Spiritual Continuity-2 Series

SPIRITUAL CONTINUITY-II

—Josh. 21:1-45(13:14, 33; 14:3-4; 18:7)

Three guys were pulled out of detective training for special attention, because they were not very bright.Police chief interrogates them to see if they should be on the force.

He tests their skills in recognizing a suspect

Shows a picture of a criminal for 5 seconds & asks to give distinguishing features.

Chief to 1st Guy—"This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?"

The 1st guy answers, "That’s easy, we’ll catch him fast because he only has one eye!"

The chief says, "Well...uh...that’s because the picture only shows his PROFILE."

Chief to 2nd guy—"This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?"

The 2nd guy laughs, rolls his eyes & says, "Ha! He’d be too easy to catch because he only has one ear!"

The chief says, "Well...uh...that’s because the picture only shows his PROFILE."

Chief to 1st Guy—"This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?" & think hard before giving me a crazy answer like your 2 buddies."

The guy looks at the picture intently for a moment & says, "Hmmmm... the suspect wears contact lenses."

The chief is speechless—He really doesn’t know himself if the suspect wears contacts or not. "

Well that is an interesting observation... Wait here while I check this file & I’ll get back to you on that." He leaves the room & goes into his office, checks the suspect’s file in his computer, & comes back with a beaming smile on his face.

"Wow, I can’t believe it..it’s true! The suspect does in fact wear contacts.

Good Work! How were you able to make such an astute observation?"

"That’s easy," the guy replied. "He can’t wear regular glasses because he only has one eye & one ear."

God insured the presence/establishment of the priesthood & its continued support in Israel.

God established spiritual continuity among His people.

How is spiritual continuity established in God’s people?

Spiritual continuity can be established in God’s people thru....

1. Administration Consideration

2. Divine Consideration

3. Collective Consideration

4. Family Consideration

We are always only one generation away from paganism.

13:14—“Only to the tribe of Levi he did not give an inheritance; the offerings by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as He spoke to him.”

:33—“But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them.”

14:3—“For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes & the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give an inheritance to the Levites among them.

:4—“For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh & Ephraim, & they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock & for their property.”

18:7—“For the Levites have no portion among you, because the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance....”

“The tribe of Levi”—Spiritual—Levites representatives of God & His presence in midst of people. Bivocational servants in ministry at Temple.

5—Spiritual continuity is established...

Thru ADEQUACY CONSIDERATION(:2-3, 12, 42)

—Explanation:(:2-3, 12, 42) Appropriate/Needs/Suitable/Stability

:2—“And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to live in, with their pasture lands for our cattle.”

:3—“So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the command of the LORD.”

“Cities” listed—:11-:40

Cities consisted of that within the walls plus various villages associated with it.

“Pasture Lands/Suburbs”—3000 cubits(>.85mi.) on either side of the city walls.(Num. 35:2-5)

:12—Caleb was given the fields & villages of Hebron.

“Fields”—the wild places outside of the suburbs.

:42—“These cities each had its surrounding pasture lands; thus it was with all these cities.”

Those who are involved actively/directly in God’s service are to be adequately provided for.

Suitable...Living quarters—Wages—Tools—Freedoms— Expectations—

—Argumentation:

1Tim. 5:17—“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching & teaching.”

Lk. 12:42-43—“And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? ““Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”

—Illustration:

Catherine Babysitting/?Pay adequate?

Adequacy Consideration establishes Spiritual Continuity

—Application:

?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth maintained thru Adequacy Consideration?

*?Is our provision Adequate to maintain the particular ministry?

?Do we insure Suitable support of Continuity of Spiritual truth?

?You aid the Spiritual Continuity/Awareness in your community?

6—Spiritual continuity is established...

Thru ASSIGNMENT CONSIDERATION(:13, 20, 27, 34)

Explanation:(:13, 20, 27, 34) Duty/Calling/Task/Job/Assignment

Num. 4:1-49—Details duties of each clan of Levites.

:13—“So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, & Libnah with its pasture lands,”