Restore the Faith to Prepare the Future (Joshua 14:10-15) 10/16/2022
24 Answer of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
Restore the Faith to Prepare the Future (Joshua 14:10-15) 10/16/2022
Humans are superior and different from animals because we think and prepare for the future. As the world grows more difficult, it is hope for the future that people need. Therefore, the interest of powerful governments and businesses is about preparation for the future (future business, future food supply, future energy). A life that thinks and prepares for the future is a blessing originally given by God. Genesis 1:27 states that humans were created in God’s image, and there are at least four meanings in that “image of God.” First, it is a spirituality that can communicate with God, who is Spirit. Thus, humans have a spiritual instinct and a religious instinct. Second, it is the ability to create, the power to advance and rule the world God has created with the wisdom He provides. We do not create something from nothing like God. We advance and develop what God has given us. Words such as talent, unlimited potential, and genius come from this. How these are discovered and developed at a young age is important. Third, it is God’s character that loves, takes compassion, forgives, and blesses people. Humans help each other because we have these characteristics, and we can use the God-given power to create for doing good works. This is also where the conscience to discern good and evil comes from. Fourth, it is the power to think and prepare in advance for the future. This is called the power of vision. This is why believers must live life holding onto their CVDIP. God’s blessing is for us to hold onto the promise (Covenant) that God gives us, see the future (Vision), Dream (Dream), depict a specific picture (Image), and challenge ourselves (Practice). Why are people losing hold of all these blessings? That is the curse of original sin that began in Genesis 3. Man was deceived by the Devil’s lie that he could be like God (Genesis 3:5) and committed the sin of disobeying God (Genesis 3:6). As a result, the relationship with God was severed (Genesis 3:9-10). Because the relationship with God was broken, humans lost what was given by God. They fell into idolatry, worshipping demons, not God. With the power to create, they destroyed the world instead. People’s consciences are slowly dying, becoming eviler, and they live hopeless lives. Then, they go toward eternal judgment. Living like this is called destiny and curses. Individual, household, family line, and eternal curses are within that.
- Coming out of this and restoring me and the original blessing is called salvation.
1) God sent His Son as Christ because we cannot solve this on our own (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Romans 1:4). He became the way to meet God (John 14:6), delivered us from all curses through the cross (Isaiah 53:5, Romans 8:1-2), and crushed Satan’s authority that led, not only the first life but all lives and the world into darkness (Genesis 3:15, 1 John 3:8).
2) He granted us the Holy Spirit so that we who are saved can restore the original blessings.
① The Holy Spirit is with us the moment we accept Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16) and says we have been sealed (Ephesians 1:13). We have an identity that can enjoy His guidance and working in every moment, problem, and incident. The forces of darkness that work in our personal lives, family, and field crumble when the Holy Spirit works (Matthew 12:28). The saved child of God must pray and train to enjoy this blessing 24 hours (during worship, daily lives).
② There is something that is experienced when enjoying the filling of the Holy Spirit. That is seeing the future, preparing, and challenging it. Joel 2:28 says that the saved ones will enjoy this blessing during the end times. In Acts 2:27, disciples and members of Mark’s Upper Room who were uneducated, who had failed, and who were amidst persecution experienced this blessing. Caleb, in today’s passage, also enjoyed this blessing. He saw and prepared for the future lifelong, and at 85 years old, he challenged the future.
- Three things that God has prepared for us who are saved.
It is the blessing of the future that we must enjoy in worship, enjoy while holding onto the word and meditating, and in 24-hour concentration.
1) It is a future that has a victory that God has prepared.
① There may still be problems, conflict, and failure even after being saved, and there may be false accusations and persecution while doing the Lord’s work. It is the Devil that deceives until the end (1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:12). Whenever there is a difficulty, there are worries about the future. People become discouraged while thinking about how long they will face these difficulties.
② God has given us who are in Christ a sure answer. He said He will reign over us (1 Corinthians 5:25) and surely provide us with victory (1 Corinthians 15:57-58) until Satan kneels. It said that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20). Those who hold onto this promise are already triumphant (1 John 4:4) and will be acknowledged as God’s children (Revelations 12:7). Are there people in hardships? You are already triumphant in the complete covenant of victory and hold onto the future of continuous victory.
2) It is a future that has God’s prepared blessing and answers.
① This is the future we must hold to in times of difficulty and tribulation. God has prepared a different answer and blessing (Isaiah 43:18 “new works,” Jeremiah 33:3 “great and unsearchable things”, Romans 8:28 “good works”). We encounter this when we hold onto the covenant, restore our faith, and pray. That is the future that God has prepared.
② It says that if we are persecuted or lose anything while doing the Lord’s work, He has prepared a hundredfold blessing (Mark 10:29-30). Caleb, in the passage, was treated as an outsider by fellow spies who spoke of unbelief after returning from spying on Canaan. Caleb lived under the shadow of Joshua when he became a leader. None of that mattered. Caleb waited with faith and was within the blessed time schedule of the Canaan conquest (world evangelization). He said that even at age 85, God gave him strength and health that is still strong as forty years ago (verses 10-11).
3) The eternal future God has prepared.
① A long life is not everything. Eternal rest, glory, and prize await. It says that we reap what we sow on earth (Galatians 6:8). Therefore, do not only sow on earth but also the eternal place. Our hidden devotions, labor, prayer, offering, evangelism, and missions all will store up in heaven (Matthew 6:1-21).
② This is why Caleb gave up his vested rights in today’s passage and asked for Hebron, a land that no one desired. Later, that land becomes the region of Caleb’s descendant, King David, and his kingdom, and further later becomes Jerusalem. Jesus comes through his descendants. We await the future with Christ, who will return as the eternal king.
Conclusion – Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them (Psalms 126:6). May our tears of faith and prayer, all hidden devotions and tears of labor become a faith that prepares for the future that God has prepared.