THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 36

w e e k -  t h i r t y  s i x 

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witness to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

a c t s  1 : 8

. . .

THE WHO OF EVANGELISM

 "But you shall... be witness to Me." This challenge to take the gospel to the world is one Jesus gives to all of us. [..]

Non of us is exempt from this basic element of Christian living; that is to share the good news!

THE WHAT OF EVANGELISM

 You shall receive what? Power!

Jesus used the word for power from which we got our word dynamite. 

We need this power to be His witness. 

THE WHEN OF EVANGELISM

When did this power come upon this group of believers? When the Holy Spirit came upon them. There is no such thing as a Christian without power. When you receive Christ, you have the Holy Spirit. He takes up residency in you. Thus, you have power.  

THE WHY OF EVANGELISM 

The Holy Spirit enables us to be witness. This is the very reason why we have power - to be His witness. There should be no such thing as a Christian who is not a witness. If you are save, we have Christ. If we have Christ, we have the Holy Spirit. If we have the Holy Spirit, we have power. And if we have power, we will be Jesus' witness!

THE WHERE OF EVANGELISM 

Jesus told us to take His good news across the city, across the country, across the continent, and, yes, across the entire cosmos. Here is total participation: all of us are to be witnesses. And here is total penetration: we are to go "to the ends of the earth". The gospel will never find its final destination until it is shared with every person on the planet. 

As you memorize this verse, meditate on the awesome power that resides within each of us who has placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone. It would do us well to also memorize the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Then get back to the basics of being Jesus' witness by making disciples, marking them by baptism, and teaching them to observe all He has commanded. 

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 32 - 33 - 34

i know, i know ... its been soo long!

but you guys, figuring out a new work schedule, adjusting to a new 'normal'... its taken me 3 weeks.

so i am playing catch up today with the Joshua Code. regular scheduled blog posts will resume tomorrow and hopefully i will keep up with the blog going forward again!

i've missed you guys- hope to hear from you guys again soon, always love reading your comments :)

 

 w e e k -  t h i r t y  t w o 

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old enough he will not depart from it.”

 

p r o v e r b s  2 2 : 6

. . . 

SEE HIM WITH AN OPEN HAND – ‘I release you’ (Luke 15:11-13)

SEE HIM WITH OPEN ARMS SAYING – ‘I receive you’ (Luke 15:20-24)

 SEE HIM WITH AN OPEN HEART SAYING – ‘I restore you’ (Luke 15:25-32)

 We all need to be parents (like in Luke 15), a father with an open hand and with wisdom enough to know that the way to lose you kids it to hold them too tightly and that the way to ultimately keep  them is to let them go when the time comes. We need to be parents with open arms, always ready to make a way for our children’s new beginnings. And we need to be parents with open hearts that are both transparent and encouraging.

The real message of Jesus’ story is that our heavenly Father deals with us in the same way that this father (see Luke 15) deals with his prodigal God our Father has open hands, toward us. We are not puppets; we are real people. And the love we voluntarily return to Him is indescribably vulnerable to Him.  He too meets us with open arms. And never were those arms opened as wide as they were on the cross. Finally, God shoes us His open heart. He opened it on the Calvary for the whole world to see, and He invites us into His arms today.

As you memorize this verse, meditate on the loving and forgiving heart of our Lord and as Him to put a heart like that in you. Open your hands, open your arms, and open you heart this week to those needy and hurting people around you.

 

------w e e k -  t h i r t y  t h r e e

“This Book of the Lord shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make you way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’

j o s h u a 1 : 8. . . 

THE JOSHUA CODE INVOLVES A CONSTANT PRACTICE
We are to over and over and over God’s truth in our minds to deepen its impression on us and to see it in our hearts. The word meditate indicates that Scripture is to be like a tune that we cannot get out of our minds. It just permeates our thinking processes. Living out the Joshua Code involves constant practice.

 THE JOSHUA CODE INCITES A COMPLETED PURPOSE
Our completed purpose, in the eyes of God, will be to move beyond simply reading and studying the Bible, to an act of obedience as we put these words into practice in our own experience.

 THE JOSHUA CODE INVOKES A CONDITIONAL PROMISE
In the initial psalm, the psalmist indicated that his delight was found in the Law of the Lord and ‘in His law He meditates day and night’ (Psalm 1:2). Thus, we then complete the purpose of not simply hearing the Word, but also doing it as we put it into practice through personal obedience.

Here is true success in life: to stay in the WORD of God until we find the WILL of God so that we can WALK in the ways of God. The WORD. The WILL. The WALK. The Joshua Code invites us to feed on the Bible because it reveals to us God’s will for our lives. And success is the ability to first find the will of God for our lives…

and then act upon it, do it!’

As you memorize this verse, meditate on it by reading it enough times to put the inflection of each and every word it contains… and then do what is says. And then? You will have ‘good success’.

 

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w e e k -  t h i r t y  t h r e e

‘Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.’

 m a t t h e w 5 : 4 1

. . . 

THERE IS A MANDATED MILE MOTIVATED BY LAW
Often the most difficult part of the Christian life is getting started on the first mile.

In fact, they want to enjoy the little extras of the second mile, but they do not want to deal

with the requirements of the first mile.

THERE IS A MIRACLE MILE MOTIVATED BY LOVE
It is the miracle mile that separates certain individuals from others.
The second mile is only made possible by being obedient to the first mile.

Someone who journeys on the miracle mile also has a way of lightening the load of those around them. One cannot travel the second mile without the influencing others. It only takes one second miler in a home to change the entire environment. It only takes once second miler on a team or in the office to do the same. The miracle mile, the second mile, is motivated by the love of Christ.

Incidentally, the second mile is the mile our Lord Himself walked. He knows the road very well. It was love that took Him on the miracle mile to the cross.

 As you memorize this verse, meditate on what ways you can go the second mile today. It will brighten your road and lighten someone else’s load.

 

THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 31

Happy Monday evening.. hope you all are off to a good start for the week?!

Its a BIG day/week in my little world… an update to follow soon!

 But for now, I am glad you stopped by to keep up with the JOSHUA CODE with me!

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t h i r t y   o n e 

" Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, 

a worker who does not need to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the world of the truth."  

2  t i m o t h y  2 : 1 5 

. . . 

THE BELIEVERS MANDATE

We are to be diligent and zealous about the task of studying God's Word. Since reference is made later in the verse to 'rightly dividing the world of truth', Paul was challenging all believers to take very seriously their personal study habits. The Bible is a miraculous book in which personal study never ends. Bible study is a lifetime endeavor for the committed believer. It is our assignment, our mandate from God. 

THE BELIEVERS MOTIVATION 

The discipline of study is a stewardship from God, and believers should be motivated by a passionate longing to please the Lord, to hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant". (Matthew 25:21)

THE BELIEVERS MANNER

Study is hard work. Doing word studies is laborious. Getting out our work tools of commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and lexicons is labor intensive. We are reminded that we are to equip ourselves for ' the work of ministry', as Paul mentioned to the Ephesians (4:12). Dedicated believers are to be workers who devote themselves to the wholehearted study of God's World. 

THE BELIEVERS MESSAGE 

We should approach the Bible with deep reverence, even a fear that we might mishandle or misrepresent God's truth. We should take caution against using every paraphrase we might find in order to twist the truth to match our own way of thinking about a matter. 

The believer' s message should always be centered in, and issue out of, God's holy Word. 

As you memorize this verse, lay aside all the resources and other study aids, and medicate on the Word alone. 

pg. 162

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 30

Happy Monday evening.. hope you all are off to a good start for the week?! Glad you stopped by to keep up with the JOSHUA CODE with me!

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t h i r t y

" Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, 

forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward, to those things which are ahead, 

I pree towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  

p h i l i p p i a n s  3 : 1 3 - 1 4

. . . 

FOCUS WILL PUT OUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER

Paul said: "This one thing I do" (Philippians 3:13 KJV). Not ten things, not five things, not even two things. 

But "this one thing I do." Focus helps us put our priorities in order. 

First, you define your goal, and then if begins to define you.

FOCUS WILL GIVE US A FORWAD MIND-SET

Focus enables us to begin to see our glass half full instead of half empty. 

It gives is a forward mind-set. Paul went on to say that he was 'reaching forward to those things which are ahead." 

Paul's focus lead him to possess a wise forgetfulness about the past and enable him to make sure his reach continued to exceed his grasp.  

FOCUS WILL SET US ON THE SECOND MILE 

Focus brings a passion to our work that instills within us a desire to do what is required - and then some. 

Paul said: "I press." This word press carries with it the idea of an intense endeavor, much like an avid hunter who is pursuing his prey. Paul was pressing because he had focus; he had "one thing" as the main priority in life. 

FOCUS ENABLES US TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING 

Paul said he was pressing toward ' the goal.' This word is a translation of the Greek word: skopos, from which we get our English word scope. Like the scope on a rifle, focus will enable us to get our goals and priorities in the crosshairs. Focus enables us to know where we are going and how we are going to get there. It keeps our priorities in the bull's-eye of our target. Focus is the fountainhead of successful living. It helps us to begin our task with the end in mind. 

So what is your goal in Christian living?

What is in the crosshairs of your scope?

When we begin to focus on Christ alone, we find that HE will put our priorities in order, HE will give us a forward look, HE will set us on the second mile, and HE will let us clearly see the end from the beginning. 

. . .

'As you memorize this verse this week, meditate on Christ and on HIM alone. Put HIM in the crosshairs, and do that "one thing" you do, for the glory of HIS name. Keep your life in focus by keeping Christ in the center of it. '

pg. 159 

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 29

Happy Monday evening.. hope you all are off to a good start for the week?! Glad you stopped by to keep up with the JOSHUA CODE with me!

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t w e n t y  n i n e

" I am the way, the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through Me."  

j o h n   1 4  :  6

. . . 

THE QUESTION OF PUBLIC CONSENSUS 

 Jesus asked: 'Who do men say that I am, the Son of Man, am?' (Matthew 16:13). […] Many today never seem to be able to get out of this verse. They simply live in a world that is much more interested in what men say than in what God says. […] Unfortunately, things haven't changed much. We still live in a world that seems to be far more interested in what men say about Jesus that what God says. 

THE QUESTION OF PERSONAL CONVICTION 

Then the Lord got up close and personal. He asked another question: "But who to you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). Do you see it? This is the question of personal conviction: 'what about you? You.. and only you. You and you alone. You and no one else. Who do you say that I am?' This is the question with eternal ramifications. It is the question that each and every one of us must face. […] 

Jesus is that only way to the Father's house. Indeed, He- and He alone - is "the way, the truth, and the life." And no one comes to the Father's house unless they come through Jesus! 

pages 152-155

. . .

'As you memorize this verse, meditate on how Christ is the way… how He is the truth… and how He is the life. 

Don't find yourself being more interested in what men say that in what God says. He is still asking today, "Who do you say that I am?" '

pg 155

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 28

Happy Monday and welcome back to this weeks edition of the JOSHUA CODE.

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t w e n t y  e i g h t

" In Him we have redemption through His blood, 

the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."  

e p h e s i a n s  1 : 7

. . . 

THE LORD OFFERS SOMETHING PERSONAL : "in Him"

THE LORD OFFERS SOMETHING PRESENT : "we have redemption"

THE LORD OFFERS SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES  : "through His blood"

THE LORD OFFERS SOMETHING PROFITABLE : "the forgiveness of sins"

THE LORD OFFERS SOMETHING PURPOSEFUL : "according to the riches of His grace"

. . .

'What are we saying in this chapter? That the something people think they need is really Someone. And His sweet name is the Lord Jesus. He holds the answer to every need of every heart. Those answers are in Him and in Him alone.' 

'As you memorize this verse, meditate on each of these five phrases and ask God to meet the needs of your heart at the very point of your personal needs. After all, "in Him… we have redemption.. through His blood.. the forgiveness of sins… according to the riches of His grace". '

(the joshua code. pg 150)

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 27

Happy Monday and welcome back to this weeks edition of the JOSHUA CODE.

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t w e n t y  s e v e n

" Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; 

nevertheless not My will, but Yours, de done."  

l u k e  2 2 : 4 2 

. . . 

BE SURE YOU KNOW THE SAVIOR : 1 Timothy 2:3-4

BE SURE YOU KNOE THE SPIRIT : Ephesians 5:17-18

BE SURE YOU KNOW THE SCRIPTURE : Colossians 3:16

. . .

'God does not want to veil His will from you. He is more desirous of your finding it and walking in it then you are yourself. Yes, He has a wonderful plan for your life, and He longs to make His will known to you.' 

'As you memorize this verse, meditate on what knowing Christ means to you personally. 

Recall that day when you first placed your trust in Him and were born again. Meditate on what knowing the Spirit means as you yield to Him. And make time to meditate on the Scriptures for here we find His will so often written for us in black and white. FInally, join Jesus in praying: "Not mw will... but Yours be done." '

(the joshua code. pg 145)

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 26

Happy Monday and welcome back to this weeks edition of the JOSHUA CODE.

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t w e n t y  s i x 

" For the LORD does not see as man sees; 

for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  

1  s a m u e l  1 6 : 7

. . . 

THE HEART IS OUR INTELLECT 

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the 

thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

THE HEART IS OUR EMOTIONS

"[The LORD] was grieved in His heart.'"(Genesis 6:6)

THE HEART IS OUR VOLITION

"Then the LORD said in His heart, 'I will'." (Genesis 8:21)

It is God Himself, at our conversation, who takes that old heart of ours and give us one that is brand-new. For He said, "I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." (Jeremiah 24:7) 

'As you memorize this verse, meditate on the truth, that while man may look on the outward appearance, God is looking upon our hearts. He is mindful of our thoughts, our emotions, and our will. Today is a good time to 'return to the LORD with all your hearts' (1 Samuel 7:3). And that is the real heart of the matter'. 

(the joshua code. pg 140)

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 24

We are on week 24 of the JOSHUA CODE.

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t w e n t y  f o u r 

" 'A new commandement I give to you, that you love one another;

as I have loved you, that you also love one another."  

J o h n  1 3 : 3 4 

. . . 

A NEW RULE  -  'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you'

A NATURAL REACTION - 'as I have loved your, that you also love one another.'

' What is the result of this type of love? The very next verse is explicit: "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.' (John 13:35). Perhaps John put it best when he said, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves id born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). This longtime recipient of Christ's love added, " We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).

Yes, love is the Christian life. It is in the oxygen of the kingdom. It is the acid test of our own discipleship. God did not write in the sky or send a tract in order to reveal His love for us. He sent His Son. Love did that. He demonstrated His love to us. 

As you memorize this verse, medicate on the fact that the Bible reveals a picture of real love to us in everything Jesus said and did. OUr challenge is not to obey the 'new commandment' by loving others on this higher level of love, in the same way Jesus loves. us.'

(the joshua code. pg 132)

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THE JOSHUA CODE | WEEK 23

We are on week 23 of the JOSHUA CODE.

Here is this weeks verses:

w e e k -  t w e n t y  t h r e e

" 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your strength, and with

all your mind', and 'your neighbor as yourself'."  

 L u k e  1 0 : 2 7 

. . . 

OUR GRATITUDE  - 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,  

with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind'.

OUR ACTIONS -  '[love] your neighbor as yourself'.

'Everything has a primary purpose. The real question is "Are we fulfilling God's primary purpose in our lives by obeying the greatest of all the commandments?' 

As you memorize this verse, meditate on the fact that this commandment from the lips of our Lord is so powerful that, in this one verse, He put all the Ten Commandments: 'Love the LORD… and… your neighbor as yourself".'

(the joshua code. pg 128)

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