My presence is now with the Ark of the Covenant!”

B. The Ark of the Covenant was a small box made of Acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It was just under 4 ft. long, and a little over 2 foot long and 2 foot wide. On top of the box was The Mercy Seat.

C. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest sacrificed a bull for the sins of the nation and sprinkled some of the blood on the Mercy Seat asking God to atone for the sins of the nation.

D. On both ends of the Mercy Seat were Cherubim (Angels) fashioned out of gold. And their wings met above the Mercy Seat. And God Himself, chose to dwell between the wings of the Cherubim which adorned the top of the mercy seat.

E. God was teaching a lesson – IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO FOLLOW THE ANOINTING! FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT!

F. We Live in the New Testament and WE DON’T FOLLOW THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. WE FOLLOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith... Heb. 12:1

G. We follow the Holy Sprit who now lives inside us.

H. The Anointing is the manifest presence of God. The Lord is omnipresent, but He is not manifesting or displaying His power everywhere. When God’s presence is manifest, something happens!

I. The anointing is tangible. It can be felt. Just like electricity is tangible, so the anointing is tangible.

J. I once read a Bible Commentary by a world-renowned theologian, who attempted to explain away every Scripture that contained any reference to the anointing. He said the power of God is not available for our day and time.

K. There are a lot of churches that deny the power of God, but many are closing – because they have nothing to offer people.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

I once told the Lord that if He wasn’t going to do anything in my church services than I wasn’t going to do anything. He told me that He was waiting on me, not that I was waiting on Him. And If I would just give Him an opportunity to move, then He would move.

It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. Isaiah 10:27

If I come into your house and break something, you will be able to glue it back together again. But if I destroy it, you will not be able to fix it up ever again. There is a big difference between a yoke that is broken and a yoke that is destroyed.

On Thursday, I was privileged to participate in the National Day of Prayer on the 22nd floor of the State Capital. Rodney Howard-Browne was one of the guest speakers and also prayed for our Governor and President. A couple of months ago, RHB told how when he was teaching in a Bible College that one of his students asked him to come to the Hospital and to pray for his aunt who was dying of cancer. Rodney said that when he arrived at the hospital he realized the lady was in critical condition, He felt prompted to say: “You spirit of death and cancer, I adjure you by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the Living God, to come out of this woman.” He said that he felt impressed to say it again and again – for the next 20 minutes. He kept saying: “You spirit of death and cancer. I adjure you buy Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the Living God, to come out of this woman. I curse you, just as Jesus cursed the fig tree. I curse this cancer.”

He said, something happened so suddenly that one minute it wasn’t there, the next minute it was. The power of God hit the woman. It started at the top of her head and then moved down to her feet. Her whole body began to shake until the bed shook. The power of God hit her nephew who was reserved and quiet, and he began to shout.

God’s power shook this woman right out of bed and she was healed by the power of the Holy Ghost. The next day she went shopping. That is how you really know that the woman was healed!

The anointing is not a feeling, but it can be felt. It is as if you unscrewed a light bulb and stuck your finger in the socket, you would have a shocking experience. The anointing is not people falling under the power, yet often people can be overcome by the anointing and people feel weak in their bodies and fall under the power of God.

The anointing is like the wind. You can’t see the wind, but you can see the results where it blows. You can’t see the anointing, but you can see the results. People get saved. People get healed, set free and delivered.

I have long wondered why some Christians never seem to sense His presence. And it is because we get so caught up in the affairs of this life that our thought life is far from God. Most of our waking moments are taken up with thinking about us and all the things we want to do. We fail to spend time in worship or in communication with the Lord. It is like we are on a different wave length.

It is like having a radio and wanting to listen to a certain station but not turning into the correct frequency and never picking up the signal. But when you make the adjustment down in your spirit, suddenly the signal comes in loud and clear!

K. Dad praying at his office and stopped at a home in Midtown. Knocked and heard a faint voice saying come in. Entered front door and heard the voice saying I am confined to my bed come back here. There was an elderly lady burning up with a fever. She said: “Sir, you must be a man of God. I have been sick for 3 days and have asked God to send me a man of God to rebuke this sickness from my body.” Dad laid his hands on her head rebuked the sickness and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. On his way out he laid some money on the kitchen table and was gone…

8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’” Joshua 1:8

14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Joshua 3:14-16

17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. Joshua 3:17

#3. (v.14) The miracle didn’t take place until the people “set out” in obedience to God.

A. It took faith for the priests to walk out into the Jordan River at flood time. It required faith in God for them to place their feet in that cold treacherous river!

B. We should expect miracles every day, but remember: “Miracles first require obedience. You have to obey when you can’t see that a miracle is around the corner.”

C. It took faith for David to walk out on the battlefield to face the giant Goliath. The rest of King Saul’s mighty men are hiding behind the rocks because they are afraid of the giant.

D. Young David looks at Goliath and asks: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” David was talking about the covenant of circumcision. He looked at Goliath and says, “This guy doesn’t have a covenant relationship with my God!” Goliath isn’t one of God’s people?” “Who does he think he is to stand against God’s people?”

It took faith to began walking across a cold swollen river like the Jordan in the Spring of the year.

Some years ago, Kathy and I were privileged to tour Israel and in April when the Jordan is flooded with the melting snows from Mount Hermon, I stood in that cold water and baptized over 45 people. Calvary Chapel Church in Costa Mesa California have created a modern baptism area in the Jordan River and have anchored steel hand rails to hold on to – to keep the Spring flood waters from washing you away. Very cold and numb when I got out of the waters.

5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

God wants you to live a life of consecration to Jesus Christ and to His Word! What is consecration? It is dedicating our hearts completely to Jesus and to His purposes. It involves getting right with God through repentance, confession, and if necessary restitution. It always means that we come clean with God about every aspect of our lives.

“I’ll go where you want me to go and I say what you want me to say and I will do what you want me to do.” "I am yours Lord! Not gonna hold back."

C. Often Consecration prepares the way for the miraculous demonstration of God’s power. It paves the way for victory in your life!

Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. Psalms 78:41

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho...” Joshua 2:1

A. Note v. 1: “to spy out secretly…” The fact that this was a classified mission reveals that Joshua intended to take Jericho by force and was unaware of the miracle that God planned for the armies of Israel. You can get so used to depending on yourself that you don’t expect God’s help and miraculous power.

#1. EXPECT MIRACLES EVERY DAY! God Is At Work, Even When You Can’t Perceive It! Never Forget That God Is Your Source. Its’ important to always talk about God’s Goodness! To Always Testify about the goodness, and glory and greatness of our God!

Sit around your dinner table and tell your kids and grandchildren about the day God saved you. About the time Jesus baptized you in the Holy Spirit. How God has met your needs. How God has healed you. How God has come through for you time and time again.

Always remember, God is Good and the Devil is bad! God-Good; Devil-Bad… This will help you to make sense of the world and things going on…

A. Our God is a wonderful God, a great God, and a good God! Jesus is a wonderful Jesus. A great Jesus! And a good Jesus! The Holy Spirit is a wonderful Holy Spirit. He is a great Holy Spirit! He is a good Holy Spirit!

B. Some people talk about the devil as if He is a great devil. Some people think that God and the devil are in a boxing ring, fighting it out.

C.How many remember the movie “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids!” Some people have shrunk God and blown up the devil. But you need to shrink the devil and place the focus on the King of Glory – our Lord Jesus Christ!

D. God and the devil aren’t even in the same category! Not even in the same Universe! The devil is a created being and the Lord our God is the Creator! God said: “Let there be light!” And He has never rescinded that command. So light just continues to shine and shine from solar system to solar system throughout the universe!

E. The devil has a beginning and an ending! God has not beginning nor ending. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. God has always existed and will always exist!

F. On the Cross of Calvary, Jesus “disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15

G. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20

H. The only power the devil has over you - is the power you give him. Oh yes, he may attack you. But you have authority over him, if you will use it.

I. “nor give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:27

The devil will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

I expect a miracle every day of my life!

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. Joshua 2:1

A. For many years I read this verse and wondered, “Why did God have the spies to stay at the home of a prostitute?” They certainly didn’t go there to commit sin with her.

B. But if you think about it, The house of Rahab was a perfect place for the spies to stay because of the constant flow of traffic – it was common for strange men to come and go all hours of the day and night.

C. God led the two spies to the one person in Jericho who believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

D. “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” Hebrews 11:31

E. Did you know that King David was a descendant of Rahab the harlot? Rahab married King David’s great, great grandfather, a man named Salmon. They had a little boy named Boaz, and Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed. And Obed had a little boy named Jesse and Jesse was the father of David who slew a giant and became a king.

F. By adoption, Jesus our Lord, was a descendant of Rahab. 28-generations after King David was born, we read: 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. Matthew 1:16

G. Don’t ever condemn yourself because of your past. Don’t ever tell yourself, “Well God can’t use me, because look at all the sin I have been in.” “God can’t use me because my father was a bootlegger and my mother was a harlot.” God can’t use me because my father was in the Mafia and I don’t know who my mother is. God can’t use me because I used to hold up 7/11’s and deal drugs, why I even killed a person. Moses too killed a man. Saul of Tarsus consented to the death of Stephen, a deacon in the early church.

H. God can save from the uttermost to the guttermost! The blood of Jesus knows no boundaries! It reaches to the highest mountains and flows to the lowest valleys. The blood that gives us strength from day to day, will never lose its power!

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” 4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)

A. Lying is never justifiable. But in this case because of Rahab’s immature faith; it is understandable.

B. Flax is a plant used for making clothe and candlewicks. When it is harvested it is soaked to separate the fibers, then dried on rooftops.

7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Joshua 2:8-11

#2. Expect God’s Favor When You Follow His Word and The Holy Spirit’s Direction.

Prov. 16:7 – “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even His enemies to be at peace with him.” (See Joshua 2:24)

A. 40 years earlier God wanted the Israelites to expect His favor and to enter the Promised Land – a land flowing with milk and honey. It was lush! A cluster of grapes was so big it needed to be placed on a pole and carried between two men. Those grapes were huge! That is how blessed the land was!

B. But the Israelites focused their attention on the wrong thing. They looked at the size of the inhabitants rather than the land God told them to possess. They saw the people as giants and themselves as grasshoppers.

C. It doesn’t matter how people see us. It matters how God see us!

D. 40 years later, Rahab the harlot, takes these 2 spies in and hides them from the king and she asks the spies to have mercy on her and her family when Israel conquers Jericho.

E. Look closely at Rahab’s words in verses 9-11. The terror of you has fallen on us…

F. Rahab tells the spies what the people living in Canaan have been thinking for 40 years – the whole time the original 12 Israelite spies were saying: “We can’t conquer Canaan. The people who dwell there are strong. The cities are walled, and the descendants of Anak live there – the giants! The people are stronger than we are – men of great stature. In our own sight we are but grasshoppers – and so we are in their sight. (Numbers 13)

G. The people of Canaan are saying... Joshua 2:9-11

H. "Their hearts had melted and their strength had left them” Andrew Wommack says:. "If the Israelites had analyzed their situation properly, it would have been a cakewalk for them to go into the Promised Land. God would have given them total victory. But instead they looked at the size of the people, and focused their attention on the natural instead of obeying God and looking for His supernatural help. They delayed His plan from coming to pass for 40 years. They limited God!"

I. Lets contrast this with David, when he went out to face Goliath. The rest of King Saul’s mighty men are hiding behind the rocks because they are afraid of the giant Goliath.

J. Young David looks at him and asks: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” David was talking about the covenant of circumcision. He looked at Goliath and says, “This guy doesn’t have a covenant relationship with my God!” Goliath isn’t one of God’s people?” “Who does he think he is to stand against God’s people?”

K. This is the attitude we need to have when unbelievers criticize us – whether they are family members, friends, co-workers, or people in positions of authority.

L. If they don't know God then our opinion of God is better than their opinion of God. After all, their opinion is sending them to hell.

M. Nobody can intimidate you without your consent and cooperation. No one can have influence over you, unless you give it to them. If you are afraid to share your faith because you are afraid about what someone is going to say about you, then you have a fear of man, rather than a fear of God.

N. When we let a fear of man determine what we do, it is actually an indication of a deficiency in us, not in them. It is not the people who criticize us who are the problem. We are the problem!

12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” 17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.

A. The scarlet cord would enable Israel’s army to identify Rahab’s house and spare all within (v.12-13).

B.The blood red cord hanging from Rahab’s window saved Rahab and her family from death. So too, Christ shed His blood and hung on the cross to save us from death.

C. 2,000 years ago on Calvary’s Cross, Jesus Christ the Son of God willingly gave His life on a cruel Roman Cross and His blood turned that Cross Crimson and the blood of Jesus Christ will never lose it’s power!

D. Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world! He offers forgiveness of sins to every person. He doesn’t have to die again for you to be saved. You simply have to accept the gift of eternal life that He offers!

Yes, again and again they tempted God,

And limited the Holy One of Israel. Psalms 78:41

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. Joshua 1:1-4

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 NIV

6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Joshua 1:6-7

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:3-7

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Six Things I do to live in the presence of Jesus:

#1. Never Forget That God Is Your Source.

#2. Act On God’s Word As A Way Of Life.

#3. Don’t Lose The Excitement Of Living For Jesus!

#4. Always Give Jesus The Glory, For Every Little Thing!

#5. Think Back On Your Past Victories.

#6. Always Testify. Always talk about God’s Goodness!

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14

…Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11

12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12

#1. We All Need Power To Overcome Sin and Reject Temptation!

#2. The Holy Spirit Will Testify And Bear Witness Of Jesus In Your Heart!

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... Romans 8:16-17

#3. It Is The Holy Spirit Who Gives You Understanding And Insight Into The Word Of God and Hearing The Voice of God.

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged…12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. John 16:8-12

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… John 16:13

#4. “You Need The Prayer Language Of The Holy Spirit!”

Paul… came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6

#5. We All Need Power to Witness.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 NIV

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day.

6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, 10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. Psalms 91:1-11 AMPC

16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17 NKJV

12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. 14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. Psalms 91:12-14 AMPC

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18

For I am the Lord who heals you. Exodus 15:26

Five Reasons Jesus Healed The Sick:

#1. Jesus Healed the Sick Because It Was Promised In The Word of God.

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:16-17

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering… 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV

#2. Jesus Healed The Sick In Order To Reveal God’s Will.

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. Mark 1:40-42

#3. Jesus Healed The Sick To Manifest The Works of God.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. John 9:1-3

#4. Jesus Healed The Sick Because of His Compassion.

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matthew 20:30,34

#5. Jesus Healed People Because of Their Faith.

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel…13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. Matthew 8:12-13

34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34