Sep. 04, 2022

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD”

“DON’T SLACK OFF”

JOSHUA 18:1-9

Luke 2:22-33

Simeon is a man that stayed strong in his faith, and didn’t back off on believing the promise that Christ was coming the first time.

Simeon ties into our series in Joshua today because he stayed strong and in Joshua 18:3 Joshua challenges the people:

Joshua 18:3 “Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”

Joshua 18:1-9

vs.3  “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”

I challenge you today! Don’t slack off!

1.   Slacking Off Begins With Incomplete Obedience To God.

It begins when we accept good enough instead of total victory. We have seen this in the life of Israel:

Joshua 13:13 “Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.”

Joshua 15:63 “As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.”

Joshua 16:10 “And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.”

Joshua 17:12-13 “Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. 13And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.”

Romans 6- die to flesh, reckon it to be so and yield our members as instruments of righteousness.

Ephesians 4- put off, renew our thinking, and put on.

God was giving us a warning about this: Don’t slack off!

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” 

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” Don’t slack off.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Being satisfied with good enough is the first step to slacking off and that leads to defeat.

We end up valuing convenience more than consecration.

Israel had moved tabernacle from Gilgal to Shiloh (peace or rest). Gilgal was at the edge of the country and Shiloh was in the middle of the country. Gilgal- place of stones, Shiloh-place of rest, easy to get to.

The point- They had forgotten what the tabernacle was all about.

We have to remember it is not about us, this is God’s church.

Build your life around the fellowship of God’s people and the teaching, preaching, and the ministering of the Word of God not because of convenience but because it is right.

Don’t be a spectator be a participant. Be ministered to but also become involved in ministering to others.

2.   The Next Step We See Is Apathy.

The Process: When there is no purpose and meaning, there is apathy. And when there is apathy, it is not too far until there is apostasy and we see this in the book of Judges.

Genesis 12:1-3

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

We must not lose sight of what God wants us to do.

Joshua 18:3 “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”

Stop slacking off!

Acts 1:8

Your job is to witness for Christ by the way you walk, talk, and by the way you do your work. Because you may be the only Bible some people may ever see. You are to be a witness.

So How Do You Pick Up The Slack?

1.   Get With God.

Joshua 18:3-4

Get things right with God. It is about your relationship and your fellowship with God.

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Paul said I am what I am by the grace of God and it is by that grace I can make it.

What should you do?

Matthew 22:36-40

Love God, and love your neighbor is what you need to do.

2.   Get Up And Go.

Joshua 18:4- Get up and do something, “rise up and go through the land.”

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

3.   Make Yourself Accountable.

Joshua 18:4 “…and come back to me.”

4.   Divide It Into Small Parts or Pieces

Joshua 18:5 “And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north.”

5.   Take One Step At A Time.

Psalm 2:8 “Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”

Are you slacking off?

What step can you take today?

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.