Embracing Expansion: Overcoming Obstacles with God's Strength
Joshua 17:15
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
My subject of interest today: expansion! Here, the children of Joseph had already outgrown their lot so they went to Joshua asking for more. Our selected text is his response. If you'll read verses 16-18, you'll find that the children of Joseph were thinking that this lot Joshua had selected for them had a couple of problems. They first said, "The hill is not enough for us,” and then they said, "The Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron." However, Joshua then responded, "Thou art a great people, and hast great power...the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." For every excuse they gave, Joshua had a solution!
I find that for many, success itself is not worth the price that must be paid to achieve it! However, as it pertains to the will of God, always remember that the destination IS worth the journey! In essence, Joshua was saying, "It's not going to be easy, and you're going to have to fight for it, but it CAN be done!" The child of God must come to this understanding: Living out your God-given destiny is not going to come easy, but it CAN come, IF we fight the good fight of faith!
It is a fight! Never assume that "success" means "easy street"! Contrary to popular belief, people who are truly successful do not "have it made in the shade"! As I have stated before, faith does not DENY the realities of obstacles, struggles, and trouble; however, faith does DEFY those realities! Again, in our text, these people did not want to have to fight the giants of the land, but Joshua reminded them of their strength and their abilities that only God could have given them!
I believe God would have us today to be reminded of Philippians 4:13 which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Children of God, if we are to lead as many people to Christ as we possibly can, then we MUST be willing to expand, no matter the costs involved! Only depend upon His supply of strength, and it shall come to pass!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
My subject of interest today: expansion! Here, the children of Joseph had already outgrown their lot so they went to Joshua asking for more. Our selected text is his response. If you'll read verses 16-18, you'll find that the children of Joseph were thinking that this lot Joshua had selected for them had a couple of problems. They first said, "The hill is not enough for us,” and then they said, "The Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron." However, Joshua then responded, "Thou art a great people, and hast great power...the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." For every excuse they gave, Joshua had a solution!
I find that for many, success itself is not worth the price that must be paid to achieve it! However, as it pertains to the will of God, always remember that the destination IS worth the journey! In essence, Joshua was saying, "It's not going to be easy, and you're going to have to fight for it, but it CAN be done!" The child of God must come to this understanding: Living out your God-given destiny is not going to come easy, but it CAN come, IF we fight the good fight of faith!
It is a fight! Never assume that "success" means "easy street"! Contrary to popular belief, people who are truly successful do not "have it made in the shade"! As I have stated before, faith does not DENY the realities of obstacles, struggles, and trouble; however, faith does DEFY those realities! Again, in our text, these people did not want to have to fight the giants of the land, but Joshua reminded them of their strength and their abilities that only God could have given them!
I believe God would have us today to be reminded of Philippians 4:13 which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Children of God, if we are to lead as many people to Christ as we possibly can, then we MUST be willing to expand, no matter the costs involved! Only depend upon His supply of strength, and it shall come to pass!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill