Archive for January, 2008

Bait And Hook – Joshua 8 1-17

Posted by aftershock.org.uk on January 23rd, 2008

It’s an interesting tactic that Joshua used when attacking the city. Just take a few men up to the city and when the King thinks he can cope with it, run away and trick him into leaving the city unguarded. Sounds like a tactic that someone else would use. Temptation comes in many ways into our lives, but just like Joshua’s army, it doesn’t show up in full force straight away. If Joshua’s army had turned up to the city in full force, the King would have taken one look and would have held his ground, defending from a position of strength behind the city walls. Temptation does the same, you don’t get tempted with the crack cocaine straight away, no, the temptation comes with less men to start with. You might get tempted with a little marijuana at a party, to start with the harder drugs will catch you off guard later. Temptation uses the same techniques in less obvious extreme parts of our life as well. You don’t get tempted to dis all your mates’ behind their backs, every time they are not around to start with. No it’s starts with a little word here and a little word there. Temptation does not come from God, who only has good things for you, but watch out for it because it’s a slippery character.

MP3: 00283_Joshua_8_1-17.mp3

PDF: 00283_Joshua_8_1-17.pdf

Sorry – Joshua 7 13-26

Posted by aftershock.org.uk on January 22nd, 2008

Have you ever had detention at school? Staying after school because you messed up. Come on be honest, did it happen more then once? Have you parents ever grounded you? Once, twice, three, or four times? Hold on a minute, they punished you for the first time wasn’t that enough? How come they punished you again the second, third and fourth times? They punished you because that’s what happens; we get punished for every time we do something wrong. The police officer doesn’t book an adult for speeding and then say OK from now on this one fine covers any time you speed in the future. Gods slightly different he knows we will stuff up again, and again, that’s why he sent Jesus to die for our mistakes. On the cross Jesus paid for our past mistakes and he will pay for our future mistakes. Our part in the deal? That’s simple don’t take this for granted, and try not to stuff up. And probably the most important part. When we do muck up we are to say sorry to God and ask for his forgiveness. Not just the first time, not just the second, third or forth time. But we are to say sorry every time we stuff up and Jesus pays the price.

MP3: 00282_Joshua_7_13-26.mp3

PDF: 00282_Joshua_7_13-26.pdf

Spring Clean – Joshua 7 1-12

Posted by aftershock.org.uk on January 22nd, 2008

So you became a Christian, fantastic, brilliant, superb. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. The day you chose to follow Jesus, you can be sure that the angels were partying in Heaven. What’s happened since? How did becoming a Christian change the way you treat people at school? How did asking the creator of the universe alter the way you handle yourself at college? Seems to me that God is a God that longs to see us continually grow and improve. Be sure to understand that we won’t get into Heaven because we try and get better; no that work was done by Jesus on the cross. But if we look at this passage we can see that Gods not looking for a one off action from us He wants our lives to be dedicated to following Jesus. Joshua’s people had done well in the past, but they messed up. God was clear, get rid of the rubbish and return to him. What’s the rubbish in your life, what do you need to get rid of? Decide what the rubbish is and get rid of it now, because God wants to help you.

MP3: 00281_Joshua_7_1-12.mp3

PDF: 00281_Joshua_7_1-12.pdf

Why Did He Do That? – Joshua 6 21-27

Posted by aftershock.org.uk on January 20th, 2008

As we go back to Joshua we return straight to the heat of battle. Joshua’s men totally destroy Jericho. They didn’t just mess it up a bit, they killed everyone and then burnt the place to the ground. Why? Why would they do this? The answer is simply because God told them to. So I can imagine the scene now at the college or school canteen. You have spent all your time telling your mates that God is a God of love and that it is the best decision they could to follow him. Then they walk in and say “How about all those people God commanded others to kill?” So what’s the answer, why did God command people to kill people? Well the answer is simple. The answer is…. Well actually the answer isn’t simple and I don’t know the answer. There are so many things about God that I don’t know the answer to. I don’t know why God commanded people to kill other people. I don’t why God gave us free will. I don’t know why God sent his son to die for me. When it comes down to it there are a lot of questions that I want to ask God when I get to Heaven. Thankfully you and I will have plenty of time to ask them.

MP3: 00280_Joshua_6_21-27.mp3

PDF: 00280_Joshua_6_21-27.pdf

My Mate The King – Psalm 93

Posted by aftershock.org.uk on January 17th, 2008

Probably one of the smaller chapters of the Bible, but man what a message. Who’s king? Who rules the universe? Not that guy at school who gives you grief, no they are not King. Not that adult that can’t see the things you do right and concentrates only the stuff you muck up on. No they do not rule the universe. The Lord our God is King. The God that sent his son to die for you, is King of the universe. You are literally mates with the King of kings. How cool is that? Sometimes we can miss that our God is a majestic, perfect King. We are so chuffed that he cares for us, that we concentrate on the fact his is our friend, and miss the fact that he is also our regal King. Sometimes in the business of school, college and work, we forget that we are living out lives for the King of eternity. Maybe we need to hear and repeat that our God is King more often.

MP3: 00279_Psalm_93.mp3

PDF: 00279_Psalm_93.pdf