Shall Your Brothers Go To War While You Sit Here?

SHALL YOUR BROTHERS GO TO WAR WHILE YOU SIT HERE?

Numbers 32:1-15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A man & woman were married for many years. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, “When I die, I will dig my way up & out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!” The neighbors feared him.

2. Then one evening he died at 98 years old. After the burial, her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, “Aren’t you afraid that he may be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you? The wife replied, “Let him dig. I had him buried upside down...and I know he’s too stubborn to ask for directions!”

B. TEXT

1 The Reubenites and Gadites...saw that the lands of [on the East side of the Jordan River] were suitable for livestock. 2 So they came to Moses and....said...5 “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. DO NOT MAKE US CROSS OVER THE JORDAN.” 6 Moses said... “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them? 15 If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.” Num. 32:1-15

C. THESIS

1. A lot of people are asking why America and western powers sit on the sidelines while Ukraine is sustaining huge loss of life. I want to point to another battle we should all be involved in. The Promised Land was just across the Jordan, but it was populated by many nations that must be defeated in battle. The land to the East of the Jordan had already been conquered (Sihon & Og’s territory), so there was no fighting to possess it.

2. Fighting is not something we want to do; it’s dangerous and unpleasant. It requires dedication and sacrifice. Choosing NOT to fight seems good, but the easy way is usually not the best and leads to poverty (Prov. 6:10-11).

3. Some of the tribes of Israel thought they would avoid the fighting and just settle on the land on the wrong side of Jordan. They didn’t know that the tribes on the East side of Jordan were the first to be shattered by invaders (Judg. 6:33; 10:8). God knows what’s best for us; the Jordan River was a great barrier to invasion!

4. Today I’m comparing the 2½ tribe’s decision to take the easy way to people who confess Christ but decide not to become His disciples -- not taking up their cross and following Him. The title of this message is, “Shall Your Brothers Go To War While You Sit Here?”

I. CAN WE BE BELIEVERS & NOT DISCIPLES?

A. SPLITTING HAIRS & WATERING DOWN

1. When I was in college I was approached by some Campus Crusade for Christ guys. They told me (their position may not have been the official one) that there were two levels of Christians: one group who were “believers” and the other, that followed Jesus more closely, “disciples.” Both were going to heaven. It sounded to me like it was our choice which we’d rather be, and if true, it would be easier to be the believer.

2. This is not an isolated teaching. If you search on the internet, you’ll find numerous people teaching this.

3. Felicity Dale (Simplychurch) said a person is only a disciple if they make disciples. Jeremy Myers (redeeminggod.com) says that disciples are like apprentices and that believers who don’t become disciples will still go to heaven because they can’t lose their eternal life. He says you should become a disciple “if you want the full experience of the Christian life.” In other words, IT’S OPTIONAL to be a disciple! I disagree!

4. YES, there is a difference between saving faith (or true believing) and being a disciple. Faith STARTS you on your journey with Christ and DISCIPLESHIP (following & obeying Jesus) IS WHAT YOU DO THE REST OF YOUR JOURNEY.

5. Once you’re saved, being a disciple of Jesus is not optional, but mandatory. Jesus said, in Mt. 16:24, “If any man will COME AFTER ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” See Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23; 14:27. Are you wanting to follow Jesus to Heaven? Then become a disciple.

6. Disciples of any other teachers have to struggle to do it on their own. The good thing about being a disciple of Jesus is that you don’t have to TRY to be like Him; Jesus has “moved in” to you and is assisting with your transformation! All we have to do is follow His promptings through the Holy Spirit.