Faith Forward: Embracing New Territories in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Looks Forward, Not Backward

Faith is a journey that propels us into the future, focusing on the promises of God rather than the challenges or regrets of the past. It requires a mindset that is not intimidated by the size of the obstacles or the difficulty of the path ahead. Instead, faith is about trusting in what God is going to do, believing that His plans are greater than any current circumstance. This forward-focused faith is exemplified in the life of Joshua, who continued to pursue God's promises even in his old age, refusing to settle for less than what God had called him to achieve. [41:13]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to dwell on past failures or regrets? How can you shift your focus to the new things God is doing?

Day 2: Warriors for God's Kingdom

We are called to be faith-filled warriors, taking new ground for the kingdom of God. This involves stepping out in faith to plant new churches and reach communities in need, like the mission to establish a church in Santa Barbara. Our faith should inspire us to take risks and make sacrifices for the sake of the gospel, trusting that God will provide and guide us as we move forward. This call to action is not just for the church as a whole but also for each individual, as we are all invited to participate in God's mission through prayer, support, and personal steps of faith. [46:19]

Joshua 1:9 (ESV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Reflection: What is one specific step of faith you can take this week to advance God's kingdom, either in your community or in your personal life?

Day 3: Obedience and Clearing the Path

Faith requires us to move in the direction of God's promises through obedience, clearing out hindrances and distractions that may impede our progress. This is not about coexisting with sin or compromising our values but about living in the fullness of what God has for us. By driving out longstanding enemies and removing obstacles, we create space for God's promises to be fulfilled in our lives. This process involves a commitment to holiness and a willingness to confront and eliminate anything that stands in the way of our spiritual growth. [52:27]

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 hindrance or distraction in your life that is preventing you from fully pursuing God's promises. What steps can you take to remove it?

Day 4: Living Above Challenges

As we mature in Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live above the challenges that once held us back. This ongoing process of being filled with the Spirit displaces the things of this world, enabling us to overcome obstacles and live victoriously. It is through the Spirit's power that we can rise above our circumstances and experience the abundant life that God has promised. This transformation is not instantaneous but requires continual growth and reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us. [57:45]

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's power to help you rise above a current challenge? How can you invite Him to work in that area today?

Day 5: Expanding Our Vision

We declare that we will not settle, limit, draw back, or shrink our vision to the size of our current condition. We believe that God has more land for us to take, more promises to fulfill, and more lives to transform. As we step out in faith, we trust that God will fight our battles and lead us into new territories for His glory. This declaration is a commitment to expanding our vision and trusting in God's ability to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. It is a call to dream bigger and to align our vision with God's limitless possibilities. [01:03:19]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What is one area where you have limited your vision due to current circumstances? How can you expand your vision to align with God's promises and possibilities?

Sermon Summary

Welcome to the celebration of 28 years of faith and growth at the Father's House. Today, we reflect on the journey that began with a small group of believers stepping out in faith, and we look forward to what God will continue to do through us. As we celebrate, we are reminded that faith is not about settling for what has been accomplished but about pressing forward into the promises of God. We draw inspiration from the life of Joshua, a man who, even in his old age, did not settle but continued to conquer new territories for God's kingdom. Faith is forward-focused, always looking to the future and the promises of God, rather than dwelling on past regrets or present difficulties.

Joshua's story teaches us that faith does not settle for less than what God has called us to accomplish. There is more land to be taken, both corporately as a church and individually in our personal lives. We are called to be faith-filled land acquisition warriors, taking new ground for the kingdom of God. This includes planting a new church in Santa Barbara, a city in desperate need of a life-giving church. We invite everyone to participate in this mission, whether through prayer, financial support, or stepping out in faith in their own lives.

Faith requires an attitude that focuses on what God is going to do, not the size of the enemies or the difficulty of the journey. We must move in the direction of God's promises through obedience, clear out hindrances and distractions, and drive out longstanding enemies. This is not about peaceful coexistence with sin or compromise but about living in the fullness of what God has for us. As we mature in Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the things of this world are displaced, and we live above the challenges that once held us back.

Today, we declare that we will not settle, limit, draw back, or shrink our vision to the size of our current condition. We believe that God has more land for us to take, more promises to fulfill, and more lives to transform. As we step out in faith, we trust that God will fight our battles and lead us into new territories for His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is forward-focused, always looking to the future and the promises of God, rather than dwelling on past regrets or present difficulties. It requires an attitude that focuses on what God is going to do, not the size of the enemies or the difficulty of the journey. [41:13]
2. We are called to be faith-filled land acquisition warriors, taking new ground for the kingdom of God. This includes planting new churches and reaching out to communities in need. Our faith should inspire us to take risks and make sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. [46:19]
3. Faith requires us to move in the direction of God's promises through obedience, clear out hindrances and distractions, and drive out longstanding enemies. This is not about peaceful coexistence with sin or compromise but about living in the fullness of what God has for us. [52:27]
4. As we mature in Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the things of this world are displaced, and we live above the challenges that once held us back. This ongoing process of being filled with the Spirit empowers us to overcome obstacles and live victoriously. [57:45]
5. We declare that we will not settle, limit, draw back, or shrink our vision to the size of our current condition. We believe that God has more land for us to take, more promises to fulfill, and more lives to transform. As we step out in faith, we trust that God will fight our battles and lead us into new territories for His glory. [01:03:19]
** [63:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Celebrating 28 Years of Faith
[03:30] - Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
[06:15] - The Faith of Joshua
[09:00] - Faith is Forward-Focused
[12:30] - Joshua's Unyielding Faith
[15:45] - Faith Does Not Settle
[19:00] - Planting in Santa Barbara
[22:30] - The Power of Planting Seeds
[26:00] - Faith Takes Risks
[30:15] - Moving in Obedience
[34:00] - Clearing Out Hindrances
[38:45] - Driving Out Enemies
[43:00] - Living Above Challenges
[47:30] - Declaring Our Faith
[51:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Joshua 13:1 (NIV): "When Joshua had grown very old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.'"
- Numbers 13:30 (NIV): "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'"
- Numbers 33:55 (NIV): "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live."

Observation Questions:

What does Joshua 13:1 reveal about God's expectations for Joshua, even in his old age? How does this relate to the theme of not settling in faith? [41:13]
In Numbers 13:30, what attitude does Caleb demonstrate, and how does it contrast with the other spies' reports? [52:27]
According to Numbers 33:55, what are the consequences of not driving out the inhabitants of the land? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about dealing with sin and hindrances? [01:03:19]

Interpretation Questions:

How does Joshua's continued pursuit of new territories, despite his age, challenge common perceptions about retirement or slowing down in one's faith journey? [41:13]
What does Caleb's confidence in Numbers 13:30 teach us about the nature of faith and the importance of focusing on God's promises rather than obstacles? [52:27]
How can the warning in Numbers 33:55 about the consequences of not driving out enemies be applied to personal spiritual battles today? [01:03:19]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt like settling in your spiritual journey. What steps can you take to reignite your faith and pursue new "territories" God has for you? [41:13]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to adopt Caleb's attitude of faith. What practical steps can you take this week to focus on God's promises rather than the challenges? [52:27]
Consider any "inhabitants" or longstanding issues in your life that you have not fully addressed. What actions can you take to begin driving them out, and who can support you in this process? [01:03:19]
The sermon mentioned the importance of not shrinking our vision to the size of our current condition. What is one area in your life where you need to expand your vision, and how can you start doing that this week? [57:45]
How can you participate in the mission of planting new churches or reaching out to communities in need, as mentioned in the sermon? What specific role can you play, whether through prayer, financial support, or personal involvement? [46:19]
Reflect on the concept of "faith-filled land acquisition warriors." What does this mean for you personally, and how can you embody this in your daily life? [41:13]
The sermon emphasized the importance of clearing out hindrances and distractions. What is one distraction in your life that you can minimize this week to focus more on God's promises? [57:45]