Sermon Tone Analysis

We’ve been *ministering on being an overcomer*, a *conqueror*, but *sometimes* we *don’t feel like a conqueror*.

*Frankly, quite often* *we don’t feel like a conqueror*.

*2Cor 5:7*

*I) *After *Israel* had been in *bondage*[RJ1]  (slaves in Egypt) for some *400 years*, they are *finally let go* by the mighty *hand of God*.

They *saw the miracles* of *God*, not *only in their deliverance*, but *also* the *pillar of fire* and the *parting of the Red Sea*.

*A) **Now**[RJ2] * the *come* to the *Jordan River* and *they send out 12 spies* to check out the land.

*10 of the 12* come back with a *negative report*.

*II) *Well[RJ3] , *after **wondering** **in the wilderness* for *40 years* *it was time for **Joshua** to **take over* as the leader of the children of Israel[RJ4] .

*A) **For them **to get out** **of** the **wilderness*, their *unbelief** and **wrong thinking** had to go*[RJ5] .

*1) *That’s the *same for us*.

*Many times **people will **feel* that *they’re **going through a wilderness*.

*It **could be brought on** by* *unbelief or wrong thinking*[RJ6] .

*B) **Wilderness* is *not always a bad place to be*.

*1) **It’s interesting* that when *Jesus* was LED *into the **wilderness* that *all three of the synoptic Gospels* use *different words* to *describe Jesus being led into the wilderness.*

John doesn’t mention Jesus’ wilderness experience.

*2) **Luke 4:1-13*

*a) *In *verse 11* where it *says* Jesus was *“LED”* by *the Spirit into the wilderness*, the word *“Led”* simply *means* *“To guide*, *to lead,* *take with one.”*

*b) *The *Holy Spirit* *will never leave us*, *even* when we are *in the wilderness*.

*3) *In *Mark 1:12* it says that the *Spirit* *drove* Him into the wilderness.

*a) *The *word* *“Drove”* *means* he was *“SENT** OUT”* *by the Holy Spirit* *into the* *wilderness*, but the word *“Drove”* *also includes* the meaning, *“be deprived of** the power and influence he exercises in the world.*[1]”

*4) **However*, in *Matt 4:1* It *says* that *Jesus was led up by the Spirit* *into the wilderness* to be tempted by the Devil.

*a) **Now this word* *“LED”* is *different still.*

It *means* *“to lead up**,* *to lead or bring into a higher place*[RJ7] *.”*

*b) **Sometimes* the *Holy Spirit* *will lead us into a* *solitude *[RJ8] *place*, to be *alone with Him*.

*(i) *The *wilderness* *isn’t necessarily** bad*, *but it’s what you do with it* *that makes all the difference.*

*(ii) *The *spirit* *didn’t send* Jesus *to be tempted*, *the spirit sent Him to be alone* *and in fellowship* with Him.

*5) **However*, there is a *time to come out* of the *wilderness* *or* if *you’re in a wilderness* *because of something in your own life*, then *it’s time to come out*.

*a) **If that’s the case**,* *the **only way to get** out** of it* *is* *through faith** *[RJ9] *and **bringing into captivity every thought* to the obedience of Christ.

*6) **There are some **definite steps **that **you** have to **take** to **get out of bondage** **and the wilderness** and stay out.*

*C) **After* the children of *Israel* were *delivered* *from** the bondage of Egypt*, *they went to the wilderness*.

*1) *In *(ROM 15:4)* it says, *“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”*[2]*

*

*a) *Things that are written in the *O.T.* are *for our learning*.

*2) **Sometimes**,* *when we get out of bondage,* *victory comes gradual.*

*a) **The **Israelites** went from Egypt* (*bondage*) *to** the wilderness* *from the wilderness* *to** the Canaan land* *and* *from Canaan** to victory*.

*3) **EXO 3:18*

*a) **1 of the 1st things* that *we need to do to come out of bondage* *or* the *wilderness*, *out of** **storms*, *trials*, *and* *out of dry places* *is to be a **TRUE WORSHIPER**.*

*(i) *The *1st* *step* to *getting out of a wilderness* is to *be a worshipper*.

*(ii) *Jesus said in *JOHN 4:23* that the *Father** seeks true worshippers to worship Him in truth and in spirit*.

*D) *The *2nd* thing that the children of Israel *needed to see* was that *GOD IS THEIR PROVIDER*.

*1) *God *provided* them with *manna* from heaven and *water from a **rock*; their *clothes** didn’t ware out*.

*a) **To come out **of that **wilderness **and to **walk in victory **we have to know that **God is our provider **and that He is our **source.*

*2) **We need to look to God **and **trust Him to meet our needs*.

*a) **PSA 37:3*

*b) **The Amplified translation says this best.**

**“Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, /and/ truly you shall be fed.”*[3]*

*

*c) *And of course, we *all know* *(PHIL 4:19)* *“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”*

*E) *The *3rd* thing that *they had to **know **to get out* of the *wilderness* and *into* the *promise land* was the *importance of following God**.*

*1) *If you *remember*, *God provided* a *cloud by day* and a *Pillar of fire by night* *to direct their paths*.

*a) **We* too *must **learn** to **follow His leadings* and *allow Him to direct our paths*.

*b) **PSA 23:2-3*

*c) **(PSA 37:23-24)* *Says,** **“The steps of a good (righteous) man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way.”*

*III) **But we just can’t stop there*.

*Sometimes* *we get **content** in the **area of provision* *found in the promise land*.

*In the promise land**,* *there are **still many battles*.

*A) **You** may have **come along way*.

*You **came from bondage* *but **found yourself in wilderness*.

*From the wilderness**,* *you **entered** into the **promise land*[RJ10] .

*But **now** you need to **go on to victory*.

*1) **We need to go to **absolute victory*.

*2) **Look* at the *1st* thing the *Lord said to Joshua* *when* they were *ready to come out of the wilderness*.

(*After **worshiper*, God *provider*, *lead by the Lord*)

*a) **JOSHUA 1:2*

*b) *Now go down to *V 11.*

*3) *This was *“Faith for Victory.”*

*a) *This is the *faith** that is **needed** to be a **conqueror*.

*“Bold Faith.”*

*4) **(1st JOHN 5:4)* says, *“This is the victory that overcome the world, -- our faith.”**

*

*a) **That’s what **you need to have**, **“Faith for Victory.”*

*IV) *But *there was a* *final instruction* that the *people needed* *in order to be **victorious.*

*A) **JOSHUA 3:5*

*1) *This word *“Sanctify”* means *“to consecrate and purify.”*

*2) *In order *to see God’s miracles* *in your life* we *need to live a holy life* before Him, *and* to *sell out totally to Him*.

*3) *I’m going to *end** **with this** final scripture*.

*PSA 92:12;15* From the *AMP* *“The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful and fruitful]; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable and incorruptible].

(V15) [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”*

*a) **Your life can be a sign** to all **that **God is faithful to His children **and **to His Word*.

WOLCC 1~/12~/92 Sun 10:30am and 8~/13~/95 Sun and Sunday, April 26, 1998 & Sunday, June 17, 2001 & Sunday, January 25, 2004 March 7, 2004

 

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[1]Strong, J. (1996).

/The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order./

(electronic ed.) (G1544).

Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[2]/The New King James Version/, Ro 15:4.

Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996, c1982.

[3]/The Amplified Bible, Containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament./,

Ps 37:3.

La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987.

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 [RJ1]

It is possible to become content while in *Bondage*.

[RJ2]

*Num 13:1-2*

 [RJ3]

*Num 13:33** Grasshopper mentality*

 [RJ4]

*Wrong thinking** can put you in bondage.

*

*2 Cor 10:4-5*

 [RJ5]

*We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent in provision*

 [RJ6]

*Rom 8:37* *More than Conquers*

 [RJ7]