If your Caller ID read “God”, would you answer?

Text: Joshua 1:16-18

Subject: If your Caller ID read “God”, would you answer?

Focus: Will you answer the call?

 ¹⁶And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

 ¹⁷According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

 ¹⁸Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage. (Joshua 1:16-18, King James Version)

What if we had the same attitude as the 12 leaders that Joshua commissioned to carry out the commands of God? What if we had the courage to do whatever was commanded of us and go wherever we were sent?

Let’s talk about going to wherever we were sent first. It occurred to me that many of us Christians think that once God has delivered us from a place that He won’t send us back there. For example… if God brought you out of the casino, surely there is no way that he would send you back in there. Wait… not so fast… what is the most effective way to witness to someone? I was always taught that it was by example.

So let’s use the casino example again. Surely while you were in there you would have made some acquaintances, maybe even a friend or two. Now what better way to bring them out and to God than to go back in and present yourself as a living witness to the power of God’s deliverance… to show them firsthand the works of God in your own life.

Now let’s deal with doing whatever God tells commands you to do. What if you were told to walk away from something, let’s say a relationship. Would you have the courage and strength to deny your flesh and walk in the spirit… or would you be too busy trying to negotiate for more time?

We want God’s Will in our lives when it is convenient and not when it is ordered. However, the steps of a good man are ordered by God. So understanding that, we have to believe that God is the General, He is the teacher, He is the author, He is the finisher, He is the Alpha, He is th Omega, He was before the beginning was and will be after the end has passed.

Turning your attention back to the topic of the sermon… if your caller ID read God, would you answer? More importantly what would you say? Would you find yourself trying to make a defense of your actions… “see what had happened was… I didn’t do it because such and such said they were going to do it”… problem with defending yourself is that God hadn’t even uttered a word yet…. just seeing His name already convicted you.

Good news is that while there is still air in your lungs, He has not issued the final verdict on your life and is still giving you the chance to answer the phone and say, “Yes Master… how may I serve you today and every day? What would you like me to do? Where would you have me to go?”

We have to know fully that we can trust the plan of God even if we don’t understand the plan of God. God will put more on us than we can handle, but there is nothing that is impossible when we lean on Him and His might instead of our own devices.

Refusing to follow the Word and Will of God is disobedience. Disobedience is sin. The wages of sin is death.

Following the Word of God is obedience. Obedience keeps you in right standing (righteousness). The reward is everlasting life.

So now you are faced with a choice… choose ye today who you will serve…

I have made my choice… have you? If you have not yet invited Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Saviour, what better time than right now? Jesus says to us in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Open the door to your heart and let Jesus come in. I can promise that your life will never be the same.

Go where you are told and do what you are commanded right now… those leaders didn’t say they would do it when they had time. They pledged unconditionally to God. They didn’t say it was easy, but they stepped out on Faith…. Won’t you come…

If you need help in understanding what God has in store for your life, start searching for a church. Ask God to show you what house he would have you worship Him and do the work of the Kingdom. It will be revealed to you.

To God be all the Honor, all the Glory, and all of the Praise… may our Lord allow me to continue to decrease in self and increase in the knowledge of Him and His Word… Amen