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From Bondage to Freedom (Joshua 2:1-21)

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Our current message series is called “The Bible Series.” In this series, we are looking at stories that have been portrayed in The Bible miniseries recently broadcast on The History channel. Some may ask, what relevance do stories of what people have done thousands of years ago have to us today? Fair question.

First of all, these are not just any stories, these are stories that have been preserved for us in The Bible. The Bible is an incredible book, the best-selling book in history and the self-proclaimed Word of God.

Romans 15:4 (NIV) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

This verse from the New Testament tells us that the things that were written in the past, which would be the Old Testament were written down so that we could learn from them. The Bible was written to encourage us and to give us hope. Who needs encouragement and hope these days? I think we all could use some more of that. So the stories in the Bible are not random, unrelated stories. The stories in the Bible have been selected by the Holy Spirit for the principles they teach and for the encouragement they bring.

Today, the title of our message is “From Bondage to Freedom.” Many people think that Christianity puts a person in bondage and restricts their freedom. However, the exact opposite is true. Jesus came to set people free from bondage to sin to live in the freedom that only comes from God.

John 8:34, 36 (NIV) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

When someone becomes a believer, Jesus, the Son, sets them free from sin. However, even for a believer, there is a process of spiritual growth that results in greater freedom in our lives. So, whatever your spiritual maturity this morning, God wants you to grow in freedom.

Let’s look at the background of the story that we’re going to look at in detail this morning. The nation of Israel had been in bondage as slaves in the land of Egypt. God had set them free from slavery and they were now on a journey to reach the Promised Land. They had reached the border of Palestine, but a fortress city called Jericho stood in their way. God had instructed the Israelite leader, Joshua, to totally destroy Jericho for it’s generations of decadent sin. Yet, out of Jericho, one woman and her family would be rescued. One woman of faith would make the journey from bondage to freedom. Her name was Rahab and her story is also our story in many ways. Rahab is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament as a woman of faith.

Hebrews 11:31 (NIV) By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

So, let’s look at the story of Rahab in Joshua 2 and sees how it applies to our lives today.

Resisting Temptation (Genesis 39:6-20)

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What dreams does God have for your life? Now, my question was not “Does God have dreams for your life?” Because God’s Word teaches us that God as our creator, does have a plan and a dream for your life. Some people think that you can do whatever you want with your life, as long as you don’t do anything bad. They believe that you are in charge of the course of your life. You can live life according to your plans and desires, but you will miss God’s best. God’s dream and plan for your life envisions the best possible life you can have. Your best life is a life following God’s dream and influencing others for God. Your best life is a life seeking the expansion of God’s kingdom on this earth.

So let’s come back to my initial question “What dreams does God have for your life?” The Bible will give you the general parameters of God’s dreams for you. But you’re going to need to hear from God directly to get the specifics. God’s got a dream for your life and He wants to tell you about it. Ask Him and He will. God’s dream for your life is going to face challenges. In our current message series, we’re looking at the life of Joseph, as he follows his God-given dreams.

Last week, we learned from Joseph’s first challenge to his dreams. God had shown Joseph that he would be a leader over his brothers, indeed over his whole family. Yet, his brothers, whom he was supposed to lead, intended to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave to Egypt. The challenge to Joseph’s dream last week was of external circumstances and people who were trying to stop his dreams.

Today, my message is entitled “Resisting Temptation.” External circumstances or people can’t stop God’s dreams for your life. It may appear that they do for a time, but as you continue to follow God, you will see His dreams fulfilled. Today we’re going to talk about internal challenges to your God-given dream. In many ways, these challenges are more serious, because you can stop God’s dreams for your life by giving in to temptation. Although nobody else can mess up God’s dreams for your life, you can and many people do mess up God’s dreams for their lives. Now, God is a God of second chances, but it’s so much better to get it right the first time. So let’s think about what temptation is all about for a minute.

James 1:13-15 (NIV)  When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. …

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Trust God with Your Dream (Genesis 37:12-36)

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Today, we continue our message series called “Keep Your Dream Alive.” In this series, we are studying the life of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis. God gave Joseph two dreams about the future course of his life at the young age of 17. The dreams had to do with Joseph becoming a leader over his brothers and eventually a leader over his family, which became the nation of Israel. However, the fulfillment of those dreams was a long way off. Joseph will have to go through some severe attacks and disappointments before those dreams come to pass. So in this story, God has some important lessons for us today.

Today, my message is entitled “Trust God with Your Dream.” God has a dream for your life, just as he had for Joseph. God’s dream for your life has many facets. In fact, He has a dream for each area of your life. Some important areas we talked about last Sunday were your job, your family and your ministry. If you’re not sure of God’s dream for your life, ask Him to show you and He will. God wants you to know His plan for your life so that you can follow it.

Yet, every dream from God will be attacked. Why? Because we have an enemy, Satan, who will do whatever he can to stop God’s dreams from being fulfilled. Satan will try to get you to pursue dreams that are not from God for your life. Satan will attempt to put roadblocks in your life to delay or stop those dreams. He will try to get you to give up on pursuing God’s dream. But God’s Word tells us that nothing can stop God’s dream for your life if you keep pursuing it and trusting God for it to be fulfilled.

Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. …

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God-Given Dreams (Genesis 37:5-11)

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Today, we continue our message series called “Keep Your Dream Alive.” In this series, we are studying the life of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis. Our objective is to learn principles from how God worked through Joseph’s amazing life. God’s Word is not just a bunch of entertaining stories from long ago. God’s Word was written to instruct us and teach us how to live for God in the 21st century.

My message today is called “God-Given Dreams.” Joseph is often referred to as the dreamer, as if he came up with his own dreams. However, as we’ll see today, Joseph’s dreams were God-given dreams. God communicated with Joseph concerning his future through dreams. When you look back through the book of Genesis, you see God communicating with people in a number of ways. God communicated with Abraham through a vision. God appeared to Abraham’s son, Isaac and spoke to him. God appeared to Isaac’s son Jacob in a dream that we’re going to look at today. Finally, we’ll always be examining the God-given dreams of Joseph.

What about today? How does God communicate with people now or does He? There is a widespread teaching today that God no longer communicates with people supernaturally. The age of miracles, dreams, spiritual gifts and visions is past. We can read about it in the Bible, it happened back then, but God no longer does supernatural things, they say. This teaching, called cessationism, says that all supernatural miracles ceased at the end of the apostolic time and we no longer need God’s supernatural power because we have the Bible. The devil can still do supernatural things, but God doesn’t. The problem with the doctrine of cessationism is that it isn’t biblical, there is not a shred of biblical evidence for it.

The Bible was written to show us what God is like and how he interacts with people. We see God working supernaturally from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible prophesies that God’s supernatural work will continue until Jesus returns.

Acts 2:17 (NIV)  In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.   …

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Building on Your Past (Genesis 29:14-30:24)

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Today, we begin a new message series called “Keep Your Dream Alive.” Every person has a dream, although not everyone knows what that dream is. The dream we’re going to be talking about in this message series is your special, unique dream that God has for your life. People have all kinds of dreams that are not from God. Some people dream of winning the lottery. Others dream of great accomplishments that never happen. Others dream of things that are ungodly. But God has a dream and plan for your life that He wants you to keep alive and live out.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. …

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Old Yet New (Ephesians 4:17-32)

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The Bible is an incredible book. The Bible contains the truth that God has chosen to reveal to us. The Bible teaches us how to relate to God and how to live on this earth. The Bible contains many simple truths, but also is deeply profound. God’s Word is so simple that a child can become a believer in Jesus, yet so advanced that theologians write huge books about it. Your success in life depends on your knowledge of the Bible and your application of it’s truths to your life. Yet, for many people the Bible is a confusing book. The Old Testament seems to teach some things different than the New. Sometimes, one part of the Bible seems to saying something different than another part. Why is that? …

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