E100: 26 – THE NEXT GENERATION

After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance.  The people served the lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the lord had done for Israel.  Judges 2:6-7

 

 

earlier in our E100 readings, in joshua, we were reminded how important it is to REMEMBER and how important it is also to PASS ON that faith and the great things of God onto the coming generations, so they also remember and have their own alive current faith.

 

Psalm 78:7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 103:2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits

Psalm 119:93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

Psalm 77:11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Psalm 53:5-7 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 78:9-11, 41-43 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.  Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power— the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan.

 

 

many times also in psalms it instructs us to make known the great things of God and His reality and goodness to our children and the generations following us – to pass onto the NEXT GENERATION what we know about God to be real.

 

Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

Psalm 71:18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Psalm 79:13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you for ever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise

Psalm 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

Psalm 145:4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

 

something that has been impressed upon my spirit for a few years now is the intentional decision to REMEMBER – to NOT forget the great things God has done, the prayers He has answered, the encounters I’ve had, the things He has spoken, the wisdom He has revealed, the blessings He has blest us with.  The Israelites, though they saw the red sea parted, though they saw the great deliverance from Egypt, though they had the miracles of mana and quail… they forgot God.  though the had tangible visible evidence – a firey column by night and cloud by day to guide them… they forgot Him.  and their forgetfulness resulted in defeat and disobedience.  because they did not make God a priority and remember His ways and who He is they allowed themselves to compromise. 

you will follow what is highest in your heart – self or God.

 

make it a priority to not forget Him.  spend time in the Word.  keep a journal or blog the great things He has done in your life.  stir up your memory – so that you may walk faithfully and have victory.  stir up your memory so you know your testimony and can pass it on, so you can pass on your life story – HIS STORY in our lives – to those coming after us, be it our children or younger people age wise at church or younger christians.  something pivotal that i believe caused growth in my own christian life was reading biographies and talking to people at my church about how God answered prayer or how they encountered God and how God was real in their life.  it made me hungry to know Him more and gave me determination to seek Him.

 

i read the beginning chapters of judges with a sense of sadness and pray that i would be faithful at passing on faith to my children and also the young adults at church that we minister to, that they would have their own relationship and faith in God, and that they would continue to walk with Him and their will be a legacy left from my life (not because i am great but because God is great!)  i pray that my life would demonstrate that God is real and that there would be evidence in my life that would promote faith and trust by others in God. 

i pray that those following me wouldn’t rest in my testimony but that they would see the great things of God with their own eyes.

E100: 25b – SEE

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.  When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."  Joshua 6:1-5

 

 

the word i love in this passage is SEE

SEE I HAVE DELIVERED THE CITY TO YOU says God.

pre battle God says SEE

pre the walls falling God says SEE

pre victory God says SEE

 

i LOVE that!

 

what things in my life is God saying SEE about?

what things has He accomplished and promised for me to SEE

 

2 Corinthians 4:18  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Colossians 3:1  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 

 

and yet though God had said SEE THE VICTORY joshua and the israelites still had to walk out in obedience to God in order to see the victory won. 

sometimes obedience and faith go hand in hand.  God promises and by faith we receive and have the victory but by obedience we receive it and experience that promise. 

 

 

Life is filled with challenges that test our determination and our faith in God.  there are cities to conquer, walls to overthrow, sin to overcome, relationships that are strained, temptation to resist, flaws and shortcomings that threaten to derail us.  we are our own worst enemies, wanting to follow God but wanting to satisfy our flesh.  Yay that we have victory and forgiveness and acceptance and righteousness through Christ Jesus, who calls us to walk the walk and to follow Him in the way we live our lives.  He begins by renewing our hearts, and then from that flows our behaviour.  We are saved by grace, and then we respond with obedience.

 

 

for joshua the outwalking, the process of winning the victory, also looked, maybe, honestly lets say BIZZARE to some people.  walk around the city, SILENTLY, for 6 days, then give a loud shout?  how would THAT work?  that’s not normal battle strategy? 

yet this was the PROCESS that God ordered.  

and joshua chose to obey it.  i wonder if everyone was happy with the plan?  i wonder if there were doubters or haters?  i wonder if there were people who thought they had a better way, a smarter way, a cooler way, a more efficient way…?  not to mention the retaliation and response from the people inside the walls.  choose to follow God.  remember, He is eternal and wise.  His ways are higher and He is omnipresent, omnipowerful, omniawesome.  He knows the beginning and the end. 

 

 

is God calling you to follow Him and choose His ways?  to do something “different” and out of the box?  to obey by seeing the unseen first rather than seeing an outward evidence?  The key is to keep trusting God, even if you don’t understand. There is no such thing as trusting God without unanswered questions, but when you push ahead, despite your doubts, He will build you up and make you strong.

 

 

this passage reminds me that God is faithful to His promises and He has the power to make any wall fall down, no matter how formidable it is.  it reminds me to trust Him and to follow His commands because His way is greater.

Jesus Christ gives me victory, He is my Saviour. 

The Loft Sessions – Bethel

 

the other day – as soon as it was available really – i got the new bethel worship album THE LOFT SESSIONS from itunes.

its a more acoustic album, with some more eclectic instruments and beautiful beautiful melodies.  it feels like authentic worship – real people, drawing close to our real God. 

i really love brian johnsons voice and of course jenn johnsons voice too. but the neat thing is that it is a team collaborative, there are songs sung by other worship artists from bethel.  each has their own flavour and heart. 

 

i think my favourite songs so far on it are:

 

COME TO ME, which was actually released in december – at a significant time for our family – which has just so sung into my heart and reassured me of God’s love and nearness, my strength in time of storms.   this song was the perfect answer to my hearts cry in our sorrow and listening to jenn johnson talk about the heart of the song – written for people who are facing difficult times – all around the world, be it personal tragedy or earthquakes or anything… God is with us… God is near… He invites us to Come.  my favourite bit is the part right at the end where she more free worships and it gets my heart every time.  this song will not leave my heart (or my playlist!) for a long time!

 

I am the Lord your God, I go before you now
I stand beside you, I’m all around you
Though you feel I’m far away, I’m closer than your breath
I am with you, more than you know
I am the Lord your peace, no evil will conquer you
Steady now your heart and mind, come into My rest
Oh, let your faith arise, lift up your weary head
I am with you wherever you go
Come to Me, I’m all you need. Come to Me, I’m everything
Come to Me, I’m all you need. Come to Me, I’m your everything
I am your anchor, in the wind and the waves
I am your steadfast, so don’t be afraid
Though your heart and flesh may fail you, I’m your faithful strength
I am with you wherever you go

 

 

ONE THING REMAINS, which was also on the BE LIFTED HIGH album from last year… though i much prefer this version and can so see it been such in our housegroup, it so proclaims the everlasting love of God towards us! 

Your love never fails, never gives up never runs out on me

In death, In life, I’m confident and
Covered by, the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that
Can separate my heart from Your great love

 

 

WALK IN THE PROMISE – this line (In trust and dependence we walk in the promise of You, coming) reminds what its really about… Jesus.  His promise.  His kingdom.  it reminds me of a passage i read in 1 Peter 1 last night: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In THIS (the hope of Jesus return and His glory) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”   There is just some great about declaring WE LIFT YOU UP in the midst of process and walking through and to something.  There is just something right about a song that encourages us to fix our eyes upon Jesus, not looking to the left or right, not giving up, not falling down, but holding on unswervingly to the hope we have in Christ our Lord and Saviour.

 

 

one of the songs i really like, but i don’t know if i would categorize it as worship (i think is just totally my way of thinking) is YOU KNOW ME… for me its more a song to remind and rewrite in our heart how great the love of God towards is… its more introspective than i would classify a worship song to be…  reminds me very much of psalm 139…

You have been and You will be
You have seen and You will see
You know when I rise and when I fall
When I come or go You see it all
You hung the stars and you move the sea, and still You know me
You know me Nothing is hidden from Your sight Wherever I go, You find me
You know every detail of my life You are God and You

 

 

one that has totally grown on me is YOU HAVE WON ME.  i esp esp esp love the last part because i love songs that declare the gospel. 

Love, you’ve shown me love By leaving your throne
By bleeding and dying on a cross That wonderful cross
That took all my guilt and sin away
Shout it out and lift up one voice in worship
Sing it out until all the earth can hear it
Jesus is alive and He saves, He rescues and saves

 

i love new worship… it freshes my prayer time and worship time towards God.  its like ben reed’s jedi mind trick with bible reading…

 

go on… download it… i dont think you’ll be disappointed.