Change - Marty Duncan

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Unknown

Do you like change?  To be honest, change is good.

**Key Verse**
>Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways Acknowledge Him, and He will Direct your paths.

Three Points about Change
**God Never Changes**
**God Always has someone ready**
**God's Work Always continues**

Some troubling statistics.  1000-1500  churches  close each year.  Of new seminary pastor most are out of the ministry in under 5 years. Many churches would rather deal with the 16% that are a problem, that the 84% that are hungry for God's world.

But God has a plan.  His Will will always continue, with or without you.

Joshua 1:1-5

Whenever God's wants to affect change and we are not willing, He has a way of making  it personal. Change is personal. Because it is personal, it affects those around us. 

**I. Change will be Person**
In this chapter in Joshua, the people had been mourning for over thirty days over Moses, when God declares the obvious.  "Moses is dead." "Now, therefore…" The mourning is over. 

God simply was telling Joshua "it's time to move on"
It's okay to recognize the personal, appreciate it,

**2. Change can promote character.**
Joshua 1:6-9
God is not just looking from people to deal with the change, but to grow with the change.  God is not looking for the qualified.  He is looking for the willing. 

"Be strong and courageous." God had a plan and a reason and was saying, "Let's go!"

God uses three things to talk to us.  1) The Word of God. 2) The People of God in our lives 3) Through prayer.

In this Word, God tells Joshua 3 different times, "Be strong and courageous.". If you ever doubt yourself, I want you to listen to the Holy Spirit.

The Building Blocks Are
- Courage
- Commitment

**3. Change will Require Participation**
(Joshua 1:10-18)
You know God's will is always going to happen.  If God said, "this will be" it will happen, because if we say "no, not me" then know this, God has somebody ready already.  He knows already.  He is sovereign.

I am so thankful that when came along and followed God's plan. Each time that happens, then we will witness amazing things. 

For Joshua to see the blessing, Joshua had to participate. The people had to participate as well.  Note what the people said here, 
>"All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go."
We must do the same.
The people go even further and said,
>"Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that your command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."
And here we see the completion of what Joshua had been hearing. He was encouraged by the people in the same way God had encouraged him. 

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS


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