When Faith Makes Sense 

Series Text: Joshua 5:13-15 / 6:1-3

 

Introduction:  God has provided Joshua with the plan for good success. This plan is summarized in Joshua 1:8. God’s plan states that if we take this book of the law and meditate on it day and night and do according to all that is written therein, this is when we will be prosperous and have good success.  The plan requires faith in Jesus, the man with the plan in order to possess God’s promises.

 

I. (Joshua 1:8) God wants us to be prosperous and have good success. 

a. To prosper simply means ‘to do better’. 

b. All success is not good.  

Illustration: Just because something is successful doesn’t means that it is God.  Everything good is not God but everything God will always turn out for your good.  He makes all things work together for our good (Ro. 8:28).

 II. Faith and sense is not the same thing. It is an antinomy.

a. An antinomy is two things that seem to contradict one another but in a real   sense both are true in their own right. 

b. Faith is not sense and sense is not faith.

 III. When faith makes sense it is because you have the revelation of Jesus Christ.     

a.       As the Captain of the Lords Host.

b.      As the leader and commander of His people.

Illustration: (John 2:1-10) Mary says whatever he say do, do it! Jesus says, fill the water pots. The servants fill the water pots with water – that makes sense. Jesus says, draw the water out. The servants draw the water out – that makes sense. Now Jesus says, go and take it to the governor - now wait a minute, that doesn’t make sense.  Why?  Because the governor did not ask for water, he asked for wine. They received a miracle when they did it by faith, even when it didn’t make sense. 

 

IV. When faith makes sense is when you do it by command. 

a.       It is not where you are going but who are you following. 

b.      The steps of a good man or woman are ordered by the Lord. 

c.   All a soldier needs is a command.

Illustration: In every command of God (He never suggests anything) you have a capsule of the promise of success. What we need is for God to give us a command to do something.  And what is inside of that command of the Lord Jesus Christ is a promise of success.