SPIRITUAL CONTINUITY—I
—Josh. 21:1-45(13:14, 33; 14:3-4; 18:7)
God insured the presence/establishment of the priesthood & its continued support in Israel.
God established spiritual continuity among His people.
How is spiritual continuity established in God’s people?
Spiritual continuity can be established in God’s people.
We are always only one generation away from paganism.
13:14—“Only to the tribe of Levi he did not give an inheritance; the offerings by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as He spoke to him.”
:33—“But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them.”
14:3—“For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes & the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give an inheritance to the Levites among them.
:4—“For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh & Ephraim, & they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock & for their property.”
18:7—“For the Levites have no portion among you, because the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance....”
“The tribe of Levi”—Spiritual—Levites representatives of God & His presence in midst of people. Bivocational servants in ministry at Temple.
1—Spiritual Continuity is established...
Thru DIVINE CONSIDERATION(:1a, 2, 3)
—Explanation:(:1a, 2, 3)
:1—“Then the heads of households of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest & Joshua the son of Nun & the heads of households of the tribes of the sons of Israel.”
:2—“And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to live in, with their pasture lands for our cattle.”
:3—“So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the command of the LORD.”
Who is your God? Is He/She God of the Bible?
—Argumentation:
Ps. 33:6—“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”
Prov. 16:6—“By lovingkindness & truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.”
Eze. 37:1—“The hand of the LORD was upon me, & He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD & set me down in the middle of the valley; & it was full of bones.”
Hag. 1:13—“Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke by the commission of the LORD to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the LORD.”
1Thess. 4:15—“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, & remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
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.”
Rom. 8:14—“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
1Cor. 15:10—“But by the grace of God I am what I am, & His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”
2Tim. 1:1-2—“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy & peace from God the Father & Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1Pet. 1:3-5—“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable & undefiled & will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
—Illustration:
Pet’s food bowl/Placed in garage/Acknowledge we are their masters/No tight reign tying them up/Free to go to another master/Divine Consideration establishes Spiritual Continuity
—Application:
?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth maintained thru Divine Consideration?
?Has God raised up/gifted people for His service?...?We/You support them in their calling?
?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth dear to our God?
—Purpose—Missions
?Will spiritual truth die with this generation?...OR Continue?
?You aid the Spiritual Continuity/Awareness in your community?
2—Spiritual Continuity is established...
Thru ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATION(:1b)
—Explanation/Argumentation:(:1b)
:1—“Then the heads of households of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest & Joshua the son of Nun & the heads of households of the tribes of the sons of Israel.”
Joshua—the administrator of God’s desire.
—Illustration:
TAMA’s Chief Vonnie McCormick/Christian/Gaming industry inroads—Money talks/Vonnie continually refuses writnig & talking with political wheels on State & Federal levels/Administrative Consideration establishes Spiritual Continuity
—Application:
?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth maintained thru Administrative Consideration?
?Do our Administrators support Continuity of Spiritual truth?
?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth dear to our Administrators?
?You aid the Spiritual Continuity/Awareness in your community?
3—Spiritual continuity is established...
Thru COLLECTIVE CONSIDERATION(:1c, 3)
—Explanation:(:1c, 3) Corporate/Citizen/Congregation
:1—“Then the heads of households of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest & Joshua the son of Nun & the heads of households of the tribes of the sons of Israel.”
:3—“So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the command of the LORD.”
Preparedness—No misgivings, expected consequence of inheriting the land.
Those that should be most concerned with spiritual continuity must allow it.
Any denomination allows continuity of spiritual truth or error.
—Argumentation:
1Cor. 11:19—“For there must also be factions[hereses] among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you.”
—Illustration:
Battle in Atlanta over allowance of 2 churches that condone same-sex marriages/Effort to start a new Association in the area/Collective Consideration establishes Spiritual Continuity
—Application:
?Is Spiritual Continuity maintained in your community?...Otherwise spiritual matters are a joke.
?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth maintained thru Collective Consideration?
?You aid the Spiritual Continuity/Awareness in your community?
4—Spiritual continuity is established...
Thru FAMILY CONSIDERATION(:4-5)
—Explanation:(:4-5)
God uses families to establish Spiritual Continuity.
Where love for Jesus is upheld.
Levites: ›Kohath, Gershon & Merari
:4—“Then the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And the sons of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, received thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah & from the tribe of the Simeonites & from the tribe of Benjamin.
Kohathites—
Levi ›Kohath › Amram › Aaron & Moses & Miriam › Priesthood
:5—“And the rest of the sons of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim & from the tribe of Dan & from the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
“Rest of the sons of Kohath”—
Ex. 6:18—“And the sons of Kohath: Amram & Izhar & Hebron & Uzziel...”
Gershonites—Num. 3:25-26— Duties/Assignments — Spiritual gifts
Merarites—Num. 3:36-37— Duties/Assignments — Spiritual gifts
*People like you & me who use our giftedness toward Spiritual Continuity in our communities & thus thruout the world.
—Argumentation:
Phm. 1:7—“For I have come to have much joy & comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”
Josh. 24:14-15—““Now, therefore, fear the LORD & serve Him in sincerity & truth; & put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River & in Egypt, & serve the LORD. “And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me & my house, we will serve the LORD.”
—Illustration:
Brinkleys=Construction/Waldens=Automobile/VanWingerdens=Wholesale nursery/Wights=Wholesale Nursery plants/Roddenberys=Syrup,Pickles,Peanuts
People Placement establishes Spiritual Continuity
—Application:
?Is Continuity of Spiritual truth maintained thru People Consideration?
?You aid the Spiritual Continuity/Awareness in your community?
CONCLUSION:
?You aid the Spiritual Continuity/Awareness in your community?
Action:
Spiritual continuity/continuance is established thru...
DIVINE CONSIDERATION
ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERATION
COLLECTIVE CONSIDERATION
FAMILY CONSIDERATION
Presented 04/22/01pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
