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1. The code name of what's commonly referred to as D-Day, June 6, 1943, when the Allied forces landed on Omaha Beach bringing the beginning of the end of the war in Europe was "Operation Overlord."
Historian Samuel Eliot Morison, "The Allied forces of soldiers, sailors, aviators, and supporting services amounted to 2.8 million men in England."
2. Moses is about to launch his own Operation Overlord, an Operation Preparation. As Israel under the Lordship of Almighty God was anticipating entering the Promised Land.
3. The People of God Preparing for Conquest.
I. First, there is the need for God's Word.
Numbers 1:1 (NKJV)
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
Note: Num.1:19, 48,54; 2:1,33,34; 3:1,4,5,11,14,16,39,40,44,51; 4:1,17,21,37,41,45,49.
The book is called "Yahweh spoke" by the Jews taken from the first first.
These people did not know where to go or what to do. Neither do we! So its vital that we are lead by God through His Word. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
All of Israels problems will be a result of refusing to obey God's Word.
"Who speaks for God? He does quite nicely for Himself. Through His holy and infallable Word - and the quiet obedience of His servants." [Chuck Colson]
II. Furthermore, there is a Word for all of us to do.
Numbers 1:2 (NKJV)
2 "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male individually,
Note: 1:17,20,22; 4:3-4,19, 26-28, 30, 33, 39, 43.
Richards, "Each was listed by name, one by one. It is fascinating to note the emphasis on individuals among the hundreds of thousands. When God's people are on pilgrimage, every person counts. It's the same in the church today. No matter how many millions of believers there are, you and I are listed by name, as members of God's army."
Everybody has a work, a part, a place of service in God's army.
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
There is more to service then just the preacher!
Numbers 4:24-25 (NKJV)
24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying:
25 They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tabernacle of meeting with its covering, the covering of badger skins that is on it, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting,
Spurgeon, "There are some of the Lord's servants whom He raises up to teach, preach, and exhort...But, the Lord has also a large number of His own dear children who do not open their mouth to speak for Him in public. But shall all the body be a mouth? If so, what a vacuum there will be!
God has appointed many of His servants a position and a work like that of the Gershonites, "The service of carrying..." There are some who are not called to speak or preach, but whose special function it is patiently to bear the burdens of life, of the sanctuary, of the church of God."
III. Thirdly, we are engaged in a Warfare. 1:3-49
Numbers 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3 from twenty years old and above--all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
4 And with you there shall be a man from every tribe, each one the head of his father's house.
Notice: 1:24, 26-45.
If they are going to conquor the land, they will have to fight for it. We are also engaged in a warfare. 2 Cor. 10:3-/ I Pet. 5:8
McCheyne, "A Christians peace is peculiar, it flows from Christ, it is heavenly, it is a holy peace. His warfare is also peculiar, it is deep seated, agonizing, and ceases not till death. A believer is to be known not only by his peace and joy, but by his warfare in distress."
IV. Finally, we are engaged in Worship. 1:50-53; 2:2,17
Numbers 1:50-53 (NKJV)
50 but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend to it and camp around the tabernacle.
51 And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies;
53 but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony."
Everything was centered on the Tabernacle, where God's Presence was manifested. It was in the middle of the camp, it was far enough from them so that all could see it.
Worship gives us strength to warfare!
Wiersbe, "Unless the people of God are right with the Lord in their worship, they can't face their enemies and defeat them in warfare. The Bible says, "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edge sword in their hands." (Psa. 149:6)
Whenever the camp moved, the Ark of the Covenant went before, carried by the priests...In God's plan, Israel and the church are two different peoples, but you can't help see Israel's camp as an illustration of what God's church ought to be in this world: a pilgrim people, following the Lord, with His glory at the heart of everything and His presence leading the way."
Con:
1. We are under Operation OverLord, meaning we are be be aggressively involved in the Word; Work; Warfare; and Worship.
2. All related to preparation for spiritual conquest, and the real preparation happens first inwardly and silently but surely.
3. "What a silent but awful work is character building! We understand now why "there was neither hammer, nor ax, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while the temple was in building" (1 Kgs. 6:7). It has been discovered that the quarries where the stones were made ready were under the city. All the preparations were made in silence and secrecy down beneath the tread of busy life; and then, when the great blocks were cleft from their bed, hewn, shaped, polished, and fitted for their place, they were hoisted through a shaft to the temple platform and lifted to their exact position. So all the preparations for character go forward in silence and secrecy; but the results are manifest in the structure which, for glory or shame, mysteriously grows before our eyes."
Johnny Palmer Jr.
www.strugglingthruscriptures.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
