Promised Land: From Fear to Victorious Faith

These sermon excerpts from Trenton Wesleyan Church's "Promised Land" series explore various aspects of faith and spiritual growth. Key themes include overcoming fear by trusting in God's love, the importance of unity among believers for receiving God's promises, and the practice of consecration, which involves dedicating and setting oneself apart for God's purposes. The excerpt also discuss how a strong identity in Christ rooted in God's nature fosters confidence and the call to active faith and reliance on God's presence when facing challenges.

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Discover transformative insights from the "Promised Land Series" sermons! This collection unveils powerful realities for every Christian, challenging conventional thinking and equipping you to live with unwavering confidence and purpose. Imagine an ebook distilled from these teachings, offering practical wisdom for navigating life's challenges with God by your side. Here are three unique truths you'll unlock:

1. Unleash True Confidence Through Consecration. Stop feeling uncertain about your faith journey! The key to living confidently in these times isn't just positive thinking; it's consecration.

This powerful biblical concept means dedicating yourself to God, setting your life apart for His purposes, and committing to following His ways. Consecration is a two-way street – while we consecrate ourselves, God also consecrates us, setting apart people, places, and things for His purposes. This process is vital because it helps create a strong sense of identity, which is where true confidence comes from. Unlike the world's attempts to remove shame through consensus, shame is effectively removed by consecration as we take our sin to the cross and turn from it, dedicating our lives to God. Consecration empowers ongoing dedication to living for God and is the path to experiencing victory over sin and temptation. Learn how dedicating yourself to God can replace fear with perfect love and allow you to step into the future with assurance.

2. Discover Your Unshakeable Identity in Relationship with God

In a world telling you to look inward for identity, discover the biblical principle that reveals a more profound truth: identity is found not solely from within, but in relationship. As God's people, our identity comes fundamentally from God. Consecration plays a crucial role in helping to create this God-given identity. The sources reveal multiple ways God provides this identity, including writing it in scripture, removing shame through the cross, reminding us through ceremonies like Passover and Communion, and establishing our citizenship in heaven through our relationship with Christ. Our stability and confidence are rooted in our relationship with Christ and our heavenly citizenship. Understanding that God is our God is essential, shifting our focus to Him as the one in whom we find our true identity. When you grasp that your identity is secured in your relationship with a faithful God, you unlock an unshakeable foundation for living confidently.

3. Unlock God's Promises Through Active, United, Self-Sacrificial Faith

Are you waiting passively for God's promises to manifest? The journey to receiving God's promised "rest" and experiencing His work requires active faith. A lack of action for Jesus can demonstrate a lack of faith in Jesus. Success in receiving God's promises comes from going with God, trusting in His presence and meditating on His word. Jesus himself promises His presence to us. We are called to actively respond by faith to God's calling and understand that sometimes, what's needed is a "move of God's people" alongside a move of God. Following Jesus inherently involves consistently surrendering to God's ways and sacrificing our desires for the sake of others, just as Jesus demonstrated ultimate self-sacrifice. Furthermore, God's promise of rest is fully received when His people are united. We are called to fight for others to help them find their rest in Christ, even out of our own settledness and blessing. By actively surrendering our fears to God and following Him wholeheartedly, we position ourselves to see God's amazing work and receive His promises, both now and in the future.

Discover a transformative resource that will elevate your Bible study experience and deepen your faith journey. This ebook, inspired by powerful sermons, serves as your ultimate study guide companion, offering concise, engaging chapters designed for quick 5 to 10-minute reads. Dive into thought-provoking study guides and 10 dynamic discussion questions that will ignite meaningful conversations and bring fresh energy to your group sessions. But this is more than a study tool—it's a blueprint for living a bold, purpose-driven Christian life. Learn how to embrace consecration, root your identity in God, and cultivate an active, united faith that impacts every aspect of your daily life. Unlock profound truths, spark transformation, and step into the vibrant, confident life God has called you to. Start your journey today!

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Chapter 1: What Are You Afraid Of ?

This chapter explores the nature of fear, suggesting that it often has a deeper, underlying cause that hinders progress both individually and collectively. Using the biblical story of the Israelites and the Promised Land as a central example, the sermon highlights their fear of the challenges ahead and, more significantly, their underlying fear of God's intentions for them, questioning His love and potential judgment. The sermon then pivots to emphasize that perfect love, specifically God's love for humanity demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice, is what drives out fear and enables people to receive God's promises. It concludes by encouraging believers to surrender their fears to God, identify them, and actively grow in God's love to overcome obstacles and move forward into the "promised land" God has for them.

Chapter 2: Unsettled Yet United

This chapter uses the story of the Israelite tribes settling east of the Jordan River in the book of Numbers to illustrate key principles for modern Christians. It emphasizes that there is no such thing as retiring from following Jesus, meaning believers are always called to mission and service, reflecting the concept of "As You Go Make Disciples." Furthermore, the message highlights that every decision involves a sacrifice, urging Christians to prioritize the needs and well-being of others over their own comfort and desires, mirroring Christ's self-sacrifice. Ultimately, the sermon posits that God's promise of rest is received when God's people are united, emphasizing that God's promises are for the community as a whole and encouraging listeners to identify where they have received God's rest and who they are called to fight for in order for others to experience that same rest.

Chapter 3: Going with God

This chapter explores the significance of God's presence and His word in the lives of believers and the church, using the biblical example of Joshua. The sermon explains how everyday farewells like "goodbye" and "adios" reflect the idea of "going with God," a concept central to overcoming challenges like fear and disunity, just as the Israelites faced before entering the Promised Land. The sermon emphasizes that relying on God's presence, promised to Moses, Joshua, and ultimately to believers through the Holy Spirit, and meditating on His word are the keys to strength and courage in fulfilling God's purposes. The sermon highlights the importance of seeking God's presence not just for personal needs but also for the sheer joy of being with Him, arguing that a deeper awareness of God's presence is crucial for effective ministry and experiencing His transforming work.

Chapter 4: Is God Able?

This chapter from a sermon uses the biblical story of Rahab and the spies in Jericho to illustrate the concept of active faith. The speaker highlights how the Israelite spies gained conviction not just from God's promises, but also from the unexpected testimony of Rahab, a non-Israelite woman of low social standing. This serves as a parallel for how we, too, might seek external confirmation instead of trusting God's revealed will. Ultimately, the sermon emphasizes that lack of action often demonstrates a lack of faith in Jesus and encourages listeners to find tangible ways to live out their faith, understanding that genuine faith is shown through deeds, just as Rahab's actions demonstrated her belief in God's power.

Chapter 5: We've Never Been This Way Before PT1

This chapter uses the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land in the book of Joshua as a parallel for facing uncertain times today, emphasizing that we've never been this way before individually, culturally, and as a congregation. The sermon highlights that while current challenges like political conflict, economic anxiety, and cultural shifts feel unprecedented, God's people in the past also faced unknown paths and obstacles. Key themes include God's ability to do amazing things, God's role in uniting his people, God's trustworthiness despite our fears, and God's presence going before us, represented by the Ark of the Covenant in the ancient narrative and by Jesus today, urging believers to consecrate ourselves and follow God into the future.

Chapter 6: We've Never Been This Way Before PT2

Drawing a parallel to his lack of confidence playing college basketball and the Israelites facing the daunting Jordan River, Pastor Mike explores how to gain spiritual confidence. He emphasizes that confidence comes from consecration, meaning dedicating and committing oneself to God. The sermon then delves into biblical prophecy, particularly focusing on the nation of Israel's past, present, and future as outlined in scripture, arguing that knowing what God will do and that God will do it allows believers to live confidently in the present, even amidst uncertain world events.

Chapter 7: Consecration Creates Confidence

This chapter explores the concept of consecration, defining it as being dedicated to God, set apart for God, and committed to God, emphasizing that this dedication is a two-way relationship involving both human action and God's work. The sermon uses the biblical story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land in Joshua 4 and 5 to illustrate five ways God provides identity for His people and helps them live with confidence: by writing their history (interpreting events like the Jordan River crossing), removing their shame (symbolized by circumcision and ultimately by Christ's sacrifice), reminding them through ceremony (like the Passover and communion), providing them a home (referring to both the Promised Land and the spiritual home in Christ and His family), and by being their God (shifting the focus from human allegiance to God's ownership). Pastor Mike uses historical anecdotes, like the burning of ships, to highlight the commitment inherent in consecration, concluding that when individuals dedicate themselves to Jesus, God consecrates them with a new identity and the confidence to live it out, signifying a point of no return.

Chapter 8: Wholehearted Faith

This chapter uses the biblical figure of Caleb to teach about having "wholehearted faith" in God's promises. Drawing parallels between preparing for a school test and preparing to receive God's blessings, the speaker highlights four key aspects of Caleb's life as a model: surrendering fears that can delay receiving promises, consecrating one's life through dedication and commitment to God, maintaining unity as God's people despite challenges, and going with God even when facing formidable obstacles. Ultimately, the sermon encourages the congregation to emulate Caleb's unwavering faith, regardless of age or tenure, to experience the rest and peace God intends.

Chapter 9: Victorious Faith

This chapter uses two examples – a loud clap of thunder and the famous "Earthrise" photograph from the Apollo 8 mission – to illustrate the idea that sometimes we need something dramatic to shift our perspective and show us a bigger picture. Pastor Mike then applies this concept to the biblical story of Joshua encountering the commander of the Lord's army near Jericho. This encounter, he argues, was a moment of consecration where God provided Joshua with a deeper understanding of his identity, mission, and legacy, ultimately pointing towards the salvation that comes through Jesus, who fulfills Joshua's role. Finally, Pastor Mike encourages listeners to seek God's perspective in their own lives through prayerful reflection on their identity in Jesus, their mission for Jesus, and where they will see victory because of Jesus, particularly over sin, suggesting the question, "Do I love this more than I love Jesus?"

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Unlock a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom with our exclusive FREE Ebook, designed to deepen your understanding and enrich your faith journey. Here's what awaits you:

**In-depth Analysis**: Immerse yourself in 9 captivating chapters that offer a profound exploration of Pastor Mike Mathewson's Promised Land Sermon Series. Each chapter is crafted to provide you with a comprehensive understanding and fresh perspectives.
**Comprehensive Study Guides**: Enhance your learning experience with a detailed study guide for each chapter. These guides include essential scripture readings and highlight the key takeaways from the sermons, allowing you to reflect and grow.
**Engaging Discussion Questionnaires**: Dive deeper into the topics with 10 thought-provoking discussion questionnaires. These are perfect for group studies or personal reflection, helping you to dissect and engage with the themes on a deeper level.