LESSONS FROM JOSHUA—PART I #16

(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, April, 1988.)

[NOTE on January 7, 2014: This article was written more than 25 years ago, but it is still true today. SGT is now further in debt than the total amount we raised during that important year. We have virtually stopped asking for help, and donations to reduce the debt have diminished to nearly nothing. We believe God would have us be debt free once again, so to all of you who love SGT, consider this article as if it had been written today.]

In Joshua 1:2, God told Joshua, “Lead my people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.” Later He said, “be bold and strong” and “you need only to be courageous and to obey.” Joshua told the people to “get ready to cross the Jordan,” to “go across and conquer and live in the land which God has given us,” and to “purify themselves.” Ever since God showed Stained Glass Theatre our “Promised Land,” we have felt God speaking to us and leading us through the book of Joshua. We have tried to listen and be sensitive to God’s principles. We desire with all our hearts to proceed exactly as God would have us to go—to do all in His timing.

As we study the beautiful words and wisdom in the book of Joshua, this special book to us, we can see a wonderful plan of action—God’s plan. First was the call for bold, courageous, and obedient leadership; second was the call for preparation; and third was the call for purification. As we have sought God’s will for SGT, we believe that He has shown us His expectations and will by revealing to us in His Word principles that never change and never fail. Those principles would seem to be:

         —bold, courageous leadership requires Faith

         —preparation requires Work and Obedience

         —purification requires Cleansing through Repentance

         —the reward is Victory and Blessings

We believe that God would have us follow these principles, remembering that the call was not to just a few but to all of Israel. So, too, now the call is for all, for I am certain the “Promised Land” God has shown us is not just meant to be a great blessing and challenge for those of us who work directly with the theatre. It is rather for all who love and share the vision of the SGT ministry: our faithful friends, supporters, laborers, and patrons. Yes, it is a dream, a promise, for us all. I am also certain that to release God’s power, revealed in His Word, we must apply His principles and truths to our own lives and situations. That is what we are trying to do at SGT. We know that God has shown us our “Promised Land” and that He has called us to provide bold and courageous leadership and that He has given us our time for preparation and our time for purification.

In dealing with the first principle, bold and courageous leadership, all I can say is that those of us who are in leadership positions are trying. We are praying and seeking to be sensitive to God’s direction. We ask you to pray for us daily.

What about the second principle—or time of preparation? I sincerely believe that the year the Lord has given us to raise the $60,000 we need in order to move into our new home debt free is our time of preparation. It is not a time to wait and do nothing. God has given us time that must be used wisely so that when the moment comes to “cross over,” we will be ready—we will have the funds required. So how are we doing in our time of preparation? Good, but not good enough. I feel we got off to a good start but in recent months we have “slacked off” expecting God to do miracles without us doing our part. We must change this and get back to work! I have no doubt that God will do His part if we do ours. And what is our part? We must seek His guidance, and we must be obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He leads us. When I felt God speak to my heart that He was going to give us one year to raise the $60,000 and go into our “Promised Land” debt free, I never for one moment sensed God telling us to sit on our hands for one year and expect Him to drop the money from heaven like manna. Indeed, no, I knew He was saying WORK and I will guide you and bless you. Have we been working? Yes! Has God guided us? YES! Has God blessed us? YES. Abundantly! But He has blessed us in accordance with our work.

I know that many times God directs us to pray and wait upon Him. Other times God directs us to pray and move into action. I believe the latter was God’s mandate to SGT. And what is the work we are to do? That’s simple—we are to ask! Ask whoever and whenever God prompts us. We must pray for God to lead us to people who will give. And, also, pray that God will give us the boldness and courage to ask those whom He reveals to us. It’s not easy to ask for contributions. I know, for I hate it, too. It has been hard for me to ask and I’m sure we have not received some gifts that God had for us because at times I’ve lacked the boldness and courage to be obedient to God’s prompting and ask. As I’ve asked less in the last few months, God has blessed us less. The message is clear—waste not the time given you! I must, we all must be obedient if God is to bless us. And so I must ask you, our friends, to join with us. Please help!

As I said before, the challenge is for all who love SGT. Please respond now with a generous gift or pledge! But more, help us by asking others you know, as God leads you, to give. If everyone who received this newsletter responded by giving or raising $50, we would more than have the $35,000 needed to go over the top. Please pray! Please help! Please ask! Our preparation time is two-thirds gone, and we have less than half of the funds needed. We must not fail because we did nothing.

If we are faithful in what God has directed us to do, then we can rest in the assurance of God’s promise to Joshua and to us—Joshua 1:5 “. . . I will not abandon you or fail to help you.” And we say—Rejoice! Rejoice in the faithfulness of our Lord! Thank You, Father! Praise Your Holy Name!

COMING NEXT: LESSONS FROM JOSHUA—PART II              

Leaders at SGT had one final step in their preparation before entering their “Promised Land.”