Before He left, Jesus left this message with His followers in Matthew 28:19–20:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
That is our mission:
Our mission: Develop disciples.
That is why we are here. That is what we do. That is who we are: Disciple developers.
When God’s people are focused on God’s mission, great things happen.
In the Bible, there was a time when God’s people were faced with a monumental moment for their future.
It was when Joshua was leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.
The people had wandered for 40 years in the desert. They had been freed from Egyptian bondage. Their beloved leader, Moses, had died. God promised them a great future, but they had to take hold of it.
Our passage today gives a summary of God’s encouragement for them. I think the Holy Spirit can use it to encourage us as we look at our future.
Look with me, if you will, at Joshua 1:7–9:
“Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God’s instruction to Joshua reveals some ways that His people can have success as they enter the land that He promised them.
I believe we can learn from these ways. Here are three truths that we can take away as God’s people to have a successful future.
First, . . .
I. Success comes through courage.
God said in verse 7:
“ . . . be strong and very courageous . . . ”
He said again in verse 9:
“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?”
The people of Israel were walking into a land that was mostly unfamiliar to them.
There were enemies they would have to conquer.
There were cities that needed to be established.
There were necessities for which provision was needed.
The people of Israel were not without fear or concern.
However, we must remember that courage is not the absence of fear or concern; it is moving forward in the face of fear or concern.
We do not know what our future holds. We do not know the challenges that await us.
However, we do know this:
God has not called us to sit on our hands and do nothing.
God has not called us to sit on our backsides and be comfortable.
God has not called us to sit in our current situation until we fade away.
God has called us to a great mission! God has called us to a great future!
Might it be difficult to achieve? Sure.
Might we be unsure what awaits us? Certainly.
However, we are God’s people. Let us be a people of strength and courage, not fear and worry.
Success will come to us, in part, through courage.
Next, . . .
II. Success comes through faithfulness.
God has not called us to be comfortable; He’s called us to faithfulness.
He’s not called us to have our preferences met; He’s called us to faithfulness.
He’s not called us to hold onto traditions; He’s called us to faithfulness.
He’s not called us to the latest new trends; He’s called us to faithfulness.
That’s what He called the people of Israel to as well.
Notice verse 7 again. They were to . . .
“ . . . observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you.”
The only Bible they had at that time was what God gave them through His servant Moses.
Regarding that, God told them “ . . . do not turn from it to the right or the left.”
God goes on in verse 8:
“This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it.”
They were to observe all the law of God, not just some of it.
They were not to depart from it at all, to the right or the left. They were to go straight ahead with faithfulness to God and His ways.
Church, it’s the same for us. We must be focused on and faithful to God and His Word.
We shouldn’t be distracted to the right or the left.
We must be laser-focused on God’s mission and God’s future for us.
What happens if we are faithful? Well, what did God tell His people in Joshua 1?
Look at verse 8:
“For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.”
Friends, success in our church comes through faithfulness.
Finally, . . .
III. Success comes through the Lord.
Notice what the courage and faithfulness were built upon. Look at verse 9:
“ . . . for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God was with them.
The people of Israel were facing uncertain territory, and they were facing an uncertain future. However, they were also facing a certain reality: the Lord was with them.
As God was with them, God will be with us.
The question is, will we be with God?
When we are with God, He is with us.
So, church, let us be courageous to do what must be done to achieve the future God has for us.
Let us be faithful to Him, so that we may achieve the future He has for us.
Let us rely on Him, because He is with us in the future that He has for us.
Do you recall our vision statement?
Our vision: We exist to develop disciples who love God, love the church, and love others.
God has something for us. It’s to develop disciples who love God, love the church, and love others.
We’re on that journey, but we’re not there yet. We’re closer than when we started, but still with a ways to go.
How do we get closer to achieving that vision in the next five years?
Here is the vision that your pastors and your Advisory Council have developed, prayed over, and approved unanimously.Five Year Vision Plan:
1. A Creative and Intentional Staff Model
We will create a structure that frees the pastors to pastor.
We should look at what pastors do in the Bible and focus on developing a structure where they can do that.
So, our pastors will focus on teaching, vision, and equipping.
We will expand our staff in nontraditional ways, such as part-time and volunteer directors and ministers, while also maintaining some full-time staff.
2. A Thriving Medium-sized Academy
We have a monumental opportunity to further build disciples, further be good stewards of our property, and further reach our community by developing an academy at our church.
We must start where we are and build from there, trusting the Lord in the process.
3. A Consistent Sunday Morning Attendance of Over 300
That would require about 10% growth each year, which is not out of step with our current trajectory.
Attendance totals include all people on campus during the worship hour.
It seems out of reach to some, but it’s not! God can do anything!
4. A Modern Ministry-Minded Facility
God has blessed us with great facilities. Let us be good stewards of them. Let us use them effectively for ministry.
These changes will include actions such as . . .
Updating architectural drawings and planning for the future.
Improving the Children’s Building.
Modernizing the Sanctuary Building.
Maintaining and updating the twenty-four year old Ministry Center.
We must not sit back and let God’s property waste away and become outdated. We must be proactive and intentional.
5. A Growing Zeal for Evangelism and Missions
We will take at least three mission trips per year.
We will equip every member to share the gospel.
We will see a greater increase in baptisms.
We will also provide more opportunities for our church to share the gospel.
6. A Deeper Development of Disciples
We will provide more pastoral oversight for discipleship.
We will establish at least 100 active, intentional discipleship relationships.
We will aim to double our Sunday attendance in nursery, children’s, and youth small groups.
We will strive to achieve growth in adult small group ministry.Conclusion
As we bring this to a close, let us go back to what we learned in Joshua 1. Remember that God had a great future for the Israelites, but they had to take hold of it.
To be sure, we are not that same group as those Israelites who entered the Promised Land. However, we are God’s people.
God has a great future for us. Will we take hold of it? Let us strive together to take hold of God’s future for His church, First Baptist Church Bartow.
I want to do something different today. I want us to have a time of focused prayer. I want to take a few moments where we call out to God and ask Him to guide us in this pursuit of His vision for us.
Would you pray for God to reveal where He wants to go?
Would you pray for God to give us the courage to follow Him?
Will you pray for God to stop us if we’re going in the wrong direction?
Would you pray for God to provide all that we need to achieve His future for us?
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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