YOUR PHYSICAL PROVISION—Part I —Joshua 15:1--19:51
The Smith’s were proud of their family tradition. Their ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower. Their line had included Senators, Pastors, & Wall Street wizards.
Now they decided to compile a family history, a legacy for the children. They hired a well known author. Only one problem arose: how to handle that great-uncle George who was executed in the electric chair. But the author said not to worry, he could handle that section of history tactfully.
When the book appeared, the family turned to the section on Uncle George.
There, they read "George Smith occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, & his death came as a real shock."
Writer’s autonomy provided an atmosphere for Smith family glory.
Our God-given Autonomy can bring us an atmosphere for glorifying God.
God provided Israel with physical/territorial autonomy.
God’s Provision for the territorial autonomy of His people presents a unique atmosphere in which they can work.
What atmosphere is presented from God’s provision for His people’s autonomy/jurisdiction/self-governance?
God’s Provision for His people’s autonomy/self-governance/jurisdiction makes an atmosphere for His glory.
1—Self-governance gives God’s people
AN ATMOSHPERE FOR DIVERSITY(15:21-32; 33-47; 48-60; 61-62)
Explanation:(15:21-32; 33-47; 48-60; 61-62)
Southern Extremity(15:21-32)
15:21—“Now the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah toward the border of Edom in the south were..”
Lowland(15:33-47)
15:33—“In the lowland: ....”
Mountains(Hill Country)(15:48-60)
15:48—““And in the hill country: Shamir & Jattir & Socoh,”
Wilderness(15:61-62)
“In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin & Secacah,”
People with different Likes/Dislikes—Roles—Giftedness settled in these areas.
Argumentation:
1Cor. 12:4-6—“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, & the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.”
Prov. 20:10—“Differing weights & differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD.”
Illustration:
Daddy hates flat land & loves mountainous, hilly areas/I love low, flat, sandy areas/Same family/Same country/Atmosphere for Diversity
Application:
?You taken advantage of available Diversity Opportunities?
?You taken advantage of God’s gift of self-governance?
2—Self-governance gives God’s people
AN ATMOSPHERE FOR COMMUNITY(18:4, 8-9)
Explanation:(18:4, 8-9)
18:4—“Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe that I may send them, & that they may arise & walk through the land & write a description of it according to their inheritance; then they shall return to me.”
“3 men from each tribe”—21 Representatives of 7 tribes
18:8-9—“Then the men arose & went, & Joshua commanded those who went to describe the land, saying, “Go & walk through the land & describe it, & return to me; then I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.” So the men went & passed through the land, & described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; & they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.”
“Go & walk thru the land”—Determine/Visit the nuances of the land. See who lives there & resources available.
“Describe the land”—Desirable portions—Willing to influence.
If we don’t know our neighbor, how can we love them tangibly.
Argumentation:
Lev. 19:18—“ ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”
Illustration:
Door to Door salesman/Personal contact/A Sense of Community
Telephone solicitors/Impersonal/No Sense of Community
Application:
?You taken advantage of God’s Atmosphere of Community?
Awareness for Outreach—Neighbors—Resources
?You taken advantage of God’s gift of self-governance?
3—Self-governance gives God’s people
AN ATMOSHPHERE FOR ACHIEVEMENT(15:13-14)
Atmoshere in which we freely exercise our faith
Explanation:(15:13-14)
:13—“Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron).
:14—“And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai & Ahiman & Talmai, the children of Anak.”
Context in which to render service to God.
Argumentation:
Rom. 15:17-19—“Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word & deed, in the power of signs & wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem & round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
Deut. 10:20—“You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him & cling to Him, & you shall swear by His name.”
Rom. 12:1—“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living & holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Heb. 12:28-29—“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence & awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”
2Jn. 1:8—“Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”
But even our achievements can be tainted with sin...
Rev. 2:19-20—“‘I know your deeds, & your love & faith & service & perseverance, & that your deeds of late are greater than at first. ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, & she teaches & leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality & eat things sacrificed to idols.”
Illustration:
Tutor=Proper Atmosphere for Achievement
NASCAR drivers/Race track provides Atmosphere for Achievement of skills
Application:
?You taken advantage of God’s Atmosphere of Achievement?
?You taken advantage of God’s gift of self-governance?
4—Self-governance gives God’s people
AN ATMOSPHERE FOR INVOLVEMENT(15:15-17)
Explanation:(15:15-17)
Rise to the occasion/Expression/Meet Potential/Application/ Diligence
:15—“Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
14:12—“Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
:16—“And Caleb said, “The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher & captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a wife.”
:17— “And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.”
No reason to think Othniel & Achsah had no designs prior to this.
Argumentation:
Isa. 6:8—“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, & who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Ezek. 22:29-31—“The people of the land have practiced oppression & committed robbery, & they have wronged the poor & needy & have oppressed the sojourner without justice. “And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall & stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. “Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord GOD.”
Illustration:
Pool Supply Store/Winter=No service/Summer=Opportunity for Involvement
Wal-Mart/Spring/Lawn care products/Involved in lawn market.
Application:
?You taken advantage of God’s Atmosphere of Involvement?
?You taken advantage of God’s gift of self-governance?
Conclusion
Action:
Self-governance gives God’s people an atmosphere for...
Diversity
Community
Achievement
Involvement
Presented 03/04/01pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
