Stepping Boldly into God's Calling with Faith
Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme of stepping into God's calling with courage and faith, drawing inspiration from the book of Joshua. As we conclude our churchwide fast, we reflect on the vision of Freshwater Church: to be a people who seek the manifest presence of God, filled by Him to pour out His love and presence into the world. We are entering a new season, a time of transition where God is preparing us for greater kingdom missions. Just as the Israelites stood on the brink of entering the Promised Land, we too stand on the precipice of a new move of God.
The story of Joshua and the Israelites serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges and fears that can hinder us from fulfilling God's mission. Joshua, a leader chosen by God, faced fear and trepidation as he stepped into his new role. God repeatedly encouraged him to be strong and courageous, emphasizing the importance of faith over fear. The Israelites' previous failure to enter the Promised Land due to fear serves as a cautionary tale for us. Fear of man, inadequacy, and the unknown future can paralyze us, preventing us from stepping into God's calling.
We are reminded that fear is not a pet to be coddled but a predator to be captured. It is crucial to confront and overcome these fears by fixing our eyes on God, who is with us and for us. A God-given mission can only be accomplished by a limitless God. Our role is to obey and trust Him, knowing that He will accomplish what He has promised. As we embark on this new season, we are called to respond in faith, to step into the mission God has for us, and to trust in His power and strength.
Key Takeaways:
- Embrace the Vision: Our church's vision is to seek God's presence and be filled by Him to impact the world. As we enter a new season, we are called to embrace this vision and be open to new expressions of God's work in our lives and community. [39:19]
- Overcoming Fear: Fear is a powerful force that can hinder us from fulfilling God's mission. Like Joshua, we must be strong and courageous, trusting in God's presence and promises. Fear of man, inadequacy, and the unknown future must be confronted and overcome. [45:38]
- God's Calling is Bigger Than Us: God's calling is often too big for us, requiring us to rely on His strength and power. We must not let fear paralyze us but instead trust that God will accomplish what He has promised. [56:09]
- Fix Your Eyes on God: To overcome fear, we must shift our focus from our limitations to God's limitless power. He is with us, and if He has called us to a mission, He will perform it. Our role is to obey and trust Him. [01:07:59]
- Respond in Faith: As we stand on the brink of a new season, we are called to respond in faith, stepping into the mission God has for us. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must trust Him and follow His leading. [01:14:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [39:19] - Transition Season
- [42:16] - Joshua's Calling
- [44:07] - Be Strong and Courageous
- [45:38] - Facing Fear
- [47:16] - The Power of Fear
- [48:51] - Fear in Our Lives
- [51:16] - The Israelites' Fear
- [52:55] - Spies' Report
- [54:19] - Personal Story of Fear
- [56:09] - God's Calling is Bigger
- [58:40] - Fear of Man
- [01:00:24] - Fear of Inadequacy
- [01:05:14] - Fear of the Future
- [01:07:59] - Fix Your Eyes on God
- [01:14:24] - Respond in Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 1:1-9
- Numbers 13:25-33
- Numbers 14:1-9
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land? (Joshua 1:1-9)
2. In Numbers 13, what was the initial report of the spies regarding the land of Canaan, and how did their perspective change? [52:55]
3. How did the Israelites react to the report of the spies, and what was their response to the challenges ahead? (Numbers 14:1-4)
4. What were the three types of fears mentioned in the sermon that can hinder us from fulfilling God's mission? [45:38]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think God repeatedly told Joshua to be "strong and courageous"? How does this relate to the fears Joshua might have faced? [44:07]
2. How does the story of the spies in Numbers 13-14 illustrate the impact of fear on the Israelites' faith and decision-making?
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between fear and faith when stepping into God's calling? [56:09]
4. How can the Israelites' fear of the future be seen as a lack of trust in God's promises? What does this teach us about our own fears? [01:05:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when fear held you back from pursuing something you felt called to do. What was the fear, and how did it affect your decision? [56:09]
2. The sermon mentioned the fear of inadequacy. How do you typically respond when you feel inadequate for a task God has placed before you? What steps can you take to overcome this fear? [01:02:06]
3. Consider the fear of man discussed in the sermon. Is there someone whose opinion you fear more than God's? How can you shift your focus to prioritize God's calling over human approval? [01:00:24]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of fixing our eyes on God to overcome fear. What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on God's power and presence in your life? [01:07:59]
5. As we enter a new season as a church, what is one specific way you can respond in faith to the mission God has for you? How can you take a tangible step towards this calling? [01:14:24]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of community in overcoming fear. How can your small group support each other in stepping into God's calling with courage and faith? [01:17:11]
7. Identify a specific fear you are currently facing. What is one action you can take this week to confront and overcome this fear, trusting in God's promises? [01:18:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace God's Vision for Your Life
As we stand on the brink of a new season, we are called to embrace the vision of seeking God's presence and being filled by Him to impact the world. This vision is not just a church mission but a personal calling for each believer. It requires openness to new expressions of God's work in our lives and community. Embracing this vision means being willing to step out of our comfort zones and allow God to work through us in ways we may not have imagined. It is a call to be active participants in God's kingdom work, pouring out His love and presence into the world. [39:19]
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can actively seek God's presence in your daily life this week, and how can you allow His love to flow through you to impact someone around you?
Day 2: Confront and Overcome Fear
Fear is a powerful force that can hinder us from fulfilling God's mission. Like Joshua, we must be strong and courageous, trusting in God's presence and promises. Fear of man, inadequacy, and the unknown future must be confronted and overcome. It is crucial to recognize that fear is not a pet to be coddled but a predator to be captured. By fixing our eyes on God, who is with us and for us, we can overcome these fears. Our role is to obey and trust Him, knowing that He will accomplish what He has promised. [45:38]
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific fear that has been holding you back from stepping into God's calling. What practical steps can you take this week to confront and overcome this fear with God's help?
Day 3: Trust in God's Bigger Calling
God's calling is often too big for us, requiring us to rely on His strength and power. We must not let fear paralyze us but instead trust that God will accomplish what He has promised. This requires a shift in focus from our limitations to God's limitless power. He is with us, and if He has called us to a mission, He will perform it. Our role is to obey and trust Him, knowing that He will accomplish what He has promised. As we embark on this new season, we are called to respond in faith, stepping into the mission God has for us. [56:09]
"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." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God's calling is too big for you? How can you begin to rely on His strength and power to step into this calling?
Day 4: Fix Your Eyes on God's Limitless Power
To overcome fear, we must shift our focus from our limitations to God's limitless power. He is with us, and if He has called us to a mission, He will perform it. Our role is to obey and trust Him. This requires a conscious effort to fix our eyes on God, trusting in His presence and promises. By doing so, we can overcome the fears that hinder us from fulfilling God's mission. It is a call to respond in faith, stepping into the mission God has for us. [01:07:59]
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to shift your focus from your limitations to God's limitless power in your daily life?
Day 5: Respond in Faith to God's Call
As we stand on the brink of a new season, we are called to respond in faith, stepping into the mission God has for us. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must trust Him and follow His leading, knowing that He will accomplish what He has promised. This requires a willingness to step out in faith, even when the path is uncertain. It is a call to trust in God's power and strength, knowing that He is with us and for us. [01:14:24]
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific step of faith you can take this week to respond to God's call in your life? How can you trust Him more fully in this area?
Quotes
"And so today, in preparation for what we see God doing, we're kicking off a new series in the book of Joshua. This book is a story of the people of God at the beginning of a mission. They're on the cusp of a new season. At the outset of a new assignment that God has for them. And at the beginning of the book of Joshua, the Israelites, they're camping along the Jordan River and they're right outside the land of Canaan. This is a land that God has promised to them centuries before that he would give them. And now they're on the cusp of taking this promised land, of moving into it for the first time." [00:41:43] (30 seconds)
"Many commentators believe that Joshua had trepidation about the mission. There was a fear in his heart. heart about the mission because God would speak three times and remind him, Joshua, be strong and courageous. Joshua, don't be frightened by what you see ahead. Gird up your strength and be strong in the Lord. And so many commentators would say that Joshua is struggling with fear. And God knows in this moment, God sees the heart of Joshua. He sees the heart of the Israelites. And he knows that in this moment, this tipping point that they're at, one of the primary forces that will keep Joshua and the people of Israel from accomplishing the mission is fear." [00:44:34] (39 seconds)
"And I want to tell you, as a church, we're moving forward and following him. We're going. And you have a calling. If you are a part of this church, see, a church is not an institution. It's not a building. A church is a people rallied together under the leadership of Christ. And we set our eyes on him and we follow him. And I want to tell you, as a leadership, we are going after him. We're moving. And you have a calling. You have a role. If you're in this body, this organism under the headship of Christ, you have a calling and a mission in this move." [00:46:15] (30 seconds)
"And so it's time to get up. It's time to step up to the mission and to move towards what God has. And so today, we're going to look at three types of fears that may hold us back from the mission in front of us. And these three fears, these are things that can stop us from accomplishing what God has for us individually and as a church. And so we're going to look at those three fears. And then at the end, we're going to look at one simple fear. And we're going to look at one simple fear. One simple cure for that fear." [00:46:56] (24 seconds)
"And the last time they were here, they missed it. They ran from it. They rejected the mission of God that was right in front of them because of fear. And so this morning, I want us to look at this story together as a caution, as a warning for us as a people, that if we allow it, fear will steal the calling of God from our church and from your life. So turn with me to Numbers chapter 13. You can pull it up on your phone. It'll be on the screen. If you have your hard copy Bible, you turn there." [00:51:11] (31 seconds)
"And for the spies, fear consumed them so deeply that they rejected the calling that God had in front of them to take the promised land. They rebelled against God's direction. In this story, the spies, they fall into three common fear traps. And I want to show us these this morning. And for the next few moments, we're going to look at these traps, and then we're going to explore how these may come to bear in our life, in our spiritual life, and keep us from our calling. And so look with me in verse 28. It says this. The spies are speaking here. They say, The land is good. However, the people, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there." [00:57:11] (40 seconds)
"Joshua and Caleb are saying, if you want to stop the fear of people, if you want to stop this feeling of inadequacy, if you want to stop worrying about the future, then you have to stop looking at your own abilities. You got to get your eyes off yourself and you got to fix it on God. The Lord is with us. And if God is for us, who can be against us? He's the Lord of heaven's army. He's Yahweh, the powerful God that's accomplished everything throughout the entire history of man. And for them, they had seen him put the Egyptians in the sea." [01:08:26] (32 seconds)
"And so this morning, we have a response before the Lord. We have a moment that we have to respond to him. If you walk away from this moment, you'll leave unchanged. If you've been held under fear and a calling in your life, and you walk away from responding to the Lord in this moment, you'll leave and you'll just do the same thing. And maybe you'll wake up 10 years from now and be in the same place. But this can be a tipping point for you and a tipping point for your calling and a tipping point for our church this morning, where we kill fear and we move into a place of faith where we trust him and follow him." [01:14:24] (33 seconds)
