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Mary came back from shopping one Saturday morning. When she entered the house, she found the house to be a mess.  Her 4 children were running all around the house shrieking in delight and chucking clothes at one another, jumping over chairs, leaving furniture overturned, clothes everywhere. Shocked, she was about to shout out to the kids to stop and warn them that Dad will discipline them.  When suddenly, Tom her husband rushed around the corner and threw clothes at the children and her!  She groaned, “Can I have some maturity in the house?”   Have you ever had anyone look at you and ask, “Can I see some maturity here?”  Or perhaps you have asked that of someone else.  When there is a lack of maturity it can be rather frustrating.  Especially in those who should have become more mature.  The same situation can occur in the church.  In fact, immaturity occurs far too often.  But this issue also occurred in the Early Church such as in the church in Corinth.    The context of 1 Corinthian 6 is the occurrence of disputes between members of the Corinth church.  Disputes which are ending up in the secular courts to find resolution. These came to Paul’s attention, including a specific dispute between one brother against another brother.  We do not know about the nature of the dispute, but it was so bad that it required a legal resolution.     The way Paul addressed the problem, opens our eyes to broader concerns.  As usual Paul was not just concerned about the specific dispute alone.  He was much more concerned about what it revealed about the immaturity in God’s house.   He was also very concerned that God’s church should operate God’s way, especially in the light of what the church is called to be.   So, as we study this passage, it enlightens us on 3 key aspects. Aspects which may challenge us as to our own maturity.    WHEN MATURITY IS LACKING IN GOD’S HOUSE   Apostle Paul was horrified to observe that there was so much immaturity within God’s house at Corinth. You can sense that in the language he was using.  The immaturity was clear in several ways.   Widespread carnal behaviour   1 Corinthians 6:1, 7-8 (NIV) “1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.”   Paul was basically saying, “Why have these disputes got so out of hand?  To the point that you even bring it to the courts of law? The fact that it reached there means all of you have completely failed!  Even the one suing.  If you have been wronged, if you have been cheated, then let it be so rather than letting it reach this extent.”   You mean, just let someone cheat and wrong you?  Well, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:38-41 (NIV) 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. It is carnal, worldly thinking for believers to fight for their rights and justice by relying on the world’s way, through the world’s systems.    Paul applied the principle Jesus taught to this situation.  He concluded that it is better to be cheated and wronged than to bring it to the secular courts against another brother.  It is carnal, worldly thinking for believers to fight for their rights and justice by relying on the world’s way, through the world’s systems.  Where is the trust in God and His Church to provide justice?    Now I am not suggesting a blanket avoidance of working through the legal system.  Not at all.  And it is not my intention today to expound all the key principles involved in biblically dealing with the courts of law.  But we must ask ourselves, are we simply falling in step with the world’s way of thinking?  Have we stopped to carefully consider what is the biblical, godly way of dealing with such matters?  Have we prayed and sought God?  Rather than simply running to our lawyers? Cheating another believer is like cheating your own father, or mother, or sibling. Because the church community is meant to be like a family!   Paul went on to point out, “It is bad enough that a member is cheating others.  Worse still he cheats another brother!”  It is such a big thing to Paul because cheating another believer is like cheating your own father, or mother, or sibling.  Because the church community is meant to be like a family!  This is terrible carnality!   When there is lots of immaturity in God’s house, we see all kinds of immature carnal behaviour.  For example, immature people get offended easily.  Just because people are not very careful with their words and put things the wrong way – we get offended!  People forget to invite us to their birthday party – we get offended!  People accidentally overlooked us – we get offended!  There are so many believers who get offended all the time in church and even leave the church.  That is so sad!   When conflicts and disputes are occurring a lot in the church it shows there is considerable immaturity in the church.  A church that my brother once used to attend in Malaysia had so much conflict between one congregation to another.  Between elders to elders.  Over money, over property, over who had more rights.  Absolutely sad!  They could not resolve it objectively, amicably, biblically.  When immaturity is widespread within a church, it is an indication how unhealthy the church is.    When believers wrong another by cheating them or mistreating or discriminating against them and so forth, it is carnality and immaturity.  When immaturity is widespread within a church, it is an indication how unhealthy the church is.  That it is not growing as it should.    Problems cannot be resolved in-house   1 Corinthians 6:5 (NIV) “I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?”   Not only was there considerable immaturity within the church, what saddened Paul even more was that there did not seem to be anyone mature enough, wise enough to judge the dispute.  There was none mature enough!  It was not a case where they have lots of new believers in the church, so it would be understandable that there is still considerable carnality.  But by then here should have been some who have matured enough to handle such situations.  Yet there were none!  What a shameful situation! The Church is intended by God to be the answer to this world’s problems.    Why?  Because the Church is intended by God to be the answer to this world’s problems.  The Church was designed by God to be a righteous community, full of love.  A light on the hill, declaring God’s purposes.  A living demonstration of heaven lived out on earth!  When God’s Church is done God’s way, it should feel like a piece of heaven has come on earth.  Better than freshly baked bread and freshly brewed coffee!  So continual immaturity is a blight on the church. It ought not to be. 1 Corinthians 14:20 (NIV)  Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. When God’s Church is done God’s way, it should feel like a piece of heaven has come on earth.    The sad problem amongst many believers today, is that we are too focussed on resolving issues pragmatically, just like we learnt in the world. Instead, we need to learn to step back and think about God’s way. Think about how Jesus would do it.  Think about how God would view the whole issue.  If each one of us would do just that, it would revolutionise the way we live.  The God’s way would become increasingly evident in God’s Church.  As it ought to be.   Yet the problem in Corinth continued to get worse.   Immaturity was publicised to the world   1 Corinthians 6:6 (NIV) “But instead, one brother goes to law against another--and this in front of unbelievers!”   Paul was appalled that the dirty linen of the church was brought into the world.  In Corinth, such legal disputes are settled in the magistrate courts which usually are held in the middle of the market square.  So anybody and everybody can hear it all.  Imagine if your children one day publicise the dirty linen of your family, the private intimate family matters to the world!  Just tweet it all!  Reality show style like the Kardashians! When the church fails to address problems within, or addresses it terribly, then it is broadcast to the world, it gives the Devil more means to attack the church.    When the church fails to address problems within, or addresses it terribly, then it is broadcast to the world, it gives the Devil more means to attack the church.  It undermines the credibility of Gospel. This was an insult to the Church.  An insult to God!   I am not suggesting that wrongs within the church should ever be hushed up.  It needs to be addressed.  But not in a way that drags down the name of the Church and the name of God.  Imagine if certain very bad things happen in a local church.  It is when the church rises up and deals with problems in a godly, gracious, fair and wise way.  Then the world will sit up and be amazed!  Did you see how the church dealt with this issue?  Our courts would never have resolved it in such a gracious and fair way!   That should be the way!  God’s Church, God’s way.    WHY MATURITY IS DESIRABLE FOR THIS LIFE AND BEYOND   Here Paul briefly gives a reason to the Corinthian church why wisdom, maturity is so important within the church.  Why it is so important for the age to come and also for the present.  From Paul’s explanation we can gather a couple of key principles.   Reflects who we are in Christ   1 Corinthians 6:2a (NIV) “Do you not know that the saints...”  In Christ, we are saints, justified, sanctified, set apart for God.     Paul made the point of referring to the Corinthian believers as saints (the Greek hagios).  For its meaning emphasizes those who have been sanctified unto God as holy.  In Christ, we are saints, justified, sanctified, set apart for God.  And it is precisely because we are saints, our daily lives are meant to increasingly reflect saintliness, godliness.  We are to mature into the very image of Christ.  Romans 8:28-29 (NIV) 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Because we are saints, our daily lives are meant to increasingly reflect saintliness, godliness.  We are to mature into the very image of Christ.    It is all about growing up!  Not according to the world’s criteria.  But to God’s standard.  To be more like God in character, in our thinking. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.   One day, Prince George will be the king of England.  In 2015, Prince George was 2 years old.  As he grows up, he should increasingly understand what it means to be a king and conduct himself more and more in a manner befitting a future king.  But what a disaster if he turns out to be a lazy, unreliable, immature, rascal of a person?  He is meant to be a king, but he is unfit to be a king.   What a disaster when Christ-followers are called saints but live in rather unsaintly ways, or even worse, like the devil.  Ephesians 4:1 (NIV) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.   We are not speaking about putting up a front, a veneer of respectability. So we appear to be saint-like.  Rather I am talking about genuine transformation inside.  Growing in the fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. When we grow in the fruit of the Spirit and in understanding of spiritual matters - that is growing in spiritual maturity.   When we grow in the fruit of the Spirit and in understanding of spiritual matters - that is growing in spiritual maturity.  Let’s aspire to that.  Because that is what God has called you to.    Reflects our call to greater roles   1 Corinthians 6:2-3a (NIV) “2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3  Do you not know that we will judge angels?”.    Paul pointed out the irony of the whole situation.  The church in Corinth had no one competent enough to judge the dispute between the members.  How can this be?  When God’s intent is that believers will one day be involved in judging this world, and even the fallen angels.  These are celestial beings.  Vast multitudes of mighty angelic beings who back in time past, in heaven above – fell into sin when they joined Satan in rebellion against God.       It requires us to judge creatures we have minimal understanding of, in a context we have not even begun to experience yet, in an era way beyond our time. Imagine you were informed that one day you will be appointed to be a judge at the International Court of Justice of the United Nations.  This court deals with legal disputes between countries.  Yet at present you cannot even deal with a dispute involving a minor traffic violation.  It is all simply too difficult!  How can you possibly prepare to be a judge of international stature one day? God has prepared for us huge roles in the Kingdom of God in the coming age.   We need to understand.  Being called to be judges is simply one of many areas that God is planning for us to take bigger roles in the Kingdom of God.  But this gives us a clue about how big the roles can be.  God has prepared for us huge roles in the Kingdom of God in the coming age.   I don’t know about you.  But I want to prepare myself for such roles.  I like the challenge to grow, to mature, to be wiser and be more ready for such roles!  And as we grow towards such huge responsibilities, it will be easier to deal with the issues we face today!   So let’s aspire to grow in maturity, according to God’s call upon our lives.   WHY WE SHOULD DEVELOP IN MATURITY NOW   As part of Paul’s debate with them, he applies it to the present, the now. In effect it gives us a key reason why we should develop in maturity right now!    Present opportunities to mature   1 Corinthians 6:3b-4 (NIV) “How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!”   Paul made the point that since God intends us to judge the world and even angels, how much more we should be engaged in learning to be competent while we are still in this life.  Let even the men of little stature be given opportunity to learn.  Hebrews 5:12-14 (NIV) 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Our time on earth is our opportunity to learn, to gain experiences, to mature for heaven.    In other words, our time on earth is our opportunity to learn, to gain experiences, to mature for heaven.  The challenges, the struggles we have to face can help us grow up.  What happens to the child who attends school but is too busy playing, day-dreaming, doing their own stuff most of the time?  They will not learn what they were meant to. Have you ever thought about the fact that our time on earth is like a big school?  Now is the season of learning and preparation for the bigger responsibilities in the age to come?  I have developed as I have because I have grabbed hold of every opportunity to learn as much as possible.   So how many of us are taking the effort to learn, to experience, to grow in God?  Or are we too focussed on other things?  Things which do not matter that much in eternity?  Let’s refocus on learning and growing into maturity.  Carpe diem.  Sieze the day.  Today!   Rewards for faithfulness.  God will reward us based on how faithful we have been in this present life.   Do you realise that God will reward us based on how faithful we have been in this present life to Him?  It will be according to God’s measure, not the measure of this world. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) 23  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.   Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV) 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.   God’s measure is how faithful we have been to Him.  In our seeking to know Him well as His children.  To serve Him as servants.  To grow in maturity be more like Him. God will reward the faithful!    CONCLUSIONS   God desires maturity in His house, the Church.  For God’s intent is that we mature to the extent that one day in the coming age we will be competent to judge this world and even the angels.  God has incredible responsibilities in store for us but we must prove ourselves faithful by growing up while in this present life.  Will you be one of those today?   Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

One day in 1860, a huge crowd were watching the world-famous tightrope walker, Charles Blondin, in his attempt to cross the Niagara Falls.  Blondin crossed the rope numerous times. He even did it with a wheelbarrow!  A 1000 foot trip, 160 feet above the raging water. A fall meant certain death.  The story is told that he spoke to the crowd, asking if they believed he could take one of them across on a wheelbarrow.  Of course, they all enthusiastically gave their agreement.  Then he asked for one of them to volunteer.  Dead silence.  They gave their mental assent, but when it can to the crunch - they did not trust Blondin enough with their own life.   Those who truly trusted Charles Blondin could cross the seemingly impossible.  But those who did not, never crossed the Niagara Falls. Their lacked faith.   Joshua 3:9-17 is a critical moment in Israel's history.  The crossing of the Jordan River.  A momentous occasion.  A challenge of faith.  A faith to cross a seemingly impossible situation.  Just like the Israelites, there are times in our lives that God may stretch us in order that He may work miracles through us!  He may desire for us to cross impossibilities in our lives, our ministries.   I believe it is important for us to understand how we can develop such faith!  To cross challenging situations in our lives!  From this passage we look at the faith of Israelites and the ingredients that enable this faith.   READY TO RECEIVE THE RHEMA   The starting point of crossing the impossibilities is hearing God.  Now, God speaks to us His children all the time.  Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Rhema relates to the spoken word of God.   But the question is - are we ready to hear His voice?  To help us, we pose a couple of questions.   Whose initiative is it?   Joshua 3:9 (NIV) Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.   Joshua encouraged the people to come and listen to what God had to say.  It indicates to us that we must take responsibility to seek God and to hear Him.  Psalms 81:13 (NIV) “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways…”  When we open our heart and spirit to listen to God, that is when we can begin to receive the rhema word.  The key is to be ready to listen.    We should take the initiative to prepare ourselves to hear from God.  When we purify our hearts - we are more ready to hear from God.  Sometimes, God may take the initiative too - but we have to be ready to receive.  Sometimes God may speak to us in the middle of the night.  Are we ready to receive?  Sometimes God speaks to Lai Ling in the night and she wakes up to pray.  I turn over in my sleep.  So God does not speak to me in my sleep - or rarely anyway.   Is your spiritual mobile phone turned on for God?  Then you are more likely to hear God. Or is it in sleep mode.   How does it sound like?   How does the rhema word from God sound like?  How do we know when God speaks to us?  The key is to become acquainted with the tone of God's voice. Just like a baby learns to understand its natural parents.  For example, Samuel in 1 Samuel 3 initially thought that God’s voice was Eli because he was unable to distinguish the difference.   We can hear God’s voice to us through many ways:   Through scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.   Through God's servants such as teachers, prophets or visions:  Hosea 12:10 (NIV) I [the Lord] spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and taught parables through them."   God can speak to us directly as we pray, through burdens, impressions, visions and also through His voice.  Acts 11:5-8 (NIV) 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 8 "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'   Are you hearing God’s voice? Are your spiritual ears open?    What does it inspire?   God's voice inspires faith in those who listen.  It energises for miracles!  Joshua assured that the people would know that has God spoke and was with them. How?  Because God's voice inspires faith in those who listen.  It energises for miracles!  When God's word sinks into our hearts - it inspires faith to believe!  Rom 10:17-18 (NIV) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.   This is one distinguishing mark of God's voice.  Of course, at other times, other characteristics of God is revealed.  So if you hear a voice in your heart that stirs fear and doubt - it is probably not God.  Faith causes the impossible to happen!  It is impossible to walk into a river at full flood and see it well up like a dam.  But nothing is impossible with God! Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 (NIV) I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."   Faith can cause mountains to obey us!  Faith has authority over physical limitations and impossibilities.  Indeed, Jesus constantly demonstrated His authority over physical limitations. Mark 4:39-41 (NIV) 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"   Are you looking at your physical limitations, or do you believe God? Are you listening and believing for a miracle? Mark 10:27 (NIV) "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."   RESPOND WITH REVERENT CHOICES   Joshua 3:14 (NIV)  So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.   After God speaks to us, we are faced with a choice.  How will we respond?  We can respond reverently or ignore God.  A reverent choice will move us one step closer to crossing impossibilities. We look at 2 characteristics of a reverent choice.   Respond with a desire to obey   Joshua 3:14a (NIV) "So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan…"   After Joshua explained to the people what God had told them to do, what did they do?  Did they have a debate, a discussion, form a committee?  And pondered over such question as: Did God really speak?  Did Joshua hear everything right?  Is Joshua theologically correct in his interpretation?  Should we obey God?   Their very actions reveal to us their attitude.  Immediately they broke camp.  They got ready to cross the Jordan river.  Their heart was to obey God!   There is little point to ask God to speak if our attitude is that we are not going to obey. Or we are only 30% ready to obey. Jeremiah 7:13, 16 (NIV) 13While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer…. 16So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you.    God is looking for those who are eager to obey God.  Whose respond to God, is Yessir!  Joshua was such a man.  We never hear about him complaining to God or attempting to negotiate with God.  Yet how many times have we tried to negotiate with God?  With an attitude that reveals our less than complete trust in God.  “God, don't ask this of me.  It is too much.”   But with Joshua it is, "Right away Sir!"  Because Joshua responded in such faith, full of desire to obey God - God was able to use him mightily to win over the Promised Land!  Pastor Che An shared about a time when God told him to witness to the TV repair man who had turned up at his house.  Turned out he was a backslidden Christian.  It turned the man around!  Ps. Che An just obeyed God and look at the outcome! When God speaks, it is time to make the reverent choice!  Will we trust God? Respond with a godly choice?   When God speaks, it is time to make the reverent choice!  Will we trust God? Respond with a godly choice? By nature I am a cautious man.  But when I hear God's rhema word - I get excited! Because I have learnt that obeying God's word always releases great blessings!   Has God spoken to you?  Perhaps about giving for the church or for someone in need?  Perhaps to take up a different job or even to relocate?  To witness to a stranger?  This is your demonstration of a reverent choice, because you desire to obey God!    Respond with action plans   Joshua 3:14b (NIV) "…the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them."   The priests did not just happen to be in front and happen to be carrying the ark. Imagine if Joshua only tried to find the priests to carry the ark on that very day.  “We need 4 priests that usually carry the ark.  Where are they?”  Finally, after getting them ready, they discover the ark is 2 km away from Jordan River.  So they weave their way through the entire camp of Israel, couple of millions of people. Remember no one else is to touch the ark of the covenant!  Imagine the entire trip through the camp, with armed guards around the priests to protect the people.  Slowly, painfully, they finally reach to the river.  It would have taken a whole day or more if they lacked plans.  Why were they able to just move forward?  Because they had a good logistical plan.  Plan for the possible, leave the impossible to God.  Our responsibility is for what we can do.  God's responsibility is for what we cannot do.    Some people misunderstand about moving with God.  They think that if God says so, it means God will do practically everything.  That is not the case.  Plan for the possible, leave the impossible to God.  Our responsibility is for what we can do.  God's responsibility is for what we cannot do.  Prov 16:3 (NIV) Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.   God wants us to learn how to work things out and to work it through.  God wants us to learn how to work things out and to work it through. God told Joshua to bring the priests with the ark in front of the people and into the river. Yet God did not tell him details. Why? God expected Joshua to work it out.  For example, God may impress you with a certain amount to pledge in faith or challenge you in some way about your giving.  Whatever it is, it is not the end of the matter to make a faith declaration.  You have to work out as much as you can.  You need to work out a basic plan on how you will give.  Plan what is possible and the rest the leave to God.  It is best to plan weekly and monthly to save certain amounts.   Whenever God told Reinhard Bonnke where to hold the next major crusades across Africa, Reinhard Bonnke goes!  But before he goes, a lot of planning has to happen.  Often it takes 1 to 2 years to plan.  They scout out the city.  Get to know the local churches and leaders.  Find a suitable location to hold the open-air crusade.  Obtain permits.  Work out the dates and all the preparations, advertising, etc before hand.  They even plan out the precise route where the huge container trucks will travel to get there.  They even scout it out before hand.  Because roads in Africa are notoriously unreliable.  For what you see on the map may not be there.   When we were planning towards our community centre, the building committee did what we could in designing the building, preparing and coordinating reports, etc.  What we could not do, such as the City Council decisions and timing - we left to God!   ACTIVATE BY ACTING UPON THE RHEMA   Joshua 3:15-16 (NIV) 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.   Often taking the first steps can be challenging.  This is where the rubber hits the road. The key in releasing God's blessings is usually our first steps of faith.  Notice that the Jordan River was in full flood.  The river starts at lake Huleh and runs 120 km through the sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.  It runs along the lowest depression on earth to the Dead Sea that is 393m below sea level.   The sides of the riverbanks are steep and deep.  During floods the river rises quickly and is deep.  Near Jericho the river current is usually swift, even more so during floods.   For 3 days the Israelites camped near the river and watched it in full flood.  Raging and turbulent – over a km wide. Anyone attempting to cross it at this stage is likely to be swept to their death.  Even when the priests came to the river's edge, nothing unusual was happening.  The river still looked as imposing as before.  Perhaps the greatest challenge for the priests was at that point of stepping into a raging river.  They might be thinking, “If God does not turn up - I am dead!”  When we step into what is impossible by faith, God steps in.     But the moment the priests took the first steps into the river, God began to hold the river back.  All the way back to town called Adam 26 km away, the river piled up!  The further the priests stepped into the water, the more water receded until the river was dry.  Sometimes, some Christians want God to open the doors before they act.  But often God is wanting us to exercise our faith at the point where we step beyond what is possible for us.  When we step into what is impossible by faith, God steps in.  Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."   We had an older man called Allan who was healed when one of our leaders acted by faith to pray for him.  2 years ago, he could barely walk a short distance.  After that, he walked for many kilometres!  As you believe even to cross impossibilities, start with the first step!   MAINTAIN FAITH UNTIL COMPLETION   Joshua 3:17 (NIV)  The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.   A very important part of obtaining what God has inspired us towards is to understand this principle.  The principle of maintaining faith.  In what way are we to maintain faith?   Maintaining the first steps   These priests stood firm in the middle of the river that they know are being held back by nothing more than the power of God!  If the power of God lapsed for whatever reason, the river would come rushing in.  Like a torrent and they would be dashed to their deaths.  I might have been tempted to sprint across the entire river! Yet they stood firm.   Sometimes we can be quick to raise our hands at an altar call and say “yes! Please send me! I want to do it!” then just as quickly forget our commitment.  Just like in Matthew 13:20-22 (NIV) The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.   Often the Devil attacks us just as we begin to take the first few tentative steps of faith.  He does not want to see us progressing in God.  He will attempt to cause us to doubt.  To be shaken.  So that we might retreat!  Imagine the priests running back from water's edge!  Would that have undone the miracle in progress? Your commitment will be tested. Be steady and continue in God to cross the impossibilities.   So don't be shaken. Your commitment will be tested. Be steady and continue in God to cross the impossibilities.   Maintaining until the task is complete   For the task to be completed, we must maintain our faith in God.  It took a while for every Israelite to cross the river.  During this whole time the priest had to maintain faith.  At various points our faith may be tested.  Unexpected situations may crop up.  Things may take longer than expected.  We get really tempted to give up or to settle for less.  Let us have the attitude like Paul who refused to give up and pressed on until the end. Philippians 3:14 (NIV) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.   We only obtain the goal of our faith when we reach the end.  So do not give up half-way. We can cross the impossibilities in God!   CONCLUSION   When God has spoken, when we have received it and responded to it in the proper way, when we have acted upon it - the blessing of God will be released.  Then we have to continue to maintain it before God!   Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

What comes to your mind when you think of church?  Quiet pews and a solemn altar? A large gathering with vibrant worship and a dynamic preacher? A warm, loving community? A place to worship God?  All of these may be good, but here’s the real question: Are our views shaped by Scripture—or simply by our preferences, traditions, and past experiences?   Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for thinking about church in a worldly way (v1–4). Their attitudes, expectations, and measurements were shaped more by culture than by Christ. And if we’re honest, the same danger confronts us today. Church must never be built by the standards of this world. It must be built by God’s standards. God’s way.   Now imagine what church looks like when it is built God’s way.  Where love isn’t a vague, sentimental “50 shades of grey,” but the rugged, sacrificial love of Scripture.  The kind of love that gives, serves, and lays itself down as Jesus did on the cross.  Where community isn’t a slogan but a lived reality—practiced, experienced, and strengthened through real relationships.  Where godliness and righteousness aren’t just Bible study words, but deep desires of the heart—pursued with humility, shaped through challenges, refined through hardship, and proven genuine even in suffering.   God’s Church, built God’s way, isn’t flashy. It isn’t trendy. It’s authentic. It’s holy. It’s pleasing to Him.  There are many aspects to God’s way of building His Church, but from 1 Corinthians 3 we will focus on three essential elements—three foundations that help us build God’s Church, God’s way.   WHEN WE HONOR HIS BODY   1 Corinthian 3:16-17 (NIV) “ 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?    17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”   Paul makes a massive statement here—but most of its force is lost unless we understand the Old Testament backdrop. His entire argument rests on the sacredness of God’s dwelling place.  In Moses’ time, God’s presence wasn’t an abstract idea. It was visible. Tangible. Awe‑inspiring. A pillar of cloud by day.  A pillar of fire by night.  The glory of God filling the Tabernacle so powerfully that even Moses could not enter without permission.   Exodus 40:34–38 describes this vividly.  When the cloud settled on the Tent of Meeting, “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Israel moved only when God moved. They stopped only when God stopped. His presence determined everything.  Later, when Solomon built the Temple, the same thing happened.  1 Kings 8:10–11 says the priests could not even perform their duties because “the glory of the LORD filled his temple.”   The message was unmistakable.  Where God dwells is holy. Untouchable. Weighty. Sacred.  Only priests could enter.  Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place—and only once a year.  Anyone who entered wrongly was struck down.  This is the level of holiness Paul is invoking. Now, the Church—God’s people—is His temple   Why does Paul bring all this up? Because now, the Church—God’s people—is His temple.  His Presence no longer dwells in a tent or a stone building.  He dwells in His people. In us. Among us. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer.  The Spirit dwells in the gathered church. God’s presence marks us as sacred.   So the Church is holy.  Sacred.  Precious to God.  Because His very Presence is in the Church.  1 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.  God gave a stern warning, “Don’t touch My Church. Don’t harm My people. Don’t dishonor My dwelling place.” If we revere God, we must revere His Body the Church.  If we honour God's Body, we must honour His people who make up the Church.    Because the Church, His Body is so holy.  Because it is so sacred.  Because it is God's dwelling place.  We must honour His Church. Do not treat it with disdain.  Not with indifference. Not with carelessness.   If we revere God, we must revere His Body the Church.  If we honour God's Body, we must honour His people who make up the Church.  Give them respect that is due them as people who belong to God.  For His Presence dwells in them too. If we revere God, we must honour our own bodies as well.    If we revere God, we must honour our own bodies as well.  We are to keep ourselves holy precisely because He dwells in us.  When we sin, we sin against God.  When we sin with our bodies, we sin against God and His temple!  Sexual sin especially sins directly against God's temple.  How can we read or fill our minds with lust, pornography and immoral entertainment whether it’s “50 shades of grey” or anything else?  It totally dishonours God! We cannot claim to honour His presence while feeding our flesh with what grieves His Spirit.   If we have sinned against our bodies or against the Church, we must repent, confess, seek forgiveness and cleansing.  Otherwise, we slowly damage God’s temple—His Church, His people, ourselves—“by a thousand cuts.”   Let us honour God, His Body, His people.  May it elevate our perspective about God’s Church, that we may give it the honour it deserves in our hearts and in our actions.   WHEN WE SERVE IN GOD’S HOUSE   In 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Paul confronts the Corinthian church for their immaturity. They were saved, but still thinking and behaving like the world—full of jealousy, quarrelling, and personality-driven loyalties.  Some said, “I follow Paul.” Others said, “I follow Apollos.” Paul’s response is sharp: “Are you not acting like mere men?”   They had turned God’s servants into celebrities. Paul, Peter, Apollos—great leaders, yes. But Paul insists they are only servants. Instruments. Vessels. Not spiritual superstars.  Not personalities to fight over.  We live in a world obsessed with celebrity culture.  People argue endlessly about who is the tennis GOAT—Djokovic, Federer, or Nadal.  Or who is the greatest female performer—Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, or Beyoncé.  If we’re not careful, we can treat preachers, worship leaders, or Christian influencers the same way.  But Paul dismantles that mindset completely. God grows His Church—but He chooses to work through us.   Paul says, “I planted.  Apollos watered. But God made it grow.”  The message is unmistakable. Only God can produce spiritual growth. Yet—amazingly—He chooses to involve us.  Not because He needs us. Not because we are impressive. But because He delights to work with us and through us. God grows His Church—but He chooses to work through us.   Some respond to God’s call. Some ignore it.  But God uses the willing.  Reinhard Bonnke the German evangelist who was used greatly by God in Africa, once shared that God told him he was not the first choice, nor the second—just the one who said “yes.”  God uses the responsive. God allows our faithfulness—or lack of it—to affect the growth of His Church.   This is astonishing.  God allows our faithfulness—or lack of it—to affect the growth of His Church. It’s like giving our children chores at home.  We don’t assign tasks because we can’t do them. We do it so our children learn responsibility, gain ownership, develop skills and grow in maturity.  Even when the children don’t do it well, we don’t give up. We persevere, hoping our children grows into the responsibility.  In the same way, God invites us into His work—not because we are perfect, but because serving grows us.  God opens the doors of His House wide. He invites every believer—regardless of background, personality, or ability—to participate.   Pastor Bayless Conley, founder of Cottonwood Church in California, once shared a powerful story. A mentally challenged young man in his church would often regularly though awkwardly greet him. One day, the young man brought a beautiful young woman to church. She responded to the altar call and gave her life to Jesus.  It turned out she was a former Miss California.  When Pastor Conley asked how this happened, the young man simply said: “You always told us to invite someone. I asked God who to invite. He pointed her out at the beach.  So I invited her.”  The young woman, with tears in her eyes, explained that she was going through a terrible season and had cried out to God in desperation, “God if you are real, send someone to me and invite me to church.  Then this young man came up to me at the beach with a big shy smile and said Hi! Do you know Jesus?  Can I invite you to church?  So I had to come and I am so glad I did.”  God used the least likely person—because he was willing. This is how God builds His House.   Serving doesn’t start with a title.  It starts with a willing heart.  Serve in your small group.  Bring lunch.  Help someone.  Don’t just consume—contribute.  Join a ministry. Offer your hands, your time, your gifts.  As you serve faithfully God will reward you. You will grow. You will mature. Your service will rise to God like a fragrant offering—just like the Old Testament sacrifices. God grows His Church. But He invites you to be part of the miracle.   WHEN WE INVEST IN HIS FAMILY   1 Corinthian 3:10-15 (NIV) “ 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.    11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.    12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.    14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.    15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”   Paul didn’t casually build churches. He built intentionally. Skillfully. Faithfully. He invested his best into God’s people—because he knew the Church belonged to Christ.   To illustrate this, think of a master craftsman.  I once watched a glassblower in Murano, Italy create a stunning glass horse.  He pulled a glowing blob of molten glass from the furnace, shaped it with breath and precision with a pincher, pinched out legs, formed a neck, bent a head, sculpted hooves, and flared a tail—all in under two minutes.  Yet every movement was deliberate. Every touch was purposeful.  You could feel the love and mastery in the work.  You can always tell when something is made with care.   The same is true in the Church.  When we invest our time, our heart, our skill—people can see it.  God sees it even more.  Investment always reveals what we value.  We invest in what matters to us. A baker invests love into every cake. A parent invests in their children’s growth. A craftsman invests in every detail of his creation.  In the same way, my wife and I invest deeply into people’s lives.  We invest financially into our church building and Kingdom projects—not because we have to, but because we believe in what God is building.  Investment is a declaration of value. God is not only interested in what we do, but how and why we do it.   God cares deeply about how we build His House.  Jesus taught this in Matthew 25.  Each servant received talents to invest.  Some multiplied what they were given. One buried it.  The master rewarded them accordingly.  The point is this.  God watches how we invest what He has entrusted to us.  Right motives produce lasting fruit.  Wrong motives produce empty results.       Faithful investment brings eternal reward.  Neglect brings loss—even if we are still saved.  God is not only interested in what we do, but how and why we do it.   Lai Ling and I had the privilege of seeing the ceiling of Sistine Chapel.  It is simply a marvel of art.  It is said that once someone noticed Michelangelo painting away in a little corner of the ceiling and said to him, “Why do you bother to spend so much time on a corner that no one will notice?”  He replied, “But God will see it!”  That is the heart of true investment.  We don’t serve for applause.  We don’t give for recognition.  We don’t build for human approval. We invest because God sees.  We invest because God values His Church. We invest because Christ is the foundation.   Paul challenges us: “Be careful how you build.” So the question becomes: •     Will we invest our time? •     Will we invest our talents? •     Will we invest our treasures? •     Will we invest through tithes and offerings? •     Will we invest in people, relationships, discipleship, the next generation?   CONCLUSION   When we invest in God’s Church, we are investing in what is eternal.  Gold, silver, costly stones. Not wood, hay, and straw. May we build in a way that lasts.  May we invest in God’s family with love, excellence, and faith—because His Church is worth it.  Let’s build God’s Church, God’s way.   Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

We are all on a faith journey with God. And in the end, what matters most is not how we began, but whether we finish well. Finishing well depends on one thing: how we keep walking with God day after day. How we keep moving forward with Him.   Yet many believers find themselves stuck—caught in a kind of spiritual paralysis. They’ve heard God. They’ve encountered God. They’ve even stepped out before. But somewhere along the way, they stopped moving. Something froze their faith.  For some, it was a painful failure when they tried to do something for God and it didn’t go as planned. For others, doubts and fears crept in and quietly took over. And for many, they simply don’t know how to keep taking the next step with God.   But God never intended for us to stay stuck. He wants to move us forward—into maturity, into fruitfulness, into the very things He has called us to accomplish. To do that, we must learn how to keep moving with Him.   In this passage, we discover five key principles for moving on with God. The context is powerful: after more than 40 years of wandering, Israel is standing at the edge of the Jordan River. Joshua has been appointed to lead them into the promise. In Joshua 3:1–5, he prepares the people to step out in faith. And now, at last, they begin to move—one decisive step at a time—into God’s future for them.   MOVE WITH GOD   Make sure we follow God – nothing else   Joshua 3:6a (NIV)   “… “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” …”   Why did the priests go ahead?  Because the people were meant to follow. Joshua 3:3 (NIV) makes it unmistakable: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God… you are to move out from your positions and follow it.”  The ark represented God’s presence. Israel wasn’t following a strategy, a personality, or a trend. They were following God Himself.  We must do the same. Our greatest danger is not outright rebellion—it’s quietly drifting into following our own desires, ambitions, or comfort.    Keep your eyes on God. Keep seeking Him. Our greatest danger is not outright rebellion—it’s quietly drifting into following our own desires, ambitions, or comfort.  Israel didn’t follow “someone” or “something.” They followed God alone.  We must resist the temptation to chase the latest Christian trend or copy what another church is doing. They may be doing good things—but the real question is:  What is God saying to us? To our church? To our ministry? To our lives?   Hard questions we must ask ourselves Are we following God—or just following our personal preferences? When God moves, do we hesitate because we’re too comfortable with our house, our job, our lifestyle? Has God shifted direction, but we’ve already locked in our own plans?   Perhaps the ark goes north, but we insist on going south.  Are we too focussed on these: My goals. My ambitions. My timeline. Nothing can change it.    The call is simple and urgent. Are we moving with God?  If we want to move with Him, we must learn to seek Him—to cultivate a life that pays attention to His presence. A life that listens. A life that watches.  Because when our eyes are fixed on Him, one thing becomes clear: When He moves, we move.   Leaders have a responsibility to move with God   Joshua 3:6b (NIV) “So they took it up and went ahead of them.”   The priests—the spiritual leaders—didn’t wait for the people to move first. They stepped out ahead. They carried the ark and walked into unknown territory because that’s what leaders do: they move with God before others do.  Joshua 3:3–4 (NIV) “When you see the ark… you are to move out… Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”   The people had never travelled this path. They couldn’t discern God’s direction on their own. They needed leaders who were already listening, already watching, already moving with God.  This is the weight of spiritual leadership.  Leaders must walk closely with God so they can lead others in His way.  When leaders follow God well, they become living examples—visible models of faith, courage, and obedience. Their lives inspire others to follow. Leaders must keep one eye on God and one eye on the sheep—attentive to His voice, and attentive to the people entrusted to them.   It’s an awesome responsibility. Leaders must move with God in a way that others can follow. Leaders must keep one eye on God and one eye on the sheep—attentive to His voice, and attentive to the people entrusted to them. So we should thank God for our leaders. Who have been faithful.  And we pray for them—because when leaders move with God, the whole community moves with God.   BE ATTENTIVE TO GOD’S LEADING   Be alert to God’s continuing instructions   Joshua 3:7 (NIV) “And the Lord said to Joshua…”.   God had already spoken to Joshua about crossing the Jordan. Joshua even told the people, “In three days you will cross” (Josh 1:11). By Joshua 3:2, those three days had passed and right at that moment, God spoke again.  Joshua was listening. He stayed alert for God’s next instruction.  For God often speaks progressively, not all at once. Hearing God once is rarely enough. In a variety of ways, He confirms, clarifies, and deepens His instructions over time.  This is captured beautifully in Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”   Many believers hear God at the beginning but stop listening along the way. Then they wonder why things drift off course. The issue isn’t that God stopped speaking; it’s that they stopped listening.  NASA has sent out many probes to explore our solar system, like the Voyager series.  NASA maintains constant radio communication with their probes. The probes continually adjust their trajectory based on those signals. But if the receiver fails—even slightly—very soon the probe drifts off course.   The same is true spiritually.  We stay on course only as we keep receiving God’s ongoing guidance. This is why God didn’t give us only a manual—He gave us a Guide.  Scripture is essential, but the Holy Spirit is the One who leads us step by step.  So keep your ears open. Stay attentive. Stay listening. When God speaks again, be ready.   God’s instructions become clearer as we move with Him   Joshua 3:8 (NIV) Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ”   In Joshua 1, God told them what would happen (cross the Jordan) and when it would happen—but not where or how.  In verse 6, God revealed the “where” by telling them to watch where the ark went.  In verse 8, God revealed the “how”: The priests were to carry the ark and step into the river.   God leads us step by step.  He rarely gives all the details upfront.  He starts with the big picture, then clarifies as we obey.  The more we move with Him, the more He reveals.  Abraham is the classic example.  God first said in Gen 12:1 (NIV) “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.”  When Abraham travelled to Canaan, God spoke again “To your offspring I will give this land.”  Then in Gen 13 (NIV) “All the land you see I will give you...” Then in Gen 15 God defined the boundaries. And in the same chapter, God revealed the timing for taking ownership of the land. Clarity grows as obedience grows.    The pattern we see is this.  First God spoke of a land.  Secondly, God points out the land.  Thirdly, God gives an idea of the scope of the land.  Fourthly, God outlines the land as well as the timing.  Step by step.  Layer by layer.  Clarity grows as obedience grows.  So don’t panic when God hasn’t given you all the details.  Some personalities—especially detail-oriented ones—get anxious when the full plan isn’t laid out. But God rarely works that way.  If you don’t move, God won’t reveal more.  Movement brings deeper revelation from God. Just as a car can only be steered when it’s moving. Movement brings deeper revelation from God.   Why does God lead this way? Because He is forming something in us—trust and obedience.  In June 1956, just days before his twenty‑first birthday, Loren Cunningham was praying in a small guest room in the Bahamas, asking God what he should speak on that evening. As he looked up at the plain white wall, God gave him a vision that would change the course of global missions.  Loren suddenly saw what he later described as a “living map of the world.”  He watched as waves crashed onto the shores of every continent—again and again—each wave coming further inland than the one before, until the continents were completely covered. Then the scene sharpened.  The waves turned into young people.  Teenagers. College students. Even children.  They were everywhere—preaching on street corners, sharing Christ outside bars, going house to house, caring for the poor, and carrying the gospel to every nation. They came from everywhere and went everywhere. Then, just as suddenly, the vision ended.  God gave him a vision. God didn’t give him a full blueprint. He gave him a vision—and as he moved, God unfolded the details until YWAM was formed and undertook its global missions until today.   TRUST THE LORD TO LEAD THE WAY   Trust in the provision and power of the Almighty God   Joshua 3:10 (NIV)  This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.   God promised Israel that He Himself would drive out the nations before them—nations stronger, more experienced, and more battle‑hardened than they were. Humanly speaking, Israel had no chance. When the odds are overwhelming, our minds whisper: “Is God really able?” “Can He actually do this?” Or worse: “It’s impossible.”   But Joshua anchors their faith in one truth: “The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth…” Not the Lord of Israel only. Not the Lord of the wilderness. The Lord of all the earth. He is Almighty.  Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is beyond His reach.   Once Smith Wigglesworth was called to pray for a man who just died. The atmosphere was heavy with grief.  Wigglesworth walked into the room and felt a fierce unshakable faith rise from within. He pulled the dead man’s body out of the bed.  Propped the body up against the wall and declared with authority, “In the name of Jesus, walk!”  Nothing happened.  He stepped back, grabbed the body again and threw him against the wall, commanding life to return.  Still nothing.  The family grasped.  Some thought he had lost his mind. Others begged him to stop.  But Wigglesworth refused to back down.  The third time, he lifted the corpse, slammed it against the wall and shouted, In the name of Jesus – Live!”  This time, the body gasped, his eyes opened and stood to his feet – alive!  The room erupted with shock and joy.  The man lived for many years after that moment. Wigglesworth wasn’t reckless — he was utterly convinced of God’s power. His actions came from a deep, Spirit‑filled certainty that Jesus is stronger than death.   Trust God to lead us   Joshua 3:11 (NIV) See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.   Some believers believe God can do all things…but quietly wonder whether God will really lead them. But when God calls us to move with Him, He does not abandon us halfway. He does not lead us into uncertainty and then disappear. God promises in Isaiah 42:16 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known… I will guide them… I will not forsake them.”  He leads.  He guides. He supports.  He comforts. He provides.  We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.”   When we choose to trust Him and follow Him, He proves Himself the Great Shepherd. Faithful, present, and utterly dependable.  We saw this when we planted the church in Brisbane—stepping out even though my work visa for Australia had only 3 months left. God led. God provided. God made a way. He always does.   STEP OUT IN FAITH   Faith receives God’s Word (v12-13)   Joshua 3:12-13 (NIV) 12  Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13  And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”   Joshua delivered God’s instruction to the people—and they didn’t argue, negotiate, or complain. They received it by faith.  Humanly speaking, the command made no sense.  “You mean… step into a flooded river? Seriously?”  But faith begins right here: receiving God’s Word even when it stretches us. Before we ever step out, we must first take God at His Word.   Faith acts upon God’s Word   Joshua 3:14–15 (NIV) 14  So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15  Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge…   Joshua and the priests were commanded to step into the Jordan River—a river that was no gentle stream.  A few realities about the Jordan:  It begins at Lake Huleh, runs through Galilee, and plunges down to the Dead Sea—393m below sea level, the lowest point on earth.  Its banks are steep and deep.  Near Jericho, the current is fast even in normal seasons. But in flood season—as in verse 15—the river becomes a raging, kilometre‑wide torrent.   For three days, Israel camped beside this impossible river.  They watched it roar.  They felt its spray. They saw its fury. And they knew: There is no human way across. Yet by faith, they acted. They broke camp. The priests lifted the ark. And they stepped toward the impossible. You can almost hear the Levites whispering, “Step into that? You’ve got to be joking.” But faith always begins with a step.  The priests stepped forth into the raging river!  And the miracle of God began! A journey of a thousand miles begins with one obedient foot forward. As we obey, God moves.   A journey of a thousand miles begins with one obedient foot forward. As we obey, God moves.   Years ago, friends of ours were informed that someone they knew was dying from a brain tumour.  He was going to be operated on but the prognosis was not good.  God prompted them to visit and pray for the man the night before.  His relatives were gathered around him because this may be the last time to see him.  Even though he was not a believer, he allowed them to pray for him.  The next morning as the surgeons prepped for surgery, the last scan revealed that the tumour had disappeared.  Although the man never turned to Christ, many of the relatives who were there did.  Faith is not passive belief.  Faith is obedience in motion.  Faith is not passive belief.  Faith is obedience in motion.   Faith in action encounters God   Joshua 3:15–16 (NIV) 15  Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16  the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.   Yet as soon as…”  Those four words change everything.  The moment the priests’ feet touched the water’s edge, God acted.  Just imagine every step the priests took.  Each time they stepped ankle deep into the water, the water subsided further.  Until they reach the bottom of the river and the river dried up!  Upstream—26 kilometres away at the town of Adam—the waters stopped.  The river piled up.  And suddenly, the impossible became a highway. This is the pattern of faith.  God opens the door after we step—not before.   This is the pattern of faith.  God opens the door after we step—not before.  Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” We don’t wait to see before we step.  We step—and then we see.  When we move in faith, we encounter God’s power. When we obey, we experience His provision. When we step out, we discover He was already there waiting.   PERSIST IN FAITH   Joshua 3:17 (NIV) “…until the whole nation had completed the crossing…”   The priests didn’t just step into the Jordan—they stood there. Right in the middle of the riverbed.  Holding the ark. Holding the line. Holding their faith. Until every man, woman, child, animal, and possession had crossed safely. That could have taken the entire day.  Imagine the pressure.  Were they tempted to worry? “What if the water suddenly comes crashing back?” “What if this miracle doesn’t hold?” But they didn’t flinch. They didn’t retreat. They persisted—because faith doesn’t just start; faith finishes. Persistence in God is the difference between almost and fulfilled.   If we want to reach what God has called us to, we must persist in faith.  Many people start well but give up too soon. They step out in faith… but they don’t stay in faith.  They begin the journey… but they don’t endure to the end.  And because they stop halfway, they never see the miracle God intended. Persistence in God is the difference between almost and fulfilled.   John Wesley understood persistence.  A page from his diary reads: •     May 5 (AM): Preached at St. Ann’s — asked not to return. •     May 5 (PM): Preached at St. John’s — deacons said, “Get out and stay out.” •     May 12 (AM): Preached at St. Jude’s — barred from coming back. •     May 12 (PM): Preached at St. George’s — kicked out again. •     May 19 (AM): Preached at St. Somebody’s — deacons held a meeting and banned him. •     May 19 (PM): Preached on the street — kicked off the street. •     May 26 (AM): Preached in a meadow — chased out when a bull was released. •     June 2 (AM): Preached at the edge of town — kicked off the highway. •     June 2 (PM): Preached in a pasture — 10,000 people came to hear him. If Wesley had quit on May 5… or May 12… or May 19…He would have missed June 2. Persist in faith—because the miracle is often on the other side of endurance.   Don’t give up too soon. Keep persisting until you see the fruit. Keep standing until God completes what He started. Keep believing until God says, “Turn.” Hebrews 12:1 calls us to this kind of endurance: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”   Persist in faith—because the miracle is often on the other side of endurance. CONCLUSION   Let’s determine to move on with God.  By focussing on God. Paying attention to God’s instructions step by step with faith and obedience.  Trusting Him for His provision.  Stepping out to act in faith.  With perseverance.  And we will see the amazing things God will do. Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Does the error of your past hang over you like dark cloud? Like a guillotine hanging over your neck? We may have mucked up but God has not given up on us. In Part 1 we discovered that God will not forsake us despite our wrongdoing. Instead, God provides us the opportunity to find reprieve, in order that He may bring redemption and help us rebuild our lives – if we would look to Him. In Part 2, we explain more on how God works. God provides us the opportunity to find reprieve, in order that He may bring redemption and help us rebuild our lives – if we would look to Him. NOT FORSAKEN DESPITE LENGTH OF TIME Exodus 2:23 (NIV84)  During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. Two things to point out: Length of time does not mean God forgot. On one hand, we see Moses in a rash bid to take leadership over Israel and now a "long period of time" in which we see Moses doing something seemingly unrelated to his calling - shepherding sheep! Moses could be forgiven for thinking that he has been forgotten by God! To think he has lost his chance to help Israel! However, God is not a prisoner of time. God is not hasty. It is this fact that means we can trust Him. It is because God isn't rash, He doesn't quickly react, that we can really trust His character. Sometimes our time schedule is based on our agenda, not God's. Are you rushing into things that God isn't? When you are stressed about things that "aren't getting finished fast enough". Are you in God's timing or in your own? How about waiting on God in your quiet time? Do you actually wait for Him? With patience? Or are you fidgety and distracted because you don't value the wait? Imagine if we had a health condition develop. Do we go to see the medical specialist even though it may take a little while for the appointment? Or do we rush off and self-medicate with the quick advice of Dr. Google? How about waiting on God? Better for us to wait on God than to rush of and mess things up further! God will work according to His timing. God does not forget, even though it may seem like forever. God will work according to His timing. God does not forget, even though it may seem like forever Why it can take time Notice how during that the long period “the king of Egypt died” and “the Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.” God was waiting for certain things to progress. The present Pharoah to die. The enslaved Israelites to really turn to God in desperation. Moses to gain the heart of a good shepherd, as he will really need that later. God's agenda is bigger than our tasks, it includes our character, and His greater plan for His Kingdom. It is funny how when we get a dream or a vision, we expect God to drop His agenda to match our timing! However, God is not impressed with our timing, our goals, our ambition. He is impressed with our submission to His will! God is not impressed with our timing, our goals, our ambition. He is impressed with our submission to His will! Clearly Moses had ambitions, that were on the surface godly, to save God's people. But these ambitions had to be tempered and submitted to God's character and purposes. Sometimes God will call us to great things, but He still can't use us if we are not submitted to him, or if our calling becomes selfish ambition. James 3:14-15 (NIV84)  14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. God is not focussed on building our kingdom, but His! Everything God does is in accordance with His perfect timing. Even the saving of our souls! Jesus came to die in perfect timing to God's will. Why did Jesus not come earlier, so more people could hear the gospel earlier? It is according to God's perfect plan. There are many things that God will patiently wait for. Even including the repentance of the nations. 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV84)  8 With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. What about you? Are you willing to wait for the same things that are important to God? What does your list of priorities tell you about how well you know God? Moses had to be trained through those years to discern the character of God, to develop a quieter, calmer heart, to learn gentleness, to learn patience. What gets you impatient? Are those the same things that God is "urgent" about? What things aren't happening fast enough for you? Is it because God is slow, or is He trying to do something in you first? What things aren't happening fast enough for you? Is it because God is slow, or is He trying to do something in you first? NOT FORSAKEN BECAUSE OF GOD’S COVENANT The Israelites could have been left in affliction and forgotten. But the people of Israel were not forgotten by God. Why? Because of… His covenant to His people Exodus 2:23–24 (NIV84)  23 …The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. Long before Moses' time, God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the forefathers of the Israelites. As part of this covenant, God promised that He would bring them out from Egypt and bring them back to the Promised Land. Gen 15:16 (NIV84)  In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” Our God is a covenant making God. A covenant is an agreement made between God and man. With these covenants, God makes clear to us what we can expect of Him and what He expects of us. He spells out the terms of His covenant to us so that we may understand the scope and boundaries of His covenant with us. When we are stuck in a tight corner, God's covenant become very important to us. Why? Because it assures us of God's faithfulness. Deut 7:9 (NIV84)  Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. When we are stuck in a tight corner, God's covenant become very important to us. Why? Because it assures us of God's faithfulness. God has established the New Covenant with us through the sacrifice of Jesus, as the sacrificial lamb, on the cross. When we accept Christ as our personal Saviour, we enter this New Covenant with God. As part of this covenant, God assures us that He will never forsake us. Heb 13:5 (NIV84)  … God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Amazingly, God has obligated Himself to us. Hence, rest assured. Even when we are in the tightest of corners, God will never forsake us. So let us make the decision to continue trusting God. Remember the story of Donna Rice? She was a committed Christian in high school and a high achiever academically and a cheerleader. But she began to compromise, dating non-Christians, began to make her decisions her own way. Dropped out of church. Then one day she was date raped. That was when she began more involved sexually and got involved in glitzy social circles. She tried becoming an actress and model and got involved romantically with a drug dealer. She tried to work hard in a pharmaceutical company but her workaholism was an attempt to run from her past. Then she met Senator Hart in a party in 1987. Then everything fell apart when their adulterous relationship was found out. She was distraught and in depression. Her mother' friend encouraged her to come back to God. Donna knew that she had created her own mess. She repented before God. God brought her into a church that began to nurse her back. God never gave up on her! His covenant of love Exodus 2:23–24 (NIV84) …  God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. God's concern on the Israelites revealed His heart for them. This reveals to us that when God makes a covenant with us, it is not some sterile business deal. God was not counting business opportunities, leveraging of greater market share or even win-win solutions. It is a covenant birthed out of compassion and love. 2 Chr 6:14 (NIV84)  “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. Because God's love is behind His covenant, we are doubly sure that He will search us out and not forsake us. Rom 8:38-39 (NIV84)  38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Because God's love is behind His covenant, we are doubly sure that He will search us out and not forsake us. In Sydney Dec 15 2003, an out of control car smashed into a child care centre where 36 toddlers were sleeping. It burst into flames trapping 2 girls under it. One girl was Sophie Delezio who suffered horrific burns to 85% of her body. When her mother Carolyn arrived at the hospital the doctor told her that her daughter looked like she was in the Bali bombing. The doctors did not expect her to survive. Carolyn called everyone she could to pray. The little toddler surprised many by surviving. But she lost her right ear, her right leg, her left foot, her fingers of her right hand. Carolyn fought with her daughter every step of her recovery. Carolyn never gave up. Today Carolyn and her husband has set up a charity Day of Difference Foundation. That is the strength of a mother's love. Yet God's love is even greater. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not our unloveliness, not our failures, not our situations. CONCLUSION Even though we may have mucked up bad in our lives, God does not forsake us. If we will look to Him, He will give us the opportunity to find reprieve, find redemption and rebuild. He will take the appropriate time to do what He needs to do with our lives, even though it does not match ours. For God knows the perfect timing. What we need to do is to trust Him. Trust His faithfulness, His covenant with us that He will not give up on us.       Are you feeling squashed in a tight corner? Look to God. For God does not forsake us. Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

What happens when we muck up in our life? When we did something clearly sinful, perhaps abhorrent even to God? Is there any hope left? Can we ever be restored again? This is such an important issue for many who have made mistakes and regret it for the rest of their lives. When we study the Scriptures, we discover an incredible example of one man who truly messed up his life. In Exodus 2:11-15, we find Moses who thought he could save his people from the ruthless Egyptian slave masters. But his way involved killing a slave master. Pharaoh found out and he had to run for his life. Imagine how it must feel. To be running away in fear and guilt. With a past that threatens to catch up and a doubtful future ahead. Life is hanging on a thread. What a tight corner! What a lonely and hopeless situation to be in. Perhaps we may be experiencing challenges in our life right now. Or we may have experienced it in the past. Or if we should face such challenges in the future, how can we respond? When we seem to be stuck in a tight corner, one thing that often trouble people's minds is: Has God forsaken me? Is there any hope for me? From this passage we will discover the certainty that God never forsakes! NOT FORSAKEN DESPITE WRONGDOING Moses had mucked up bad. He was now a fugitive. He became a stranger in a strange land, separated from home and family, from all that he was familiar with. Perhaps like Moses, we may have done something wrong. We may be running away from certain things of our past. Perhaps, like Moses we may find ourselves deep in a dark tunnel of despair when suddenly a light appears at its very end. In the very midst of a situation gone horribly wrong, when we feel like being squashed in the corner, when one may expect God to forsake us because of our sins, the opposite occurs. Instead, we discover that God perseveres with us, and He provides us opportunities to get out of the tight corner. We discover that God perseveres with us, and He provides us opportunities to get out of the tight corner. Opportunity for reprieve Exodus 2:15 (NIV84)   When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian... Though Moses had done wrong, God provided him an opportunity for reprieve to escape the clutches of Pharaoh, possibly the most powerful man on earth at that time. What made the difference was although Moses had mucked up, he continued to look to God for help. Heb 11:27 (NIV84)  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Though Moses had done wrong, God provided him an opportunity for reprieve to escape the clutches of Pharaoh, possibly the most powerful man on earth at that time. Have you ever done something silly? Mucked up because you did not understand, or were rash, or lost it for a little while? Only to realize what you had done and cried to God for help? Moses probably was in that situation. And God provided him a reprieve from Pharaoh's punishment. Indeed, God has promised that He will never leave or forsake us. Psa 9:10 (NIV84)  Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. We are never forgotten nor forsaken despite our wrongdoing. Even if you mucked up really bad! Isn't that comforting? As long as we do not forsake God Himself. Further, when God provides a reprieve, we should not always think that God has delivered us and that is the end of the story. Usually, God reprieves us to buy us time. Time for what? Opportunity for redemption Exodus 2:16–20 (NIV84)  16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock. 18 When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” 19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 “And where is he?” he asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.” God provided a reprieve for Moses so that God may now redeem Moses. For that is God's heart. God provided a reprieve for Moses so that God may now redeem Moses. For that is God's heart. To redeem the lost. Even though Moses was on the run, God did not forsake him. In the sequence of events, we can discern the hand of God. We may fall out of God's plans, but God seeks to help us fall right back in! We may fall out of God's plans, but God seeks to help us fall right back in! Moses was accepted by strangers. But it was not any stranger. Reuel may be a Midian, but a priest of the Most High. We have strong evidence of this because of several factors. Firstly, the name Reuel meant a "friend of El or God". Now Reuel is probably also known as Jethro, who later became Moses' father-in-law. Scholars have proposed different theories on the link between Reuel and Jethro. The different theories arose because in the Hebrew the word translated "father-in-law" just means a relative by marriage. And the word translated "father" can mean grandfather as well. Some suggested that Reuel was actually the grandfather Zipporah and Jethro was his son and hence Moses’ brother-in-law. Yet the simplest and most reasonable explanation is that Reuel and Jethro is the same person. Secondly, Ex 18:10-12 reveals Reuel/Jethro's attitude of thanksgiving towards God and familiarity in making sacrifices to God. Exodus 18:10–12 (NIV84)  10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. Reuel/Jethro is clearly a follower of God who was probably instrumental in influencing Moses later. He helped draw Moses closer to God and to understand God's ways. Moses may have thought he was finished as far as it relates to the purposes of God. But God was not finished with him. Moses ran away from Pharaoh and ran into God's provision for redemption. Moses who was arrogant and took matters into his own hands will now be humbled and taught to look to God. We may think we are washed out, but God wants to clean us up. We may think we are washed out, but God wants to clean us up. How does God redeem us despite us mucking up? Often when people muck up really bad, they are not in shape to go through God's normal route to mature us. Instead, He takes us on another route. A longer, slower journey to give time for restoration and rebuilding of our character foundations. It is like the difference between normal school and special school for children with some developmental challenges. Because it is like we are somewhat retarded spiritually or wounded and need a longer and slower education. In 1987, Donna Rice's name hit the tabloids in a highly publicized sexual scandal with former Colorado senator Gary Hart, a married man. Hart's bid for the 1988 Democratic nomination was trashed and so was Rice's reputation. Rice disappeared from the public eye, but she's back--passionately committed to God and to "Enough is Enough," a Christian organization fighting to keep pornography out of the hands of minors. Donna was a backslidden Christian who had wandered further and further from God. But God turned her around and redeemed her from the errors of her way. Rice is most thankful for God's work in her life: "God loves us, but he doesn't grant us immunity from the consequences of our choices. However, when we mess up, if we ask his forgiveness, he'll redeem those choices, using our mistakes as a 'door of hope' for other people (Hosea 2:14-15). I have great empathy for victims of sexual abuse and pornography. God has brought purpose to my pain."  -- from Today's Christian Woman. Christian Reader, Vol. 35, no. 2. Opportunity for rebuilding Moses thought that he had lost everything. But Moses was given an opportunity to make a fresh start. To begin rebuilding his life. God not only provided a way to redeem Moses, but also prepared for him a new life through his marriage to Zipporah and in becoming a father. Exodus 2:21–22 (NIV84)  21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become an alien in a foreign land.” God provided Moses opportunity for reprieve, redemption and rebuilding. Because God does not forsake us. In all this, it is because God wants to bless us, to do us good. Jer 29:11 (NIV84)  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We can experience reprieve, redemption and rebuilding if we choose to look to God in faith, like Moses. London businessman Lindsay Clegg was selling his warehouse property. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash all over the place. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. The buyer said, "Forget about the repairs. When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."  That's God's message to us! When we become God's the old life is over. He makes all things new. All He wants is the site and the permission to build. There are still some trying to "reform," but God offers "redemption." All we have to do is give Him the "property" and he will do the necessary "building." --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 51. We may have mucked up through some bad decisions we made. But God does not forsake us. God will give us the opportunity for reprieve, redemption and rebuilding. God does not forsake us. God will give us the opportunity for reprieve, redemption and rebuilding. There are more reasons why God does not forsake us. Find out in Part 2 . Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Have you ever considered where the richest place on earth is?  The answer will surprise you.   “The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.” ― Les Brown   How do we avoid wasted possibilities in our lives?  To enable the potential richness in our lives to blossom?  It requires us to use what God has given us to the fullest, as it was meant to.  Some of these answers may be found in 1 Corinthian 1:1-9.   Let’s start by understanding the context of Corinth.  Corinth is a large cosmopolitan city of perhaps 600,000.  Due to its location it was a bustling trade centre.  Due to its diversity, it became a cauldron for religious syncretism and immorality.  It developed a reputation for depravity.  There was even a Gk word korinthiazomai (Corinthianize), which meant "to practice fornication."     1 Corinthian was an epistle or a letter written by Paul to the believers in the church at Corinth.  It was written with the specific purpose to address various issues that had arisen there.  Because Paul wanted the church to operate God’s way, rather than in their worldly thinking influenced by the philosophies in that city.  As Paul greeted the church in Corinth, he sought to encourage the church.  He reminded them that knowing Christ has resulted in tremendous richness from God, in their lives.  In all manner of ways.   We will examine some of this richness of God in our lives, its implications and some practical applications today.   ENRICHED BY HIS GRACE   1 Corinthian 1:4-5 (NIV) “4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  5 For in him you have been enriched in every way …”   Apostle Paul reminded his readers that God showed His grace, His favour to us through our relationship with Christ. A favour that is undeserved by us.  Because we are in Christ, a natural overflow is that we are:   Enriched in Knowledge (v5b) "…in all you knowledge…...”. Something tremendous is meant to occur in our lives as a result of our coming to know Christ and as we walk with Him. We are to be enriched in our knowledge.  In what way?   Firstly, we gain new perspectives due to Truth.  We begin to see things from the perspective of truth, the perspective of Scripture, the perspective of heaven.  Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.   It could be like in Matrix the movie or Inception where what is perceived is not always reality.  It takes a waking up of our sense to the true reality.   God’s Word and His Holy Spirit renews our minds to perceive what really is. The more we understand Scriptures, a whole new vista of truth begins to dawn upon us.    Secondly, the more we understand Scriptures, a whole new vista of truth begins to dawn upon us.  We discover spiritual truths and realities that we had not known before. The more we know God, the more we experience God, the greater our appreciation of the spiritual realities that lie behind the words of Scripture.    Thirdly, the more we know God, the more we experience God, the greater our appreciation of the spiritual realities that lie behind the words of Scripture.  We come to know, taste and feel what we had understood conceptually.  Have you ever tasted some exotic fruits that perhaps you have only heard of?  You could be given descriptions of its flavour, its texture, its aroma, etc.  But until you actually hold it and eat it – it lacks tangibility. It takes on a reality that you could not have fully formed until you held and ate it.       Our enrichment in knowledge is not limited to biblical truths.  With the new Kingdom perspective, the greater understanding of biblical truths and deeper experiences in the things of God, should also enrich all the other collection of knowledge and experiences we have.  All our knowledge begins to gain new implications, new depth and richness.  As a former scientist and one who enjoys science, my knowledge of science has been enriched as I align it with my biblical perspectives.    Enriched in Behaviour (v5a) "…in all your speaking…...”.   Speech is part of our overall behaviour. Just as our behaviour has been enriched through our relationship with Christ.  We should be more loving, compassionate, gracious, respectful in our behaviour including our speech.  Colossians 4:6 (NIV) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.   If we truly, genuinely accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and begin to walk with Him - our behaviours will gradually begin to change to be more Christ-like. If we claim to know God but we do not demonstrate real change in our hearts and in our actions, then it has to be asked whether we had genuinely come to know God.  1 John 3:10 (NIV) This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.   In effect, we should be getting more gracious, more refined, more wholesome in our behaviours.  The more we are being changed by the grace of God.  When people observe us and how we behave.  They should be thinking, "Wow! I am so inspired with the way this person interacts with others.  I learn so much watching how this guy deals with conflicts.  I am amazed at this calmness and peace in the midst of great troubles."   Years ago in the church I attended in Melbourne, a retired couple would almost every Sunday invite overseas students over for lunch and took a genuine interest in their lives.  It touched the lives of many including ours.  In fact, we honoured him to have him drive my bride to our wedding.   How we behave, what we do, should be enriched by our relationship with God.  We should be more righteous in our actions, more trustworthy, more loving, etc.   Enriched in Spiritual Gifts (v7) "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”   Scriptures declares that every believer has at least one spiritual gift.  It is meant to enrich us personally and the Church.  1 Corinthians 12:4, 7 (NIV) 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit...  7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.    Every person has something important to contribute. You have something that will add to the greater good of the Body. For that is the intent of the spiritual gifts that God has given us.  1 Corinthians 12:8 - 10 (NIV) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. Every necessary spiritual gift that is sufficient for the church already resides amongst the congregation.   I believe that every believer should access at least one of the above gifts.  Will you exercise faith to grab hold of what God has already provided for you?  Hence use it to build God’s church, God’s way.  To serve God. To serve others.  Did you know that every necessary spiritual gift that is sufficient for the church already resides amongst the congregation.  It may be in seed form, but it is there.  Because the Holy Spirit gives what is adequate for building His church   KEPT BY GOD   1 Corinthians 1:v8-9 (NIV) “8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” God has provided for us everything we need to overcome and finish the race well.  Nevertheless, we have to choose to continue in His grace.    God will help us be faithful to the end by His grace.  Through the means of grace, God has provided for us everything we need to overcome and finish the race well.  Nevertheless, we have to choose to continue in His grace.  We could reject or neglect His grace.  The choice is ours.  Acts 13:43 (NIV) When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. One key principle that helps us finish the race well is when we apply the richness of His grace in our lives.   Let us choose to finish the race well.  One key principle that helps us finish the race well is when we apply the richness of His grace in our lives.  It is as we use it for His Church that it helps us to grow and mature, and strengthen our faith in God.  As a young Christian, I started to serve in Audio-visual ministry where it helped me to learn excellence in serving God.  I learnt to be spiritually more aware of the spiritual atmosphere.  Where the anointing was resting.  To be very diligent, not to miss any part of the service.  It helped me to grow in some aspects of my personal life and understanding something more about serving God.   CONCLUSION   God enriches our lives in every way by His grace.  But we have to chose to come to Him, to lean upon Him, to learn to tap into His grace.  The more we do so.  The more we serve Him.  We will discover His enriching grace. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

How can we experience success in our lives?  In our work or ministry? Often, we think of our personal victory but have we ever considered that God also desires us to experience community victory?  That there is a victory to be found when we follow God together?  When we unite our hearts to seek God’s victory together?  There is something powerful about uniting to move forward together under God.   I believe God wants His people to move forward together even more.  Especially each local church.  As we consider Joshua chapter 3, there are 4 key insights we can learn about moving forward with God together.  The context of Joshua 3 was that Israel was camped on the eastern side of the Jordan River waiting for instruction to cross the river to take the Promised Land.    DISCERN THE LORD’S LEADING TOGETHER   Joshua 3:1–4 (NIV) 3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”   It was recorded in v1 that “Joshua and all the Israelites…” listened and responded to God. Not just Joshua. Not a handful of the faithful. The entire nation moved as one.  When God’s people unite in obedience, heaven’s power is unleashed on earth.  This is why we must move together—united as a local church. One in heart. One in purpose. One in pursuit of God.  When leaders stand shoulder to shoulder, and members walk in step with their shepherds, something shifts. The Spirit begins to stir. God begins to move.  Unity isn’t just a virtue—it’s a vessel. And when our hearts beat together in surrender, God fills that vessel with His glory.   In v2, “When you see the ark…” - the Hebrew grammar places weight on the ark itself. The emphasis is unmistakable: watch God’s Presence.  The Ark of the Covenant was no ordinary object. It was a sacred chest, a throne of mercy, a vessel where God chose to dwell for a season. It represented His presence, His holiness, His movement.  In the wilderness, the Israelites didn’t move unless God moved. By day, a pillar of cloud led them. By night, a pillar of fire lit their path.  The pillar never left its place in front of the people (Exodus 13:21–22).  They watched it closely.  They broke camp only when the presence stirred.  They were trained to be alert, responsive, surrendered.   In the same way, we must move beyond passive watching but gain a posture of a God-chaser. Colossians 4:2 (NIV) “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” As a local church, we must be spiritually attuned - discerning what God is doing in our midst. Sometimes His movement is marked by peace. Sometimes by divine disruption.    When we first purchased our church land in Brisbane, it wasn’t just a decision—it was a discernment.  The year before, I prophesied that God would move us into a new phase.  And He did.  This was accompanied by new growth, new excitement and new steps of faith.  Let us be a people who watch the ark.  Who move when God moves. Who chase His presence with holy urgency.   In verse 3, a clear command was given to Joshua and the Israelites, “…you are to move out…”.  Not ponder. Not delay. Move. When God moves, we must move with Him.  Imagine being stuck while the pillar of cloud moves forward—God advancing, but we anchored to comfort or to other commitments.  For example, a 25-year house mortgage can feel like a chain.  That is why when Lai Ling and I bought our house, we chose one we could release quickly—so we’re free to follow God’s lead.  It meant committing well within our means.   Could we be holding unto a job that knots us up?  Perhaps extra family commitments that lock us down unnecessarily?  These things can quietly steal our availability for God.  Be careful not to grip the things of this world too tightly.  Be ready to move. Swiftly.   When God moves—He moves.  Divine opportunities don’t wait around.  When the call of God comes, we must respond.  Don’t cling to old ways, old traditions.  If God requires change—then change.  Don’t resist Him. Flow with Him.  Let us be a people who are light on our feet, heavy with purpose, and ready to move when God says, “Go.”   In verse 4, the Israelites were given a solemn warning: Do not come too close to the holy ark.  This wasn’t a casual caution—it was a matter of life and death. In 2 Samuel 6:3–7, Uzzah was struck down by God for touching the ark as it was being transported to Jerusalem. His intentions may have been noble, but his actions disregarded the holiness of God’s presence.   This is a sobering reminder. Do not rush ahead of God.  Do not presume upon His presence.  Be prayerful. Be discerning. Wait for God’s timing.  Give God the reverence He is due.  Negligence in following His lead can cost us dearly. But when we walk with a posture of holy fear—when we move with reverence and obedience— God grants success.  God releases victory.  Let us be a people who honour His presence, wait for His prompting, and move only when He moves.   PREPARE OUR HEARTS TOGETHER   Joshua 3:5 (NIV)  Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”   The Israelites were commanded to consecrate themselves before a holy God.  They underwent purification rituals, not as a formality, but as preparation to encounter the divine.  We must realise that God uses holy vessels. He will use you if you set yourself apart for His purposes.  Kathryn Kuhlman once said she had to die to self before God could entrust her with the ministry of miraculous healing. The anointing flows through surrendered lives. Romans 12:1 (NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”   I am deeply blessed to have met those who clearly consecrated themselves before the Lord.  I have seen God’s anointing upon their lives.  Yes, God can use anyone—even the unconsecrated—but the depth and reach of that use is often limited.  Holiness expands capacity. Surrender sharpens the edge.   Let us purify ourselves as a church.  Let us set our hearts right.  Let us be ready.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior—finely honed, straight and swift—let us be equipped to fly far and true.  Get spiritually trained. Get sharpened.  Enrol to be equipped in God’s Word.     I challenge each of us.  Set yourself apart. Die to self. Live for Him.  When the time is right, God will call.  The question is—will you be ready to be used?   Joshua stood before the people and declared with unwavering faith and expectancy, “Tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”  Not might. Not could. Will.  Lack of faith limits us.  But faith opens the horizon to the miraculous.  Smith Wigglesworth believed God for healing—and heaven responded. What and incredible legacy of faith Smith Wigglesworth left us.   William Carey, the father of modern missions, once thundered: “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”   You must believe in the call of God upon your life.  Do not waver.  Do not shrink back.  Have great faith.  Live with holy expectancy.  Trust that God will work through you—powerfully, personally, prophetically.  So I ask you:  Who will rise in faith? Who will commit themselves fully to God’s purpose?   The Lord is ready to do amazing things. Are you ready to believe?   LEADERS LEAD TOGETHER   Joshua 3:6-7 (NIV) 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.  7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. ”   In Joshua 3:6–7, we see a powerful picture of spiritual leadership: the priests carrying the ark went ahead of the people, setting the pace for Israel’s journey into the promises of God. Leadership wasn’t passive—it was prophetic, bold, and faith-filled.   If you are a leader, set the pace. Don’t wait for the crowd to move—lead the charge. Step into the waters first. Trust God when the path is unclear. Your courage creates a pathway for others to follow.  As leaders, we carry the responsibility to go out ahead—not just in strategy, but in faith. We model surrender, obedience, and expectancy. We show what it means to move with God.   Thank God for every strong and faithful group of leaders in your midst. But let’s not settle in complacency. Let’s continue to grow, to stretch, to reach our fullest potential in Christ.   This is the season to rise. To lead with conviction. To walk ahead with the ark—not for applause, but for breakthrough. When leaders move, the people follow. And when we move with God, miracles unfold.  Let’s lead well. Let’s lead with unity. Let’s lead forward.   TAKE THE STEPS OF FAITH TOGETHER   Joshua 3:8 (NIV) Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ”   This was no gentle stream. The Jordan River, fed from Lake Huleh, surged 120 kilometers through the Sea of Galilee, plunging into the lowest place on earth—the Dead Sea, 393 meters below sea level. Its banks were steep. Its currents swift. And during flood season, it became a raging torrent.   For three days, over a million Israelites camped at its edge, watching the river roar. Impassable. Uncrossable. Unthinkable.  Then came the command: “Step into the river.”  Can you imagine the Levites? “You’ve got to be joking!”  Yet Joshua believed. The priests obeyed.  Faith doesn’t wait for calm waters.  Faith steps in while the river still rages.   The journey of a thousand miles begins with one trembling, obedient step.  And that step—into the impossible—is where miracles begin.  As God speaks to you in this season, don’t wait for the flood to subside.  Take the step. Live the faith.   Stand in the river—and watch what God will do.   CONCLUSION   Let us move forward—not alone, not scattered, but united together with God.  Let us walk in rhythm with the Holy Spirit, not lagging behind, not rushing ahead.  Galatians 5:25 (NIV) “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”  This is not just a gentle stroll—it’s a divine march toward victory.  When we align our steps with His, we step into the miraculous.  When we move as one, led by the Spirit, heaven’s power meets earth’s obedience.  And surely, we will experience the incredible victories of God. Not because we’re strong, but because we’re surrendered.  Not because we’re fast, but because we’re in step.  Because we are doing it together. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

In Part 1 [click] , we shared about the true Sabbath is now to be found in Christ alone. The ultimate rest for our souls is to be found in Him. Yet how can we appropriate this in practice? Firstly, we need to realise that we can find rest in all areas of our lives. 1. FIND REST IN GOD’S PROVISION. Psa 34:9-10(NIV) 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Do not fret, nor be anxious but know that God will provide. Whether it be unemployment, meeting household budgets and other needs. God never backs away from His promises of sustaining us if we continue to trust Him and act righteously. God never backs away from His promises of sustaining us if we continue to trust Him and act righteously. I chose to obey the Lord when He beckoned me to stay back in Melbourne upon completing my university degree. That also meant I would need to also find a job to help support my stay here. Jobs were not easy to come by in those days. Yet I chose to pray and trust the Lord for His provision whilst I actively sought for a job. My savings were dwindling fast despite good economical financial management on my part. God is the Lord of the eleventh hour! He graciously provided me with a job that allowed me time to pursue another practical accounting course and being able to work at flexible hours whilst being paid at a graduate’s rate. How good is that!! 2. FIND REST IN GOD’S GUIDANCE Jer 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Prov 3:26 (NIV) for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Life is always filled with choices, crossroads of decisions. Hence it is important for us to make good decisions. We need not be unduly troubled by tough, difficult choices when we choose to trust in Him. Let God’s Word guide us, let the Holy Spirit lead us. It was recession in Melbourne in 1989. I was now married and was looking for a full-time accounting position. God provided me a job in a small manufacturing company. A week into my work there, I was asked to go for an interview in a medium sized company. That sounded pretty lucrative. Yet as I prayed before God, I sensed Him encouraging me to stay in this small company. There was no peace to go for the job interview with a bigger company. I trusted in God’s guidance. Praise God for His goodness in leading me. About six months down the track, the medium sized company folded up and many people lost their jobs. If I had found employment there, I would have ended up like them. I learnt about the importance of being guided by the Lord and finding rest in Him. 3. FIND REST IN GOD’S COMFORT Some of us may be going through a valley experience. We may be attacked by anxiety or depression when such situations arise. These can be very real. Let us really find our rest in Christ’s comfort through the Holy Spirit. We should lean in into His comfort. Psa 107:14 (NIV) He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. I was looking forward to our first child in 1994. Then on the 36th week of my pregnancy, I discovered that I had contracted the dreaded chicken pox. On top of this, I had developed a secondary infection resulting in extremely high fever and lesions all over my body. I had to be admitted to the hospital and was placed in isolation. Each day was a day filled with nurses (adorned in full protective medical gear as I was highly contagious) coming in to take tubes of my blood for further testing. And consultants coming in to examine me. All day long I felt I was being “shot” at by some “gun” due to the intense irritation of the chicken pox infection. I found out later that they were concerned that I would deliver my baby when there were presenting complications at stake. Yet God’s Presence was so real to me. Instead of feeling deeply troubled whilst being isolated in the hospital, I virtually felt rested and comforted by the Lord. I spent my days praying and reading through an intercessory/spiritual warfare book by Cindy Jacobs. I thank God that I recovered quickly and finally delivered our first child a few days later when I was no longer infectious. Praise God!! Jesus is our Sabbath. He is faithful and true to His Word. Let us rest in Him. PRACTICAL WAYS OF FINDING REST IN GOD: Here are some quick practical tips on how we may appropriate God’s rest for our hearts. Persist in prayer.  We ought to seek God’s face. For prayer builds faith and trust in God. It deepens our assurance that He is our security. Psa 27:14 (NIV) Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Persist also in worship, as it draws you into God’s Presence just like prayer. His Presence can bring a peace that surpasses all understanding. It helps us gain a revelation that God is sovereign. Trust Him and allow Him to be in charge of your life. We should not be a “control freak”, seeking to always be in control. Part of trusting God is to let go and let God. Part of trusting God is to let go and let God. Persist in acknowledging God’s Word.  God is faithful and He keeps to His Word. Claim the promises in His Word. Recall testimonies of how God got you through previously. John 10:28 (NIV) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Persist in keeping godly and supportive company.  Your godly Christian friends can pray with you and encourage you. They can also be a good listening ear and be good sounding board. They faith, their support can help you trust God more deeply. Prov 17:17 (NIV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Persist in resilience.  While you are resting in God, you need to be resilient in casting off doubt, worry, insecurities and the desperate need to be in control of our situation. Don’t let these steal the rest you have in God. Isa 40:31 (NIV) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. God’s rest is available for us in Christ. Each day, we have to draw that grace of rest from Him. The more we do so, the more we learn to draw upon this grace. God’s rest is available for us in Christ. Each day, we have to draw that grace of rest from Him. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

How do we find peace living in such uncertain times? What rest can our troubled souls find? The COVID pandemic has infected hundreds of millions and millions have died not to mention those who are now suffering from long-term effects. Numerous reports of war and conflict are breaking out in various countries. Severe storms deluged and fires ravaged different places in the world where lives were lost and many properties damaged. It has been a rough season for many. As fellow believers, we are not exempted from rough seasons in life. Yet, God’s Word reminds us in   Psa 91:1 (NIV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. God wants to remind us that through Him we can find rest, security and refuge. Even in difficult seasons of our lives. God keeps His promises made to mankind. Even in rough and uncertain times such as these days, God is still with us. This idea is captured in the concept of sabbath. Ex 31:12-18 (NIV) 12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. 14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’”18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Hence, we will examine the significance of Sabbath and how we are to find our Sabbath in Him. 1. SABBATH AS A SEAL OF COVENANT (v12-13) Exodus 31:12-13 (NIV)  12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.   The overall context of this passage of Scripture is God was making His covenant with the Israelites at Mount Horeb. A covenant is an agreement, in this case initiated by God with His people. Our God is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. Whatever He instituted covenantally with His people, He will keep to it. God does not go back on His Word. The covenant made here is called the Mosaic covenant. It was made strictly with the chosen nation of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. The Mosaic covenant was expressed in the moral, civil and ceremonial laws that governed the life of the Israelite people. Hence, observing the Sabbaths in the Old Testament time was a part of the ceremonial laws commanded by God. The Sabbaths were literal days of rest, namely occurring on the weekly seventh day and the appointed holy days of the Festivals of Passover, Pentecost and the Tabernacles. For example, Lev 23:7-8 (NIV) 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present an offering made to the LORD by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’” Observation of the Sabbaths was a sign and seal of the Mosaic covenant. It was a sign of the Mosaic covenant being put in action as the Israelites followed through in their ceremonial lifestyle. The question is whether New Testament Christians are now obligated to keep the Sabbath days as commanded by God. As the Sabbath is now fulfilled in Christ, New Testament believers are no longer obligated to keep the Mosaic Covenant including its sign and seal. In fact, New Testament believers are now under the New Covenant with different signs (which are water baptism and communion) and sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). Hence the literal Sabbath, or observance of the days of rest by the Israelite community are no longer applicable. We explain this further in the next point. 2. SABBATH AS A REST (v15-17) Exodus 31:15-17 (NIV) 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’” The word “Sabbath” means rest. When God gave the Mosaic covenant to the Israelites it was meant as a foreshadow, pointing the Israelites to Jesus Christ who is to become the Saviour of the world. What God taught the Israelites in those times, is also applicable for us as fellow believers in the 21st century in the following two aspects: God showed us by example how He Himself rested at creation (v17) Gen 2:1-3 (NIV) 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. God also desires His people to find their spiritual rest in Christ. (v15,16) The Mosaic covenant pointed towards the New Covenant that we now have in God through Jesus Christ. The spiritual truth of the literal Sabbath is now fulfilled in Christ. God desires us to cease from our own works and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. All these years, man have tried to be good, to fulfil all the laws and so forth but the Scripture tells us in Isa 64:6(NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. The spiritual truth of the literal Sabbath is now fulfilled in Christ. God desires us to cease from our own works and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We cannot save ourselves because we are inherently sinful. This is where Christ comes in. Jesus became our ransom and paid the price by dying for us at the cross. Jesus fulfilled all of God’s requirements because he Himself is sinless and by His sacrifice at the cross, He set us free from sin and from Satan’s power. Those of us who receive Jesus as our Saviour and Lord and accept Christ as the One who saved us, we will find out true rest in Him. Rest from striving to gain our way back to God by fully trusting in Jesus for our entire salvation. This is a lasting covenant of God’s grace shown towards us. Heb 4:10-16 (NIV) 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience…14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. In other words, the literal Sabbath rest pointed to a greater rest to come. This is found by entering the God’s rest, meaning the rest that God provides. A rest found in Jesus Christ alone. The one who trusts in Christ, rests in what Jesus has already done for us. We are to cease striving to achieve salvation by our own efforts and in our daily walk with God, we are to depend on the Holy Spirit. God desires man to rest as a whole person by relying upon Him. That is what Jesus promised. Matt 11:28-30 (NIV) 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” God desires us to rest in Him spiritually. We can come to Jesus and cry out for His help, His strength upon us. That is why Jesus Christ is declared as the Lord of Sabbath, for He is the creator of Sabbath and the ultimate expression of Sabbath. Jesus Christ is declared as the Lord of Sabbath, for He is the creator of Sabbath and the ultimate expression of Sabbath. Mark 2:27-28 (NIV) 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”   So now that the ultimate Sabbath is available for us, do we need the literal Sabbath? The Scriptures is clear that we are under no obligation to observe such literal days. After all, why bother when we have the real thing, in Christ? Colossians 2:16–17 (NIV) 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. However, on the practical front there is still benefit in physical rest. For man needs physical rest and recuperation, as well as time for spiritual refreshment. That is why the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. This day in the Old Testament was given for the benefit of mankind. In ancient times, there were no weekly days for physical rest. People could be working non-stop every day, particularly for slaves. So God declared a day, which practically enabled man to rest and also focus on worship unto God. In today’s world, many only need to work 5 days in a week, 6 at most. Thus, this can be fulfilled quite easily, as long as we don’t undo it by taking a second job and end up working 7 days a week without any day off. 3. SABBATH TO MAKE US HOLY (VERSES 13,15) Exodus 31: 13-15 (NIV) 13 Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy... 15For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. In the Old Testament Sabbath days were days of holy assemblies. The Israelites gathered at least once a week as a people together, and also at the times of feasts which occurred three times a year. The Israelites are called to gather and worship the Lord in His sanctuary. There is that sense of sacredness to the whole essence of Sabbath. It was also a time of celebration of God’s deliverance and mercy shown to the Israelite people. God has called them out of Egypt to a land of promise and a good future. Today, as fellow believers we are instructed to come together to worship God. To learn together of His Word, to take communion which reminds us once again of Jesus’ wonderful finished work at the cross and to rejoice together that we are worshipping the living God. Such gatherings are times of refreshing and renewal that we may be sanctified as fellow believers come together, through experiencing God. As a community, God’s Word cleanses us and renews us. Such times of regular gathering are sacred in the eyes of God. It helps us recall constantly, consistently and perpetually of the wonderful finished work of Jesus Christ so that we may rest in Him. Our willingness to set time aside for God, assemble together to worship God and to assimilate His Word into our lives is definitely pleasing to God. Heb 10:25 (NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Yet our gatherings as a church to worship God together is not a replacement for Sabbath day. For we should not confuse God’s use of Sabbath also for holy purposes of worship, in addition to it being a day of holy rest. For Christ is our Sabbath. In Christ, every day can now be our sabbath. Our gatherings as a church to worship God together is not a replacement for Sabbath day To be continued in Part 2 Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Once a little boy asked me to teach him to play chess.  So I tried.  The whole idea was to checkmate the king.  To kill him.  The boy promptly swiped all the chess pieces off the chess board.  “I win! I killed the king!”  “No, no, no!”, I exclaimed in dismay, “You missed the entire point!”   Have you ever felt like that with someone?  You were trying to explain something, but they absolutely did not get it?  That they totally missed the point?  Apostle Paul certainly felt that way with the church in Corinth. For the church really missed the point in many areas.  Especially in the whole area of wisdom.   If we are to truly build God’s Church, we need God’s wisdom so that we can build God’s Church, God’s way.  Besides, we all need more wisdom!  To live our lives more wisely, more fruitfully. To more wisely deal with challenges in our lives, our ministry.  How do we gain such wisdom?  We can find some answers here in 1 Corinthian 2:1-16.   In those days, in Corinth it was popular to be captivated by travelling Greek philosophers.  They would come by the city and eloquently share the latest philosophical thinking.  Many would gather to listen to their speeches.  Many would be stimulated by the oratory skills of the speakers. How they can stir the hearts of the listeners.  How beautiful the language they use.  How profound the ideas and concepts they articulate.  They were celebrities of their day.  Just imagine a rock concert but with philosophers!  These were the “wise men”.    This perspective was prevalent in the church there.  They too sought for wisdom or “sophia”, but they sought it in the way they knew before they came to Christ.  In this passage Apostle Paul dealt with the church’s misunderstanding of the very nature of wisdom and sought to point them towards the way of wisdom, God’s way.  From this passage we will learn some important keys about wisdom.    BEWARE OF WORLDLY WISDOM   In chapter 1, Paul rebuked them for quarrelling over which apostle they preferred.  For Paul realised that one of the key reasons was due to their misunderstanding about the very nature of wisdom and the wise men.  That was why some preferred Apollos, who was an eloquent speaker (Acts 18:24-26) over Paul.  That was why some questioned the validity or adequacy of the cross – it just does not seem to demonstrate much sophia. At least in their worldly thinking. So, Paul set about correcting their error in chapter 1.       There are several important lessons for us to learn.   Do not be captivated by worldly wisdom   1 Corinthian 2:1 (NIV) “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.”    In essence, Paul was saying that he chose not to come in the way of eloquence and wisdom that they had expected.  This does not mean we do not use eloquence or wisdom, just not the worldly version.  After all, we see the eloquence in the book of Psalms, Jobs, Proverbs, etc.  And in some epistles of Apostle Paul, including this one, persuasive arguments were made, at times quite eloquently. Worldly wisdom is based on human perspectives, human rationale, human logic.  At its best is indifferent to God and at its worst rejects God.    So what is worldly wisdom? Worldly wisdom is based on human perspectives, human rationale, human logic.  At its best is indifferent to God and at its worst rejects God.  Worldly wisdom is often very pragmatic, results-oriented, self-centred, loud.  I hasten to add that not all human wisdom is bad. Some are neutral, some are useful. But wisdom in general must be put through the filter of heaven to see if it is acceptable by God’s principles. Wisdom in general must be put through the filter of heaven to see if it is acceptable by God’s principles.   Many of us are educated, even highly educated.  The danger is we begin to rely too much on worldly wisdom in the decisions we make.  We think we have it figured out.  And we fail to go to God to seek His wisdom.  We just use our logic.  For example, we should not build church with worldly wisdom at the expense of godly principles.   We should not seek to build the church through reliance on carnal marketing techniques. Imagine if we built the church like MacDonald's, seeking to attract the children with toys and meals that attract their sweet tooth.  Or build the church with capitalist concepts where every life group and ministry competes for resources.  May the fittest, most popular life groups and ministries survive! Or attract fans with a reality show called "I am a Pastor - get me out of here!   Yet some approaches are neutral. We can utilise some marketing, such as utilising a website for the church or social media for people to look up.  However, instead only relying upon a worldly wisdom, we should instead…   Rely on God and His power   1 Corinthian 2:2-4 (NIV) “2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”   When Paul wrote, “I resolved to know nothing”, it did not mean he lacked knowledge.  But rather, he wanted to keep Jesus Christ and Him crucified at the fore, rather than be occupied with peripheral matters.  He came to Corinth in weakness, not relying upon his own strength or wisdom, but upon God.  That was why his message was not with eloquent and persuasive words that the Corinthian people had become accustomed to.  Rather, it relied upon God and His power.    What was the demonstration of the Spirit’s power that Paul referred to?  It was probably referring to a range of things that occurred in Corinth.  The transforming power of God upon the hearers, turning them to Christ.   The evidence of God’s power that came upon the believers such as the evidence of spiritual gifts.  The evidence of sign and wonders that typically accompanied Paul’s preaching of the Gospel.    Romans 15:17 - 19 (NIV) 17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.  18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—  19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.    To Paul the preaching of the Gospel is always accompanied by God’s power.  Such power is released through humble reliance on God "in weakness and fear, and with much trembling".  So instead of relying on worldly wisdom, we should rely on God and His wisdom.   When we started Hope Church in 1993, it was simply going out, meeting people and sharing our faith. Nothing flashy, gimmicky about what we do. God began to draw different people to us.  Different ones began to turn to Christ.  One time, I had to play the keyboard because no one else was available.  Though I had classical training, I had not seriously played for many years.  And certainly not for worship.  It was so stressful!  I desperately prayed that God would bring students who can play keyboard and guitar.  God brought 2 girls 2 weeks later who could do both!  They even eventually became key leaders in the church.  That is relying on God’s provision.    GOD’S HIDDEN WISDOM IS AVAILABLE   1 Corinthian 2:6-9 (NIV) “6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” Worldly wisdom is often measured by attainment and effective use of knowledge.  It is a wisdom without a soul.   The wisdom of God is not the same as that of this world.  Much of the wisdom of this world is corrupted by sin - our self-centredness, our fears, our human limitations.  Worldly wisdom is often measured by attainment and effective use of knowledge.  It is a wisdom without a soul.   But the wisdom of God is totally different in nature. James 3:17 (NIV) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace–loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  The wisdom of God is holy, righteous, just and full of love. A creative expression of God Himself.   The wisdom of God is holy, righteous, just and full of love.  Unconstrained by human limitations. It is glorious!  A creative expression of God Himself.  A wisdom tied to a Person.  Perhaps it could be said that the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom is like a Photo shopped picture of yourself. Compared to the real person, a pale shadow.   What Jesus did at the cross of Calvary is pure divine wisdom.  It is so God! Imagine the horrible, shameful, repugnant crucifixion of an innocent man.  The personification of failure and defeat.  That very act was turned by God to become the most merciful, loving, glorious act of self-sacrifice.  The personification of undeserved grace poured out for us all. That God Himself, who is totally innocent, sinless, would Himself suffer for the sins of the world – out of love for His creation.   It demonstrated at its very core the humility of the Almighty God, the mercy of the Judge of all Souls, the love of the Most Holy One.  It is so God!  So absolutely different from the wisdom of this world. Christ crucified - that is the message of wisdom, the Gospel message.  But this wisdom of God is hidden from the people, even rulers of this world.  They failed to understand the wisdom of God. If they had, they would have accepted the Messiah, rather than reject Him.  And it remains hidden because of the stubbornness and pride in their hearts.    In 2007, a man walked into a Northampton second-hand shop and bought a grubby looking, dirt-covered painting for 100 pounds because he liked the frame.  Only years later, he decided to take a closer look.  He realised that the painting looked rather old.  In fact, it had a date 1854.  He brought it to an auctioneer who identified it as possibly a Cezanne and the painting could be worth 48M pounds!  How many people missed it because they looked but did not see it for what it was.   Matthew 13:15 (Msg) Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.  Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.  The people are blockheads!  They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.   How many times have the Gospel been preached yet many refuse to humble their hearts to consider it?   Yet it is made available to those who love God.  Those who humble their hearts before God.  That we may have revelation of His wisdom.  We have the privilege of experiencing it, of understanding it. The question is how much do we value the wisdom of God?  How much will we seek after God’s wisdom?    RECEIVE GODLY WISDOM BY THE SPIRIT   1 Corinthian 2:10-12 (NIV) “10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  It is by the Spirit of God that the wisdom of God is revealed.    Scriptures reveal that it is by the Spirit of God that the wisdom of God is revealed.  The Holy Spirit knows everything from God.  And since He dwells with us, He can reveal it to us.  1 Corinthian 2:13-14 (NIV) 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.    If we do not have the Spirit of God with us, we are unable to understand. The spiritual realities that the Holy Spirit reveals makes no sense to the unspiritual person.  It may even sound foolish.  For only the spiritually discerning will understand.   I mean how do we understand spiritual truths such as Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We can only comprehend spiritual truths through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds.    The more you give, the more you will receive.  The degree of generosity you give will be the degree of generosity you will receive!  It does not make sense!  But such is the spiritual principle Jesus taught.  We can only comprehend spiritual truths through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom.   How can we gain wisdom from the Spirit?   We can study Proverbs 2 carefully and meditate upon it.   Proverbs 2:1 (NIV) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,   Study the Scriptures as God’s Word, treating is as the very words of God and the keys to life.  Be diligent to absorb it in your heart, then the Holy Spirit will enlighten you.   Proverbs 2:2 (NIV) turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,   Posture our hearts to learn wisdom and applying it in our lives.  Tune in to God to hear Him and apply it in our lives. For wisdom cannot truly be understood unless you live it out.   Proverbs 2:3 (NIV) and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,   Pray and seek God for wisdom.  For He is the source of wisdom.  Godly wisdom cannot be attained apart from God.   Proverbs 2:4 (NIV) and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,   Be diligent in seeking God’s wisdom as something truly precious.  Squeeze every drop out.  Imagine suffering from thirst in the desert and desperately getting every last drop out of their water bottle.   Proverbs 2:5 - 6 (NIV) 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.   Scriptures affirm that as you apply Proverbs 2:1-4, you will gain revelation about how you should walk with God and come to know Him more.  The more you do so, God will give wisdom, knowledge and understanding. You see, divine wisdom and God are intertwined.  Know God and gain wisdom.   I have applied the above for most of my Christian life.  And I assure you how true it is that you will gain wisdom from God.    CONCLUSIONS Surely, you can find godly wisdom if you value it and seek God.   God is wisdom personified.  He has all wisdom.  He desires His Church to be built His way, with His wisdom.  So let us not seek worldly wisdom, nor attempt to build His Church with worldly wisdom.  But recognise that God’s wisdom is available to those who seek Him for it. Surely, you can find godly wisdom if you value it and seek God. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

A little girl who went with family to visit her aunt for a month several hundred miles away.  The family drove to the aunt and left the dog with neighbours. But almost immediately the dog ran away, to find her.  Amazingly, the dog managed to track her and followed her all the way! Until the aunt’s place.  What a great follower!   We live in a society that does not know how to follow well.  But we cannot have an army full of generals.  If there were no followers, there would be chaos.  If there were only poor followers, the group would go around in circles in the desert – like the group with Moses.  But when there are great followers – they cross the Jordan River to take the land!  Great followers + great leaders = great successes    Society tells us to do it our own way.  Bible tells us to do it God’s way.  God’s way involves becoming a great follower.  We hear a lot about becoming great leaders.  We also need to understand about becoming great followers.  Great followers + great leaders = great successes.  Joshua + nation of Israel = take Promised Land. That is why God wants us to be great followers.   Did you know that Jesus was a great follower?   John 4:34 (NIV)   ""My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."  Do you want to be a great follower?  Let’s consider 3 main qualities of great followers.   FOLLOW GODLY LEADERS THAT FOLLOW GOD (v10-15)   We should not simply follow any leader.  We have seen the disaster of Germany where many followed Hitler into WWII.  Rather, we should follow leaders because we follow God.  In other words, we should seek leaders who follow God, as His representatives. Hence, great followers look for godly leaders to follow.  What are some qualities of these leaders who follow God?   Great followers look for godly leaders to follow. Leaders who trust in God   Joshua 1:10–11 (NIV) So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ”   Joshua’s actions demonstrated his total trust in God’s instructions to him.  In v2-9, God instructed Joshua to cross the Jordan River and take the land that God has given to them.  Despite the fact there were large fortified cities, well-armed armies, foreign unfamiliar terrains and other great obstacles yet Joshua trusted God!   At that point, the Jordan River was in full flood.  Clearly an impossible obstacle to cross for over a million people yet Joshua trusted God.  He did not even bother to build a bridge or boats for he trusted that God would accomplish a miracle! He told the entire nation in v5 “…tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”  Joshua knew His God.  Joshua heard from God.  Joshua trusted His God! That was enough. Leaders who trust in themselves or others more than God – will fail God.   Leaders who trust in themselves or others more than God – will fail God. Isaiah 31:1 (NIV)  "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD."  God is never pleased with such misplaced trust. Leaders who trust in God – will succeed.   Leaders who trust in God – will succeed.  Psalms 115:11 (NIV)  "You who fear him, trust in the LORD-- he is their help and shield."  For they discovered the secret of tapping into the power of God.  Leaders who trust in God – you can sense it!  Because God is with them.  God will back them up!   Loren Cunningham of YWAM was preparing a major outreach for the Munich Olympics in 1972. He wanted a warehouse to house a printing press to print pamphlets for the Olympics.  When his assistant found a castle an hour away from Munich, they sense the inner confirmation from the Holy Spirit.  They had no money, but they trusted God.  Within a few months, God provided for them to pay off leasing the entire castle.    How much will you dare to trust God in the midst of huge challenges?   Leaders that do not compromise God’s Word   Joshua 1:12-15 (NIV)   12  But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13  “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ 14  Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them 15  until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”   Joshua did not neglect God’s Word to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  Num 32:20-22 (NIV)   " 20  Then Moses said to them, "If you will do this--if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, 21  and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him-- 22  then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD."  It was not only a command from Moses, but from God – it was their obligation before God.   This required the 2 tribes and half-tribe to join their brothers in battle, leaving behind their families.  It was a tough instruction to expect of these tribes.  These men might have rejected Joshua’s command.  But Joshua did not flinch from the task.  He did not compromise.  He followed through.   Here are some quick reasons why we should follow such leaders: They can be trusted to do it God’s way.  Leaders with integrity will not compromise God’s principles. Even if it means their life, they will not compromise God’s Word. That is why spiritual leaders must know and love God’s word deeply.  We can trust them, for God’s heartbeat resonates in them.  They will be wise in God.  Leaders who love God’s Word and apply it consistently will grow in godly wisdom.  They will not make silly mistakes! They will succeed in God.  Because they carry out for God’s will, God’s way!  God will back them up. They will be greatly used of God.  Just like Joshua!   Consider this. Could it be that if we fail to follow such godly leaders, we fail to follow God?    For all leaders, you must make sure you follow God rightly. For all followers, you must make sure you follow whole-heartedly such leaders.  Do you want to be a great follower?  Follow godly leaders that follow God, those who trust in God and do not compromise His Word.   FOLLOW LEADERS BY OBEYING FULLY   What does it mean to obey fully?   Obey just as we obey God   Joshua 1:16-17a (NIV)   16  Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17  Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.   The 2.5 tribes not only agreed to Joshua’s commands but lifted it to a higher level!  The committed themselves to full obedience, as if they were obeying God!  For they understood that obeying our leaders is obeying God.  That is how God commands us to obey our leaders. Heb 13:17 (NIV)  "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."   Conversely, rebelling against our leaders is rebelling against God because they are delegated authority from God.  What happened when Miriam rebelled against Moses? In Numbers 12:1-2, 8-10 was recorded God judged Miriam with the disease of leprosy. The disease of murmuring, the disease of resistance is essentially a disobedience towards God. The principle of divine authority is where the delegated authority is God’s representative.    It is crucial to understand the principle of divine authority is where the delegated authority is God’s representative.  So, when we obey the representative, in effect we obey God.  When we rebel, we also rebel against God.  That is why in my ministry, I a man under divine authority.  For over 30 years as part of the HIM family, I worked under leadership and faithfully served them as I served God.  Partial obedience, selective obedience, deferred obedience is in reality disobedience.    We ought to obey God fully, not partially.  Deuteronomy 28:1 (NIV)  "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth."  Consider this.  Partial obedience, selective obedience, deferred obedience is in reality disobedience. For we are obeying only when it suits us.   King Saul was a classic case of such partial obedience.  In 1 Samuel 15, God told King Saul to destroy the Amalekites, to kill and destroy everything.  Yet in 1 Samuel 15:9 (NIV) "But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed."  Saul tried to rationalize his partial obedience, but God saw through his heart!  It was disobedience. 1 Sam 15:23 (NIV)   "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.""   At times, obeying God and his leaders incurs a cost.  But a worthwhile cost because it brings greater good for the group and for God’s purposes.  “We learn more by five minutes' obedience than by ten years' study”. Oswald Chambers.   There is tremendous blessing in full obedience. Watchman Nee’s story told about woman, named Charity he was interested in since his teenage years.  However, she was not a believer and was worldly in many ways.  He struggled with this matter for a season.  Then one day, God challenged him.  “Would she be a suitable to be a preacher’s wife?” Finally, Watchman Nee relented and gave up his interest in her.  He continued pursuing God’s mission for him over the next few years and saw God’s provision and blessings.  Some 10 years later he met her again and she had become a fervent Christian. They married and served God together.  God brought blessing to Watchman Nee because he was obedient.   On the other hand, godly leaders do not abuse their authority in God.  Wise leaders rarely command; they request.  They discern when they speak on God’s behalf, and when they may not.   Obey as leaders continue in God   Joshua 1:17b (NIV) “Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.”   The 2.5 tribe’s prayer was that God would continue to be with Joshua.  In effect, God would continue to be with Joshua as Joshua continued to be with God.  Thus, leaders must continue walking rightly before God.  It is crucial to realise that if leaders go against God’s Word, we cannot follow.  For we obey the higher authority of God’s Word.  If leaders disobey God, we cannot follow them in the disobedience.  For we obey God first.  If leaders disobey God, we cannot follow them in the disobedience.  For we obey God first. So we are not to follow blindly.  Obey leaders as they continue in God.    Do we want to be great followers?  Our attitude should be to follow fully.  As if we were obeying God, even though it costs us and as long as the leaders continue in God.   FOLLOW GODLY LEADERS WITH TOTAL COMMITMENT (v18)   Joshua 1:18 (NIV)  Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”   The 2.5 tribes were so committed to Joshua’s leadership they will enforce it on others!  Now, I am not sure I agree with their harsh implementation although their heart was in the correct place.    Our support to our leaders helps: Enhance their leadership.  In Exodus 17:8-12, Aaron and Hur enhanced Moses’ leadership by supporting him to hold up the staff while Joshua fought against the Amalekites. We can provide administrative help, be a personal assistant and so forth to assist our leaders.  Enable greater success for the group through our support. Bring greater satisfaction and longevity to the leader. Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)  “…Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  When our leaders are joyful, they become more effective, make better decisions, love us more, etc.   Can we commit to support our leaders?   Leaders are human as well; they need encouragement at times.  We should therefore let them know when they are doing a good job.  When they muck up, let them know that we still stand with them.  When they lack confidence, let them know they can do it in God.   Here are some quick practical suggestions to support and encourage them. Pray for them, make ourselves available for them, give our suggestions and offer help where they lack.    CONCLUSION   God desires all of us to be great followers.  Because great followers cross the Jordan River towards victory.  To do so, it is crucial to follow godly leaders who represent God well by following God faithfully. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.