What do you feel passionate about? What is it that makes you come alive? What makes your life worth living? The Bible shows us Jesus' passion was for the condition of others. He died for you and me! He came to bring joy and gladness into other lives. Wherever He went joy and excitement broke out, people were set free from sin, sickness and oppression. He demonstrated God's power in many unusual ways.

After Jesus was caught up, things suddenly took off. At Pentecost, Peter and the disciples were set on fire with passion for the people. The purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit is not just to speak with other tongues and give each other pretty messages. It is to be filled with the passion of Christ, to see a vision of Christ's love and be directed by His overwhelming joy, deep within. Signs and wonders are bound up with passion for God. That's what stopped people in their tracks when Paul and Silas sang and made them ask, "What must I do to be saved", Acts 15:25-26. At midnight the prison foundations were shaken, everyone was set free.

God commanded Joshua to "be strong and very courageous" because he was to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, a long time to be in unbelief. In Deuteronomy 1:38 God spoke to Moses and told him that "Joshua, son of Nun who stands before you, he shall enter there (the land), Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it". Joshua was the new leader with a mantle for a new generation. Joshua had served under Moses in the Tabernacle for many years. A new day was dawning over Israel. God said to Joshua, no man will be able to stand before you but be strong and very courageous, do not be fearful. As far as God was concerned He had already given them the land but they had to step out on the word and possess it. Joshua did not look at the giants or the walled cities but followed the Lord fully. (CONT on. PG 7)

He and Caleb had a different spirit, a spirit of faith.

Following this God appeared to Joshua in chapter 6 as the Captain of the Lord of Hosts who would lead them and this confirmed to Joshua his calling as leader of God's people. When Joshua years later had fulfilled his calling, the word of God records in Joshua 21:45 "Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the children of Israel. All came to pass".

De.4:24 Say's, "For the Lord thy God, is a jealous God." The Apostle Paul say's in 2Co.11:2, " For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:" God is jealous over us, He wants our love as it was when He saved us. Our First love!

Throughout our life we are bombarded by the enemy to side track us with good ideas and opportunities not to be missed. As a result, we so easily become obsessed with so many things in life, even addicted to what might be acceptable for non Christians. You say what am I addicted to? Just think a minute what is it that you just have to do today. Something you have to watch, somewhere you just have to go, is there something repetitive that's got hold of you, without you noticing it. If there's anything taking the edge off that quickened relationship we have with God it's wrong, no matter how good it might be.

We need to ask ourselves regularly are we pleasing Him, is He our first priority. We also need to look at who we are associating with, are they of God, if they are not, are they influencing our thinking, actions and direction. It's so easy to get into things that are not profitable for God's Kingdom. Before we know it we are into unprofitable areas for God's purpose for our lives.

I am not saying we should cut ourselves off from people, we need to reach out with Christ to all we meet. But we have to be different and to have boundaries in our lives that cannot be crossed. Our every day priorities must be firstly God ward.