Trinity Faith Church
Joshua 8:1-3 ESV
I. Notice that God gave both Jericho and Ai to Israel, but He did it in two totally different ways; the methods of God often change! His character, His nature, and His message never change, but His methods do, and so should ours in a changing world!
1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV
II. Three elements of God’s character from Joshua 8; the first is that He forgives sin. Aren’t you thankful that we serve a God of the second chance, and third chance, and fourth chance?
III. We need to level with God about our sins, and be accountable; He is the Creator, and we are the creation, and we often choose to do wrong! But when we do, praise God, it’s in His nature to forgive!
Lamentations 3:22 ESV
IV. The second element of God’s character is that He judges sin! What a stark contrast between those who repent of sin, and those who do not!
Joshua 8:24-26 ESV
Genesis 15:14 ESV
V. The third element of God’s character that He lets us choose. He forgives sin, He judges sin, He lets us choose whether we want to be blessed or cursed; He allows us to choose!
Pardoned or punished!
Forgiven or judged!
Joshua 8:30-35 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:3 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:16 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:4 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:18 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:5 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:17 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:6 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:19 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:7 ESV
Deuteronomy 28:25 ESV
Joel 3:14 ESV
VI. You may be thinking, and rightfully so, who needs a reason to choose blessing over curses? Anyone in their right mind would choose that way!
The first benefit that I see in choosing blessing vs. cursing is IMMEDIATE JOY!
Proverbs 10:22 ESV
VII. The second reason to choose blessing over cursing is IMPENDING DEATH; Heb. 9.27 says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
1 Chronicles 29:15 ESV
Job 9:25 ESV
James 4:14 ESV
Psalm 103:15-16 ESV
IIX. The third reason to choose blessing over cursing is IMPENDING RAPTURE! Matt. 24.44: “Therefore you must also be ready: for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Matthew 24:6-12 ESV
IX. Immediate joy, impending death, imminent rapture; the last reason is as a result of INCREASING HARDNESS; Psalm 95.7-8: “…Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…”
Acts 16:31 ESV