1 00:00:30,339 --> 00:00:31,539 God is great, isn't he? 2 00:00:32,099 --> 00:00:33,699 His faithfulness is wonderful. 3 00:00:33,699 --> 00:00:37,059 Turn if you would in your Bibles to the book of Joshua, Joshua, 4 00:00:37,059 --> 00:00:37,779 chapter five. 5 00:00:38,419 --> 00:00:41,299 Continue our series in the Book of Joshua. 6 00:00:44,339 --> 00:00:45,739 Think about the faithfulness of God. 7 00:00:45,739 --> 00:00:48,579 I think about the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness. 8 00:00:48,899 --> 00:00:51,059 God is so great and he's so faithful. 9 00:00:51,139 --> 00:00:52,259 Appreciate that song. 10 00:00:54,259 --> 00:00:55,819 Our theme is Higher Call. 11 00:00:55,819 --> 00:00:56,979 That's our theme for the year. 12 00:00:57,819 --> 00:00:59,579 It's out of Joshua, chapter 14. 13 00:00:59,739 --> 00:01:04,899 When Caleb, as they entered the land and about five years into 14 00:01:04,899 --> 00:01:08,699 the battle for Canaan land, they came to that mountain. 15 00:01:09,899 --> 00:01:14,539 And he said to Joshua, I want the mountain. 16 00:01:15,179 --> 00:01:18,299 Give me the mountain, the mountain that was promised to him. 17 00:01:18,619 --> 00:01:20,699 And of course, we all have mountains in our lives. 18 00:01:20,699 --> 00:01:25,199 And part of that picture or the analogy for us is that we as 19 00:01:25,199 --> 00:01:27,959 Christians, if you're saved this morning, know Jesus as your 20 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:28,399 Savior. 21 00:01:28,799 --> 00:01:33,999 That it ought to be your desire to grow in the knowledge of 22 00:01:33,999 --> 00:01:35,519 the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 23 00:01:36,399 --> 00:01:38,719 As we grow, we climb higher. 24 00:01:39,359 --> 00:01:42,399 As we grow, we go forward in our Christian life. 25 00:01:42,479 --> 00:01:47,119 We come to that part in our Christian life where we want to have 26 00:01:47,119 --> 00:01:50,799 the abundant Christian life, the Spirit filled Christian life, 27 00:01:52,349 --> 00:01:54,669 certain terms and various terms used for it. 28 00:01:54,989 --> 00:01:56,189 But we want to go forward. 29 00:01:56,269 --> 00:01:59,469 And I hope that's your goal. 30 00:01:59,469 --> 00:02:02,429 I hope that's what you as a Christian want in your own personal 31 00:02:02,429 --> 00:02:04,189 life is a greater. 32 00:02:04,509 --> 00:02:07,549 I'll just this way, a greater relationship with Jesus. 33 00:02:08,189 --> 00:02:11,829 A greater relationship with Jesus than you had last week or the 34 00:02:11,829 --> 00:02:12,269 week before. 35 00:02:12,829 --> 00:02:16,749 And as we go forward in our Christian life, look at Joshua chapter 36 00:02:16,749 --> 00:02:17,069 5. 37 00:02:17,389 --> 00:02:18,189 And we. 38 00:02:18,269 --> 00:02:22,609 We left off in at verse 10 a couple of weeks ago. 39 00:02:22,689 --> 00:02:26,529 So last Sunday we preached again and we'll cover that in a minute. 40 00:02:26,529 --> 00:02:27,569 But Christ is our life. 41 00:02:28,609 --> 00:02:31,169 So now let's look at verse 10 through the rest of the chapter. 42 00:02:31,169 --> 00:02:35,289 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal and kept the Passover 43 00:02:35,289 --> 00:02:39,529 on the 14th day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. 44 00:02:39,529 --> 00:02:41,489 They're just about a mile from Jericho. 45 00:02:42,609 --> 00:02:46,209 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after 46 00:02:46,209 --> 00:02:46,929 the Passover. 47 00:02:47,529 --> 00:02:51,529 Unleavened cakes and parched corn in the selfsame day. 48 00:02:52,729 --> 00:02:57,489 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the 49 00:02:57,489 --> 00:02:59,209 old corn of the land. 50 00:02:59,769 --> 00:03:03,569 Neither had the children of Israel manna any more, but they did 51 00:03:03,569 --> 00:03:06,729 eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 52 00:03:06,729 --> 00:03:09,889 So remember, we're going to read the rest in a moment, but remember 53 00:03:09,889 --> 00:03:13,169 now, when they came to the river Jordan the first time, 40 years 54 00:03:13,169 --> 00:03:18,079 prior to this, really 39, but 40 years prior to this they didn't 55 00:03:18,079 --> 00:03:18,679 cross over. 56 00:03:18,999 --> 00:03:20,439 They sent in the 12 spies. 57 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:22,999 10 came back and said, we're not able to. 58 00:03:23,079 --> 00:03:23,639 Joshua. 59 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:24,999 And Caleb said, yes, let's go in. 60 00:03:24,999 --> 00:03:26,039 Let's take them. 61 00:03:26,359 --> 00:03:28,759 The point I want to make is, once they began to wander in the 62 00:03:28,759 --> 00:03:32,359 wilderness, God supplied for them manna every morning, except 63 00:03:32,359 --> 00:03:32,679 Saturday. 64 00:03:33,319 --> 00:03:36,119 Every morning they would go out and on the ground would be bread. 65 00:03:37,719 --> 00:03:39,279 It was like the dew in the morning. 66 00:03:39,279 --> 00:03:41,749 And they would pick it up and they would eat it. 67 00:03:41,749 --> 00:03:44,109 They were only allowed a certain amount every day. 68 00:03:44,669 --> 00:03:46,389 They'd pick up that certain amount every day. 69 00:03:46,389 --> 00:03:48,029 They could make all sorts of stuff with it. 70 00:03:48,029 --> 00:03:52,349 They could grind it down, they could bake it, they could fry it, 71 00:03:52,429 --> 00:03:54,669 and all sorts of things they could do with it. 72 00:03:55,229 --> 00:03:57,469 But God supplied it miraculously. 73 00:03:57,629 --> 00:03:59,709 Imagine that, going out in your front yard and just picking 74 00:03:59,709 --> 00:04:02,989 up little round, you know, balls of bread. 75 00:04:05,309 --> 00:04:06,109 It's amazing. 76 00:04:06,419 --> 00:04:08,259 God provided them quail in the evening. 77 00:04:08,499 --> 00:04:12,259 So when it became evening time that dusk, quail would come into 78 00:04:12,259 --> 00:04:15,459 the camp and they literally just go find, just pick them up. 79 00:04:16,019 --> 00:04:17,539 God supplied meat for them. 80 00:04:18,579 --> 00:04:19,259 It's amazing. 81 00:04:19,259 --> 00:04:20,819 God supplied water for them. 82 00:04:21,459 --> 00:04:24,099 And so now they come to the river Jordan again. 83 00:04:24,099 --> 00:04:25,699 They cross over the river Jordan. 84 00:04:25,699 --> 00:04:27,219 And now the manna has stopped. 85 00:04:27,219 --> 00:04:28,619 They began to eat of the old corn. 86 00:04:28,619 --> 00:04:31,859 They began to eat the fruit of that land. 87 00:04:32,259 --> 00:04:33,419 And the manna stopped. 88 00:04:33,419 --> 00:04:34,179 All right, verse 13. 89 00:04:34,339 --> 00:04:37,619 And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted 90 00:04:37,619 --> 00:04:40,799 up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against 91 00:04:40,799 --> 00:04:43,519 him with a sword drawn in his hand. 92 00:04:43,919 --> 00:04:49,519 And Joshua went out unto him and said unto him, art thou for us 93 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,279 or for our adversaries? 94 00:04:52,879 --> 00:04:58,559 And he said, nay, but as captain of the host of the Lord am 95 00:04:58,559 --> 00:04:59,279 I now come? 96 00:04:59,679 --> 00:05:03,479 And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship and said 97 00:05:03,479 --> 00:05:07,369 unto him, what saith my Lord unto his servant? 98 00:05:07,769 --> 00:05:12,449 And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, loose thy 99 00:05:12,449 --> 00:05:17,449 shoe from off thy foot, for the place wherein thou standest is 100 00:05:17,449 --> 00:05:18,089 holy ground. 101 00:05:18,409 --> 00:05:19,489 And Joshua did so. 102 00:05:19,489 --> 00:05:19,889 Let's pray. 103 00:05:19,889 --> 00:05:24,649 Heavenly Father, again we come to you, asking you, Lord, to bless 104 00:05:24,649 --> 00:05:25,369 the message. 105 00:05:25,529 --> 00:05:27,929 Bless the word as it's been presented. 106 00:05:28,169 --> 00:05:31,169 I pray God that you would open hearts and may we see Jesus Christ 107 00:05:31,169 --> 00:05:33,339 again this morning in a greater way. 108 00:05:33,339 --> 00:05:35,219 In Jesus name, Amen. 109 00:05:35,939 --> 00:05:37,939 Again Israel crossed over Jordan. 110 00:05:38,899 --> 00:05:42,259 God parted the waters miraculously of the river Jordan. 111 00:05:42,579 --> 00:05:45,219 The Ark of the Covenant was in the center of the river Jordan. 112 00:05:45,219 --> 00:05:48,259 As the children of Israel, 1 to 3 million of them, crossed over. 113 00:05:49,699 --> 00:05:52,659 They got on the other side again a picture of dying to self. 114 00:05:52,659 --> 00:05:53,219 Jordan. 115 00:05:53,219 --> 00:05:56,099 And I'M going to repeat this on purpose for the next till the 116 00:05:56,099 --> 00:05:56,659 end of the year. 117 00:05:58,189 --> 00:06:02,349 Jordan's a picture of dying to self as they cross the River Jordan. 118 00:06:02,349 --> 00:06:04,509 They are in act of obedience to the Lord. 119 00:06:04,749 --> 00:06:07,749 They cross over looking to the Ark, which is a picture of Jesus 120 00:06:07,749 --> 00:06:09,709 Christ as they come up out of the River Jordan. 121 00:06:09,709 --> 00:06:12,909 It's a picture of the resurrection and living the resurrected 122 00:06:12,909 --> 00:06:17,429 life as they come to Canaan land, the land that was promised 123 00:06:17,429 --> 00:06:20,469 to them, the land that was promised to Abraham and Isaac and 124 00:06:20,469 --> 00:06:20,909 Jacob. 125 00:06:21,069 --> 00:06:24,749 The land promised that God would give them the land. 126 00:06:25,219 --> 00:06:26,979 Over and over again, you'll see it repeated. 127 00:06:27,139 --> 00:06:28,579 I will give it to you. 128 00:06:28,819 --> 00:06:29,859 You won't earn it. 129 00:06:30,259 --> 00:06:32,899 You're not going to be able to defeat these enemies on your own. 130 00:06:33,299 --> 00:06:36,179 It was humanly impossible to defeat Jericho. 131 00:06:36,579 --> 00:06:41,859 The Israelite army had no hope of taking Jericho without the Lord. 132 00:06:42,739 --> 00:06:44,099 But I will give it to you. 133 00:06:44,419 --> 00:06:49,419 It's your inheritance because I promised it to Abraham, I promised 134 00:06:49,419 --> 00:06:51,709 it to Isaac, promised it to Jacob. 135 00:06:53,069 --> 00:06:54,629 And there they cross over Jordan. 136 00:06:54,629 --> 00:06:55,989 They camp in Gilgal. 137 00:06:55,989 --> 00:06:56,669 Chapter four. 138 00:06:58,429 --> 00:07:01,429 And you would think as again, as they cross over Jordan, that they 139 00:07:01,429 --> 00:07:03,069 would go right directly to the battle. 140 00:07:03,469 --> 00:07:06,348 They would go right to Jericho and start, you know, start trying 141 00:07:06,348 --> 00:07:07,629 to whip the enemy. 142 00:07:07,709 --> 00:07:09,869 But no, God gives a delay. 143 00:07:10,269 --> 00:07:15,149 He has them encamp in Gilgal and there he preps them for the battle. 144 00:07:15,629 --> 00:07:17,549 They're about to battle for seven years. 145 00:07:18,129 --> 00:07:20,769 In fact, longer than that, they're going to battle and God is 146 00:07:20,769 --> 00:07:21,489 prepping them. 147 00:07:21,969 --> 00:07:26,689 A little delay here as God gets them ready to go in and begin 148 00:07:26,929 --> 00:07:27,569 to fight. 149 00:07:27,889 --> 00:07:32,609 All the Ites people, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, Hittites, 150 00:07:33,409 --> 00:07:36,969 Jebusites, I don't know. 151 00:07:36,969 --> 00:07:37,809 There's so many of them. 152 00:07:37,809 --> 00:07:39,809 Anyway, there are about seven of them. 153 00:07:40,529 --> 00:07:42,129 And so God's getting them ready. 154 00:07:42,129 --> 00:07:46,119 He tells them to get 12 stones and put them in the Jordan. 155 00:07:46,119 --> 00:07:48,439 He takes 12 stones and puts them in Gilgal. 156 00:07:48,679 --> 00:07:52,999 These big boulders, big stones to remind them of what God did for 157 00:07:52,999 --> 00:07:56,919 them as he parted the Jordan river and they walked across on dry 158 00:07:56,919 --> 00:07:57,199 ground. 159 00:07:57,199 --> 00:07:58,679 So get it in your mind. 160 00:07:58,759 --> 00:08:01,719 They cross over the River Jordan on dry ground. 161 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:05,759 He sets up two memorials in order for the children of Israel 162 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:07,799 to be reminded of what God did. 163 00:08:08,519 --> 00:08:11,279 Every time they came back from a battle, they would come back to 164 00:08:11,279 --> 00:08:11,799 Gilgal. 165 00:08:11,799 --> 00:08:13,479 Gilgal was their home base. 166 00:08:14,309 --> 00:08:16,189 Every time they went out to battle, they'd come back and they'd 167 00:08:16,189 --> 00:08:19,509 see the stones and be reminded that God parted the River Jordan 168 00:08:19,509 --> 00:08:21,669 and they walked across on dry ground. 169 00:08:22,549 --> 00:08:24,069 Two to three million of them. 170 00:08:24,389 --> 00:08:24,989 Amazing. 171 00:08:24,989 --> 00:08:25,589 Amazing. 172 00:08:27,269 --> 00:08:30,149 Not only that, but Again, the picture of the resurrection as they 173 00:08:30,309 --> 00:08:33,589 God gave that great miracle and they come up on the other side 174 00:08:33,829 --> 00:08:37,149 and to live that resurrected life, to live that abundant life, 175 00:08:37,149 --> 00:08:41,909 to live a life that is no longer dependent upon manna. 176 00:08:43,399 --> 00:08:44,919 But they're going to eat the old corn of the land. 177 00:08:44,919 --> 00:08:46,199 They're going to eat the fruit of the land. 178 00:08:46,519 --> 00:08:48,359 And we'll describe that here in a moment. 179 00:08:48,839 --> 00:08:52,439 They come to Gilgal and there they have the act of circumcision. 180 00:08:52,999 --> 00:08:56,839 And it's a picture of renouncing, renouncing their own 181 00:08:57,399 --> 00:09:01,319 life, renouncing their own will, their own way. 182 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:05,239 And it's an act of obedience to God, saying, God, I surrender 183 00:09:05,239 --> 00:09:05,599 to you. 184 00:09:05,599 --> 00:09:08,559 It's a cutting away of the flesh, a cutting away of the old 185 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,208 nature, the cutting away of self. 186 00:09:11,608 --> 00:09:14,608 It's depending again, as far as application to us. 187 00:09:14,608 --> 00:09:16,328 It's a dependent upon the Holy Spirit. 188 00:09:17,208 --> 00:09:21,568 It's an act of remembering that we are again dependent upon 189 00:09:21,568 --> 00:09:21,928 God. 190 00:09:22,168 --> 00:09:25,848 We ought to be dependent upon God and the Holy Spirit using the 191 00:09:25,848 --> 00:09:33,488 word of God to cut away, to cut away our flesh, to renounce the 192 00:09:33,488 --> 00:09:38,329 sin that's in our life, to see that sin and ask for forgiveness. 193 00:09:39,769 --> 00:09:43,529 And then we talked about the restoration they had the Passover. 194 00:09:44,409 --> 00:09:45,169 The Passover. 195 00:09:45,169 --> 00:09:46,169 What was the Passover? 196 00:09:47,049 --> 00:09:49,769 God used the Passover to bring back fellowship with the children 197 00:09:49,769 --> 00:09:50,409 of Israel. 198 00:09:51,369 --> 00:09:52,169 Restoration. 199 00:09:53,449 --> 00:09:55,289 Again, they renounced their sin. 200 00:09:55,529 --> 00:10:00,209 They act of obedience to God, putting their faith in Jesus, putting 201 00:10:00,209 --> 00:10:03,679 their faith in God, restored that fellowship with God. 202 00:10:03,999 --> 00:10:08,679 Romans 5:1 says, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have 203 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:12,039 peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 204 00:10:12,039 --> 00:10:15,319 I want to remind you this morning the Passover which is found 205 00:10:15,319 --> 00:10:17,199 in Ezekiel chapter 12. 206 00:10:17,839 --> 00:10:22,359 The Passover is a picture of the death of Jesus Christ that Jesus 207 00:10:22,359 --> 00:10:23,599 Christ gave all for us. 208 00:10:23,999 --> 00:10:28,959 The only way to have again peace with God is through Jesus Christ. 209 00:10:29,629 --> 00:10:33,749 The only way to have your sins forgiven and to escape hell and have 210 00:10:33,749 --> 00:10:37,829 a home in heaven is through the work of Jesus Christ, his life, 211 00:10:37,829 --> 00:10:39,949 his death and his resurrection. 212 00:10:40,269 --> 00:10:43,989 It's only by Jesus Christ and faith through him that we can be 213 00:10:43,989 --> 00:10:48,749 reunited with God and again have peace with God. 214 00:10:49,469 --> 00:10:54,149 Again we think about the peace of God, this restoration, this restoration 215 00:10:54,149 --> 00:10:55,229 of fellowship with God. 216 00:10:56,029 --> 00:10:59,109 Philippians chapter 4, verse 7 says, and the peace of God which 217 00:10:59,109 --> 00:11:01,219 passeth all understanding, shall keep your heart. 218 00:11:01,529 --> 00:11:03,529 And so forth through Jesus Christ. 219 00:11:03,929 --> 00:11:08,009 Again, as we accept Christ as our Savior, we gain peace with God. 220 00:11:08,489 --> 00:11:11,569 And then as Christians, we have the peace of God that passes 221 00:11:11,569 --> 00:11:12,329 all understanding. 222 00:11:12,409 --> 00:11:18,409 When we act in obedience to him, when we are dependent upon him. 223 00:11:18,649 --> 00:11:22,249 We can have this peace of God which Passeth all understanding. 224 00:11:22,329 --> 00:11:26,049 It's amazing to me how I see families, Christian families, born 225 00:11:26,049 --> 00:11:29,379 again Christian families, go through some very rough times. 226 00:11:29,379 --> 00:11:32,499 And you watch their life as they go through these very, very 227 00:11:33,779 --> 00:11:36,779 bad detours in life, adversity in their life. 228 00:11:36,779 --> 00:11:40,699 And God gives them grace, abundant, and you'll see that peace 229 00:11:40,699 --> 00:11:43,819 of God which passes all understanding in their lives. 230 00:11:43,819 --> 00:11:44,659 It's amazing. 231 00:11:45,219 --> 00:11:48,099 Right now, Brother Richard Gross is not doing very well. 232 00:11:48,099 --> 00:11:52,299 And I went by the hospice center there on Thursday and visited 233 00:11:52,299 --> 00:11:56,279 with Eric and with Rebecca and just dealing with them. 234 00:11:56,279 --> 00:12:00,199 And there's Brother Ross there, Gross, close to the end of 235 00:12:00,199 --> 00:12:00,599 his life. 236 00:12:00,839 --> 00:12:05,239 And just to see the peace of God in Eric's life, his son's life, 237 00:12:05,239 --> 00:12:07,079 to see the peace of God in his wife's life. 238 00:12:07,079 --> 00:12:10,999 Rebecca, by the way, they met each other when they were children 239 00:12:11,639 --> 00:12:12,439 in church. 240 00:12:12,759 --> 00:12:16,079 They were raised in the same church, they got saved in the same 241 00:12:16,079 --> 00:12:18,839 church, they got married in the same church. 242 00:12:18,839 --> 00:12:22,079 And they stayed in that church until they moved up here to be closer 243 00:12:22,079 --> 00:12:23,559 to family because of health reasons. 244 00:12:23,809 --> 00:12:25,089 And that was just a few years ago. 245 00:12:25,489 --> 00:12:27,329 I mean, here, I don't know how many years. 246 00:12:27,569 --> 00:12:30,009 They're in their 70s, but they've been together all this time. 247 00:12:30,009 --> 00:12:33,089 And yet to see the peace of God in their life is amazing. 248 00:12:33,569 --> 00:12:34,449 It's amazing. 249 00:12:35,009 --> 00:12:37,209 God supplies that peace that we have. 250 00:12:37,209 --> 00:12:39,329 And I used death as an illustration. 251 00:12:39,568 --> 00:12:41,889 But listen, there's so much more to it than that. 252 00:12:42,049 --> 00:12:45,289 The peace of God that we can experience when it comes to anything 253 00:12:45,289 --> 00:12:48,089 in our life, whether it's relational with our children or with 254 00:12:48,089 --> 00:12:51,579 our spouses, whether it's have to do with our job and having that 255 00:12:51,579 --> 00:12:56,539 peace of God when again adversity comes, or having the peace 256 00:12:56,539 --> 00:12:58,259 of God when good things are happening. 257 00:12:59,299 --> 00:13:02,499 It's an amazing, amazing thing as a Christian, to experience the 258 00:13:02,499 --> 00:13:07,099 peace of God, that grace that we need in time, just in time. 259 00:13:07,099 --> 00:13:07,699 We need it. 260 00:13:07,939 --> 00:13:12,019 We think of the first Passover, the tenth plague in the 261 00:13:12,019 --> 00:13:12,819 land of Egypt. 262 00:13:13,459 --> 00:13:16,699 God said, I'm going to come through and I'm going to kill all 263 00:13:16,699 --> 00:13:17,459 the firstborn. 264 00:13:18,889 --> 00:13:22,409 You need to take a lamb of the first year, you need to bring it 265 00:13:22,409 --> 00:13:25,289 to your house, you need to tie it up to the front porch for four 266 00:13:25,289 --> 00:13:25,609 days. 267 00:13:26,249 --> 00:13:29,649 At the end of the four days, you'll take the lamb and you'll slay 268 00:13:29,649 --> 00:13:32,249 the lamb and you cook part of it and so forth. 269 00:13:32,249 --> 00:13:35,209 And then you'll take the blood of that lamb and you'll put it on 270 00:13:35,209 --> 00:13:36,569 the doorposts of your house. 271 00:13:37,449 --> 00:13:41,049 And when I come through that night, when I come through that night 272 00:13:41,449 --> 00:13:44,769 and I see the blood, what I will pass over you. 273 00:13:44,769 --> 00:13:46,009 That's why it's called the Passover. 274 00:13:46,329 --> 00:13:47,689 I will pass over you. 275 00:13:49,049 --> 00:13:54,449 And all the Israelites who obeyed God's command, killed the 276 00:13:54,449 --> 00:13:57,769 lamb, put the blood on the doorposts. 277 00:13:58,169 --> 00:14:00,329 The firstborn in that home did not die. 278 00:14:01,449 --> 00:14:07,689 But all across Egypt, all the Egyptians firstborn died. 279 00:14:07,689 --> 00:14:12,069 Even in the house of Pharaoh, the Bible says the firstborn died. 280 00:14:13,429 --> 00:14:16,229 But when I see the blood, I will pass over you. 281 00:14:16,469 --> 00:14:17,709 What a wonderful analogy. 282 00:14:17,709 --> 00:14:21,349 And picture for us again, as the children of Israel get to Gilgal 283 00:14:22,309 --> 00:14:27,989 and they take of the Passover, the blood shed presented to God. 284 00:14:29,589 --> 00:14:32,549 When I see the blood, I will pass over you again. 285 00:14:33,189 --> 00:14:36,879 Bring fellowship back with God. 286 00:14:38,159 --> 00:14:42,159 And then as they continue in the land having the peace of God, 287 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:46,399 so many Christians are content with living in the wilderness. 288 00:14:46,559 --> 00:14:48,639 By the way, that's the second best Christianity. 289 00:14:49,839 --> 00:14:51,199 Why would you want second best? 290 00:14:53,519 --> 00:14:55,119 How's your walk with God this morning? 291 00:14:57,599 --> 00:15:02,849 So many Christians are caught up in petty things, caught up in 292 00:15:02,849 --> 00:15:08,169 squabbles that really have no bearing on eternity. 293 00:15:08,969 --> 00:15:11,889 I think about VBS this week and the souls that were the kids 294 00:15:11,889 --> 00:15:12,809 that were saved this week. 295 00:15:12,809 --> 00:15:16,689 What a great investment our church and you made this week. 296 00:15:16,689 --> 00:15:18,089 All the hours put into it. 297 00:15:18,649 --> 00:15:19,609 It's worth it all. 298 00:15:21,529 --> 00:15:24,569 Again, I always use the illustration about carpet, but, you 299 00:15:24,569 --> 00:15:26,809 know, we shouldn't fight over the color carpet. 300 00:15:27,179 --> 00:15:28,619 It doesn't matter what color it is. 301 00:15:29,419 --> 00:15:33,139 Shouldn't fight over whatever petty things are going on between 302 00:15:33,139 --> 00:15:36,299 you and other people and between you and maybe a fellow church 303 00:15:36,299 --> 00:15:36,619 member. 304 00:15:37,659 --> 00:15:40,139 When our goal is to see folks get saved. 305 00:15:41,659 --> 00:15:45,299 That's our purpose as a church, to see people receive the 306 00:15:45,299 --> 00:15:47,179 gospel and accept Christ as their savior. 307 00:15:49,579 --> 00:15:51,739 To experience that peace with God. 308 00:15:52,869 --> 00:15:55,509 We need to realize the Lord responds to obedient children. 309 00:15:56,069 --> 00:15:57,909 We need to count on his presence. 310 00:15:58,309 --> 00:15:59,589 We need his presence. 311 00:15:59,989 --> 00:16:00,869 We need it. 312 00:16:01,269 --> 00:16:02,549 We need his presence. 313 00:16:02,869 --> 00:16:05,109 Last Sunday, again, I preached on Christ is our life. 314 00:16:05,109 --> 00:16:06,149 Is Christ your life? 315 00:16:06,709 --> 00:16:08,029 Are you living in his power? 316 00:16:08,029 --> 00:16:10,229 Are you reckoning upon his victory? 317 00:16:10,389 --> 00:16:12,629 I'm thankful there's victory in the Lord Jesus Christ. 318 00:16:13,509 --> 00:16:15,669 He is the captain of the Lord of hosts. 319 00:16:16,469 --> 00:16:18,229 He does go before us in battle. 320 00:16:18,609 --> 00:16:22,769 And we need to realize the lessons from Gilgal is again that 321 00:16:22,769 --> 00:16:25,969 Israel's situation was changing, that things were changing 322 00:16:25,969 --> 00:16:26,369 fast. 323 00:16:27,409 --> 00:16:28,529 Everybody loves change. 324 00:16:28,769 --> 00:16:29,889 Change is awesome. 325 00:16:31,249 --> 00:16:31,969 I love change. 326 00:16:31,969 --> 00:16:37,209 I wish things would change every week, especially as you get 327 00:16:37,209 --> 00:16:37,649 older. 328 00:16:38,049 --> 00:16:39,089 Change is great. 329 00:16:41,169 --> 00:16:43,009 No, no, it's the opposite, isn't it? 330 00:16:43,569 --> 00:16:44,689 We don't like change. 331 00:16:46,649 --> 00:16:51,809 And a lot, especially men, are geared and some ladies are geared 332 00:16:51,809 --> 00:16:52,129 that way. 333 00:16:52,129 --> 00:16:55,209 But I even don't Like I have a habit. 334 00:16:55,449 --> 00:16:56,809 This is what I do every day. 335 00:16:56,809 --> 00:16:57,769 This is kind of. 336 00:16:58,089 --> 00:17:00,529 I go to the restaurant, I eat the same thing every time. 337 00:17:00,529 --> 00:17:02,409 I mean, it's just. 338 00:17:02,889 --> 00:17:03,689 I don't want change. 339 00:17:03,689 --> 00:17:05,569 I don't want to go to a restaurant and them not have what 340 00:17:05,569 --> 00:17:06,809 I used on the. 341 00:17:06,889 --> 00:17:08,089 They change the menu. 342 00:17:08,729 --> 00:17:13,129 If I go into Home Depot, don't change where a tool is at or where 343 00:17:13,129 --> 00:17:13,849 something's at. 344 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,559 Do that at Walmart, because I don't go there. 345 00:17:20,039 --> 00:17:20,759 My wife. 346 00:17:21,719 --> 00:17:23,399 My wife, that's sad. 347 00:17:23,399 --> 00:17:26,159 But I drop her off at the door of Walmart, I go sit in the parking 348 00:17:26,159 --> 00:17:30,639 lot, I come by and pick her up, and when she's done, I help her 349 00:17:30,639 --> 00:17:31,479 load the bags. 350 00:17:32,279 --> 00:17:33,479 Yeah, good husband. 351 00:17:34,999 --> 00:17:38,279 But I know why they changed and put stuff on different aisles. 352 00:17:38,279 --> 00:17:39,559 So you have to go search for it. 353 00:17:39,559 --> 00:17:40,599 So you'll see other stuff. 354 00:17:41,279 --> 00:17:42,639 But Home Depot better not. 355 00:17:43,199 --> 00:17:44,479 I go to Tractor Supply. 356 00:17:44,799 --> 00:17:50,439 I want every tractor supply in the world that when I walk in, the 357 00:17:50,439 --> 00:17:51,839 stuff is in the same spot. 358 00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:55,359 Whether I go into Cater or Lake Worth or Bowie or wherever I'm 359 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,679 in Tractor Supply, it better be in the same spot, because I don't 360 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:00,319 like change. 361 00:18:02,639 --> 00:18:06,079 None of you other men and ladies, huh? 362 00:18:06,519 --> 00:18:07,719 None of y' all are that way again. 363 00:18:08,519 --> 00:18:09,639 Bunch of hypocrites. 364 00:18:12,839 --> 00:18:14,119 Better be in the same spot. 365 00:18:16,999 --> 00:18:18,119 No, we don't like change. 366 00:18:18,999 --> 00:18:23,359 I can't imagine the change that took place on that day as they 367 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,559 ate of the corn or they ate of the fruit of the land. 368 00:18:26,599 --> 00:18:27,959 They got up the next morning. 369 00:18:28,679 --> 00:18:30,759 Listen, they've been eating manna for 40 years. 370 00:18:31,889 --> 00:18:33,729 They got up the next morning, there was no manna. 371 00:18:35,489 --> 00:18:37,249 Well, that would have made an impression, wouldn't it? 372 00:18:38,209 --> 00:18:41,329 Something you had been dependent upon, something that you 373 00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:43,729 needed because there was no other way to get food. 374 00:18:43,729 --> 00:18:44,769 They were in the desert. 375 00:18:45,329 --> 00:18:48,289 There was no other way to get food for 2 or 3 million people. 376 00:18:49,009 --> 00:18:51,569 God supplied it in such a miraculous way, but now it's gone. 377 00:18:53,649 --> 00:18:57,809 Y' all remember the story of Saul, the first king of Israel? 378 00:18:59,779 --> 00:19:00,939 Israel cried out for a king. 379 00:19:00,939 --> 00:19:01,779 We want a king. 380 00:19:01,779 --> 00:19:02,619 We want a king. 381 00:19:02,619 --> 00:19:04,339 We want to be like the nations around us. 382 00:19:04,979 --> 00:19:08,459 For 300 years, the nation of Israel had been a theocracy, and 383 00:19:08,459 --> 00:19:11,299 God had been the God had been the king. 384 00:19:11,699 --> 00:19:13,339 And he did so through his priests, right? 385 00:19:13,339 --> 00:19:14,819 There was no king in Israel. 386 00:19:15,379 --> 00:19:16,339 They cried out for one. 387 00:19:16,339 --> 00:19:17,699 God gave him one and gave him Saul. 388 00:19:18,579 --> 00:19:22,859 Saul started out pretty good, but as time went on, Saul did not 389 00:19:22,859 --> 00:19:23,619 walk with God. 390 00:19:23,699 --> 00:19:24,419 We know that. 391 00:19:24,979 --> 00:19:25,739 What did Saul do? 392 00:19:25,739 --> 00:19:27,459 He leaned on Samuel. 393 00:19:28,899 --> 00:19:30,419 He leaned on the high priest. 394 00:19:30,419 --> 00:19:34,979 He leaned on Samuel as his connection to God. 395 00:19:35,459 --> 00:19:37,539 Saul didn't have a relationship with God. 396 00:19:38,179 --> 00:19:42,979 His relationship with God was through Samuel, was through Samuel. 397 00:19:45,619 --> 00:19:50,139 I can't imagine again as that manna wasn't there anymore and things 398 00:19:50,139 --> 00:19:50,979 began to change. 399 00:19:52,409 --> 00:19:57,569 Can I tell you, in the Christian life, things change and 400 00:19:57,569 --> 00:19:59,289 in this instance, you want them to change. 401 00:20:00,729 --> 00:20:04,169 God is bringing them into a place that they have never been. 402 00:20:04,569 --> 00:20:07,609 God was bringing them to a place of faith that they had never 403 00:20:07,609 --> 00:20:08,089 been to. 404 00:20:08,249 --> 00:20:11,289 God was bringing them to a level they had never been to. 405 00:20:12,569 --> 00:20:14,089 And God would do the same for you. 406 00:20:16,409 --> 00:20:18,009 As you walk with the Lord. 407 00:20:18,449 --> 00:20:22,089 There has to come a time when you want to have a personal relationship 408 00:20:22,089 --> 00:20:22,689 with Jesus. 409 00:20:23,249 --> 00:20:25,329 Now, I'm not talking about here about salvation. 410 00:20:25,329 --> 00:20:28,609 I'm talking about as a Christian, that you develop personally 411 00:20:28,609 --> 00:20:29,649 a walk with God. 412 00:20:29,889 --> 00:20:34,088 That you are almost every day getting up and reading your Bible 413 00:20:34,088 --> 00:20:37,329 and praying and you are digging in the Scriptures yourself. 414 00:20:37,729 --> 00:20:40,649 I love going to a service and hearing especially Brother Stewart 415 00:20:40,649 --> 00:20:41,249 when he comes. 416 00:20:41,249 --> 00:20:44,449 He always points out something that maybe I had never seen before 417 00:20:44,689 --> 00:20:45,369 in the Scripture. 418 00:20:45,369 --> 00:20:46,609 And I love that. 419 00:20:46,609 --> 00:20:51,039 But have you ever read your Bible and found something you had 420 00:20:51,039 --> 00:20:52,079 never seen before? 421 00:20:52,879 --> 00:20:56,479 Have you been digging into the Scriptures and you've been reading 422 00:20:56,479 --> 00:20:59,759 and God lays up something upon your heart and something fresh comes 423 00:20:59,759 --> 00:21:01,519 to mind as you read the Scriptures? 424 00:21:01,759 --> 00:21:03,519 That's feeding on the old corn. 425 00:21:03,839 --> 00:21:06,719 That's not just being dependent upon your preacher to bring 426 00:21:06,719 --> 00:21:07,599 you through spiritually. 427 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:10,279 That's not just depending upon your Sunday school teacher to bring 428 00:21:10,279 --> 00:21:10,719 you along. 429 00:21:10,959 --> 00:21:13,719 It's not just depending upon that deacon or maybe your dad or 430 00:21:13,719 --> 00:21:15,279 your mom or whatever. 431 00:21:15,439 --> 00:21:17,919 You need to have your personal relationship with Jesus. 432 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:23,599 You need to develop your walk with God because God in that will 433 00:21:23,599 --> 00:21:25,479 prepare you for some great victories. 434 00:21:26,279 --> 00:21:28,919 And God in doing so and bringing you through and bringing 435 00:21:28,919 --> 00:21:32,519 you and growing you to that point, you personally can experience 436 00:21:33,159 --> 00:21:36,919 those abundant things in which God has planned for you. 437 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:39,559 God hasn't planned for you. 438 00:21:39,959 --> 00:21:42,839 God told children of Israel, you're going to inherit the land. 439 00:21:42,919 --> 00:21:44,519 You're going to give you this land. 440 00:21:46,009 --> 00:21:47,369 But he preps them first. 441 00:21:50,409 --> 00:21:52,329 No longer living by sight. 442 00:21:52,889 --> 00:21:54,249 No longer living by sight. 443 00:21:54,249 --> 00:21:58,009 No longer living by the manna and the meat in the evening and the 444 00:21:58,009 --> 00:22:00,169 cloud by day and the fire by night and the water. 445 00:22:00,249 --> 00:22:02,649 Now they were living by what faith? 446 00:22:04,009 --> 00:22:04,569 Faith. 447 00:22:07,689 --> 00:22:09,369 God leads us to higher ground. 448 00:22:11,859 --> 00:22:13,459 He does all things to our good. 449 00:22:14,499 --> 00:22:19,899 He moves us from the ABCs of Christianity into his rest, into 450 00:22:19,899 --> 00:22:24,019 that abundant Christian life as we learn to depend upon him and 451 00:22:24,019 --> 00:22:25,219 his grace and his power. 452 00:22:25,699 --> 00:22:32,499 Secondly, not only again are we to be Reminded that we need his 453 00:22:32,499 --> 00:22:36,779 presence and be reminded of that growth that we need. 454 00:22:36,779 --> 00:22:40,079 But this revelation of his presence, think about this. 455 00:22:42,079 --> 00:22:46,559 It infers here that Joshua takes a walk, and apparently they 456 00:22:46,559 --> 00:22:47,799 were only a mile from Jericho. 457 00:22:47,799 --> 00:22:52,239 Apparently he was walking, and in sight was the walls of Jericho. 458 00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:57,799 And as he does, though, he sees a man, and the man has his sword 459 00:22:57,799 --> 00:23:00,079 out of his scabbard and his sword drawn. 460 00:23:00,959 --> 00:23:03,599 And Joshua sees him and he says, are you for us? 461 00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:04,639 Are you against us? 462 00:23:06,939 --> 00:23:07,739 He said, nay. 463 00:23:07,819 --> 00:23:10,459 Basically said, nah, neither one. 464 00:23:11,099 --> 00:23:12,859 I'm the captain, the Lord of hosts. 465 00:23:15,579 --> 00:23:17,259 The captain, the Lord of hosts. 466 00:23:17,339 --> 00:23:18,139 What happened? 467 00:23:18,459 --> 00:23:21,859 I could just imagine as Joshua is looking at those walls going, 468 00:23:21,859 --> 00:23:23,699 how in the world are we going to get over these walls? 469 00:23:23,699 --> 00:23:26,739 How in the world are we going to get through these walls, humanly 470 00:23:26,739 --> 00:23:27,019 speaking? 471 00:23:27,019 --> 00:23:28,659 Again, they were in a possible situation. 472 00:23:28,659 --> 00:23:31,059 God had said they were going to give him Jericho, that God was 473 00:23:31,059 --> 00:23:33,259 going to give them the enemies of the land. 474 00:23:33,339 --> 00:23:33,589 But. 475 00:23:33,659 --> 00:23:35,459 But how in the world are we gonna get through the wall? 476 00:23:35,459 --> 00:23:37,259 How are we gonna get through the gates? 477 00:23:37,419 --> 00:23:39,139 What, battling ram are we gonna have to have? 478 00:23:39,139 --> 00:23:40,619 How many ladders are we gonna have? 479 00:23:41,499 --> 00:23:43,179 How high do the ladders have to be? 480 00:23:44,459 --> 00:23:46,899 You could just see maybe swirling in his mind, and he sees 481 00:23:46,899 --> 00:23:49,499 this man with a sword drawn. 482 00:23:50,779 --> 00:23:52,459 It was not just a man. 483 00:23:53,259 --> 00:23:55,179 It was the captain of the Lord of hosts. 484 00:23:55,979 --> 00:24:03,359 He fell on his face before the great commander, his face at the 485 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,839 feet of Jesus. 486 00:24:07,479 --> 00:24:08,759 You say that was Jesus? 487 00:24:09,799 --> 00:24:11,559 Well, Exodus 3:5. 488 00:24:11,559 --> 00:24:16,199 Moses went on top of the mount and there saw a bush that was burning 489 00:24:16,199 --> 00:24:17,319 but not consumed. 490 00:24:18,199 --> 00:24:22,679 And a voice spake out of the bush and said, moses, take your shoes 491 00:24:22,679 --> 00:24:22,999 off. 492 00:24:23,719 --> 00:24:25,639 The place where you stand is holy ground. 493 00:24:26,849 --> 00:24:30,129 Forty years later, we see that same term repeated. 494 00:24:30,769 --> 00:24:32,769 Joshua, take your shoe off. 495 00:24:33,169 --> 00:24:34,689 You're standing on holy ground. 496 00:24:36,369 --> 00:24:41,129 We know From John chapter 8 that Jesus said, I was the voice 497 00:24:41,129 --> 00:24:42,689 that spoke out of the burning bush. 498 00:24:43,969 --> 00:24:45,009 He claimed that. 499 00:24:47,169 --> 00:24:50,369 And this is what we call a theophany or christophany. 500 00:24:50,609 --> 00:24:53,009 It's an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. 501 00:24:54,249 --> 00:24:57,449 He appears to Joshua as the captain of the Lord of hosts. 502 00:24:58,169 --> 00:25:00,729 And just as in the New Testament, we find the leper that 503 00:25:00,729 --> 00:25:03,249 falls before the face of Jesus and worships him. 504 00:25:03,249 --> 00:25:07,249 We see Peter when he steps into the boat after going through 505 00:25:07,249 --> 00:25:11,289 the storm, and he steps back in the boat, he falls and puts his 506 00:25:11,289 --> 00:25:12,889 face and worships Jesus. 507 00:25:13,289 --> 00:25:15,369 We see this in the New Testament several times. 508 00:25:15,529 --> 00:25:20,619 Those who fell before the feet of Jesus and worshiped him, Joshua 509 00:25:20,619 --> 00:25:23,459 just follows suit, falls at the feet of Jesus and worships him. 510 00:25:24,019 --> 00:25:25,619 Jesus Christ, the captain. 511 00:25:26,259 --> 00:25:30,819 Now he's the captain of the unseen army, Joshua's going to lead 512 00:25:31,459 --> 00:25:32,539 the visible army. 513 00:25:32,539 --> 00:25:34,899 Joshua's going to lead the Israelites into battle. 514 00:25:35,619 --> 00:25:37,859 But Jesus is leading the unseen army. 515 00:25:37,859 --> 00:25:39,939 You say, preacher, there's an unseen army. 516 00:25:40,499 --> 00:25:41,179 Absolutely. 517 00:25:41,179 --> 00:25:43,139 And we sometimes take this for granted. 518 00:25:44,429 --> 00:25:49,669 And maybe we're a little hesitant to talk about it, because 519 00:25:49,669 --> 00:25:52,189 sometimes you might think, well, people are going to think we're 520 00:25:52,189 --> 00:25:52,669 weird. 521 00:25:54,349 --> 00:25:58,389 But can I tell you, the Bible makes it very, very clear that there's 522 00:25:58,389 --> 00:26:00,029 a battle taking place we cannot see. 523 00:26:01,149 --> 00:26:04,029 In fact, he says in Ephesians chapter six, that we wrestle not 524 00:26:04,029 --> 00:26:06,349 against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, 525 00:26:06,349 --> 00:26:07,869 the rulers of the darkness of this world. 526 00:26:07,949 --> 00:26:10,269 There's a battle taking place we cannot see. 527 00:26:11,229 --> 00:26:14,109 By the way, a couple of times he's opened up for people to see 528 00:26:14,109 --> 00:26:20,509 that we know that the again, the servant of Elisha saw it right. 529 00:26:20,989 --> 00:26:27,149 Remember that the armies of Syria had surrounded Elisha's house. 530 00:26:28,509 --> 00:26:31,109 And the servant of Elisha comes out and says, what are we going 531 00:26:31,109 --> 00:26:31,349 to do? 532 00:26:31,349 --> 00:26:32,069 What are we going to do? 533 00:26:32,069 --> 00:26:37,879 And God says, hey, God, would you open his eyes to see what we 534 00:26:37,879 --> 00:26:38,759 cannot see? 535 00:26:39,319 --> 00:26:43,119 And God opened that servant's eyes, the spiritual battle that was 536 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:43,439 taking place. 537 00:26:43,439 --> 00:26:49,079 And he could see the hosts, the armies of God, who were standing 538 00:26:49,079 --> 00:26:50,999 ready to defeat the Syrian army. 539 00:26:52,679 --> 00:26:55,079 Can I tell you, there's an unseen battle taking place. 540 00:26:56,199 --> 00:26:59,239 And what we understand from this, an illustration for us, an 541 00:26:59,239 --> 00:27:03,199 analogy for us to understand as Christians that and as the Jews 542 00:27:03,199 --> 00:27:05,999 were, as they were to go into battle, understand the captain, the 543 00:27:05,999 --> 00:27:07,479 Lord of hosts, was going before them. 544 00:27:08,559 --> 00:27:09,759 He was leading the charge. 545 00:27:10,559 --> 00:27:12,599 And he wasn't leading the charge with visible army. 546 00:27:12,599 --> 00:27:19,719 He was leading the charge with an invisible army to defeat the Canaanites 547 00:27:19,719 --> 00:27:20,799 and the Perizzites. 548 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,359 We need the Lord to do something for us. 549 00:27:23,999 --> 00:27:27,399 Because what we accomplish through our own planning and our 550 00:27:27,399 --> 00:27:30,319 own programs, and certainly God can work through those. 551 00:27:30,319 --> 00:27:32,079 But understand, we can put all those together. 552 00:27:32,719 --> 00:27:35,769 But what we really need is God's hand on it. 553 00:27:36,889 --> 00:27:42,729 We need the power of God to fight for us, to gain the victory 554 00:27:42,729 --> 00:27:43,209 for us. 555 00:27:44,489 --> 00:27:45,569 We must be committed. 556 00:27:45,569 --> 00:27:46,489 We must surrender. 557 00:27:46,809 --> 00:27:47,449 We must. 558 00:27:47,609 --> 00:27:49,529 As the children of Israel, we must remember. 559 00:27:50,489 --> 00:27:51,289 We must remember. 560 00:27:51,289 --> 00:27:52,249 We see the 12 stones. 561 00:27:52,249 --> 00:27:52,889 We must remember. 562 00:27:52,889 --> 00:27:53,529 We must remember. 563 00:27:53,529 --> 00:27:56,289 We must look back and see the victories God's given us. 564 00:27:56,289 --> 00:27:59,249 By the way, the first great victory was on the cross when you 565 00:27:59,249 --> 00:28:00,409 accepted Christ as your Savior. 566 00:28:00,409 --> 00:28:02,809 I hope today you know Jesus Christ as your personal savior. 567 00:28:03,219 --> 00:28:05,539 I hope today that you have knelt at the feet of the cross and 568 00:28:05,859 --> 00:28:09,339 the blood of Jesus Christ has washed away your sins and the only 569 00:28:09,339 --> 00:28:11,499 way that's gonna happen is by you putting your faith and trust 570 00:28:11,499 --> 00:28:14,819 in him, by believing and understanding that he died and he 571 00:28:14,819 --> 00:28:19,619 was buried and he rose again for your sins, that you repent of 572 00:28:19,619 --> 00:28:22,619 your sins, understanding that your sins and my sins put him on 573 00:28:22,619 --> 00:28:23,139 the cross. 574 00:28:23,699 --> 00:28:25,059 He had no sins of his own. 575 00:28:25,059 --> 00:28:27,619 He who knew no sin became sin for us. 576 00:28:28,499 --> 00:28:29,739 He died in our place. 577 00:28:29,739 --> 00:28:30,699 Do you understand that? 578 00:28:30,699 --> 00:28:37,149 I should have been on the cross, but instead he died for me. 579 00:28:38,189 --> 00:28:40,109 He died for my sins. 580 00:28:40,829 --> 00:28:42,989 He paid the price for my sins. 581 00:28:42,989 --> 00:28:44,989 He paid my sin debt. 582 00:28:45,469 --> 00:28:47,469 He paid your sin debt. 583 00:28:49,309 --> 00:28:52,709 Again, simply putting your faith and trust in him, not in your 584 00:28:52,709 --> 00:28:55,949 works, not in baptism, not in church membership, not being a good 585 00:28:55,949 --> 00:28:56,269 person. 586 00:28:57,549 --> 00:29:01,659 All that leads to hell, all that is is the broad road that leads 587 00:29:01,659 --> 00:29:02,139 to hell. 588 00:29:03,259 --> 00:29:06,379 You must put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone. 589 00:29:06,699 --> 00:29:09,019 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. 590 00:29:09,099 --> 00:29:11,059 No man cometh in the Father, but by me. 591 00:29:11,059 --> 00:29:12,339 That he is the only way. 592 00:29:12,339 --> 00:29:13,299 He's not part of the way. 593 00:29:13,299 --> 00:29:14,219 He's not kind of the way. 594 00:29:14,219 --> 00:29:15,099 He's not the best way. 595 00:29:15,099 --> 00:29:15,979 He's the only way. 596 00:29:18,379 --> 00:29:21,379 We as Christians need to remember, though, the sacrifice he 597 00:29:21,379 --> 00:29:22,059 made on Calvary. 598 00:29:22,299 --> 00:29:25,459 We need to remember the 12 stones and be reminded of the great 599 00:29:25,459 --> 00:29:28,949 victories that God has already given us, whether it's at salvation 600 00:29:28,949 --> 00:29:30,709 or the many other victories he's given us. 601 00:29:31,109 --> 00:29:34,029 It's Satan who likes to remind you of your past. 602 00:29:34,029 --> 00:29:38,189 It's Satan that likes to remind you of your wrong past, of 603 00:29:38,189 --> 00:29:39,429 the bad stuff in your past. 604 00:29:39,589 --> 00:29:42,749 Can I remind you, when he reminds you of your past, remind 605 00:29:42,749 --> 00:29:43,508 him of his future. 606 00:29:43,508 --> 00:29:47,309 Because one day he'll be thrown into hell forever and we just 607 00:29:47,309 --> 00:29:50,669 need to again be reminded of what great things God has done for 608 00:29:50,669 --> 00:29:50,949 us. 609 00:29:51,109 --> 00:29:53,349 Be reminded of that and then focus on Jesus. 610 00:29:53,829 --> 00:29:54,709 Focus on the ark. 611 00:29:54,869 --> 00:29:56,389 Renounce your sin. 612 00:29:56,389 --> 00:29:57,429 Renounce yourself. 613 00:29:57,429 --> 00:30:00,749 Renounce and put your faith and trust and obedience into Jesus 614 00:30:00,749 --> 00:30:00,989 Christ. 615 00:30:00,989 --> 00:30:02,309 Renew that fellowship. 616 00:30:03,189 --> 00:30:06,549 Maybe you have wandered from the Lord as a Christian. 617 00:30:06,629 --> 00:30:07,349 Maybe you. 618 00:30:07,429 --> 00:30:09,509 By the way, he doesn't wander from you, you wonder from Him. 619 00:30:11,669 --> 00:30:12,549 Maybe you have. 620 00:30:13,989 --> 00:30:19,109 Maybe you have stopped that personal walk that you once had. 621 00:30:19,849 --> 00:30:20,729 Maybe you've never started. 622 00:30:23,049 --> 00:30:25,689 Jesus Christ desires a personal relationship with you. 623 00:30:27,369 --> 00:30:29,129 You need his presence. 624 00:30:29,609 --> 00:30:31,129 Israel needed his presence. 625 00:30:31,609 --> 00:30:34,409 We need the captain, the Lord of hosts, to lead us. 626 00:30:35,529 --> 00:30:36,649 We should follow him. 627 00:30:38,729 --> 00:30:42,809 In Exodus, chapter 33 and 34, you had a back and forth between 628 00:30:42,809 --> 00:30:43,769 God and Moses. 629 00:30:44,899 --> 00:30:45,859 Remember, they did that a lot. 630 00:30:46,099 --> 00:30:48,019 God's like, all right, Moses, get out of the way. 631 00:30:48,019 --> 00:30:50,579 I'm going to kill all these people. 632 00:30:50,819 --> 00:30:53,139 The Israelites, wipe them off the face of the surf. 633 00:30:53,139 --> 00:30:54,899 And I'll raise you up a new people. 634 00:30:55,219 --> 00:30:57,059 Moses like, no, Lord, don't do that. 635 00:30:57,299 --> 00:30:58,499 It'll hurt your testimony. 636 00:30:58,739 --> 00:31:01,739 Then it would be Moses saying, Moses, he would come back and go, 637 00:31:01,739 --> 00:31:02,899 lord, wipe them out. 638 00:31:03,619 --> 00:31:07,699 This happened several times, but now they were getting close again 639 00:31:07,699 --> 00:31:09,659 to coming to the River Jordan. 640 00:31:09,659 --> 00:31:12,979 And God said to Moses, I will bless you. 641 00:31:12,979 --> 00:31:14,259 I will do all these things for the people. 642 00:31:14,259 --> 00:31:15,619 But I'm not going with you. 643 00:31:16,279 --> 00:31:17,199 I'm not going with you. 644 00:31:17,199 --> 00:31:18,119 I'm not going with him. 645 00:31:18,279 --> 00:31:20,839 And Moses, and I'm summarizing here. 646 00:31:20,919 --> 00:31:22,039 Moses begs him. 647 00:31:23,559 --> 00:31:25,959 Moses begs God, we need your presence. 648 00:31:26,679 --> 00:31:28,759 We can't go forward without your presence. 649 00:31:29,799 --> 00:31:33,959 And God says, okay, I'll go with you. 650 00:31:34,919 --> 00:31:36,039 We need his presence. 651 00:31:36,999 --> 00:31:38,759 We need a begging for his presence. 652 00:31:39,959 --> 00:31:42,359 Lord, I know there's things in my life that shouldn't be there. 653 00:31:43,219 --> 00:31:43,939 Lord, help me. 654 00:31:43,939 --> 00:31:46,259 Help me to renounce those things that shouldn't be there. 655 00:31:46,739 --> 00:31:50,379 Help me to remember the cross of Calvary, the blood that you shed 656 00:31:50,379 --> 00:31:51,619 there for me and my sins. 657 00:31:52,339 --> 00:31:54,299 Lord, help me, Lord. 658 00:31:54,299 --> 00:31:55,979 I want that sweet Passover. 659 00:31:55,979 --> 00:31:58,939 I want that sweet fellowship that maybe I once experienced. 660 00:31:58,939 --> 00:31:59,619 I want that again. 661 00:32:00,419 --> 00:32:03,179 Or maybe you've never had that sweet presence or felt that sweet 662 00:32:03,179 --> 00:32:05,979 presence, man, just to have that fellowship with him. 663 00:32:05,979 --> 00:32:06,899 Lord, I want that. 664 00:32:08,749 --> 00:32:11,629 And Lord, I need your presence. 665 00:32:12,989 --> 00:32:15,709 I want the captain of the Lord of hosts to fight for me. 666 00:32:17,229 --> 00:32:20,589 He's promised to do so if we will follow him. 667 00:32:22,269 --> 00:32:23,869 Christianity is not a religion. 668 00:32:24,669 --> 00:32:25,949 It's not a set of rules. 669 00:32:26,429 --> 00:32:28,189 It's a relationship with Jesus Christ. 670 00:32:29,629 --> 00:32:31,869 I think it's good to be reminded it's all about him, not 671 00:32:31,869 --> 00:32:32,429 about us. 672 00:32:35,559 --> 00:32:40,879 Whether you are a secretary walking with God, working at Lockheed 673 00:32:40,879 --> 00:32:42,679 or some other factory, walking with God. 674 00:32:43,879 --> 00:32:46,199 Whether you're a housewife walking with the Lord. 675 00:32:47,399 --> 00:32:49,239 Whether you're a dad walking with the Lord. 676 00:32:49,239 --> 00:32:54,719 Whether you're a teenager who's connected to God in whatever 677 00:32:54,719 --> 00:32:57,639 capacity God has seen fit to put you in. 678 00:32:59,489 --> 00:33:02,289 The important part of that is that you be connected to the Lord 679 00:33:03,089 --> 00:33:08,489 on a daily basis, that you walk with him on a daily basis, that 680 00:33:08,489 --> 00:33:11,409 you develop a sweet relationship with Him. 681 00:33:13,969 --> 00:33:18,689 Because if you do so, he's promised to lead you as the captain 682 00:33:18,689 --> 00:33:19,529 of the Lord of hosts. 683 00:33:19,529 --> 00:33:20,289 He will lead you. 684 00:33:21,169 --> 00:33:23,009 He will fight your battles for you. 685 00:33:24,129 --> 00:33:28,519 He will go before you remember you're walking with an omnipotent 686 00:33:28,519 --> 00:33:28,919 God. 687 00:33:29,399 --> 00:33:30,479 He's all powerful. 688 00:33:30,479 --> 00:33:31,319 He can do anything. 689 00:33:31,799 --> 00:33:33,319 He's there in every situation. 690 00:33:33,399 --> 00:33:35,279 But we need the captive Lord of Hosts. 691 00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:39,479 Not with the sword in his scabbard, but the sword is out, ready 692 00:33:39,479 --> 00:33:40,439 to fight for you. 693 00:33:40,599 --> 00:33:42,039 We are more than conquerors. 694 00:33:42,039 --> 00:33:44,839 Through him that loved us, gave his life for us. 695 00:33:45,799 --> 00:33:49,239 As Christians, we need his presence. 696 00:33:50,759 --> 00:33:51,719 We need his presence. 697 00:33:51,719 --> 00:33:52,759 He will go before us. 698 00:33:57,079 --> 00:33:58,999 I don't know how many times we've said this about our church, 699 00:33:58,999 --> 00:34:07,559 but if every member was to walk with the Lord every day and 700 00:34:07,559 --> 00:34:11,119 come here next Sunday, having walked with the Lord during the week, 701 00:34:11,119 --> 00:34:18,119 all week, I believe we would not even come close to understanding 702 00:34:18,439 --> 00:34:21,749 the change that would take place in our midst. 703 00:34:22,949 --> 00:34:25,949 Because he's promised that when he is comfortable, that when 704 00:34:25,949 --> 00:34:30,989 the habitation is habitable, it's comfortable for him, the Holy 705 00:34:30,989 --> 00:34:32,789 Spirit, that He will make himself evident. 706 00:34:33,269 --> 00:34:35,269 Now I'm thankful he's promised to be with us. 707 00:34:35,749 --> 00:34:36,309 Amen. 708 00:34:36,949 --> 00:34:39,189 Where two or more are gathered together, there am I in the midst. 709 00:34:39,269 --> 00:34:42,509 But just because he's in here, just because he's present with us, 710 00:34:42,509 --> 00:34:45,909 and he is this morning, no doubt Bible makes that clear, doesn't 711 00:34:45,909 --> 00:34:47,109 mean he has to make himself evident. 712 00:34:47,109 --> 00:34:49,708 You want to see God make Himself evident among us. 713 00:34:50,348 --> 00:34:56,268 We as a church family, we need to do more than just a Sunday and 714 00:34:56,268 --> 00:34:56,668 a Wednesday. 715 00:34:57,068 --> 00:34:58,748 We need to walk with the Lord every day. 716 00:34:59,788 --> 00:35:01,788 Well, that just going to benefit the church? 717 00:35:01,788 --> 00:35:08,508 No, it's going to benefit you, but in full circle as you walk with 718 00:35:08,508 --> 00:35:11,308 the Lord, it'll benefit us collectively as well. 719 00:35:11,708 --> 00:35:14,108 And we'll talk about that with Achan later down the road. 720 00:35:15,459 --> 00:35:16,659 God's so good, isn't he? 721 00:35:17,459 --> 00:35:23,219 I'm pressing on the upward way New heights I'm gaining every day 722 00:35:23,779 --> 00:35:29,059 still praying as I onward bound Lord, plant my feet on higher 723 00:35:29,379 --> 00:35:35,739 ground Lord, lift me up and let me stand by faith on heaven's 724 00:35:35,739 --> 00:35:42,759 tableland A higher plane than I have found Lord, plant my feet 725 00:35:42,999 --> 00:35:46,439 on higher ground Every Christian's prayer should be Lord, 726 00:35:46,439 --> 00:35:48,759 plant my feet on higher ground let's all stand.