Joshua Overview Part 3 - Evidence Is The Most Powerful

The vision we are living for is not far away, but it is in our hearts. Is not our vision the Lord Himself? The Lord has always been doing but we have not seen. Therefore it is difficult in the walk of vision.

1. Promise = Vision, the language of the Holy Spirit

1) The Only Purpose: To be with us

(1) In Jesus Christ, I have gained and overcame everything. This is individual gospelization. We should not continue to be in the wrongful state, but we should be strengthened, knowing that God has already completely loved us, to see how God is with us, and how God is working. (2) God does not promise a family with no problems, but God promises us family gospelization. God’s will is that I only continue to preserve the family by prayer and my heart. (3) It also does not matter if we are not successful in our job. But regional gospelization is continuing to gather and collect evidences of God being with us. We can pray that our current job will bring about regional gospelization, but whether God will fulfill by this way is up to Him because this is just a way of fulfilling regional gospelization. God can bring about regional gospelization through giving us a job or a ministry. (4) And every time we take our small groups, we keep ourselves cleansed by continuing to pray in the word. This will fulfill world gospelization.

2) The Worst Problem: the shock we received

In <Genesis 3:16-19>, everyone was in the flesh such that their living was in a negative and unlucky state. <Genesis 3:7-14> Have we discovered that there is no one who is adorable in this world because the hearts of men are actually filled with their own agenda? We will notice it from every word that comes out from their mouth. <Genesis 3:1-6> tell us that the problem is disbelief and separation from God. If we can understand the above practically and link the above 3 worst problems up, that because of <Gen 3>, all problems came, we will have a shock. The problem now is that non-believers will not understand and the church does not believe! The church has thus become typical <Matthew 24:15>.

3) The Correct Calling

No one has believed but am I willing to live the life of faith in my path on earth? Complications dwell amidst, but how long will it take for us to realize that the calling is to God Himself? But I am called to restore being able to directly believe the promises of God and to be with the mainstream characters (disciples). Only this will bring about the correct vision in family, career, ministry, and in our interpersonal relationships. Why was Paul able to say with confidence that he had not disobeyed the vision from the start? This was because he received the correct vision.

If we are not muddle-headed, vision is the purpose that lies within the promise. That is, vision is the promise God has given.

Chapters 3, 4, 5

2. Evidence

Remember! Evidence is the most powerful. If the promise and vision that you receive is correct, you will surely receive evidences. Joshua and Israel had evidences. Therefore, all nations were afraid but they were not afraid.

(1) Love God means loving promise

If we have this evidence, we will be able to become subdued by God. This is power. Then we have hope. This is called the filling of the Holy Spirit <Acts 2:1-4>. Such a person will only see God and all things of this world have dimmed in comparison .

(2) Not afraid of problems, the heart to be able to take up challenges.

After crossing the Red Sea and River Jordan, the heart will be different.

(3) Continue to have heart and let this be carved into our hearts

(4) Arise! Discern to be different

The above is the evidence in the heart.

1) Test and Approve (spies)

Chapter 2: through the spies, the report was promise-filled and they knew that they had already won. Rahab was their prayer answers. The scarlet cord was the covenant made between Rahab and Jesus Christ.

2) Chapter 3:1-17 Cross Jordan River (Problem)

(1) Follow Priest (Jesus Christ) - Preacher

(2) Ark: Word, Promise, vision

This is the altar of the church.

(3) Leave 2000 cubits away (Do not come near)

The authority of the preacher should be held higher than that of our boss, or loved ones.

3) Remember

(1) Promise

(2) Guidance (God-driven)

(3) Fulfillment

The purpose to remember the above is so that we will receive a fixed perspective through evidence, power through problems, and later generations will rise up as witnesses.

4) Circumcise: Set Apart

3. Conquest <6:1-13:7>

<6> The fall of Jericho was God-driven it.

<7-8:29> Israel sins <-> preserve our holiness (submit), abolish the uncleanliness (when not careful)

-> Victory on Ai

<8:30-35> Curses and Blessings: Joshua used the above experience to talk about curses and blessings, to bring out a fixed perspective.

<9> The world (Gibeonites) becomes our slaves. We can take charge once we have fixed perspective.

<10-11> Totally victorious

The most important is <Chapter 6>

1) Go around

Start by praying for the region. When we pray, our concerns and interests change. There is no need to be anxious, but the method is:

2) Blow trumpet (play)

Take it easy, and do not be tensed up trying to always look out for souls hungering for God. But we just live to cause people to be comfortable, have mercy, and be compassionate. When the timetable is reached, we just use the gospel message that we have equipped ourselves with and be God’s witness. If they are not receptive, or if there is no one to circle around, go back to 1) and pray for the region.

3) High priest ark (promise, method prayer/God-driven/rely on the Holy Spirit)

4) Take up weapons in front

Evangelism must be central to the mainstream, disciples and coworkers.

5) 13 times: God’s timetable

Don’t ask when it the timetable will come, but instead, ask, “am I in God’s timetable?” Do we believe? Are there people to pray for?

6) Every day go around = 24hrs ministry

This means we are to be with brothers and sisters often.

7) Rahab family

I bless you to give vision to your small group members. If not, what is the purpose for them to join small group? If it is to receive some comfort, the member will bring the same problem every time. If we give comfort, and he receives, he will become weak and easily succumb to indulgence.. The purpose of having small group meetings is for the blessed meetings of people around the members.

8) Gather, pray together

*Acts 2:5-47

We gather the believers and the hungering souls to the headquarters.

Taken from Discipleship Training on 22^nd September 2006, Joshua Overview Part 3.