There’s Always More

Introduction: The amazing Steps God does in our lives.

Have you ever surprised yourself when you look back and you couldn’t believe what just happened, how you responded or didn’t respond? God showed up again and showed His extraordinary power. Maybe when you hear, “there’s always more” you can think “I don’t need anything more.” I have my plate full, and I am trying to slow down. I understand, I am a wife, a mother, grandmother, and great grandma. In the past five years, I will have at the end of this summer, as many greats as I have grands—10! But I know that God has more for me, my family, church, and ministry.

I have been sharing the lessons on Joshua this year. He was following his new assignment and orders. God had given His people another chance. I have been given another chance many times. This time, I am going to share how God was showing Joshua “there’s more” and a new beginning.

Joshua's Example: Joshua 1:1-3: "And after Moses, Yahweh’s servant died. Yahweh spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ faithful assistant and said, “My servant Moses is dead. Now get up! Prepare to cross the Jordan river, you and all the people. Lead them into the land that I am giving to the Israelites. Every part of the land where you march, I will give you, as I promised Moses."

Moses had been the leader, but now it was Joshua’s turn. God was talking to someone who had been with Moses for 40 years! Joshua was one of the twelve spies who, after seeing the promised land, brought a good report! “Yes, we can take this land!” Joshua was Moses’ assistant and was on Mt. Sinai when God wrote the Ten Commandments. Joshua was the one that went to the tabernacle (tent of meeting) with Moses. He loved God’s presence and stayed after Moses left. Joshua had been with Moses in the hard times but saw the miracles daily that God provided. This was an exciting day; finally, he had the orders to go and possess what God had given. There is so much more I have for you.

Karen's Story: How God Gives "More"

I want to tell my story briefly, how God has given me MORE. Twenty-one years ago, I began my journey to Africa. When I was in Ethiopia with my children to get our granddaughter, God said, “Karen, you will be back.” I had no clue what that meant. I have seen God “have more” yearly as we have organized Leadership Conferences, helped in projects, sending Leader's lessons and books around the world. Now we are doing our second Medical Mission Clinic. I give God all the glory for what He has done.

What does He have new for you? Maybe you have dreamed about things that have been dropped in your heart. Or maybe like me; you don’t have a clue, but you want Him to speak to you; you will be obedient and see what God has!

In this lesson I will share three of God’s amazing gifts he gives as he continues to give us “the More”. We can see these in Joshua’s new assignment. I have seen these experiences in my life.

GOD’S THREE AMAZING GIFTS (My Life Experience) We cannot have “the more” from God without these three gifts!

1. GOD’S WILL IS ON-GOING.
We can get stressed out trying to figure out the will of God – it isn’t like solving a crossword puzzle.

A. God continues to speak. 

Seventeen times in Joshua we read the words “Yahweh spoke to Joshua” or “Yahweh said, “Perhaps it was through an audible voice, in a dream, in a vision, in a divine encounter, or through prophecy.” He had given Moses the promise but now he continued to speak to the new leader giving him instructions and promises. They had been in the wilderness for 40 years but now they were on the doorstep of Israel’s entrance into Canaan.

B. God continues to ask for obedience.

The fulfillment of God’s promises of blessing to Israel depend on their cooperation. The blessings of victory, inheritance, abundant provision, peace, and rest all came to the people of God as they obeyed Him.

C. Blessing (His Will) follows obedience, just as judgment follows disobedience. 

He continues to ask for our total surrender and to ALL IN.

I think we make God’s will too hard. We think if we do this, or volunteer for this, I can be good enough! Then I’ll be chosen for a position. We are never good enough! This is a heart issue and God will open your door.
Psalm 32:8 – "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." PTL I will stay close to you, instructing, guiding and leading you along the way.  (To instruct, direct, teach, to point, shoot, aim, throw, cast in a straight manner.)
D. When we follow God; anything can happen – you never know who you’ll meet, where you’ll go, and what you’ll do.

E. Sometimes the will of God seems irresponsible, and we make decisions that make no sense. There is ONE WAY, His way.

2. GOD GIVES HIS EXTRAORDINARY POWER TO ORDINARY PEOPLE.

God’s ways are not our ways. God knows our path and gives us thoughts, ideas, and opportunities we could never have without Him. He gives them to ordinary people, and we can do the extraordinary things, unusual, maybe strange, crazy or unsafe to “the natural” people around us.

 The people of Canaan were depraved; lawlessness and brutality were commonplace. Canaanite religion emphasized fertility and sex, serpent worship and child sacrifice. The state was set and the land ripe for conquest.

Joshua 1:5 - “Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you for the rest of your life! I will be with you as I was with Moses, and I will never fail nor abandon you.”
A. God promised his power would be with Joshua as he took the challenges.

Can you imagine the surprises as you walked in the wilderness? Israel remained faithful to God throughout Joshua’s lifetime. He was a follower and a role model.

When did it become ordinary or safe to follow Christ?
In Jesus’ day, the average people never travelled outside a 35-mile radius of his home. His disciples, ordinary fishermen, were empowered and sent to the four corners of the world.
B. When Christ becomes Lord of your life, you start doing the extraordinary instead of the ordinary.
Some of my steps in life seemed so out of the ordinary But God! When I went to a Bible College at 18 and it was 1400 miles from home; God changed my life forever. I met my soul mate, and my journey was so out of the ordinary.
Was it unusual or safe for you to change locations, stand up to your convictions and beliefs, and make steps of faith that did not make any sense? As you look back, I am sure you have many stories how God gave you “more” because you were obedient.
C. When we see His extraordinary power, we are safe in God.

3. GOD WILL TOTALLY SURPRISE YOU.

God will blow your mind and do beyond what your mind can imagine when you constantly seek His will and plan. Sometimes the surprises are not what you expected or felt you needed, but it was His plan!
Joshua 1:7: “Do not deviate from him to the right or to the left, so that you will have overwhelming success in everything you overtake.”

Joshua was starting a new life of God’s miracles. History tells us Joshua was 85 years old.

A. Joshua conquered the Promised land and divided the promised land.

We see God’s mercy unfold and God’s character unfolded through the many conflicts that arise. God not only initiates covenant relationships but also punishes disobedient people. But he gives his people victory over their enemies as they possessed the land and nationhood. This God is a God who fights for his people , standing with them in the midst of their oppression and suffering, raising them up to the plateau of victory and assuring them they have no reason to “be afraid or discouraged, for I am Yahweh your God and I will be with you wherever you go.”
B. We are to walk in faith, but that is what it is - faith! When we think we have figured everything out, it will change!
C. Keep believing in the impossible.

Ephesians 3:20: "Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination. He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you."
God is always a rewarder of WHY WE DO SOMETHING AS MUCH AS WHAT WE DO.

GREAT EXAMPLES: Nehemiah (a cupbearer to the king) goes and rebuilds the wall of Jerusalem in 52 days. Noah – a farmer builds an ark. David, a shepherd boy, fights the giant, saves a whole nation and becomes king of that nation years later. Paul, a murderer, surrenders to God and writes over half the New Testament.
GOD IS BIGGER THAN BIG, CLOSER THE CLOSE, GOODER THAN GOOD AND HE LOVES TO SURPRISE YOU!

CONCLUSION:

I encourage you on your journey wherever you are and even in the new steps you are about to take. There is no vision without provision. Look at God’s amazing gifts he has given to all of us. And there are many more I have not discussed. These gifts will change your life forever. I see God working now in ways I have never seen him work. My relationship is so much sweeter. He is always giving “the More” and “the More”. I ask for what I feel I need, and he will give me what he knows that I need that I have not thought of. I know you can see his answers, blessings, fulfillment, peace and joy. 

We may not conquer nations, but every day we face tough situations, difficult people, and temptations. God promises, however, that he will never abandon us or fail to help us. By asking God to direct us we can conquer many of life’s challenges. He will show us his extraordinary power and surprises!

Please review God’s great gifts and next time we will discuss some steps that he will ask of you in believing for “the More”. Live today as though there were no tomorrows but plan and expect “the More”.

REFLECT:

Define how these gifts make a difference in your life and your choices.

Which steps can be “lost” at times as you get busy in your walk?

What More do you need as you look at your future?