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Great promises and great victories fill the pages of the Book of Joshua. Israel moved into the Promised Land and conquered it with God’s help. Jericho fell, literally. Ai was ultimately defeated. The sun even stood still – all striking evidence that God was fighting for Israel. (Joshua 10:14)

Yet, when the details of the conquest are examined beginning in Joshua 13:13, a sad fact needs to be noted. The Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah. The significance is not the names of the people, but rather the fact that they were allowed to remain in the land.

As you continue to read Joshua, you will find this phrase repeated: “did not drive them out completely.”

The account of Joshua tells us about God’s promises and Israel’s victories. But it does not hide the fact that sometimes the fulfillment of the promises was limited by Israel’s incomplete obedience. Hidden sins, lack of faith and incomplete obedience allowed some of the people to remain in the land.

God’s instructions were clear. His promises were certain. The failure was not God’s, but the people’s. They failed and ultimately bore the consequences.

Always strive for complete obedience! Never stop short of it! Whatever God gives you to do, do it completely. Unfinished tasks can be more troublesome than the effort of doing it the first time.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 8.17. Live for God, on purpose, trusting Him completely, and obeying Him fully.

The Pathway of Proclamation

Although we find it hard to recognize the moment it happens, most often, when we go through difficult situations and must endure hard times, we will discover that God’s will is at work, and our momentary hardship is a part of his working out His perfect will in our life.

Here is a perfect example of that very thing. In Mark 16, Christ told His disciples to “go into all the world and preach the good news.” Later, in Acts 1:8, Christ re-emphasized this same command, telling the disciples they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” You would think that they would understand that they were to spread out around the world and tell people about Him, wouldn’t you?

Interestingly, in spite of Christ’s direct command, they never left Jerusalem until extreme difficulty forced them to do so. Stephen was stoned to death. Saul was ravaging the homes of believers. So, in the midst of hardship, a man by the name of Philip transitions from the ministry of a deacon to that of an evangelist – he begins to proclaim the message of Christ where it had never been told before! And, signs and wonders followed.

You see, the Pathway of Pentecost is always a pathway of proclamation! The very reason for the empowerment of Pentecost is to assure that the message is proclaimed! And this is what we will be exploring this Sunday as our “Walking on Pentecostal Pathways” series continues with this week’s message from Acts 8:1-24, “The Pathway of Proclamation.” Come join us as we continue this dynamic walk!

You Can Have It... But...
I Want It Back!

by Bill Champion

Two toddlers are sitting in the floor playing. They are at Suzie’s house, and the floor is filled with toys. Suzie is playing with her blocks, and Davey is trying to decide what to play with. Suzie tells Davey, “Davey, you can play with ANY of my toys. I’m playing with the blocks, but you can use ANYTHING that you want”

So Davey takes her up on it. He picks up her toy telephone, and begins calling his little sister... and he’s having a great time... such a great time that Suzie suddenly wants to play with the telephone, so she reaches out and grabs the phone. Davey, of course, is upset, and tells her that HE was playing with the phone because she told him that he could use anything that he wanted to. Her response is, “I know that I gave it to you, but I want it back to play with it myself”.

Don’t we do the same thing with God? He tells us, in one of my favorite verses (1 Peter 5:7) to “cast your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you.” But how often do we really cast them to Him, and allow Him to keep them? Don’t we take them back to “play with them ourselves for a while?”

I don’t know about you, but I’ll really good at giving God the burdens of my heart, but taking them back from Him and worrying with them for a bit, and then giving them back to Him. I’m good at SAYING that I’m giving God my cares and worries, but I don’t seem to truly let them go... sound familiar?

Worried about your family? Concerned with your finances? Got a health problem keeping you up late? Problems with your relationship with your spouse? Your Boss getting on your nerves?

Philippians 4:6-9 says “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.”

There it is, my friends – in simple English – by prayer, and in faith, give your concerns to God. Then, again by prayer and in faith, allow Him to KEEP them, and watch as His will is done with your requests.

Remember that sometimes He says wait, and sometimes He also says no. The peace that is promised will come as you allow Him to move in your life, and as you align your life with His will.

Want God to help you carry the load? Then give Him your concerns, and DON’T TAKE THEM BACK!

Ten Reasons to Hope When
You’re Hurting

by Steve Arterburn and Mike Marino

1. God is truly in control.

If God is God, then nothing happens apart from His knowledge and permission. While it is difficult to imagine why God allows some painful things to happen, His character, revealed in the Bible and through the testing of generations, leads us to the conclusion that He is willing and able to sustain you during the worst of times. “We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:8,9)

2. There is an eternal life to come.

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the Glory He will give us later.” (Romans 8:18) “He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.” (1 Corinthians 1:8)

3. The story isn’t finished yet.

Time after time, the Bible records hopeless situations that ultimately ended in victory. Think of Job’s sickness, Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers, David’s adultery and the many who were healed in mind, body and spirit. “But Joseph told them, ’don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.’” (Genesis 50:19,20)

4. God has not given up on you! Don’t give up on him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

5. There is likely purpose in your pain.

Ask God to reveal His purpose in allowing this difficulty in your life. That’s a legitimate question to ask. Often, the answer comes in the process of dealing with your circumstance. “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (James 1:2-4)

6. You are loved!

Even the most unlovable person in the world is actually loved so much by God, that He let His Son die a terrible death to restore their relationship. God does love you! He sees your pain and weeps with you. “He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

7. Your prayers are heard.

“You parents – if your children ask you for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?” (Matthew 7:9,10)

8. You are not facing this alone.

“For God himself has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.’ That is why we can say with confidence, ’the Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5,6)

9. Others have made it through – you can too.

Try to connect with others who have gone through similar situations. You will find hope, strength and encouragement. “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

10. Reach out to someone else who’s struggling.

Place your focus on someone else and invest your life in him or her. You may discover that your peace of mind is found in being a source of hope for another. “All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)

This article by Steve Arterburn and Mike Marino, Copyright © 2002 New Life Ministries. New Life Ministries wants to be a source of hope and encouragement for you. If you’d like to know about other resources for finding hope in difficult situations or if you need to speak with someone, call anytime at 1-800-NEW-LIFE.

Drifting

by Tony Evans

The story is told of a boy who was floating his boat on a pond when the boat drifted away. A man came by, saw the boat drifting out on the pond, and began throwing stones on the far side of the boat.

The boy asked, “What are you doing?”

But then something very interesting happened. As the stones hit the water beyond the boat, they created ripples which pushed the boat back toward the boy. Even though the stones disturbed the smooth water, they achieved the desired result.

That’s how it is with God sometimes. When we drift away from Him, He throws the disturbing stones out beyond us in order to push us back to the shore of His love.

The Sinner’s Friend

One evening a woman was driving home when she noticed a huge truck behind her that was driving uncomfortably close. She stepped on the gas to gain some distance from the truck, but when she sped up the truck did too. The faster she drove, the faster drove the truck.

Now scared, she exited the freeway. But the truck stayed with her. The woman then turned up a main street, hoping to lose her pursuer in traffic. But the truck ran a red light and continued the chase.

Reaching the point of panic, the woman whipped her car into a service station and bolted out of her auto screaming for help. The truck driver sprang from his truck and ran toward her car. Yanking the back door open, the driver pulled out a man hidden in the backseat.

The woman was running from the wrong person. From his high vantage point, the truck driver had spotted a would-be rapist in the woman’s car. The chase was not his effort to harm her but to save her even at the cost of his own safety.

Likewise, many people run from God’s provision of atonement on the cross, fearing what He might do to them. But His plans are for good not evil – to rescue us from the hidden sins that endanger our lives.

from James S. Hewett’s “Illustrations Unlimited” (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 37, as seen in Norm Lawrence’s “A Dose of Inspiration.”

The Price of Sin

by Leslie Snyder

So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” – Numbers 20: 9-12

There is a difficult component to the story of Moses’ life. After leading the community of Israel out of Egyptian slavery and then leading them grumbling in the wilderness for forty years, one act of disobedience disqualified Moses from entering the Promised Land. In short, he took for himself the honor that was due to God alone at the waters of Meribah and lost the reward he had so longed for: entrance into the land of Canaan.

Moses had to put up with grumbling, complaining, insurrections, disobedience, and idol worship. He had every human right to be fed up with these people. I’m sure I would have acted in frustration long before Moses’ encounter with the rock. A lesser man would have argued with God about the consequence, yet Moses did not.

God is serious about sin, and disobedience always comes at a cost. However, in His grace, God granted Moses’ final request to see the land, but the original punishment remained. Moses would not enter the Promised Land, but would instead die on Mt. Nebo.

Sin has consequences. Often they are natural consequences of wrong decisions. At other times, God disciplines His children, even as a parent disciplines a child. How we respond to these consequences makes all the difference.

as seen in “Today’s HomeWord,” a daily devotional with Jim Burns. Visit them online at www.homeword.com

The Last Impression

It’s been said that “kids say the darnedest things,” and that includes in Sunday School! Here are some great stories from Sunday School!

• A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, “why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”

Annie replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

• A Sunday school teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem.

A small child replied, “They couldn’t find a baby-sitter.”

• A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with 5- and 6-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to “Honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

• At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created from Adam’s ribs.

Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, “Johnny, what is the matter?”

Little Johnny responded, “I have a pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.”

• A Sunday school teacher asked her pupils, “Now, children, do you all say your prayers at night?”

A little boy answered, “My mommy says my prayers.”

“I see,” said the teacher. “And what does your mother say?”

The little boy replied, “Thank God he’s in bed!”

I can’t wait until Sunday! Great worship! Great fellowship! Great Word of God! And, this week, we have a great KFC Picnic following our morning worship service! Don’t miss this great day together here at WFA!