Again we read that God works His plan. God is the Deliverer and not we ourselves. We are His servants.

In inheriting the land we read once again that it was the Lord God who has given you this land to take possession of it. All what we have is His and He has given it to us to use – the land, the possessions. God was at work and fought the battle for His people.

Moses wanted to go into the land and see what the Lord had done but God’s plan was different. Encourage Joshua. Strengthen the new leader to take your place. Just do what I ask. Work His Word. The kingdom will come.

God’s people must work His Word also today. He leads. We follow and do because we listen. Have Thine own way Lord. I may not understand, but Your way is the right way. Help me each day to follow Jesus in all I do and say. Help me to be a living epistle, a champion for Your kingdom come. In all things, lead me and guide me along the way to live for Jesus always.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

When is the last time that the lord spoke to you?

In this passage I read that the Lord directed, the Lord said, the Lord said, the Lord said . . .

in my daily living for Jesus how often do I hear the voice of God or how does He direct my way for today? Open my ears Lord that I might hear You? Open my eyes Lord that I might see You. Help me each and every day see that You are my Deliverer and that You lead and guide me in all I say and do. You are always with me and as you protected Your people then, protect Your people today in the same way. May I/we do Your will this day that You have made.

Help me this day to be Your champion in all I do and say. Help me in the Jesus way.

All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain

All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.

Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise.

Refrain

Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.

Refrain

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.

Refrain

Oh, what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His belovèd,
Lets me rest beneath His wings.

God had been leading His people by the fire and the cloud. God had told His people, ‘I will give you this land.’ But the people did not trust the Lord their God but only in themselves. They lacked GodPower. FaithPower. Even though God had provided all they needed, even though God had shown them His power, they did not trust Him. He had shown them where to go but the people trusted in their own power instead.

And so today, where have I seen GodPower? What has the Lord God done in my life? Do I see His presence each and every day or do I also rely upon my own strength. God gives His people strength if we but trust and obey. There’s no other way but to walk with Jesus each and every day. I must walk in His SonShine and He will illuminate my path. I must be SpiritLead, SpiritDriven each and every day for He is my Guardian and Guide today and forever.

Once again, I go forward and walk with my risen Saviour.

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabbaoth, His Name,
from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us:
the Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure,
one little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
through Him Who with us sideth:
Let good and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
his kingdom is forever.

Be watchful.

Serve the Lord and not yourselves.

And Paul gives the names of the people in the church who were His workers. Encouragers of one another. Promoting the Kingdom. Unified and not divided. Together in His name. All together = supporting and encouraging. What a body of Christ!

Paul was encouraged by these his friends. What a living testimony of the church. Certainly not divisive. And God’s people today also need to surround themselves with such friends so that His Kingdom may be advanced and His champions strengthen one another.

I need to surround myself with champions like the ones described in the reading but also by my words and actions champion others for we all are His champions.

1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .

4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

But today we have become a law unto ourselves and we demand our way rather than ‘love your neighbour’. The love which does no harm is certainly not evident in the world this day.

And yet for God’s people, love is the fulfillment of the law. Love God. Love man. As I start this day in His Word, how does that set the tone for the day? Am I clothing myself with Christ Jesus? Do I live the Light?

As God’s champion I must clothe myself with the armour of Light. Then I will be able to live the fruit of the Spirit and those around me will be able to see that I am His and He is mine. They will know I am a Christian by my love.

Again this verse comes to my mind – ‘as far as it depends on me, live at peace with all mankind.’ Do this and live. Really live for Jesus Christ.

He brought me to His banqueting table
And his banner over me is love (3)
His banner over me is love
1. He lifts me up to heavenly places
2. I am safe and secure in the rock of all ages
3. He is the way, the truth and the life
4. In Christ there is no condemnation
5. I am my beloved’s and He is mine
6. He placed my feet on firm foundation
7. And now I am living in the new creation
8. I am seated with Him in the heavenly places.

God has given His people much. Serve Him with the gifts given. Be faithful stewards.

All of my life must be characterized by the word love. Love God. Love man. As far as it depends upon me, live at peace with all mankind. Just do the right thing all the time and God will take care of the rest.

Live love.

Live in serving. Live Christ. And they will know we are Christians by our love.

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

Ingrafted to the tree of life which is Christ Jesus. Being ingrafted brings life and brings fruit. And if the branch does not bear the fruit it will be cut off and a new branch grafted in to bear fruit.

God’s people must be fruit bearers. They are His kingdom workers. However, if their work does not define them, they are not part of the family. Being part of the family must be evident by the fruit.

All too often we have eyes that do not see; ears that do not hear. God’s people have become a stumbling block rather than a stepping stone. Therefore God prunes and ingrafts so that the fruit may abound. That ingrafting is for all. Those ingrafted must bear fruit to show the world they are for Jesus. Our lives need to be living letters that others desire to be part of the family – part of the vine – to be ingrafted.

Life is only a possibility in Christ Jesus. What a gift! What a Saviour! Saved by grace.

1. God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He’s swift to repay
All those who bear the burden of the day
God gives His people strength.

2. God gives His people hope
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard
He warmly welcomes anyone who’s erred.
God gives His people hope.

3. God gives His people love
If we but open wide our hearts, He’s sure to do His part
He’s always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.

4. God gives His people peace.
When sorrow fills us to the brim, and courage grows dim
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace.

That is the message.

However, as in times of old, they have ears but do not hear, and eyes but do not see because they have gone after their own ways. They did not accept the Good News and went looking for their own ways.

Saved by Grace.

“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

What a promise!

All I need to do is just do it! Believe and my actions will show that I believe. What a Saviour! Jesus is mine!

Lord God, help me on my way. Help me on my pilgrim’s progress this day. And they can tell we are/I am Christian by my love.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Paul cries over those who are cut off from Christ and wishes to be in their place so that they are saved. But . . .that is God’s doing and God’s choosing and who am I to try to think and reason like God, My Creator who molded and fashioned me? I am but a man and His is the Lord! And He from the foundation of the earth destined all things. Who am I to understand how God planned all things for His creation.

But this I do know. I was made to serve – serve Him and serve others – Love God; love man. And as part of His family – children of the living God – I must live the fruit of the Spirit that lives within each day -a living letter of the love of Christ. And they will know we are Christian by our love.

My life must be an epistle for Christ – a living letter – read by all who see me. Help me Lord this day on my way living for Jesus.

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

SpiritPower are those who have the mind of Christ within them. They are the children of God. The talk to God as their Father. And as His sons we go forward each day in His power and they’ll know we are His by our love.

I am His champion. I am more than a conqueror because of the love of God. The God Who gave His Son in my place loves me as His son. He enables me each day to do His will. GodPower. SpiritPower. SpiritDriven. And that enables me this day to live for Jesus. I am His and He is mine and His power over me is love. I am secure. I am His. Always.

We are children of the King,
And His praises we will sing,
As we journey to our home above—
His banner over us is love!

Refrain

Marching! Marching!
With happy hearts we onward move;
No foe we fear, with our Captain near—
His banner over us is love!

He, the glorious Son of God,
Hath the way before us trod;
Over every foe we’ll conqu’ror prove—
His banner over us is love!

Refrain

Fearless in our Leader’s might,
Strong to do and dare the right;
We will journey to our home above—
His banner over us is love!