In verse 2 the Bible says; "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard,..."
In other words, Everyone is to camp by their own banner! Verse 17 tells us that in the same manner that they camped, so were they to break camp.
Now I don’t know about you, but to me there is something very special about camp. The smell of the great outdoors, the sights and sounds of nature, the smell of the campfire, the peace and serenity of a slower pace. I know that many of you have your favorite camp sites. There are some very beautiful lakes, state parks, and other places to camp in this great big world of ours. My wife has some places very near and dear to her heart, when we camp. I’m going to go ahead and spill the beans. I’m going to share some secret spots where she loves to camp. You ready? Here they are: Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt just to name a few. I mean she really loves to rough it!
But seriously, God is very specific in His instructions concerning the camp of His people. The word camp means: a place where an army or other body of people lodge in tents. In Numbers chapter 2, God deals with their camp, (tht’s the place where they rest) and their breaking of camp (that is when they are on the move, their orderly march). God’s instructions reached every aspect of their lives and so should they ours!
God is not the author of confusion, but He is a God of order. This passage is not something to be simply passed over as insignificant, but it holds the key to walking and resting in the victory that is ours in Christ! We should not walk around with our heads hung low, all down in the mullygrubs, discouraged, defeated, and downtrodden. God has given us some very explicit instructions concerning our camp, our place where we rest. That’s exactly what we are doing here today. When we come together as a body of believers at church, this is our rest. And God has given us instructions concerning our order and practice at church. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t come here to be bored, I came here to be blessed! When we are at home, we are at rest. At least I hope your home is a place of rest and not a place of war! With Christ and His instructions it can be and will be a place of rest. A place of peace. And God also has given us some important instructions concerning the home. But here me now, God also has given us instruction concerning the breaking of camp. That is when we are on the move. And folks let me tell you, any church of God ought to be a church on the move! God didn’t call us to sit still, rollover, and play dead. God’s people have always been a people on the move! I think that God is sick and tired of dead, dry as least week’s toast, traditional churches. God help us to be a church on the move with the message of Jesus Christ.
Now listen, the message of Numbers is clear: For the children of Israel, what should have been an eleven day journey turned into a forty year nightmare. And far to many of us Christians today are taking way to long to reach the promised land of victory in Christ. We are more than just a bunch of ex-slaves to sin.
"We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should show forth the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His Marvelous Light! Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God!" Somebody ought to shout! Listen, God doesn’t want us out there bumbling and stumbling around. Yes in this world we shall have tribulations. We are going to have some tough times folks, but we don’t have to live in the wilderness! God has a Promised Land for us and it’s called the Victorious Christian Life. So let us look at some of the instructions given in Numbers chapter two that can help us Camp with Christ, help us to walk in victory!
I. We must pitch together. verse 2
Now the instruction here was: Everyone is to camp together! You mark this down, No Christian will ever walk in victory being a Lone Ranger! We need each other. God tells them to organize by distinguishable signs. There was familiarity, commoness, and strength in the unity. We get encouragement and we are strengthened by Christian fellowship. Let me tell you something this morning, You are important to this church, to the kingdom of God. It takes all of us working together! We must pitch together...
Don’t let be said of us like I once herd. "To dwell above with the saints we love, that will be glory. But to dwell below with the saints we know, well that’s a different story!"
II. We must camp and break camp with our standard!
Now what does this mean preacher? Well the standard or banner was an identification. It was the family crest if you will. Let me tell you what our banner, our standard, our mark of identification is for us today. If this don’t light your fire, your woods all wet. In Exodus 17 we find the story of the battle between the children of Israel and the Amlekites. This is a picture of our own battle between our spirit and our flesh. On that day Jesus became the victory. Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-Nissi. That is the Lord Our Banner. Here me now, the only way you’ll ever get victory in your life is through Divine help! You better camp with your Standard. You better break camp with your Standard. That’s the only way to have vivtory. (Read Psalm 60) "Thou hast given a banner to those who fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." verse 4
III. Our Banner must be displayed for all to see.
Listen, God doesn’t need any secret agent Christians. We need to be proud that we are Christians. We need to display our banner for all the world to see. We belong to the family of God. I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God. I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. For I’m part of the family, the family of God! And listen, I want all of God’s children to know where home is. They may not smell just like we smell, or act just like we act, but if they are a child of God i want them to see the Banner at First Baptist- Myrtle Springs. I want them to know that they’ve got a home here. Come on and pith by your standard! Church we need to display that banner for all to see. And what is God’s banner? "Jesus is the Rock of my salvation, God’s banner over us is love"! Raise it up dear church. Let evetyone see our Banner.
IV. Everyone must be in their place. verse 17
So shall they set forth or move forward. Every man in his place... That’s the only way we will ever accomplish all that God wants us to accomplish for His kingdom, is if every man is in his place! God has gifted each and every believer in order for us to move forward as a church. God didn’t save you to sit, He saved you to serve. Are you in your place? Are you doing what God wants you to be doing for the ministry of His kingdom? That’s how to have victory. Get so busy serving God that you forget about your problems!
V. We must camp around the Tabernacle. verse 2
Now the Tabernacle represented the presence and power of God. They camped a little ways off from it because they were to have respect and reverence for it. Let me ask you a question. Is God the center point of your life? If God is not in the center of everything you do, then you’re missing out on the victory that He wants you to have. Everything must be centered around God. When we rest (that’s in our churches, our homes, etc.) and when we move (that’s what happens when we leave here).
And let me step out some shakey ground and add one more thought. What about church? We live in a day time when church has been pushed to the back burner. Everything else takes priority over church. Little league, soccor, softball, camping, hunting, you name it. Folks, maybe some of the reason that we are not seeing the victories any more, is because church is not at the center of our activities. Now don’t get me wrong, the reason why lost people don’t come is because we are not inviting them. And when we do we want them to enoy some boring non-applicable dead church. Or perhaps they see how important church is to us. Maybe if we would get happy in Jesus. Maybe if we began to put church back where it belongs. Maybe then we’d see God’s blessing on our churches again.
Have you been camping with Christ lately? If not why don’t you come renew your fellowship with Him today. Everyone of you, come camp together by your standard. If you don’t know what in the world I’m talking about, you can come too! Someone here would be glad to take the Bible and show you how you can camp with Christ.
