Speaker: Anthony L Hughes Subject: Sermon Topic: Crossing into fertile territory You may remember When Moses died, Joshua assumed leadership and lead the people to dry land over Jordan and fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came down. He drove out the Hittites and Perrizites Then it was time to divide the territory. All the tribes got a territory Remember Joseph who rose from slavery to near royalty. His sons received their fair share. Getting a new blessing means a challenge. The new territory in the promised land. Remember just over a year ago we could not worship without our overcoats. We had debtors but The Lord saw fit to see us through. More security has come to us as a church, less confusion, less conflict. God has done something wonderful and St Paul is crossing into fertile territory. We will have new issues as a church to face. In Joshuas division the people of Joseph was looking for more. I believe God wants us to go further in 2015. Our territory is to go further. Too many hungry children, too much injustice, too much to do to stop cultivating. Joshua answered that if the people of Joseph were great they had what they needed but needed to work with it. Things we have to clear out. Divisions Old school and new school. Mistrust between each other We must grow with each other issues must be talked out. We have to get rid of unwanted overgrowth. We must recognize that even though we have the territory there is still an enemy of doubt disbelief. Some of us dont believe the best is yet to come. Some of us are content with a big pretty sanctuary with heat. Because of doubt and mistrust it took Joshuas people 40 more years to get where they wanted to be. St. Paul we should have been here a long time ago. We have catching up to do. Our community is looking to us for leadership. Our neighbors are. We will be hosting the Black Lives Matter Summit because they know God is moving. Opportunities coming St. Pauls way because the power of The Lord is with us. We must trust The Lord. There is still work to do with planting and harvesting. God is calling us to turn potential into promise. There are maters who are yet hungry. Part if what great people means quality and quantity. There are a whole lot of people to know about The Lord. In our community people need to be feed by the word of God. The name of The Lord needs to be lifted up. We need to show the way of righteousness. God wants to be hallowed. We need to illustrate in our community the holiness of The Lord. That is what makes you a great people -- not because of who we are but who God is. We can maximize the territory. God says to the people all of this shall be yours. God said fertile territory is already in your hands. Territory is fertile if the landowners do what they are supposed to do. God says you will reap in due season if you do not faint. Here at St. Paul all the conditions are optimized for our growth and we are ready to produce a great harvest for maximum territory. Joshua 14 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.”
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:15:55 +0000
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