Claiming Our Inheritance: A Journey of Faith
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we gathered to reflect on the profound truth that God is a good and perfect Father who never gives up on us. He pulls us out of our mess and places us on solid ground, which is Jesus Christ. We are reminded that God is not looking to disqualify us but to invite us to His table, to heal us, and to make us whole. This journey of faith is not without its challenges, but it is filled with the joy of walking with a Father who loves us deeply.
We delved into Joshua 17, where the tribe of Joseph complained about their inheritance, feeling it was insufficient. Joshua's response was a call to action: to clear the land and take possession of what God had promised. This is a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives. We often find ourselves complaining about our circumstances, but God calls us to rise, clear the obstacles, and claim the promises He has laid out for us.
The sermon emphasized the importance of understanding our identity in Christ. We are not just saved; we are powerful individuals equipped to overcome any challenge. The Holy Spirit fills us, and as we return to Him, He flushes out the bitterness, envy, and darkness from our lives, making us whole again. This process of sanctification is ongoing, and it requires our active participation.
We also touched on the importance of unity within the church. True unity comes from a heart of thankfulness and a focus on Jesus. It is not about conformity but about seeing the gold in each other and encouraging one another in our walk with Christ.
Finally, we were reminded that the Holy Spirit empowers us to do greater works than Jesus did. We are called to live out our faith boldly, to clear the land of our lives, and to take possession of the promises of God. This is not just a call to individual action but a collective call to the church to rise and shine in a world filled with darkness.
### Key Takeaways
1. God as a Perfect Father: God is not looking to disqualify us but to invite us into His presence, to heal us, and to make us whole. He takes great pleasure in walking with us on our journey, just as He did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. This journey is filled with His love and guidance, and we should be fully convinced of His goodness and power. [19:39]
2. Clearing the Land: Just as Joshua instructed the tribe of Joseph to clear the land and take possession of their inheritance, we are called to clear the obstacles in our spiritual lives. This involves actively participating in our sanctification, removing bitterness, envy, and darkness, and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us anew. [52:19]
3. Identity in Christ: Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial. We are not just saved; we are powerful individuals equipped to overcome any challenge. The Holy Spirit fills us, and as we return to Him, He flushes out the impurities from our lives, making us whole again. This ongoing process requires our active participation and faith. [58:36]
4. Unity in the Church: True unity within the church comes from a heart of thankfulness and a focus on Jesus. It is not about conformity but about seeing the gold in each other and encouraging one another in our walk with Christ. This unity is essential for the church to rise and shine in a world filled with darkness. [55:51]
5. Empowered by the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit empowers us to do greater works than Jesus did. We are called to live out our faith boldly, to clear the land of our lives, and to take possession of the promises of God. This is a collective call to the church to rise and shine, to be a light in a world filled with darkness, and to fulfill the good works God has prepared for us. [01:24:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:01] - Announcements
[18:38] - Thanksgiving and Praise
[19:39] - God as a Perfect Father
[28:50] - Journey of Faith
[37:11] - Praying for Unity and Revival
[40:04] - Offering and Declaration
[43:14] - Introduction to Joshua 17
[44:13] - The Call to Clear the Land
[52:19] - Complaints and Challenges
[58:36] - Identity in Christ
[01:00:07] - Encouragement to Take Action
[01:17:05] - Returning to the Holy Spirit
[01:24:57] - Empowered by the Holy Spirit
[01:30:05] - Call to Respond
[01:41:21] - Final Encouragement and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 17:14-18 (NIV)
> 14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”
> 15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”
> 16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
> 17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”
2. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)
> 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
3. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
> 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
### Observation Questions
1. What was the complaint of the tribe of Joseph in Joshua 17:14, and how did Joshua respond to it? ([52:19])
2. According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the relationship between grace, faith, and good works?
3. In Ephesians 6:10-18, what are the different pieces of the armor of God, and what do they represent?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the tribe of Joseph felt their inheritance was insufficient, and how does Joshua’s response challenge their perspective? ([52:19])
2. How does understanding our identity in Christ, as described in Ephesians 2:10, empower us to overcome challenges in our spiritual lives? ([58:36])
3. What does it mean to "clear the land" in our spiritual lives, and how can this be applied to our daily walk with God? ([57:32])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like the tribe of Joseph, complaining about your circumstances. How did you respond, and what could you have done differently to "clear the land" in your life? ([52:19])
2. In what areas of your life do you need to actively participate in your sanctification by removing bitterness, envy, or darkness? What steps can you take this week to address these areas? ([57:32])
3. How can you better understand and embrace your identity in Christ to face current challenges? What specific actions can you take to remind yourself of this identity daily? ([58:36])
4. Unity in the church is essential. How can you contribute to fostering true unity within your small group or church community? What practical steps can you take to encourage and see the gold in others? ([55:51])
5. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do greater works. Identify one area in your life where you need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. How can you seek and rely on the Holy Spirit more in this area? ([01:24:57])
6. Think of a specific obstacle or "Canaanite" in your life that you need to overcome. What spiritual "armor" from Ephesians 6:10-18 can you put on to face this challenge, and how will you do it? ([01:21:17])
7. How can you live out your faith more boldly this week? Identify one specific action you can take to shine as a light in a world filled with darkness. ([01:24:57])
Devotional
Day 1: God as a Perfect Father
God is not looking to disqualify us but to invite us into His presence, to heal us, and to make us whole. He takes great pleasure in walking with us on our journey, just as He did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. This journey is filled with His love and guidance, and we should be fully convinced of His goodness and power. [19:39]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt unworthy or disqualified. How can you embrace God's invitation to His table and allow Him to heal and make you whole today?
Day 2: Clearing the Land
Just as Joshua instructed the tribe of Joseph to clear the land and take possession of their inheritance, we are called to clear the obstacles in our spiritual lives. This involves actively participating in our sanctification, removing bitterness, envy, and darkness, and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us anew. [52:19]
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Reflection: Identify one obstacle in your spiritual life that you need to clear. What steps can you take today to actively participate in your sanctification and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you anew?
Day 3: Identity in Christ
Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial. We are not just saved; we are powerful individuals equipped to overcome any challenge. The Holy Spirit fills us, and as we return to Him, He flushes out the impurities from our lives, making us whole again. This ongoing process requires our active participation and faith. [58:36]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: Reflect on your identity in Christ. What is one area of your life where you need to embrace your God-given power and authority to overcome a challenge?
Day 4: Unity in the Church
True unity within the church comes from a heart of thankfulness and a focus on Jesus. It is not about conformity but about seeing the gold in each other and encouraging one another in our walk with Christ. This unity is essential for the church to rise and shine in a world filled with darkness. [55:51]
Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: Think of someone in your church community who you can encourage today. How can you see the gold in them and help foster unity within the church?
Day 5: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit empowers us to do greater works than Jesus did. We are called to live out our faith boldly, to clear the land of our lives, and to take possession of the promises of God. This is a collective call to the church to rise and shine, to be a light in a world filled with darkness, and to fulfill the good works God has prepared for us. [01:24:57]
John 14:12 (ESV): "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."
Reflection: What is one bold step of faith you can take today to live out the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your life? How can you contribute to the collective call of the church to be a light in the world?
Quotes
1. "I just want to encourage you that He's a good Father. I feel the affirmation of His smile over you. He's not looking to disqualify you, but invite you into His table. We say that again. He's not looking for ways to disqualify you. This morning, I feel the joy of His presence inviting you to the table, inviting you to that proverbial end in the story of the Good Samaritan. Just into His presence, into the place to make you whole again. He's a good and perfect Father. He knows exactly how to heal you and make you whole." [19:39] (104 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Joshua answered them and said, If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself. There in the land of the Perizzites and the giants since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you to live. In other words, if you're as powerful of a people and so many as you think, then you need to go start clearing out some space for you to roam. Go take it. This is Joshua's advice. Instead of shrinking back, get on the attack. That you have been equipped for victory, you need to combine your faith with your desire." [58:36] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are a great people and have great power. Watch it. He's reminding them who they are in Christ and who Christ is in them. You have great power and you shall not have only one lot. God doesn't mean for you to be where you're at. There's more. Oh, I'm about to preach right now. God says it's not enough for you to have the victories that you have had. There's more. The experiences you have had in Christ, there's more. Listen, it is natural for us to see things and make judgments on what we see. But we don't walk by our sight. We walk by faith in the Son of God." [01:00:07] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Joshua's advice is get up off your blessed assurance and do something about it. In verse 16 it says, But the children of Joseph. We really need different people reading this. We need Joshua people and then we need the Joseph people to banter back and forth in this. But you've got me. The children of Joseph said in verse 16, The mountain country is not enough for us. And all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of Israel. They've got chariots of iron. Both those who are of Beth She'an and its towns and those who are of the valley of where? Jezreel." [59:27] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and to Manasseh saying, You are a great people and have great power. Watch it. He's reminding them who they are in Christ and who Christ is in them. You have great power and you shall not have only one lot. God doesn't mean for you to be where you're at. There's more. Oh, I'm about to preach right now. God says it's not enough for you to have the victories that you have had. There's more. The experiences you have had in Christ, there's more. Listen, it is natural for us to see things and make judgments on what we see. But we don't walk by our sight. We walk by faith in the Son of God." [01:00:07] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Joshua reminds them, you're right in your whining and complaining. It's just you want me to go to war for you. You are, listen, Joshua's tribe was of Joseph. He is talking to the hardest audience, family. Amen? Sometimes family are the hardest to get motivated because they've heard it before. And oftentimes when you have leadership and pastors like myself have been there for quite some time, almost 20 years now. Right, Jill? Almost 20 years now. I cannot believe I'm saying that out loud. That sometimes the voice can just become we've heard it before. But the Bible says. Joshua says. You not just deserve, but God has called you to more. I want you to do something about it." [01:00:57] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Joshua says. Clear the lot. And take the land. We're told in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul. Not just in Ephesians chapter 6. But also in his letter to the Corinthians. That we have the ability to cast down every vain imagination. Right? Every high thought. Every high thing. That would keep us from doing the Ephesians 2.10 thing. To all the stuff. The good works that God has prepared for us. In order to live the full life. To say what the Apostle Paul says. I've run my race. I've lived my life. Right? Now what's laid up for me. Is a crown of right. How could he say these things? Because he knew the good works were accomplished. He'd leave anything on the table. And neither will you." [01:22:22] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The Holy Spirit. Jesus said I've got to go. Because I'm sending. The person of the Holy Spirit. That I've walked with. My entire life. That I did ministry with. And I'm sending the power. And the peace. And the love. And the joy that I walked in. And the Holy Spirit's presence. That was active. In Jesus life. When he comes. You will not just go and check off a box. Of doing the great commission. You will do greater works than you've seen me do. You will lay hands on the sick. You will see them recover. You will cast out demons. You will tread over serpents. And scorpions. And you will not be harmed." [01:24:57] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You will stand in places you never dreamed of standing. To open up your mouth and declare the salvation of your God. I say to you young people, don't wait till you're older. But now is the time and now is your hour. Now is your moment. Don't wait. Waste your life searching for things that fade away. There's so much more that God has in store. Father, I pray the launching, God, this morning from an upper room. The launching of heaven, God. Invading the church this morning, God. God, I pray that those that thought that those days were over would be amazed, God, at the outpouring of the latter days, God. The outpouring of the latter days. The outpouring of the latter days will be greater than anything that the church has experienced." [01:42:29] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Before you go, I just want to remind you. you are. You will beat the Canaanites. You will advance your territory. You will inherit the promises of God. They're waiting for you. They are waiting for you. The good news of Jesus Christ is He qualified you. And those promises are waiting on you. You'll have more joy. You'll have more peace. You'll have all of these things. When you stand under the cross. When you stand under the fountain of the presence of God." [01:43:55] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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