For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
– Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and Bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14 (NASB95)
Immanuel: With us is God – Im: with, El: God
(Chapter 1:31) Jesus: Jehovah the Saviour (Easton’s)
(Chapter 2:4) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from old, From everlasting.”
– Micah 5:2 (NKJV)
The Angel Announced the Gospel of Mega Joy:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news (euaggelizo) of great (megas) joy that will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:10 (NIV)
euaggelizo: to announce good news, especially the gospel
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
– 2 Corinthians 6:18 (NASB)
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (ASV)
In 2026 when I set priorities (Big Rocks) it doesn’t mean I do , but I do more of
Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time…Don’t be vague but grasp firmly what you know to be the will of the Lord. – Ephesians 5:15-17 (PH)
The Big Three:
1st – My Relationship with
(Martha) …had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:39-42 (NASB95)
Martha was and it left her worried and bothered about
Great peace have they which love thy law (God’s Word): and nothing shall offend them. – Psalms 119:165 (KJV)
Mary’s Big Rock was sitting at the Lord’s feet listening. Jesus tells us that Mary chose the
2nd – My Relationship with
My Goal: When the kids are gone we want to still be
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth…Be exhilarated always with her love.
– Proverbs 5:18-19 (NASB)
Love is spelled
(Jesus) I have this against you, that you have left your first love …repent and do the deeds you did at first…
– Revelation 2:4-5 (NASB95)
Singles: She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. – Proverbs 31:12 (NASB)
3rd – My Relationship with My
Goal: When our kids grow up they would still want to be with and with when they no longer had to be
Lesson: Remember they are and I’m the
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. – 1 Corinthians 13:11(NIV)
Question: If we do family like this, what will it look like in ?
Big Rock Areas:
Spiritual
Relationships
Intellectual
Physical
Career
Financial
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant… – Matthew 25:23 (KJV)
They had the () before they had the
Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you… – Joshua 1:3 (NASB)
(Chapter 14:1-2) Their portion was given by , God gave the He wanted
The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly.” “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” (Giants [KJV, CWSB, NKJV, WBT]) – Joshua 17:14-15 (NIV)
Caleb (The Picture of Faith) Chapter 14:6-13
(45 years earlier) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size There also we saw the Nephilim (Giants [KJV]) the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim (Giants [KJV]); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” – Numbers 13:30-33 (NASB95)
Based on God’s faith stands in the face
of
Faith believes over
Faith stands in the face of other
But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. – Numbers 14:10 (NASB)
The came in the place of (v.6)
Kadesh-Barnea: desert of a fugitive; wilderness of wandering (OTESD)
Faith for the (v.10)
(Do) …not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. – Hebrews 6:12 (NASB)
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him… – Lamentations 3:25 (NASB95)
Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. – Psalms 27:14 (NASB)
Faith the promise to (v.12)
“…the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” – Joshua 14:12 (NIV)
Faith says “Give me the ” because faith wants all that (v.12)
A growing faith keeps me (v.11)
(v.15)
(Hebron) is found where the biggest (Anakim) are
Hebron: society, friendship (Hitchcock’s); (fellowship)
It was that made Caleb
(God) “…My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.” – Numbers 14:24 (NASB95)
The story of Joshua begins about
The story of Joshua: Faith upon
(vv.1-5)
This time the challenge is at least
This challenge is against overwhelming and far greater
What is my ?
Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. – 1 Peter 4:12-13 (Message)
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial… – James 1:12 (NASB)
Faith chooses over
Without a there is no
(v.6) Joshua will have to
God tells Joshua but not
With God’s Joshua gets to
But we have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)
Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. – Psalms 20:7 (NASB95)
What Joshua about what God will determine what Joshua
To overcome I need to decide to what God about my
(v.7) Victory comes by with
Faith for victory, because faith victory
Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. – 1 Samuel 17:48 (NASB95)
Decide to , use and
(vv.10-15)
Enjoy the and keep going (v.14)
…when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. – Deuteronomy 6:10-13 (NASB95)
Decide to take my of
Sometimes total victory involves a (vv.16-18)
How Long: (v.18)
Decide to go forward in faith as
…fight the good fight of faith… – 1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB)
My unfinished business spiritually becomes a problem
for (vv.21-22) (Genesis 6)
Anakim: long-necked – A tribe of giants (OTESD)
We also saw the Nephilim there (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim)… – Numbers 13:33 (NASB)
(500 years later) …a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits… – 1 Samuel 17:4 (NASB95)
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. – 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
…so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. – 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB)
(vv.1-2)
adoni: zedek adon: Lord tsedeq: righteousness (BD&B)
Jerusalem: Foundation of Peace (BD&B)
(v.6) Joshua-Yehoshua: The Lord is Salvation (BD&B)
(vv.7-9) After being awake all day, they will march all night, 25 miles uphill over 3000 ft. and that’s just the beginning
(vv.12-13)
“Is anything too difficult for the LORD?” – Genesis 18:14 (NASB95)
How to Experience Victory in The Battle:
The principle of the (v.1)
What is my God-Given ?
I have to believe God’s (v.8)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
What does God’s say about my ?
The principle of (v.7)
…including all the best fighting men. – Joshua 10:7 (NIV)
…including his best fighting men. – Joshua 10:7 (NCV)
What skills do I need to ?
The principle of (v.9)
What is my ?
The principle of the (v.9)
You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing? – James 2:20 (ICB)
I have to
The principle of
So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all (kol) the people of war with him, and all (kol) the valiant warriors. – Joshua 10:7 (NASB)
all: kol – A particle meaning each, every, all, everything, the whole, entire. It has an inclusive meaning of all or every one of something (CWSBD)
What am I willing to ?
NOTICE: (v.11) God when I
The supernatural takes place when we do all we’re capable of doing in the , and then God steps in and adds His to it
The principle of (v.12)
You do not have because you do not ask. – James 4:2 (NASB)
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. – James 5:17 (NASB)
“Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit…” – Deuteronomy 11:17 (NASB95)
Three Steps to Spiritual Depression (vv.1-5)
1. Elijah forgot about God’s
2. Elijah focused on and
3. Elijah was
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. – Psalms 34:19 (NASB95)
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NASB95)
God Lifts Elijah out of His Depression (vv.6-21)
1. God meets Elijah’s
2. God provides Elijah with
3. God allows Elijah to
4. God wanted to meet Elijah
How Do We Hear from God?
1. It starts with a to hear from God
2. I need to for God in my life
3. I need to listen for God’s
Be still, and know that I am God… – Psalms 46:10 (KJV)
5. God gives Elijah a
6. God provides Elijah with a
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalms 34:18 (NASB)
I. Satan’s Schemes – Craftily: ormah – schemes, craftily (CWSBD)
1. and (vv.3-6)
…Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. – 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NASB)
…so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. – 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB)
2. Use lots of (vv.8-10)
…the fame of the LORD (Yahweh) your God (Elohim)… – Josh 9:9 (NASB)
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. – James 2:19 (NASB)
3. Enemy says (vv. 6&11)
“We are your servants (ebed); now then (attah), make a covenant with us.” – Joshua 9:11 (NASB)
Now then: attah – at this time, now, straightway (OTESD)
II. 5 Questions to Ask Before Big Decisions
1. What does the ?
“Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.” – Exodus 34:12 (NASB95)
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. – Psalms 119:105 (NASB)
Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (ERV)
…this is the will of God, …that you abstain from sexual immorality (pornea)… – 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NASB)
2. Have I about it? (v.14)
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5 (NASB)
3. What else do I ? (v.14)
So the Israelite leaders examined their bread, but they did not consult the LORD. – Joshua 9:14 (NLT)
4. What would change if ? (v.16)
It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry. – Proverbs 20:25 (NASB95)
The bigger the decision the
5. Do I have about this? (v.7)
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land; how then shall we make a covenant with you?” – Joshua 9:7 (NASB95)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… – Colossians 3:15 (NASB95)
III. I’ve Messed Up…Now What????
1. the mistake and in righteousness (vv.17-19)
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (NIV)
(Hundreds of years later) Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” – 2 Samuel 21:1 (NASB95)
2. Realize failure is an not an
3. Allow God to
“You will never be released from service (ebed) as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” – Joshua 9:23 (NIV)
eḇeḏ: a servant, a slave. Although the most basic concept of this term is that of a slave, slavery in the Bible was not the same as the slavery of modern times. Slaves had rights and protection under the Law (Ex. 21:20). It was also possible for slaves to attain positions of power and honor (Gen. 24:2; 41:12). The people under the king were called his servants (Gen. 21:25); as well as his officers. (CWSBD)
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28 (NASB)
(About a thousand years later) Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River.
– Nehemiah 3:7 (NASB95)
My today is my tomorrow
“…The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people…” – 1 Samuel 13:14 (NASB95)
The Four Steps to David’s Sin:
(vv.1-4)
Step 1. David’s laziness to sin
(Paul) …but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NASB95)
Spiritual Apathy Self-Test:
Am I noticing a decreased desire for the things of God?
Am I losing sight of the urgency of the Gospel?
Am I becoming comfortable with “good enough”?
Step 2. David to his sin
“I have made a covenant with my eyes…” – Job 31:1 (NASB)
Step 3. David his sin
Step 4. David on his sin
(Moses) …choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin… – Hebrews 11:25 (NASB95)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16 (NASB)
Important Lessons from David’s Sin:
1. Unrepented sin leads to (vv.14-15)
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. – Proverbs 28:13 (NASB95)
2. Our sin doesn’t just affect ourselves, it (vv.18-21)
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths. – Proverbs 5:21 (NASB95)
3. Find your (vv.1-12)
What Does True Repentance Look Like?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. – Psalms 51:10-13 (NASB95)
4. Forgiveness of sin is not freedom from the (vv.13-14)
5. After repentance comes (vv.24-25)
The Main Point: God can redeem our
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! – Psalms 32:1 (NASB95)
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
– 1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
Topical Teaching: A Calvary Perspective
(v.1) The principle of a , God-Given
What is my ?
Topical Teaching: How to Gain a God-Given Personal Life Vision
The principle of
Faith involves God’s and my
(v.2) The things that Achan was willing to disobey God over
(Chapter 7:1), were the very things that God was going to give him, in , if he would only put
“Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” – Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NASB95)
(v.3) The principle of
They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” – Joshua 7:3 (NASB95)
What am I willing to ?
The principle: knowledge of the
Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. – Joshua 7:2 (NASB)
What do I need to ?
The principle of
…He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men… – Joshua 8:3 (NIV)
…thirty thousand men, tough, seasoned fighters… – Joshua 8:3 (Message)
What do I need to develop?
The principle of (vv.4-9)
What’s my ?
The principle of
How can I to change?
(vv.10-12) The principle of
Are the people of wisdom ?
Topical Teaching: Decisions, Decisions
Prepare for the
What could ? (…with the elders… (v.10)
He took about five thousand men…between Bethel and Ai… (NASB) (v.12))
(vv.18-26)
Many times our greatest come after our greatest
(God) I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten… – Joel 2:25 (ESV)
From Chapter 6
God gave the Promised Land to His people, but the always belongs to
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income. Then your barns will be full, and your vats will overflow with fresh wine. – Proverbs 3:9-10 (GWT)
(v.1) Achan…took some of the designated (cherem) things… – Joshua 7:1 (NASB)
Achan: trouble (OTESD)
Cherem: dedicated thing, devoted thing, ban, accursed (OTESD)
(v.2)
Ai: heap (OTESD)
Beth-aven: House of Iniquity (BD&B)
Beth-el: House of God (OTESD)
Somewhere between the House of God and the House of Iniquity there will be a heap of trouble
(v.11) Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted (cherem) things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.
– Joshua 7:11(NIV)
(v.12) Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?
– 1 Corinthians 5:6 (NLT)
(vv.20-21)
(Eve) saw (ra-ah) …desired (hamad) …she took (laqah) – Genesis 3:6 (KJV)
(Achan) When I saw (ra-ah) …I coveted (hamad) …and took (laqah) – Joshua 7:21 (KJV)
Achan’s Problems:
- Achan doesn’t until he’s
- Achan his sin
Achan called it (v.21)
God called it (cherem)
- Achan took what
“All the silver and gold, as well as bronze and iron items, belong to the LORD. They must go into the LORD’s treasury.” – Joshua 6:19 (NET)
LATER GOD WILL SAY: “You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves.” – Joshua 8:2 (NLT)
“Them” are the articles (vv.22-23)
(vv.24-26)
Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin. – Deuteronomy 24:16 (NIV)
The use of the plural “Them” probably has reference to Achan’s , not his (Guzik)
Achan’s thought taking what was (cherem) to God would make him
Ultimately taking what was dedicated (cherem) kept Achan (trouble) from all that God to him
Achan’s family will be as a result of his
…called the Valley of Achor () to this day. – Joshua 7:26 (NASB)
Achor: troubled, trouble (OTESD)
They erected a to make sure they would (read Acts 5)
Then they erected over him a large (great [KJV]) heap of stones that stands to this day. – Joshua 7:26 (NASB)