Joshua 1:1-4 (NKJV) After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
The similarities we can draw between the Israelites journey into the Promised Land and our new life in Christ is the part focused on walking out the lifestyle of faith in response to God’s calling upon our lives. God desires for us to seek out His will for our lives because He has chosen us and predestined us to be His children before He created the universe (Ephesians 1:4-5).
Joshua lived a lifestyle of faith that really pleased God. God spoke to Joshua very clearly because he had a close relationship with Him. Even though he was a “goal getter” and had a “can do” spirit, he patiently waited for God’s green light before he actually entered the Promised Land occupied by giants. He waited for God’s spoken word instead of rushing ahead of God’s leading. It would be foolish, presumptuous, and even suicidal if they went ahead to conquer the land without God’s spoken Word. However, Joshua walked and obeyed the instructions of the Lord.
To walk with the Lord means to do our daily Bible reading. This way, we can hear more clearly His still silent voice, and we will be more sensitive to the spontaneous prompting of the Holy Spirit, as well as receive dreams or visions from the Lord.
In this current age, many entrepreneurs and businessmen have the same “can do” and “goal getter” personality exemplified by Joshua, but lack the obedience and patience to listen to the voice of God. In order to walk in God’s blessing and protection, we need to learn to set aside time to tune into God’s voice. For believers, who have made a big decision to move back to their home country, they need to ensure that God has spoken to them personally. That’s because God has a specific calling on our lives. If we don’t take time to hear from God, we will be walking in His permissive will, rather than the plans that He has for us.
John 10: 27 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Jesus is referring to the sheep from his sheepfold and He knows them well. The sheep’s refusal to listen to the Shepherd’s voice will cause him to stray away. Therefore, it is important to set aside time to listen to God’s voice. Even if God’s will is different from ours, we can rest assure that He has good plans in store for us.
Psalms 46:10 (NKJV) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Journaling is one way of hearing from God. Most importantly, we need to reflect on what God has spoken to us in our daily quiet times before acting on it in obedience. The Word gives substance to our faith and anchors our soul throughout the whole process before our promise is manifested in the natural realm.
Sermon Series: Moving Forward
聆听神的声音
约书亚记 1:1-4 耶和华的仆人摩西死了以后，耶和华晓谕摩西的帮手，嫩的儿子约书亚，说：“我的仆人摩西死了，现在你要起来，和众百姓过这约旦河，往我所要赐给以色列人的地去。凡你们脚掌所踏之地，我都照着我所应许摩西的话赐给你们了。从旷野和这黎巴嫩，直到伯拉大河，赫人的全地，又到大海日落之处，都要做你们的境界。
从以色列人进入应许之地和我们在基督里的新生命相比，我们可以归纳出的相似处，就是回应神在我们生命中的呼召，行出信心生活。神希望我们寻求祂的旨意，因祂拣选了我们，并且在创立世界以前就在基督里拣选了我们作为祂的儿女（以弗所书 1:4-5）。
约书亚一生都过着蒙神悦纳的信心生活。神非常清楚地晓谕约书亚，是因祂与约书亚之间有亲密的相交。虽然约书亚是为达目标锲而不舍的人，并有着一种“使命必达”的精神，他仍耐心等候神说可以，才进入那有巨人居住的应许之地。他耐心寻求神，而不是迫不及待地跑在神的带领前。若他们不听从神的话就迳自前往攻打这土地，如此擅敢行事的做法是极为愚蠢，甚至自取灭亡的。然而，约书亚甘心顺服于神，并听从神的命令。
与神同行意味着我们要每日研读圣经。透过这种方式，我们能够更清楚地聆听祂微小的声音，才会对圣灵的感动更加敏锐，并能够领受从主而来的异梦与异象。
如今这世代，许多企业家和商人都具有如约书亚一样锲而不舍和使命必达的品格，但缺乏顺服和耐心聆听神的声音。为了能行在神的祝福与保护中，我们要学会将时间分别为圣来倾听神的声音。对已经作重大决定要返回自己家乡的弟兄姊妹而言，他们需要确认神已亲自对他们说话，因为神对我们每个人生命中都有各自的呼召。若我们不花时间去聆听神的声音，我们只能行在祂容许的路径上，而不是行在祂对我们的命定里。
约翰福音 10:27 我的羊听我的声音，我也认识他们，他们也跟着我。
耶稣指的是祂羊圈里的羊，祂认识他们。羊若不愿听牧羊人的声音，会致使自己远离羊群。因此，空出时间来细细聆听神的声音是很重要的。即使神的旨意与我们大径相庭，我们仍能够安心，因祂为我们预备了好的计划。
诗篇 46:10 你们要休息，要知道我是神！我必在外邦中被尊崇，在遍地上也被尊崇。
记录下灵修的心得也是聆听神的一种方式。最重要的是，在顺服行事前，我们要思考神在每日灵修时对我们说过的话。神的话语为你的信心赋予了实底；神给我们的应许在自然领域中实现以前，神的话语如同灵魂的锚，稳固了你的人生历程。
讲章系列：勇往直前（第二部）
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