For many of us, this marks a time when God has brought us out of the old and into the new. He has made provision for us all through our lives, and now as we face our new circumstances, we can be confident of His continuing care and provision.
We had a dedication just now. Many parents here can look back to a similar event. It’s good to remind children of the faithfulness of God.
Joshua 4:19-25
The stones were there as evidence of what God had done, taking the children of Israel out of the bondage of the Egyptians. They crossed Jordan because it was God’s purpose to take the land. The people in the land did not want God. It is of concern when someone does not want God. And sin is something which keeps you from God.
It was a case now of fulfilling the purposes of God in taking the land. They weren’t far from Jericho, and he could see the fortified city a little way away. Joshua could have opted simply to press forward. But God knew that something else had to be done first. In chapter five, God initiated some things to put things right. The siege of Jericho was to be postponed until later.
If you’re stirred up in your heart, it’s because God is trying to get hold of your heart, and He will. You may sit there mocking at what God is speaking about. But He loves you and your mocking is only a prelude to the time when you will embrace Jesus Christ as your saviour.
Joshua 5:1
The kings thought “We’d heard about the Red Sea, and now it’s Jordan. We thought with the death of Moses the threat had gone, but now Joshua has taken over.”
Joshua 5:2-6
Joshua 5:8-10
This thing had to happen so the children of Israel realised that Egypt had no place in them, and the reproach – the mockery – of Egypt was gone.
Exodus 32:12
That’s an example of what the Egyptians were saying. They hurled mockery at the children of Israel. “Call yourself a Christian? What about this? How can Christianity be true if these things happen?” There’s a spirit of mockery in the world. And the Egyptians hurled it at Israel – “They’re going into the wilderness, and they’ll be dead within a few years. Who can you trust? What is there to believe in?” And the mockery goes deeper, and as you feed on mockery it goes deeper until you get caught up in that spirit.”
“He’s taken them out of Egypt, but you wait. They’ll be dead in the wilderness.”
And here Joshua was able to report, “This day have I rolled the reproach of Egypt off you.”
Colossians 2:10-13
Egypt is the flesh, and by the operation of God – His faith in your heart – the sins of the flesh are forgiven, and the power of sin in your flesh is broken. Some people have the ability to pull down and destroy.
Sometimes I see people getting very stirred up and I know that deep down God is speaking to them. Outwardly they put on a front, but inwardly they know they have to sort things out.
“We’re at the start of the next stage, children of Israel.” In your patience posses your souls. God takes us, circumstance by circumstance and changes us from glory to glory. He initiates faith in our heart. He does that, and changes us from glory to glory until we see Him face to face.
Back in Joshua, there was something else which had to be put right before hostilities could commence.
Joshua 5:10
When they left Egypt, the blood was put round the doorway, and they ate the lamb. Only once in the 38 years since then had they done so again. And now they went back to it. It was as if they resumed where they left off. The youngsters would have heard of the Passover, but had never taken part in it.
Joshua 5:11-13
The circumstances of your life may have changed radically recently, and you can’t see how God will make provision for your life. But no matter what the circumstances, God is your provider. These people had been wandering in the wilderness, and for forty years God had provided manna, day after day. God kept them. And now we are the point where the manna ceases. They had taken of the Passover and eaten of the lamb, and would do so again every year from then on. The manna ceased, and they ate of the fruit of the land instead – a land flowing with milk and honey.
Are you going to defy God to bless you; or will you say that you know your God?
You can set yourself as though to be miserable, as though to defy God? Why? Because the enemy of your soul wants to you to be defiant. Are we afraid of Him? No. Whether it’s between husband and wife, or whether it’s someone who is leading their family and doesn’t know how things will work out.
Why set yourself like that? What’s the example to your children? “I used to find it easier to trust God, but in this circumstance I can’t.” Yes, you can.
God did fulfil His promises. He did, and He always will.
We’re looking back now at what Jesus Christ has done for each one of us in this room.
The people needed to know that the mockery, the reproach of Egypt, was gone forever. They needed to know that their new situation would prove the faithfulness of God. And God told Joshua that they needed to partake of the lamb. And as you do that, the manna will cease and you will eat of the fruit of the land. There is a sequence in God’s time, for everything.
He’s a God of love. He’s a righteous God. You can’t just mock God. He’s holy, and He’s real. Joshua now was on his own. He went up to look at Jericho.
Joshua 5:13
Joshua is on his own. He’s at a place where He doesn’t know how God will give it into their hands. It may that in the night, your thoughts are “I don’t know how this will work out.” You’re on your own. God specialises in making His presence real to you at exactly the right time.
Put yourself in Joshua’s place, because whatever you are looking ahead to, think of yourself like Joshua. He saw this person and didn’t know who he was, and asked whose side he was on. He didn’t get an answer.
Joshua 5:14
Strange. A man standing with his sword drawn, and yet there was no battle going on. Joshua wondered whose side he was on. “No – I’m come as captain as the host of the Lord am I come.” And look at the impact on Joshua – he fell on his face and worshiped.
Joshua 5:15
“Do you mean, in my life you’ve been there all the time?” “Yes, I do.” He’s been there all the time. He’s seen every thought, has been aware of every thought, and knows all about you.” And at the right time He comes and makes you aware that He is the provider and loves you.
One impact on Joshua would have been the realisation that this wasn’t his battle – he didn’t have a sword. But the man did. God had sorted it all out. And there is one who has gone before us and sorted it all out. He sorted out your sin, and He has sorted out how you will get through your circumstances.
Hebrews 2:9-11
How does God unmake things perfect through Christ? Via you. The sufferings of Christ are made perfect by the fact that many sons are being brought to glory. When Jesus died for sin, took your sin into Himself and was raised, the perfection of it was that He brought many sons to glory. His sufferings are made perfect through the Bride of Christ.
Hebrews 2:11
Hebrews 4:12
This Word of God is like a sword. This morning, it’s as though a sword is coming to your heart and life. Clarity is coming – different times for different people – over the fact that you are responsible to realise who He is: that He rewards those who diligently seek Him and is mighty. And yet you go around with a long face, willing people to trample on you. Quit you like a man. If anyone is caught up in mockery – and you know it’s crazy – quit you like a man.
Hebrews 4:13
That can be taken in two ways. He knows your situation and will make provision for you, and the trial of your faith is no more than that – you still have faith and at the end of the trial, your faith will be stronger. To another person, the knowledge that God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart makes them realise – you can’t mess around with God, you can’t sin and merely assume that He will forgive. A willfulness to think wrongly or to get involved with people who will make you go the wrong way ... you can’t con God.
Hebrews 4:14-17
Jesus is telling us He went through all the same things as us, yet without sinning. So when He died on the cross, it was a valid sacrifice. And now we’re in a situation where we look at the Passover Lamb. He didn’t sin, and so He had the right to be able to give His life as a sacrifice so that the power of sin could be broken, so that the penalty would be taken away. He conquered sin and then death. Why? Because He wants you to have His life inside you, to change on the inside. He wants you to realise that your future is no more sin, no more mocking, but an acceptance.
We dedicated Philippa that this might happen for her. When? Don’t know? But is He faithful? Yes.
“Dad, what is the meaning of these stones?” “There’s one for each tribe, and each one was put there so that you would remember what God did for us. That’s what God did.”
“There’s the cross and what Jesus did. The Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. It’s brilliant.” Why? Because without God in this world, we are of all men most miserable. Without Hi, our destiny is death and hell, eternity without Him.
“But you can’t tell me what to do.” I’m not. I’m simply pointing out that there comes a time in a life, as it did for Joshua, which confirms your destiny.”
Joshua’s destiny was to possess the land. Yours is to posses your soul. As you go forward
We’ve partaken of the Lamb. He’s cleaned us up. “I don’t need anyone to clean me up.” Anyone who says that knows deep down that they do. In God’s timing, everything is so wonderful. He is made perfect through bringing many sons to gory. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace in time of need.
Is this a defeatist approach to life? Absolutely not. Jesus Christ has gone on before. The work has been done. We are following in the train of His triumph. So there is no reason to doubt. It doesn’t matter how old we are. I’m going forward in God. He’s forgiven me everything. He’s changed me inside, changed my thought life and made me clean. No one else can do that.
What’s your profession when it comes to Jesus Christ and who He is and what He means to you?
Sunday, 28 September 2008
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