LESSON 2: ENLARGING YOUR VISION

ENLARGING YOUR VISION

LESSON 2

BEYOND PROVISION

Joshua 1:1-11, 5:12

In the first chapter of Joshua, God begins to prepare Joshua and the people of Israel for what is to come. He is setting the stage. God knew that very soon they would take hold of the Promised Land, but they needed to get some things in order. They needed to get their lives in order.

I believe God is preparing us for some great things to come. Before we can get into any details of future church growth, we must prepare ourselves spiritually. He desires to make your body a temple of the Holy Spirit.

GOD WANTS TO TAKE US BEYOND PROVISION TO PROMISE: (v. 6)

God is a God of promise. God is the great Master Planner. He does everything on His terms, according to His will, and according to His time table. He had a plan for the people of Israel. After Moses died, God’s plan did not die. God was committed to see it through. God still had a plan for the people of Israel. God’s plans will always succeed. The question is not, “Will God’s Master Plan be completed?” The question is, “Will you be a part of it?” When God makes a promise; He is always faithful to fulfill it. Somehow, some way, it will be done.

It was at this time that God raised up a man named Joshua to be the man to carry forth His plan. When God sets His plan is motion, no devil, or no force of evil has the power to overcome his plan. “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

God’s Word to Joshua and the people of Israel was ‘be strong and courageous. Wherever you go, I will be there to lead you, guide you and bless you.” When God wants to bless His people, He first prepares His people. God sees things far ahead of what we can see. God is a vision-minded God. He knows what lies ahead for you and me and He prepares us for what is to come.

ENLARGING YOUR VISION: BY TRUSTING GOD WITH YOUR FUTURE:

When we first start out in the Lord, we begin to know God as Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. Praise God that He somehow, someway will always provide. We experience miracles of God provision every day. Israel experienced much of the same. They found themselves in the wilderness, and that is where they began to know their God as their Provider. God provided for all of their needs and the people literally survived by the hand of God. When they were cold, God provided a pillar of fire by night. When they were hot, God provided a cloud above. When they got thirsty, God provided water for them. When they were hungry, God provided manna from heaven. When they were sick, God healed them. The Lord was indeed their provider.

How many of us have testified that, “I was down to my last dollar, and God provided for me. “My landlord was getting ready to evict me and somehow, God provided at the last minute.” Time after time, we have experienced God as our Provider, and we learn this while we are in the wilderness. But there came a time when the manna ceased (5:12). Why does God stop sending manna?

You need to understand that when you are in the early stage of your Christian walk, you see God performing miracles, you experience Him as your Provider, but when He wants you to mature, you’re going to see those things stop. Why; because God is getting ready to do something else. God is ready to take you to another level. The school of the spirit has to begin. God is ready to take you beyond provision. When your miracles dry up, it’s an indication that you’re ready to graduate to the next level.

Some Christians say, “God, there is something wrong. What’s happening, Lord? I don’t see that miracle that I need. The check that I need hasn’t fallen from the sky.” And they complain to God and complain to people. When someone complains in this manner it simple means that they are hooked on the wilderness. It’s like a five year old child who still wants to drink from his bottle. God wants to wean you from the bottle. God wants to take you beyond provision. He does not want you to stay in the wilderness. God has greater things for you than staying in the wilderness.

GOD WANTS TO TAKE US BEYOND PROVISION TO PROGRESS: (1:7-9)

But in Joshua 5:12, The Bible says that the manna stopped. In other words, God was telling the Israelites, “I’m not going to be your butler no more.” “I’m too big of a God to keep you at a level of infancy. It’s time to grow up.” Your childhood has to come to an end and the school of the spirit has to begin.

Now that you’ve received enough provision and enough spiritual food and enough ministry, it’s time to move on. Don’t get bent out of shape because you don’t have everything that you want; God is preparing to do a new thing with you.

PROGRESSION REQUIRES:

DISCIPLINE

We need in our lives like the college student who stays up all night studying for his finals, drinking 10 cups of coffee, worrying and crying out to the Lord, “Lord, I need a miracle.” You don’t need a miracle, you need to have studied. Don’t depend on God to do something that you didn’t do because you were lazy.

You don’t need a miracle to pay the rent, you need a job. You don’t need a miracle, you need self-discipline. “Oh, Lord, I really need a car, but my credit is bad. When that loan officer looks at his computer, you close your eyes and pray; oh God block his eyes; don’t let him see my bad credit.” You don’t need a miracle, you need to start being a good steward of your money and pay your bills.

Many Christians are wasting precious years of their life, waiting for another miracle from God. When God wants to take you beyond provision to progress; but you don't want to go. God wants to take you from one level to the next. God wants to take you from the 'give me, give me' level, to the giving level.

Why is it that people from the same church can react so differently to God's Word and God's challenge? They hear the same message. They are ministered to in the same way. It's because some people hear the word of God and act upon it. Others just hear the word, and don't act upon it.

Let's take tithing for example. Some people hear the word of God when it speaks about giving God our first fruits, and giving Him the tenth, but they don't want to do it. They think that they will not be able to pay their bills and live on the 90%. Then they find themselves living paycheck to paycheck, and asking God for miracle after miracle. They are stuck in the wilderness. Then there are those who take steps of courage and give God what belongs to Him. Then God provides for them, and God blesses them, and then God takes them to another level. Then, they are able to be a blessing to someone else because God has taken them beyond provision to progress.

It's time to grow up. It's time to let God wean you from your spiritual bottle (I Cor. 13:12). There are many who have been baby Christians for years. They refuse to grow up. They refuse to go beyond provision to progress. God is telling each of us as individuals, "It's time to go to the next level."

Many have gone to the next level. But there are those who haven’t moved to the next level. God is taking his church to a higher level, and some are not climbing. Not everyone is going to want to climb. Not everyone is going to want to get out of their comfort zone. But we cannot allow a few people to hold back God's church or God's vision for His church.

SACRIFICE

For some, it's a sacrifice to give ten dollars above your tithe. You're earning minimum wage or close to it, and you've got bills to pay and groceries to buy, and that extra ten dollars is a sacrifice. God will honor you for your sacrifice. But there are others who are making much more than that and there being stingy with their money. You don't want to sacrifice, it hurts you to give. You give an extra ten dollars like other brothers who are sacrificing and there’re getting a return and you're not. If you want to go beyond provision to progress, it's going to take sacrifice.

COURAGE

The Lord told the people, 'be strong and courageous. It's going to take courage to reach up to a higher level of spiritual maturity. It's going to take courage to strengthen the realm of your ministry. It's going to take courage to strengthen the rest of the body of Christ

GOD WANTS TO TAKE YOU BEYOND PROVISION TO POSSESSION: (Joshua 1:10, 11)

Get your supplies ready. The Lord is saying, 'get your resources ready, church.' If you are willing to give, then you will be ready to possess the land. It's time for us to get our supplies ready, because God wants to do something with them. It's time to go beyond provision to possession.

It's time to take back possession of what the enemy has stolen from you. Many of you believe that the only thing the enemy has stolen from you is your resources and your blessings. While that is true, we must realize that the enemy also steals precious years of our lives. Some have lost years of their life in the wilderness. You've been saved. You've been serving God, but you've been living on the level of provision for years. But now, God wants to take you to a new level from beyond provision to possession. It's time to take those years back!