ministry and conflict #1

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 10

The massive acquisition of the Southern Canaan territories came about as a result of responding to a plea for help by the Gibeonites.  The kings of those lands had determined to punish Gibeon for its alliance with the Israelites.  God used this circumstance to let Joshua know that it was time to act.  He used Joshua’s prayer and made the sun stand still for an entire day in order to give the Israelites time to finish the attack.  He helped further by providing hailstones which actually killed more soldiers than the Israelite swords.  God had allowed the discouraging events to pile up to prompt his people to act – then he gave them the victory by his power.

LORD, help us to see discouraging events as your prompting to be strong and confident in you.

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missions and common sense

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 9

The lesson the Israelite leaders learned from the Gibeonite deception was an important one.  Whatever they did, they needed to seek the LORD’s guidance first.  Although God was withy them, and promised to give them the land, he had not promised to give them wisdom apart from regular devotion and prayer.  Coming to the LORD is an exercise in faith.  It may seem ridiculous to consult the LORD on matters of “common sense” but there are too many things in this world designed to deceive us.  We cannot trust our judgment. We need his.

LORD give us the sense not to trust our common sense.

Posted in dependence upon God, faith, prayer, submission | Tagged | 1 Comment

missions and second chances

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 8

Once more the LORD challenges Joshua to take Ai. He commands him not to fear, and ensures him that he has given the city into Joshua’s hand. 

In the process of following God’s call, we are going to “flub up” occasionally. A failure does not doom us to failure.  God still has a mission, and second chances are what he is all about.

LORD, give us the courage to try, and try again.

Posted in commitment, confidence, encouragement, missions, perseverance | Tagged | 1 Comment

missions and the valley of trouble

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 7

Joshua assumed that all he had to do was follow the same game plan that had led to success at Jericho.  He sent out spies, they sent back a favorable report. He commissioned the attack.

Then it all went horribly wrong. About 36 dead, and the rest of the 3000 troops come running back in shame. 

It took the greed of just one man to turn the table on the Israelites.  But the leaders learn a valuable lesson.  God is not with you simply because you are doing the same things you did last time.  It is his battle.  He must set the pace.

LORD, help us to seek your face before we try to win your victory. Deliver us from presumption that might lead to another valley of trouble.

Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, discernment, missions, prayer | Tagged | 1 Comment

our missions–his victories

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 6

Most of us are used to reading Joshua 6 as a Sunday School story – one that encourages believers to stay in line and shout when we’re told to (or something like that).  Another way to read it is to see all that happened as evidence that “the LORD was with Joshua”  (27).  The miracles (like the fall of Jericho) happen because of the presence of God.  Jericho fell – not because everyone cooperated or because of the obedience of the people.  Jericho fell because it had been judged by the God of all the earth.  God does not want us to be victorious per se.  He wants us to share in his victories.  That is why we have to remember who the commander is.  If he has not decreed the fall  — all the shouting in the world will not bring the wall down.

LORD, lead us to your victories.

Posted in dependence upon God, discernment, faithfulness, kingdom of God, missions | Tagged | 1 Comment

the real mission commander

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 5

The Israelites had consecrated themselves by reinstituting the sign of the covenant at Gilgal: circumcision.  They had put their hearts and minds back onto the reality of their rescue by celebrating the Passover.  Now, they were ready fort battle – except for one thing.  Their leader had to understand a basic principle about God and serving him.  He commands his army.  He commands his mission.  The question is never “is God for us?”  The question is  “are we for him?” 

LORD, we yield to your command.

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missions and memory

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 4

The stones set up at Gilgal were to be a reminder for those who experienced the miracle of crossing the Jordon, and a teaching tool for the next generation.  Our memory of the ways the LORD has intervened in our lives serve to encourage us to keep at his mission.

LORD, help us to remember, and pass our memories of your power on to the next generation.

Posted in encouragement, future, miracles | Tagged | 1 Comment

getting ready for missions

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 3

Joshua’s instructions to the people were “ Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”  It would have been easy to focus on the obstacles to their mission, and many still do.  Such negative thoughts actually are quite truthful because there are many obstacles to doing what God wants us to do.  But we will not see the miracles until we are ready to follow the presence of God into the river.  Part of our consecration is keeping an eye on the ark  — watching to see where God is, and what he is doing.  It is not so much preparing ourselves as it is keeping our focus on him.

LORD, help us to keep our focus on you and your mission, so that we may be prepared when you are ready to move to the next step in your plan.

Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, discernment, missions, preparation | Tagged | 1 Comment

God’s sovereignty and missions

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 2

Rahab’s choice to protect the Israelite spies is an example of how our human wills work in conjunction with God’s sovereign choice in salvation.  Rahab would become an Israelite, even an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5).  The LORD had called her to himself.  Her desire for the preservation of herself and her family led her to risk everything and join the congregation of the LORD.  She made her choice, but behind that choice was the choice that God had made to save her.  The scarlet chord was a symbol of God’s grace.

All around the world today there are Rahabs waiting to be discovered.  The LORD has called them to himself, but they do not know it yet.  Will we have the courage to put our lives at risk for the joy of seeing these people come to Christ?

LORD, give us the courage to go, and send others so that all might have the opportunity to respond to your gospel.

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a theology of missions

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

j0410081Joshua 1

The book of Acts has been called the missions manual of the New Testament.  Joshua serves a similar purpose for the old covenant community.  Chapter 1 gives all the elements the Israelites needed for a theology of missions.

  1. The assurance of the presence of the LORD wherever they went.
  2. The awareness that the land was not only promised, but was given to them by its rightful owner and creator.
  3. The need for strength and courage because the mission requires conflict.
  4. The necessity of staying true to God’s word in order to accomplish the mission.
  5. The importance of the whole team being involved in the task.

LORD, today you have called us to reclaim the whole planet for you.  May we stay true to our mission.

Posted in church, commitment, conflict, courage, evangelism, missions | Tagged | 1 Comment