Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

3. reaching our land of milk and honey in heaven depends upon a clear comprehension of itsworth and a dedication to conquering every obstacle in its waya. Peter said that we are to look forward to a new heavens and Earth–a new abode to replacethis doomed version–and the apostle John was fortunate enough to see a vision of this New Jerusalem(Revelation 21:1-5)1. it is a land of milk and honey to which we journey because God will be with us and wewith him2. he will wipe away ever tear and every sorrow, abolishing pain and death altogether3. we will pluck our fruit from the tree of life, inaccessible since the expulsion of Adamand Eve from the Garden, and drink from the River of life (cf. Revelation 22:1, 14)4. all the treasure we have lain up throughout a life of farsightedness and sacrifice willreward us anew (cf. Matthew 6:20)C. Entered Only Through Much Tribulation1. we do not suppose that any of the faithful few believed that Canaan would be conqueredwithout difficulty; even Joshua and Caleb knew that the giants would exact some price while God wastaking away their land and giving it to Israel2. neither should we believe that a possession as precious as heaven will be secured with perfecteasea. Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas preached that, ”We must through many tribulationsenter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).b. Paul also taught that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will sufferpersecution” (Second Timothy 3:12).3. a tribe of giants is employed by our adversary, the devil, to intimidate and entice us–deceitfulgiants of persecution, temptation, weariness and intemperance (Matthew 7:13-14)a. in times of weakness, the devil seems ten feet tall and we can be tempted to surrender likethe ten spiesb. it is then that we must find courage (First Peter 4:12-19)D. Perspective Is Everything1. 12 men looked at a giant cluster of grapes, each seeing exactly the same objective fact–bigfruit, but interpreting that evidence differently according to the perspective of their faitha. the majority saw that giant fruit as evidence that the inhabitants of Canaan were too mightyto overcome; the minority saw that giant fruit as evidence that the land was worth taking and that amighty God could make it theirsb. our perspective, or mindset, is going to determine how far our faith will take us2. even within the church, there are disparate mindsets that portend some going on to thepromised land and others languishing in defeat along the waya. some see the word of God as an academic exercise and worship assemblies as amasquerade; their perspective on spiritual matters holds them as relatively insignificant and eminentlyimpractical–they are good talkers, but rare doersb. others allow the word of God to affect their every decision and engage worship assembliesas direct communication with the throne room of heavenc. they are distinguished in submission (Matthew 7:24-27)1. the storm lashed both men but the man with an obedient perspective found his faithfounded on a solid rock, while the apathetic man found himself washed away from the shifting sands ofindifference or hypocrisy2. some of us need to remove planks from our eyes because we see our brother's faultclearly while we are blind to our own3. others need to realize that they have removed their hands from the plow and madethemselves unfit for serviceII. Wisdom In InfluenceA. We Will Serve The Lord1. after rehearing Israel's recent history, Joshua called on the people to take a stand once and forall about the singularity of God (Joshua 24:14-15)2. four things are required66! Jeff S. Smith