The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lasser Bradley Jr. Mm-hmm. Dozen tumblers seem My great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my god and king, the triumphs of his race. This is James Kenneth, inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. Uh Oh, for a breeze of heavenly love to wrap my soul away to that celestial world above where pleasures may be gained in eternal spirit to be mine by love here below to skip through life's improvising where stormy winds do blow.
I need the influence of thy grace to speed me on my way lest I should loiter in my grace Orter my feet of strength on thy mercy sovereign still and thou of faithful God will thou not grant me one mercy to run the hand Heavenly road from rocks of pride on either hand, from waves and despair. Oh, guide me safe to Canaan's land through every latent snare, and third members for the ball on the sales shore, whereas shells never move where snare. Today we continue with the second portion of the message titled Much Land to be possessed from Joshua chapter thirteen. In the first part we were reminded that the Christian life is one of continual growth and faithful perseverance. In this concluding message we consider the need for spiritual progress in the life of the individual believer and in the Church as a whole, abounding in hope, love, unity, and service to the glory of God.
With today's message, here is Le Serre Bradley, junior Where are you in the matter of joy? We're told to rejoice always in the Lord. And again, I say, rejoice. Oh, sometimes it's so difficult to rejoice. In this day when there's so much trouble.
Choose Many problems, so many difficulties that are all around us and touching our lives in one form or another. You say, how can I rejoice?
Well, you must remember. that the joy that's spoken of in Scripture. is not a mere happiness that's based on circumstances. It's a deep abiding joy within. Because you know the God in whom you trust is on the throne.
He's in absolute control. And though you don't understand all of his ways and purposes and what he is doing, you have confidence in him, you believe he is a good God. And you're thankful that he's in charge. And so you have a deep abiding joy within. giving thanks unto the Father.
One of the things that hinders. Joy is the failure to give thanks. In fact, in that fourth chapter of the book of Philippians, where we're told to rejoice always in the Lord. It tells us one of the ways in which that joy can be maintained, and that is that you make your request known with thanksgiving. We can get to the place that we hear so much bad news.
We're so consumed with the problems of the day. We grieve when we hear about the sufferings of other people. Think about those who've suffered recently from the hurricane. and losing their holds. losing their livelihood.
some lives being lost. And you read about all of the bad news. And you can become consumed with that, and you forget to give thanks for what you have. Not taking it for granted. Thankful.
That you have a place to live. Thankful that you have food on the table. Thankful that you have reasonable health, able to be here for this worship service today. Thankful that you live in a country where this is possible. There are places in the world that where people want to meet in Jesus' name, they have to hide out in secret.
and know that they're in danger. of having the authorities come and interrupt their service, maybe arrest them. and in places where Christians are being put to death. What a blessing. is religious liberty.
How thankful we ought to be for it. How thankful we ought to be every day for the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ. Paul said, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. You know, if we're giving thanks, it gives us a different outlook. It brightens our hope.
We believe that there's reason for living, reason for pressing on, reason for serving God. Oh. Is there territory that you need to conquer? When it comes to this matter, of thanksgiving. and rejoicing always in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4, verse 1, Paul says, Furthermore, then, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by our Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
So it says, I've I've taught you, I've Pointed out to you how you ought to live to the glory of God. Brethren, My prayer is that as you've received these things, that you will abound more and more. Paul saying there's much territory yet to be conquered. And we're talking about this matter. of walking godly.
You know, it could be that there was a besetting sin in your life and you struggled with it, and by the grace of God, You had victory over it, and that's something for which to give thanks. But maybe in the process, you substituted that sin for another one. Maybe it's the sin of pride. Maybe now the You feel to be superior and you look down on others and you have no compassion for others and no desire to minister to those that are in need. There are many Besetting sins that can interfere with our fellowship with Jesus Christ and our ability to effectively serve Him.
So Paul is saying, I want you to abound. I want you to abound more and more. And then Paul describes his own outlook, his own experience in Philippians chapter 3, verse 13. He's not only praying for the people. He not only wants them to grow, He not only wants them, to recognize there's much land yet to be conquered.
But look what he thinks about his own experience. Philippians 3:13, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. He was a man of Remarkable experience. of unique ability and talent that were given him of God. of marvelous experiences in the service of God.
If anybody might have had reason to boast in their status, it would have been the Apostle. but he's saying I count not myself to have apprehended. I'm not where I want to be. I'm not where I ought to be. But this one thing I do.
This is above all, this is first and foremost on my heart and in my mind. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I'm not standing still. I'm thankful the Apostle is certainly revealing that He is thankful for what God has done for him. He recognized he saw himself as being the chief of sinners, but to think that.
By the grace of God, he had been rescued. His life had been transformed. While he was an enemy of the gospel at first, he had come to proclaim it, to love it. and to serve Jesus Christ. He was thankful for that.
But he knew there was still ground to gain. Still progress to be made. I pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Did you say that today with the Apostle? It says this one thing I do.
This thing is first and foremost. Oh, there are tasks that have to be performed on a daily basis. There are responsibilities that we have that sometimes can seem overwhelming. But Paul indicates I'm not going to let any of those things stand in the way. This is my first concern.
That I am pressure toward the mark. that I am not slothful and indifferent. But I am moving on in a positive way. to honor my Saviour. Jesus Christ.
Much land. to be possessed. And then we think of this as a message to the church, not only to individuals. Individuals make up the church. We've talked.
At some length here, about the area where all of us as individuals need to be moving on. But let's think about the church. 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 10. Paul says, Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. that you all speak the same thing.
and that there be no divisions among you. But that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. You may recall a few weeks ago we spoke from this first chapter of the book of 1 Corinthians, the message entitled The Giving of grace. He talks about the grace of God in the first verses and so many beautiful things, but he comes then to the tenth verse. To conclude, here's something practical.
He's commending this church in spite of its many faults and failings at the present time. He doesn't just immediately dig into all of those things. He's not overlooking them, he's going to deal with them. but he reminding them that they are saints.
Somebody else might not have given them that designation considering all of the problems in that church. But he called them saints. Because They were children of God. And they are saints. as to their position in Christ.
But now he begins to delve into some of the issues about which he's going to write. having encouraged them and commended them, He now says, Brethren, I beseech you, I beseech you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is vital, this is urgent, that you all speak the same thing. that you are united. That there be no divisions among you.
but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. If that was the desire of the Apostle, That certainly ought to be Our prayer. that God will bless us. to be of the same mind, speak the same thing. As we pray for the Lord to guide in the matter of a selection of a pastor.
We know that we must have His blessing. The guidance of the Holy Spirit to direct us, and that there must be unity. If God is going to hear that prayer. and bring a man to minister here. And then Romans chapter fifteen, verse four.
This is the text. that I used last week. For whatsoever things are written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. We're talking about hope. And the fact that in this same chapter of Romans, Romans chapter 15, it says that we are to abound in hope.
not just barely get by. But have an abundance of hope, abound in it, because our hope is in our Savior Jesus Christ. And he says, the things that were written for us, the account that is given us of what transpired in Old Testament times, are written for our learning. It's not just to get the historical record of what transpired and get that clearly in mind, but we're to learn the practical lesson. That's what we're doing as we speak here today.
from the book of Joshua. Many, many practical lessons to be learned there. that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. And then it goes on to say, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded. one toward another according to Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mouth glorify God.
So he says that it's important that you be like-minded. And he tells us why it's important. that you may with one mouth glorify God. That's what it's all about. That should be the uppermost desire of the church, and every member of the church, that we glorify God.
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God. It may be easy to do. receive in love and fellowship. people that uh by personality are just geared to be able to communicate well with you.
There might be others. or you find it a little difficult. But he says we're to receive one another. Hey even. as Christ received us.
And in Christ receive us. Because we had such a wonderful personality. Because we always have the right attitude. Because we always did the right thing. No, he received us in spite of our failings.
This doesn't mean that we're to ignore error or sin. Scripture is explicit on how to deal with such matters. But it does mean. that we are to receive one another in Christian love and fellowship. And the purpose of it, ultimately, is the glory of God.
And then while there's much territory to be conquered in that regard. The need for devoted love to Christ. To the church at Ephesus, the letter is addressed in Revelation chapter 2, verse 3. and has borne and has patience. And for my name's sake?
has labored and has not fainted. We preached recently about fainting. And notice how many times it's talked about in the scriptures. that there were those that fainted. under a variety of circumstances.
but that we're told not to faint. not to faint. He says then this church is to be commended. You read these first lines and you think, well, there's nothing to be said against them. They've shown patience.
They've borne with problems and difficulties. They've labored?
So they've been active? And they have not fainted. They have not given up. What could be said? Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love.
You're still laboring. You're still going through the routine, but you have left your first love. And when love fades, then labor becomes a burden. You dread it. They say, I know this is an activity in which I ought to be involved.
This is something I need to be doing. But I got so many things pressing in on me, it I just don't know how I can squeeze it all in. You've lost your first love. If you have that Undying love for Jesus Christ, love for Him superior to everything else. Then you find his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Fellowship loses its meaning. If you've lost your first love. Everything about trying to serve God. His castle. off in a doleful tomb.
if we don't have love. Love. one another. And Why we see much ground to be gained, much territory to be conquered in that regard. We just think in general.
about the work. of the Lord, abounding in it. 1 Corinthians 15. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast.
They're standing strong. Unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. See, Paul doesn't just say, I want you to be involved in it. I want you to abound in it. I want you to be joyful in it.
I want you to be enthusiastic about it, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. When you feel discouraged, you need to be reminded. The labor is not in vain in the Lord. And then Ephesians 5, 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
See that you walk circumspectly. not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Damn it, say that seems like a strange admonition? interjected here in this epistle.
Paul is Started in the first part of it talking about the wonders of God's electing grace and predestinating a people and what a joyful message it is. And then he comes on to some practical things, and he's talking in this fifth chapter about marriage and the responsibility of husband and wife to each other. And now he says to awake thou that sleepest. Rise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. What you mean?
Well, sometimes Christians go to sleep. They can be lulled to sleep. by many distractions.
So that while you're physically awake and still active, become sleepy. in spiritual matters. You can Go to sleep. as a result of discouragement. Become discouraged and say, what's the use?
It's too much. I don't want to have to deal with problems. I don't want to have to face challenges.
So just out of sheer discouragement. We become A sleepy Christian. He says, Awake thou that sleepest. And notice And it says to redeem the time because the days are evil. Life is fragile.
He says to teach us to number our days. Not that we can know the exact number, but we can know that they are but few. Redeem the time. Use the time profitably. Don't spend the time.
In sleep and slumber and slothfulness. But awake thou that sleepest. Be zealous in the service of God. and in this matter of loving others. John 13, 34, Jesus says, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye love one another.
Now, it'd be one thing for Jesus to say, I command you that you love one another. But look at the variety of love that it is. It's not something that's weak and fragile. I want you to love one another as I have loved you. In this manner, love one another.
And by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. What kind of love did Jesus have for his disciples? He says, I have loved you. It says, having loved his own, he loved them to the end. They had many times been a difficult group.
They often jumped to conclusions. They often made outlandish statements. They often raise preposterous questions. They faltered and failed along the way. But he loved them.
Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. That's the kind of love it says I want you to have for one another. In spite of the weaknesses and faults and failings, If a brother is overtaken and it falls, either the spirit shall go to him, and that in itself is a gesture of love. But you are to love. one another.
Do you love? Are you a helper? Do you think about How I can be a help. to other people. Loving my neighbor as myself.
Are you an encourager? In one of the early messages from the series in the book of Joshua, We talked about being encouraged and concluded the message with the admonition, Be an encourager. Can you think about yourself as being an encourager? Is there any word you've spoken to someone during this past week? to encourage them.
Not talking about just idle chatter. but talking about being an encourager from a biblical perspective. encouraging others, on the basis of utilizing God's Word. Joshua and Caleb. Had faced many challenges in life, had fought many battles.
Yeah. But they weren't alone. The reason they were successful is because they obeyed God, and God was with them and blessed their efforts. I trusted in the Lord explicitly. not in the strength of their own soldiers when they went to battle.
but trusted God. And that's our hope for the future. Every one of us individually. The first lessons we observed here concern the aged. Because both Joshua and Caleb had reached a pleasure in life.
that they were going to have to Think about. what was just ahead. And so Our hope. Wherever we are in life, for you young people, for us older people. facing the challenges of our present time.
the hope that we have for the future. is in the Lord who has admonished us to be of good courage. to be of good courage because he has promised to be with us. God is one who has never trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. You face all of these difficulties of life and the trials of this present time, but you are without divine help.
You're not like a believer who can go to the Lord, pour out his heart, and admit. I need thy help desperately because I am weak. As a matter of fact, you face death. and eternity. without hope.
But today, if you know that you're a sinner in sight, of a holy God. and that you need help. I point you to Jesus Christ. Hey or no? is the one by whom you can have access to God.
He's the only Savior. He's the only one that can carry you through death. to heaven itself. May all of us recognize that there is much land yet to be possessed in our spiritual walk. and pray that God will bless us never to be slothful.
but to be active and zealous in whatever the task he has for us to perform to the glory of his name. Yeah Leadeth me, O blessed thought, O words with heaven become the proud. Whatever I do, wherever I live, still tis us and that he. As we've heard today, there is still much land to be possessed. None of us have arrived at complete maturity or perfect obedience.
And so we are called to press on, growing in grace, walking in love, redeeming the time, and serving the Lord with courage and faith. May God strengthen us to continue forward, trusting His promises and relying upon His grace for every step of the journey. Thank you for listening to today's broadcast, and until next time, may the Lord richly bless you all. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder Lessere Bradley Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217.
That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. I would be for thy lips and he leadeth me Lord I would bless I and in mine forever glory thine content whatever thought I sing
