Embracing God's Call: Age, Stewardship, and Inheritance
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound message of God's calling and the importance of being in alignment with His will. We began with a reflection on the Holy Spirit as the wind that either propels us forward or stands against us, depending on our direction. This led us into a heartfelt prayer, echoing the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing God's provision, forgiveness, and guidance.
We then delved into the stories of Evan and Sarah, two individuals from different generations who exemplify what it means to be servants of the Lord. Evan, despite his debilitating illness, sought not just peace but joy in his suffering, while Sarah dedicated her retirement to mentoring college students. Their stories remind us that age is just a number when it comes to serving God.
The sermon then transitioned to the story of Joshua, an 85-year-old man who, despite his age, was called by God to continue leading and possessing the Promised Land. This narrative underscores that God's mission for us does not end with age; rather, it evolves and continues. Joshua's humility and hunger to serve the Lord made him a trusted steward of God's mission.
We also examined the parable of the minas from Luke 19, which teaches us about stewardship and the expectation that we grow and invest the spiritual blessings God has given us. This parable challenges us to be faithful and proactive in advancing God's kingdom.
Finally, we discussed the concept of the Promised Land as more than just a physical territory but as the fullness of Jesus Christ and all He offers. We are called to possess this inheritance actively, living transformed lives through God's sanctifying grace. The sermon concluded with a call to action, urging us to ask God for our "mountains"—areas of influence and mission where we can make a significant impact for His kingdom.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Holy Spirit as Wind: The Holy Spirit acts as the wind in our lives, either propelling us forward when we align with God's will or standing against us when we go astray. This imagery reminds us to seek God's direction and be sensitive to His leading in our daily lives. [38:37]
2. Age is Just a Number: The stories of Evan and Sarah illustrate that serving God is not limited by age. Whether young or old, God calls each of us to be His servants, using our unique experiences and stages of life to advance His kingdom. [45:17]
3. Stewardship and Growth: The parable of the minas teaches us that God expects us to grow and invest the spiritual blessings He has given us. Faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibilities and opportunities in God's kingdom. [55:08]
4. Possessing the Promised Land: The Promised Land symbolizes the fullness of Jesus Christ and all He offers. We are called not just to inherit this gift but to actively possess it, living transformed lives through God's sanctifying grace and serving Jesus as our Lord. [50:53]
5. Asking for Mountains: Like Caleb, who asked for a mountain at 85, we are encouraged to ask God for significant areas of influence and mission. These "mountains" represent challenges and opportunities where we can make a profound impact for God's kingdom. [58:55]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[38:37] - The Holy Spirit as Wind
[39:35] - The Lord's Prayer
[42:35] - Youth Camp Reflections
[45:17] - Stories of Evan and Sarah
[48:09] - Joshua's Calling
[50:53] - Possessing the Promised Land
[55:08] - Parable of the Minas
[58:55] - Caleb's Mountain
[01:02:13] - Cities of Refuge
[01:07:08] - Settling the Land
[01:09:20] - Choose Whom You Will Serve
[01:11:10] - Inheritance in Christ
[01:18:09] - Closing and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 13:1 - "When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, 'You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.'"
2. Luke 19:12-27 - The Parable of the Minas
3. Joshua 24:14-18 - "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
#### Observation Questions
1. What did the Holy Spirit symbolize in the sermon, and how does it affect our direction in life? ([38:37])
2. How did Evan and Sarah exemplify serving God despite their age and circumstances? ([45:17])
3. What was Joshua's mission even in his old age, according to Joshua 13:1? ([48:09])
4. In the Parable of the Minas, what were the different responses of the servants to the money they were given, and what was the master's reaction? ([55:08])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the imagery of the Holy Spirit as wind challenge us to align our lives with God's will? ([38:37])
2. What does the story of Joshua teach us about God's expectations for us, regardless of our age? ([48:09])
3. How can the Parable of the Minas be applied to our spiritual lives and the way we use the gifts God has given us? ([55:08])
4. What does it mean to "possess the Promised Land" in the context of our faith and daily living? ([50:53])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the Holy Spirit either propelling you forward or standing against you. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([38:37])
2. Evan sought joy in his suffering rather than just peace. How can you seek joy in your current challenges? What practical steps can you take to find joy in difficult circumstances? ([44:28])
3. Sarah dedicated her retirement to mentoring college students. How can you use your current stage of life to serve God and others? Identify one specific way you can start this week. ([47:25])
4. Joshua continued to lead and possess the land even in his old age. What "land" or mission do you feel God is calling you to possess or continue working on, regardless of your age or stage in life? ([48:09])
5. The Parable of the Minas emphasizes stewardship and growth. What spiritual gifts or blessings have you been given, and how can you invest them to advance God's kingdom? ([55:08])
6. Caleb asked for a mountain at 85. What "mountain" or significant challenge are you willing to ask God for, and how can you prepare to take it on? ([58:55])
7. The concept of the Promised Land as the fullness of Jesus Christ calls us to live transformed lives. What specific area of your life needs transformation, and how can you actively seek God's sanctifying grace in that area? ([50:53])
Devotional
Day 1: The Holy Spirit as Wind
The Holy Spirit acts as the wind in our lives, either propelling us forward when we align with God's will or standing against us when we go astray. This imagery reminds us to seek God's direction and be sensitive to His leading in our daily lives. Just as a sailor adjusts their sails to catch the wind, we must adjust our lives to be in harmony with the Holy Spirit. When we are in alignment with God's will, the Holy Spirit empowers us, giving us strength and guidance. Conversely, when we stray from God's path, the Holy Spirit convicts us, urging us to return to the right course.
This concept challenges us to be constantly aware of the Holy Spirit's presence and influence. It calls us to a life of prayer, seeking God's guidance in every decision and action. By doing so, we allow the Holy Spirit to propel us forward, helping us to fulfill God's purpose for our lives. [38:37]
John 3:8 (ESV): "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance more intentionally? How can you adjust your "sails" to be more in tune with God's will today?
Day 2: Age is Just a Number
The stories of Evan and Sarah illustrate that serving God is not limited by age. Whether young or old, God calls each of us to be His servants, using our unique experiences and stages of life to advance His kingdom. Evan, despite his debilitating illness, sought not just peace but joy in his suffering, demonstrating that our circumstances do not define our ability to serve God. Sarah, on the other hand, dedicated her retirement to mentoring college students, showing that every stage of life offers opportunities to make a significant impact.
These examples remind us that God values our willingness to serve more than our physical capabilities or age. He can use anyone, at any stage of life, to fulfill His purposes. Our age or physical condition should never be a barrier to serving God; instead, we should seek ways to use our current situation to glorify Him. [45:17]
Isaiah 46:4 (ESV): "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."
Reflection: How can you use your current stage of life to serve God more effectively? What unique opportunities do you have right now to make a difference in God's kingdom?
Day 3: Stewardship and Growth
The parable of the minas teaches us that God expects us to grow and invest the spiritual blessings He has given us. Faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibilities and opportunities in God's kingdom. This parable challenges us to be proactive in using our gifts, talents, and resources for God's glory. It is not enough to simply receive God's blessings; we must actively seek to multiply them and use them to advance His kingdom.
This principle of stewardship calls us to examine how we are using what God has entrusted to us. Are we being faithful with the small things, or are we neglecting our responsibilities? By being diligent and faithful stewards, we demonstrate our trustworthiness and readiness for greater tasks in God's kingdom. [55:08]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: What spiritual blessings or talents has God entrusted to you? How can you be more proactive in using them to serve others and advance God's kingdom?
Day 4: Possessing the Promised Land
The Promised Land symbolizes the fullness of Jesus Christ and all He offers. We are called not just to inherit this gift but to actively possess it, living transformed lives through God's sanctifying grace and serving Jesus as our Lord. This means embracing the abundant life that Jesus offers, allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out. It involves a daily commitment to live according to God's will and to seek His presence in every aspect of our lives.
Possessing the Promised Land is an ongoing process of growth and transformation. It requires us to continually seek God's guidance, to be open to His correction, and to strive for holiness. By doing so, we experience the fullness of life that Jesus promised and become effective witnesses of His love and grace. [50:53]
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to more fully possess the "Promised Land" of Jesus' fullness in your life? How can you allow God's sanctifying grace to transform you more deeply?
Day 5: Asking for Mountains
Like Caleb, who asked for a mountain at 85, we are encouraged to ask God for significant areas of influence and mission. These "mountains" represent challenges and opportunities where we can make a profound impact for God's kingdom. Caleb's boldness and faith in asking for a mountain inspire us to seek God's guidance in identifying the areas where He wants us to serve and make a difference.
Asking for mountains requires faith and courage. It means stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting God to equip us for the tasks He has called us to. By asking God for our "mountains," we demonstrate our willingness to be used by Him in significant ways and our desire to see His kingdom advanced. [58:55]
Joshua 14:12 (ESV): "So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said."
Reflection: What "mountain" is God calling you to ask for in your life? How can you step out in faith and courage to pursue the significant areas of influence and mission that God has placed on your heart?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I felt a fresh wind on my face and I felt the Holy Spirit say, I am the wind that refreshes. And I also heard the Holy Spirit say that when you are going in my direction, I am the wind that propels you. But when you're going against me, I'm the wind you come up against. That's a word for our church today. Receive that as you will." (25 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus is the promised land. Every time you read the Old Testament, you put on your Jesus glasses and you read it through the lens of Jesus. Jesus is the promised land. He is the inheritance. He gave himself freely to us as a gift. We receive that gift by faith. And there is more to salvation than just inheriting it. We are meant to live in the promise, being transformed by God's sanctifying grace as we serve Jesus as our Lord." (33 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We are the vilest sinners. Each and every one of us need a city of refuge. We need a safe place. We need a place of forgiveness. God created a place of refuge on Calvary's cross. And Jesus invites all who have sinned to come to him and have a place of forgiveness. Jesus is our city of refuge." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus told his disciples in John 14, I'm going to my Father. My Father's house is this teeny tiny little place without a spare room, right? No. It's a big, big house. That should be a song. Big, big house with lots and lots of room. Or we can play football and eat lots of food at a big table. I'm messing the lyrics up. But my Father's house is a big house. And it's got lots of room, says Jesus. And I'm going there to prepare a place for you to dwell there with me." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Ask Jesus to give you more hunger for Him because the Lord responds to your passion. He promises that those who seek Him will find Him. Seek God with all your heart. Ask and keep on asking. Be persistent. In the name of Jesus Christ, we receive every promise." (28 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Evan's lived with this debilitating disease for five years as a young adult. And he said that he prayed and asked God for peace. And God had given him a peace during this sickness and suffering that he had been walking through. And then he said, but I want more than peace. I want joy. How many of us at 44 and 64 and 84 have the maturity to say, in my suffering I want more than peace. I want joy. And then he said, so I wrote a song called Give Me Joy. And he sang that song to the youth. Give me joy, Lord. Give me joy." (50 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sarah, a senior saint, chose to be a servant of the Lord. A young adult and a senior saint. Age is only a number. God is looking for men and women. Young and old. Boys and girls. To be servants of the Lord. How are you doing? In Joshua chapter 13. God comes to Joshua. In one of I think is the most captain obvious statements that God has ever made. God comes to Joshua. To this 85 year old man. And he says, you are old. Look it up. Chapter 13. You are old and advanced in years. And there remains yet much land to possess." (58 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we see Joshua, we see a man with humility and hunger to serve the Lord. In his humility, he seeks the Lord's counsel. And in his humility, he advances the Lord's mission, not his own. He seeks to be in the presence of the Lord. He becomes a person that God can trust to steward God's mission. When we are humble and hungry for God's move, for God's presence, for God's work, and we are obedient, God gives us more and more opportunity to possess our inheritance." (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Are you willing to raid the enemy's camp and rescue the captives that are in darkness and bring them into God's kingdom? That's the application for us. What mountains are you asking God to give you? We ask God to provide for us as a church and he did. He gave us a building. Why not ask him for a city? Why not ask him for a middle school? Why not ask him for a high school? Why not ask him for your neighbor's home? Why not ask him for every business in this country? Why not ask him for this town? Why not ask him for every ethnic and people group that's overlooked? Why not ask God to awaken our children? Why not ask God for an entire generation? Is that a mountain worth asking God for?" (43 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Joshua has lived a long and faithful life and at the very end of his life, right before he died, he told the people the one thing that he had been told by the pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. Be strong and be courageous. The Lord your God is with you. Serve the Lord all the days of your life. Joshua is then called a servant of the Lord. That title was only used of Moses and Joshua and in Acts chapter 3 it was used about Jesus. Jesus is called the servant of the Lord. He's greater than Moses. He's greater than Joshua. He is the true and better servant, the Messiah, Jesus the Lord is the servant of God." (42 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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