Shout - Day 1 - Monday, October 24th, 2011

Every Day this week I'll be posting a short, encouraging lesson to help you move from a place of survival to a mindset of taking ground. I'm talking about taking your life back and going on the offensive into the dreams, hopes, visions, and calling that dwell in your heart and Spirit. This is not a "name it and claim it" mindset, it's something that God is teaching me from His word about leaving behind wrong thinking, sin, and discouragement and moving towards obedience, faith, and vision for the future God has for me, you and the body of Christ. I've been reading and meditating on the book of Joshua for several months now, taking in other passages from scripture as well as some books I've been reading by various authors, and I want to share some things I believe God is showing me about this subject. So here's what I'll be doing this week, which will culminate in this Sunday's service at Elevation when we gather together to worship. Let me start with a little more background.

In Joshua chapter six, God's people, led by Moses' successor Joshua, were directed by the Lord very specifically on how to fight the very first battle they were to undertake as they entered the promised land. They had wandered in the desert for the last 40 years until the unbelieving generation actually died off, and a new generation had grown up and was ready to leave the wilderness and begin taking ground in the new land by faith. Almost forty years before this day, Moses had sent spies into the land and all of them, except two men, Caleb and Joshua, came back saying there was no way they could take the new land, the people were too big - their weapons were better, and blah, blah, blah, we can't take the land. The people listened to this bad report and they rebelled as unbelief filled their hearts. They complained, grumbled and ultimately rejected the plan to go in and possess this new land as God had promised. Their thinking was wrong, they were disobedient and rebellious and had swallowed the bitter pill of discouragement. Their fate was sealed for the next 40 years.

Jump back ahead now to Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho. The generation that rebelled against God has died off and Joshua is about to lead this new generation into the first battle, at the command of God. They had crossed the Jordan through by the mighty hand of God and were perched on the ready to begin by taking the city of Jericho. One thing I want to put into your heart right away is this - when you turn the corner from survival to taking ground, it doesn't mean you're not going to be fighting battles - on the contrary, you WILL be fighting battles my friends, possibly even more! The difference is the battles you fight now will be offensive battles that move you INTO the promises of God instead of wandering around fighting off all the junk we battle against when we're in places of sin, disoebience and discouragement. We have to leave those things behind us friends and follow God into battles that move us into the dreams, hopes, and calling HE has PUT IN our HEARTS.

God told Joshua the battle plan:

² Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. ³ March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. ⁴ Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. ⁵ When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” Joshua 6:2-5

So for the next six days I'm giving you a challenge to discipline yourself spiritually and prepare to turn some corners in your life. Here's the challenge:

1.) Find some time each day to read this lesson and meditate on God's word.

2.) Just as the priests carried the Ark, which represents the presence of God to us now, you take time each day this week to be in God's presence through worship and prayer. After reading the lesson spend a few minutes worshipping God and praying, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you, teach you, guide you, and comfort you.

3.) Specifically pray over each of the seven areas of your life (which I will list for you), one or two each day, for six days straight.

4.) Pray for Elevation Church, or whatever church you are a part of, to turn a corner and begin taking new ground, rescuing souls unto slavation, and bringing healing and hope to our people and our community.

5.) Close by asking the Lord to give you an obedient heart, fresh insight, revelation, courage and hope to fulfill the plans He has for you, as you leave behind the things that keep you wandering in the desert - disobedience, sin, fear, and discouragement. Let a heart of repentance fill you as you receive forgiveness and new joy!

Will you accept this challenge today? And if you miss a day, just move on and keep going! This isn't a religious, notch on your belt thing - it's simply disciplining yourself to the Lord to bring you into a new place of faith, obedience, hope and healing.

DAY 1 - TODAY'S LESSON

*You just read your lesson for today!

*Now take a time to worship and pray.

*Pray about the first of The Seven Areas of Life: (Let's add one on and call it 8)

Spiritual – My Relationship with God

Psychological - My Mind, Will and Emotions

Social – My Realtionship with Others

Physical – My Body

Financial – My Money

Marital – My Marriage

Parental – My Children

Vocational - My Contribution (the 8th one we added :)

So start today by praying over your spiritual life - that your relationship with God would grow in depth and closeness.

*Pray for your church, it's pastor, leaders, people and community.

*Finally, close with honest repentance, choosing to let go of the things that hinder your walk with God, and receieve forgiveness, joy and strength to fight new battles - battles of taking ground!

God bless you guys, I hope this is really going to be an encouragement to you. I know it has meant so much to me as God has been woking with me to leave the past behind along with the junk that hinders my life, and turn the corner to begin fighting new battles and rescuing souls!

Love you and look for tomorrow's lesson in the morning!

Pastor Kenny