SAFEGUARDING The GOOD LIFE-II—Joshua 3:1-6
Good Life/Well/Abundant
Attention:
Hurricane Joaquin brought upwards of 20 inches of rain to Columbia, SC in Saturday & Sunday Oct. 4-5, 2015. It was the worst flooding in Columbia’s history. The Congaree River, which runs thru Columbia, reached its highest level since 1936.
Congaree National Park(since 2003), SE of Columbia encompasses “the largest expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the SE.” Some people saw the need to protect the area by creating the national park from what have been various stages of federal protection since 1969.
It contains some of the largest trees in the eastern US. Two being “the largest Loblolly Pine” & another being “the tallest Loblolly Pine” in the entire U.S. Scientists speculate that the reason the trees are so enormous is due to periodic flooding events such as that which occurred on Oct. 4-5. As flooding inundates the area it leaves behind nutrients, soils, & other ‘debris’ which enhance the forest’s growth.
Some things are worth protecting.
The Good Life we have in Christ is particularly worth safeguarding/ protecting.
Need:
We all want ‘the good life.’
Joshua prepared the children of Israel for entrance into the promised land.
Christians must be prepared to enter the abundant life.
How can God’s people be prepared for entering the abundant life?
4 safeguards/assurances for entering the promised land/ living the Abundant Life/Good Life
We found earlier that The Good Life is Safeguarded at/by/thru...
1. The BRINK(:1)
2—The Good Life is Safeguarded at/by/thru...
The LORD(:2-4)
Explanation:(:2-4) Don’t Force situation/Follow
:2—“So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;”
:3—“& they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, & the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place & go after it. ””
Previously Joshua had told Israel that they would cross the Jordan within three days(1:11). The spies had already stayed at the mountain for three days waiting for Jericho’s pursuers to return to the city(2:22-23). It is possible that the three day period was contingent upon the return of the spies or that the spies return effectively reset the three day ‘clock,’ or that the 3-day period included the spy’s time west of the Jordan.
After 3 days the officers went thruout the camp of the Israelites. They went with the purpose of commanding the people. They were told that they would see “the ark of the covenant.” They would see the Levitical priests carrying it. Upon their seeing the ark pass by, the people were to set out & follow it.
?What was the ark?
“Ark”—Nwra aw-rowne'—Strong—from hra aw-raw’[a primitive root; to pluck](in the sense of gathering); A box.
—An ornate gold overlaid box of specific size(3 3/4ft. X 2 1/4ft. X 2 1/4ft.) Containing the Testimony(Ten Commandments)
Ex. 25:10-16—“And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two & a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit & a half its width, & a cubit & a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside & out you shall overlay it, & shall make on it a molding of gold all around. You shall cast four rings of gold for it, & put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, & two rings on the other side. And you shall make poles of acacia wood, & overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.”
—The ark had a solid gold top/lid(the mercy seat) upon which were 2 angels(cherubim) of solid gold.
—God would speak to Moses from between the cherubim. Thus it was referred to as ‘the mercy seat.’
Ex. 25:17-22—“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two & a half cubits shall be its length & a cubit & a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, & the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, & they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, & in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, & I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.”
:4—“Yet there shall be a space between you & it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
None of the people was to come closer than 2000 cubits(3000 ft. or >1/2 mile?).
The people were to follow the ark implicitly because none of them knew the way that they were to go. None of them had ever passed that way before...However God knows the way.
The ark was the symbolic tangible representation of God’s specific working on earth. But it was NOT God in a box!!
The ark would evidently be directed specifically while the others would follow at a great distance.
Its always being in the leading position was testimony to God’s omniscience & majesty.
Such a distance would ensure a proper place, reverence for, & elevation of God’s presence & direction(“the way”) for the nation.
The priests would thus lead the children of Israel(including their army) across the river & to their camp on the west side of the Jordan(:14-17).
An application:
*Let God move at His ‘seeming’ yet omniscient providential whim...
Do not force your situation...Do not move ahead of the Lord!
Follow & Wait on God!
Jn. 3:8—“The wind blows where it wishes, & you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from & where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Deut. 31:8—[Moses encouraged Joshua]“And the LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed.”
Argumentation:
Num. 14:41-45; Deut. 1:40-45—[Prior to the events in Joshua, Israel had refused to enter the promised land due to the ‘bad report’ of the hardships before them—Thus they would wander 40 yrs. till dead.]—“And Moses said, “Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. For the Amalekites & the Canaanites are there before you, & you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.” But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop; nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp. Then the Amalekites & the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down & attacked them, & drove them back as far as Hormah.”.....[Moses instructed]“But as for you, turn & take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.’ “Then you answered & said to me, ‘We have sinned against the LORD; we will go up & fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.’ And when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the mountain. “And the LORD said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies.”’ “So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, & presumptuously went up into the mountain. And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you & chased you as bees do, & drove you back from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned & wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you.”
Num. 20:7-12—“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you & your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, & it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, & give drink to the congregation & their animals.” So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. And Moses & Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; & he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand & struck the rock twice with his rod; & water came out abundantly, & the congregation & their animals drank. Then the LORD spoke to Moses & Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.””
Moses did not heed YHWH, but did what he was used to doing. He went beyond God & that action caused Moses to miss the Promised Land.
1Cor. 4:5—“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness & disclose the motives of men's hearts; & then each man's praise will come to him from God.”
Ps. 130:6—“My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.”
Ps. 147 11—“The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”
Isa. 40:31—“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run & not get tired, They will walk & not become weary.”
Lam. 3:25—“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.”
Mat. 14:21-29—“Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women & children. Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat & go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him & said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”
*It is impossible for you to walk on water apart from following & waiting for God’s command!
Mat. 16:13-28—“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, & others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered & said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered & said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh & blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, & on this rock I will build My church, & the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, & whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, & whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, & suffer many things from the elders & chief priests & scribes, & be killed, & be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside & began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned & said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross, & follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, & loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, & then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Not Peter himself(Catholicism), but the ‘rock’ of Peter’s confession!
Illustration:
Mr. Hancock/Uncommitted to Christ/Visiting Providence BC on Mother’s Day/3-4hrs. away/His statement following the Mother’s Day sermon—That sermon & his worship experience literally changed his life/Now serving the Lord in his home church in Pensacola/WAIT For The LORD
Preaching...You may consider it ‘the Same ole-Same ole’...But God does something with the obedience/A springboard for His movement!/WAIT For The LORD
Mrs. Lance waiting at stop light/Just as the light turned green, the Lord spoke wanting her to turn on her sound system/Couldn’t while going forward(pre-steering column controls) so she stops, looks down to adjust/Looks up & car speeding thru intersection running the red light/We may not understand God’s direction but.../WAIT For The LORD
We must Wait for the Lord...Its crucial!
Application:
?Are you Safeguarding the Good Life thru The LORD?
?Are you Safeguarding the Good Life?
?Some here pressured into decisions by Spouse/Parents/Child/Friend/Boss/Yourself...
Indecisive/Frightened/ Nervous/Anxious...
...What will your decision be today?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Congaree National Park Trees—worth protecting!
Action:
The Good Life is Safeguarded at/by/thru...
2. The LORD(:2-4)
1. The BRINK(:1)
Point 2 only! presented 10/04/2015am to:
FBC C’belle
206 Storrs Ave(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Pts. 1-4 Presented 05/23/06am to:
New Hope Baptist Church
3514 Allen Rd.
Zephyrhills, FL 33541
Pts. 1-4 Presented 12/05/99pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Rd.
Whigham, GA 31797
