WALKING WITH GOD BY FAITH
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: WALKING WITH GOD BY FAITH
Main Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9; 3:1-17; 4:1-8, 21-24
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
How can we be sure that our God walks with us through life’s circumstances? One way is by looking at where we’ve been compared to where we are today. Have we seen God’s faithfulness from the moment we asked Him to lead our lives? Have we seen Him answer prayers? Have we seen Him do what would seem impossible? As we study the life of Joshua, we see a story unfold of God’s goodness, mercy, His power, and His ability to turn what appears to be the end, into a new beginning.
Notes:
Intro:
Who Was Joshua?
Born the son of Nun in the tribe of Ephraim.
According to Numbers 11:28, he had been Moses’ aide since his youth.
Born in bondage in Egypt.
Experienced God’s glory in the plagues.
Went through the Passover experience and escape from Egypt.
Experienced Israel’s struggles.
Witnessed the Red Sea miracle.
Moses chose him as commander of the army after the Amalekites attacked them. Israel won a major victory.
Was with Moses on Mt. Sinai.
Sent as one of 12 spies at the footstep of the promised land.
His original name was Hoshea – which means Help or Salvation
Moses gave him the name Joshua – which means Yahweh Helps or Yahweh Saves
One commentary – “The name change indicates Moses’ reliance on the Lord and His awareness of the spies’ need to do so as they carry out their specific assignments.”
Joshua was one of the two spies to come back with a good report.
His greatest testimony:
Numbers 32:11-12
“Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were 20 years old and more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – not one except Caleb, son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite and Joshua, son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.”
Jordan River Experience – Joshua 1:1-19
Joshua’s instructions included:
God gave them the land.
God being with him.
God would not fail or abandon him.
To be strong and courageous.
Takeaway #1
God always has a plan for us, and it is to bring us to Him and His promise.
Walking with God by faith means:
Believing what God has given you.
Believing that He will always be with you.
Believing that He will not fail or abandon you.
Being strong and courageous.
The Great Miracle – Joshua 3:1-17
Jordan River covers land from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea – about 65 miles.
Jordan River actually covers 135 miles and is a very winding river.
The City of Adam is located about 25 – 30 miles from Jericho.
God cut off not only a flowing river at flood stage, HE DID IT FOR AN EXCESS OF 30 MILES! Plus, any river that would flow into it. He stopped everything!
GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!!
Twelve Stones as a Memorial – Joshua 4:1-8
Takeaway #2
God always wants us to remember. Why?
It reminds us. Of God’s faithfulness.
God knows we have a tendency to forget and go our own way.
It is a way to pass God’s goodness to future generations.
It increases our faith.
Takeaway #3
Walking with God by faith means He is always walking with us.
Look back at the river crossing –
The people saw the ark and how it stopped the river.
The people passed the ark as they crossed over.
The people watched the ark complete the crossing.
Joshua 4:11
“And when everyone was safely on the other side, the priests crossed over with the ark of the Lord as the people watched.”
Joshua 4:18
“As soon as the priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant came up out of the riverbed, and their feet were on high ground, the water of the Jordan returned and overflowed its banks as before.”
This of what this means for us walking with God by faith.
God was with them at the beginning of the river crossing.
God was in the middle of the river as they crossed.
God was the last one out of the river when everyone was safe.
Isn’t that like Jesus in us?
God incarnate – the Holy Spirit in us.
No matter what we go through, no matter what we face, no matter what adversity comes to us –
Jesus is always with us at the beginning of any circumstance. He is in the middle of any circumstance, and He brings us to safety and walks with us to completion in any circumstance.
Takeaway #4
God watches us through every phase of our lives. Especially when things seem impossible.
Joshua 4:21-24
Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future, your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea when He dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
Truth:
God parted the Red Sea to free them from their past!
God stopped the Jordan River to bring them to their future!
In the middle, He carried them through!
Look at Jesus: At the beginning of His ministry in Nazareth, in the synagogue, He stood up to read the scriptures.
Luke 4:16-21
At the end of His ministry, He said on the cross, “It is finished!” Then in Mark 15:38 it says, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
Think about it –
Jesus frees us from our past!
Jesus bring us to our future!
And He carries us through everything in between.
He is always in us, walks with us, and brings us into His plan for us every day by faith through His Spirit!!
To Conclude
God is with us, and He walks with us in any circumstance.
Our spiritual health, our emotional and mental health, our physical health, our relationships, our marriages, our families, our finances, our jobs, and our friendships. ANY SITUATION WE WILL FACE!
By faith, we hold onto His plan and purpose, we always remember what He did for us. We focus on God’s will and ways for us and the fact that He always walks with us as we walk with Him.
It will not always be our way or our thoughts, or our understanding –
BUT IT WILL ALWAYS BE FOR OUR GOOD!
Walk with Jesus by faith.
Discussion:
What is it about Joshua’s life that stands out to you?
What lessons did Joshua have to learn while being Moses’ aide and then leading the Israelites to the promised land?
When you look back on your past, describe those monumental moments when God revealed His faithfulness to you.
In what areas or circumstances of your life do you need to have faith that God is walking with you now?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer, and when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart:
Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
