GOD's UNDENIABLE LEADERSHIP-III—Joshua 3:7-17
Attention:
In a former church, we were in the beginning stages of discussions surrounding the implement of AWANA. However, there was one big snag. A well-respected(& rightly so), sweet, Christian lady with much influence had issues with allowing the ‘pristine’ fellowship hall to be used for games around an AWANA Circle. She had reservations because she thought it would be terrible for the hall to be ‘dirtied up’ with scuff marks, & a ‘semi-permanent’ AWANA circle, etc. She was concerned because the fellowship hall was also used for wedding receptions. Her belief was a real hindrance to the church’s decision to move ahead in ministry.
However, as we were in the midst of discussing the potential for ministry, & her issue directly, She was asked, "Exactly how many wedding receptions do we have per year?" Her countenance change in an instant. She ‘got it’ for the first time! She immediately recanted her opposition & wholeheartedly supported the AWANA ministry from then on!
God was in control!
We are faced with a lack of integrity in the world today.
We shouldn’t tolerate it in Christian circles. God must be in control!
God began to magnify Joshua’s ministry among Israel.
God magnified His ministry thru Joshua.
God began to make His leadership thru Joshua undeniable among His people.
God initiated His undeniable leadership thru Joshua among His people Israel.
*God makes His leadership undeniable among His people.
How does God endear leadership to His people?
*When/Where is God’s leadership undeniable?
We’ve found previously that God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
1. CONTINUITY(:7)
2. DIRECTION(:8-9)
3. HOPE(:10)
4—God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
OBEDIENCE(:11-12)
Explanation:(:11-12)
:11—“Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.”
The people were told that “the ark of the covenant”(& thus God) would “cross over” ahead of the people. The ark contained, & was thus a symbol of, the written covenant Israel had with “the Lord of all the earth”...And of which He had committed to them.
This “ark” was ‘pregnant’/brimming with symbolism/reminders of Who it was that was ultimately leading them thru Joshua & the tribal heads. It spoke of their reverent relationship to Him Who would make it a real substantive possibility.
The people were told that the ark would go before them “into the Jordan.”
“Ark”(See :3, 6)—Nwra aw-rown'—1) Chest, ark—1a) Money chest, 1b) Ark of the Covenant; 2) (TWOT)--Coffin. Strong—from hra aw-raw’[a primitive root; to pluck](in the sense of gathering); A box.
“Covenant”—tyrb ber-eeyth’—Noun Fem.—1) Covenant, alliance, pledge; 2) (phrases)—2a) Covenant making, 2b) Covenant keeping, 2c) Covenant violation. Strong—A compact(because made by passing between pieces of flesh).
“Lord”(See :13)—Nwda 'adown or (shortened) Nda 'aw-done' or ynda—1) Firm, strong, lord, master—1a) Lord, master—1a1) Reference to men—1a1a) Superintendent of household,of affairs, 1a1b) Master, 1a1c) King, 1a2) Reference to God—1a2a) The Lord God, 1a2b) Lord of the whole earth, 1b) Lords, kings—1b1) Reference to men—1b1a) Proprietor of hill of Samaria, 1b1b) Master, 1b1c) Husband, 1b1d) Prophet, 1b1e) Governor, 1b1f) Prince1b1g) King, 1b2) reference to God—1b2a) Lord of lords(probably = "thy husband, Yahweh”), 1c) My lord, my master—1c1) Reference to men—1c1a) Master, 1c1b) Husband, 1c1c) Prophet, 1c1d) Prince, 1c1e) King, 1c1f) Father, 1c1g) Moses, 1c1h) Priest, 1c1i) Theophanic angel, 1c1j) Captain, 1c1k) General recognition of superiority, 1c2) Reference to God—1c2a) My Lord, my Lord & my God, 1c2b) Adonai(parallel with Yahweh). Strong—from an unused root(meaning to rule); Sovereign, i.e. Controller(human or divine).
“All”(See :13)——
“Earth”(See :13)—Ura eh’-rets—Noun Fem.—1) Land, earth—1a) Earth—1a1) Whole earth(as opposed to a part), 1a2) Earth(as opposed to heaven), 1a3) Earth(inhabitants), 1b) Land—1b1) Country, territory, 1b2) District, region, 1b3) Tribal territory, 1b4) Piece of ground, 1b5) Land of Canaan, Israel, 1b6) Inhabitants of land, 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under)world, 1b8) City(-state), 1c) Ground, surface of the earth—1c1) Ground, 1c2) Soil, 1d) (in phrases)—1d1) People of the land, 1d2) Space or distance of country(in measurements of distance), 1d3) Level or plain country, 1d4) Land of the living, 1d5) End(s) of the earth, 1e) (almost wholly late in usage)—1e1) Lands, countries—1e1a) Often in contrast to Canaan. Strong—from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; The earth(at large, or partitively a land).
“Crossing over/Passeth Over”—rbe aw-bar’—Qal Participle Active—1) To pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress. Strong—a primitive root; To cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically--To cover(in copulation).
“Before/Ahead of”(See :10)—Mynp paw-neeym'—
“Into”—??—
:12—“Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.”
The people were instructed to take 12 men—one representing each tribe—from the tribes of Israel.
We are not immediately told the purpose of the 12 men. It appears that they didn’t know either, but 4:2-6 tells us that these men were to each remove a stone from the Jordan as a memorial to their miraculous crossing.
*We may not understand the significance or need for a particular action which God calls us to, but we should always be obedient regardless of personal ignorance.
“Take”—xql law-kakh’—Qal Imperative—1) To take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away. Strong—a primitive root; To take (in the widest variety of applications).
“Tribes...Tribe”—jbv she’-bet—Noun Masc.—1) Rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe—1a) Rod, staff, 1b) Shaft(of spear, dart), 1c) Club(of shepherd's implement), 1d) Truncheon, sceptre(mark of authority), 1e) Clan, tribe. Strong—from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; A scion, i.e. literally--A stick(for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or figuratively--A clan.
“Every/Each”—dxa ekh-awd’—Adj.—1) One(number)—1a) One(number), 1b) Each, every, 1c) A certain, 1d) An(indefinite article), 1e) Only, once, once for all, 1f) One...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one, 1g) First, 1h) Eleven(in combination), eleventh(ordinal). Strong—properly--United, i.e. One; or as an ordinal--First.
Argumentation:
“To face such impossible challenges in our lives, we must look unto Jesus... He always leads us.”—David Guzik
Acts 5:26-33—“Then the captain went with the officers & brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, & intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter & the other apostles answered & said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince & Savior, to give repentance to Israel & forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, & so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were furious & plotted to kill them.”
Mat. 17:5-6—[When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, & John]“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; & suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces & were greatly afraid.”
Hearing Jesus not only embraces a thought(mind) but also engages the heart/desire/will.
Rom. 1:1-6—“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, & declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace & apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;”
Paul’s “apostleship” was never meant to be kept to himself. That would defeat the purpose altogether!
Rom. 2:11-16—“For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, & as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, & between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
How do you “do” “the law”? By faith in Jesus! fulfilled the law
Rom. 8:3-4—“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Mat. 7:21-23—“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, & done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Jn. 15:8-17—“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments & abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, & that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you & appointed you that you should go & bear fruit, & that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.”
Js. 1:21-25—“Therefore lay aside all filthiness & overflow of wickedness, & receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, & not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word & not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, & immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty & continues in it, & is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
1Jn. 2:27-28—“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, & you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, & is true, & is not a lie, & just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence & not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
1Jn. 3:2-7—“Beloved, now we are children of God; & it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, & sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, & in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
The author of Hebrews readily exhorts his audience to:
Heb. 13:17—“Obey those who rule over you, & be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy & not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Not that they lord their position over you but that they are actually & truly concerned for your very souls!
Illustration:
Multitudes of people in America are merely assimilated into a Christian-influenced culture, which is palatable to them as long as they don’t have to commit to Jesus personally! These are ‘politically motivated christians’—the ones who give the church a bad name....who hold a church membership so they can have a cheap grave plot complete with an errand-boy pastor to say kind words about them at their funeral. Or hold membership to meet girls, or find a man, or gain respect from others, ad infinitum...
My Momma & Daddy knew what was best for me & my brother/Our compliance is another matter/OBEDIENCE
The Merle Haggard song—‘Momma Tried’—“Momma tried to raise me better, but I would not comply...Momma Tried, Momma tried, Momma tried”/Lack of OBEDIENCE
If your pastor/overseer saw no need to obey God...If I saw God as limited or anemic in any way, shape, or form, how would that effect your faith & the focus of your energies?...your obedience?
If your pastor had no faith in prayer & only went thru the motions, what would that do to your belief?/Would God & God’s word be of any value to you?/Would you use the Bible as the rule by which you patterned your life?OBEDIENCE
?Are you the one who is holding on to the things of God rather than holding to God Himself. Or is God’s grip on you so loose that you fall?
Application:
?Is God’s leadership undeniable in Your OBEDIENCE?
?Is God’s Leadership Undeniable in His people?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Barriers overcome to implementing AWANA.
Action:
God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
4. OBEDIENCE(:11-13)
1. CONTINUITY(:7)
2. DIRECTION(:8-9)
3. HOPE(:10)
Pts. 4-only! presented 04/17/2016pm to:
FBCCbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
