"Camping With Christ"

In verse 2 the Bible says; "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard,..."

In other words, Everyone is to camp by their own banner! Verse 17 tells us that in the same manner that they camped, so were they to break camp.

Now I don’t know about you, but to me there is something very special about camp. The smell of the great outdoors, the sights and sounds of nature, the smell of the campfire, the peace and serenity of a slower pace. I know that many of you have your favorite camp sites. There are some very beautiful lakes, state parks, and other places to camp in this great big world of ours. My wife has some places very near and dear to her heart, when we camp. I’m going to go ahead and spill the beans. I’m going to share some secret spots where she loves to camp. You ready? Here they are: Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt just to name a few. I mean she really loves to rough it!

But seriously, God is very specific in His instructions concerning the camp of His people. The word camp means: a place where an army or other body of people lodge in tents. In Numbers chapter 2, God deals with their camp, (tht’s the place where they rest) and their breaking of camp (that is when they are on the move, their orderly march). God’s instructions reached every aspect of their lives and so should they ours!

God is not the author of confusion, but He is a God of order. This passage is not something to be simply passed over as insignificant, but it holds the key to walking and resting in the victory that is ours in Christ! We should not walk around with our heads hung low, all down in the mullygrubs, discouraged, defeated, and downtrodden. God has given us some very explicit instructions concerning our camp, our place where we rest. That’s exactly what we are doing here today. When we come together as a body of believers at church, this is our rest. And God has given us instructions concerning our order and practice at church. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t come here to be bored, I came here to be blessed! When we are at home, we are at rest. At least I hope your home is a place of rest and not a place of war! With Christ and His instructions it can be and will be a place of rest. A place of peace. And God also has given us some important instructions concerning the home. But here me now, God also has given us instruction concerning the breaking of camp. That is when we are on the move. And folks let me tell you, any church of God ought to be a church on the move! God didn’t call us to sit still, rollover, and play dead. God’s people have always been a people on the move! I think that God is sick and tired of dead, dry as least week’s toast, traditional churches. God help us to be a church on the move with the message of Jesus Christ.

Now listen, the message of Numbers is clear: For the children of Israel, what should have been an eleven day journey turned into a forty year nightmare. And far to many of us Christians today are taking way to long to reach the promised land of victory in Christ. We are more than just a bunch of ex-slaves to sin.

"We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should show forth the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His Marvelous Light! Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God!" Somebody ought to shout! Listen, God doesn’t want us out there bumbling and stumbling around. Yes in this world we shall have tribulations. We are going to have some tough times folks, but we don’t have to live in the wilderness! God has a Promised Land for us and it’s called the Victorious Christian Life. So let us look at some of the instructions given in Numbers chapter two that can help us Camp with Christ, help us to walk in victory!

I. We must pitch together. verse 2

Now the instruction here was: Everyone is to camp together! You mark this down, No Christian will ever walk in victory being a Lone Ranger! We need each other. God tells them to organize by distinguishable signs. There was familiarity, commoness, and strength in the unity. We get encouragement and we are strengthened by Christian fellowship. Let me tell you something this morning, You are important to this church, to the kingdom of God. It takes all of us working together! We must pitch together...