What evangelists must see
Joshua 1:1~9 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.” (5~6)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #545 Down in the Valley Where the Mists of Doubt Arise (#344 in previous version)
Our life is like a wilderness surrounded by countless difficulties on all four sides. Most of the believers have still yet to break away from their past and constantly worry and complain about their present reality. And they are living a powerless life, feeling insecure about their future. If this continues on, they feel that their Christian walk of faith is difficult. What kind of covenant did Joshua grab hold of as he was treading the path through the wilderness in order to conquer the land of Canaan?
1. What he saw
As Moses’ attendant, Joshua witnessed up-close the process of the Exodus. Walking through the wilderness for 40 years, he personally experienced numerous works of God. Even when he went to explore the land of Canaan as one of the 12 scouts, he had firm faith in conquering the land of Canaan.
2. What he had
Joshua had the ability to go together with people. This is the ability of all abilities. And he had firm faith that God had already given the land of Canaan over to him. He had the faith and power to fight with the Canaanites because critical battles would continue on until the day of Canaan conquest.
3. What he did
Remarkable power lies in the life of the evangelist who holds on to today’s Word, today’s prayer and today’s evangelism. As he was in the wilderness and with the conquest of Canaan ahead, Joshua was well aware of what Word God was speaking and what covenant he must grab hold of to have victory. With this power in hand, Joshua crossed the Jordan and broke down the wall of Jericho that was once firmly shut. During the battle with the joined forces of the Amorites, which was the height of all the wars on the road to Canaan conquest, he made the sun and the moon stand still and led the battle to victory. In the eyes of Joshua, all of this was not a miracle but something that was surely bound to happen. Joshua saw his present situation, but he also had the eyes to see the great plan of God. Just like Joshua we must open our eyes of the evangelist to see this age.
- Without holding to what Joshua saw, had, and did, many people only see the problems that lie in their present reality and are lost and wandering. We must find the answer as we deeply meditate on what we must see, what we must have and what we must do in the situation that we are in. What is God telling us through today’s message?
Business & Industry Missions Message / 2011.1.8