Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, July 10, 2005, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
STILL VERY MUCH LAND TO BE POSSESSED
or
LAND THAT SOME OF YOU OWN BUT HAVEN’T CLAIMED
By Michael D. O’Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Joshua 13:1-14
Text: Joshua 13:1
Joshua 13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
Introduction: I want to remind everyone this morning that the Old Testament testifies to Jesus Christ from Genesis to Malachi. For two
years I showed you that the first five books of the Bible spoke of Jesus, for He said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Now we have progressed on into the book of Joshua, mostly on Sunday nights, showing that Jesus is there as well. We know that we can find our Lord in this book, for the name Joshua is a Hebrew name meaning the same thing as the Hebrew name, JESUS. As a matter of fact, twice in the New Testament, the name “Jesus” is used for Joshua:
Acts 7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
Hebrews 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Tonight I want to use our text to show how that even though many believers have left the bondage of sin, pictured by the escape from Egypt, they have not yet entered into the fulness of the blessings of Christ.
This morning’s message is titled,
STILL VERY MUCH LAND TO BE POSSESSED
or
LAND THAT SOME OF YOU OWN BUT HAVEN’T CLAIMED
I want to give you seven examples of lands of blessing that Christians own but many have not possessed for their very own enjoyment and use.
I. THE LAND OF DEVOTION TO CHRIST
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
This is the Land of True Love
A. Live by Him – Gal. 2:20
B. Live in Him
C. Live for Him
II. THE LAND OF DEPENDENCY ON CHRIST
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
A. A perpetual faith – trusting Him every day
B. A peaceful faith – not anxious in uncertain times
III. THE LAND OF DEDICATION TO CHRIST
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
A. Sacrificial dedication – Rom. 12:1
B. Separated dedication – Rom. 12:2
IV. THE LAND OF DEPENDABILITY FOR CHRIST
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
A. Dependability brings power – “enabled me”
B. Dependability brings productivity – “putting me into the ministry”
V. THE LAND OF DELIGHT IN CHRIST
Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
A. Delight in His person – “in the LORD”
B. Delight in His program
VI. THE LAND OF DETERMINATION FOR CHRIST
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
A. We need a spiritual determination
1. Many people have physical ones – to diet, to get in shape
2. Or financial ones – savings, getting raises
B. We need a steadfast determination not a New Year’s resolution that you have forgotten by Feb. 1
VII. THE LAND OF DARING FOR CHRIST
Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
A. Doing right regardless of the crowd
B. Doing right regardless of the cost
“Do right if the stars fall!” – Bob Jones, Sr.
Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor,
Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road),
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)
*Scriptures in my notes are from the Authorized Version 1611 -KJV- and are used by permission of the Author – Ephesians. 6:17*
“Come Alive In 2005”