07.06.2014 Joshua 5 - Are you asking God to bless what you are doing, or are you doing what God is blessing?

7-6-2014 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

A couple of books that talk about some of the concepts we struggle with in the Old Testament – Holy War in the Bible and God Behaving Badly – and Joshua in 3D – Biblical conquest and manifest destiny – (How the book of Joshua was used to drive the Native Americans off their land).
Lord, thank You for the opportunity to spend time with You – thank You for our freedom – we are lucky/blessed/grateful to be free to worship You without consequence – and so many are not free to worship as they please – more of them than those who are free – so help us to be grateful. And therefore, help us to be Your servants – to be engaged fully in bringing the Kingdom of God and the love of Christ, the gospel, Jesus Christ, to fill this earth – and that somehow we would do our part – help us to understand our part in that mission. Speak to us from the book of Joshua – teach us – Amen.
Last week, we looked at the preparation of Israel – and the end of Joshua 5 – the preparation of Joshua as the leader of the people. What we will see – the preparation that takes place, is just a little unexpected. We would expect one thing
Joshua 5: 13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”
Jericho had been closed up – able to hole up for a long time – and when it says he was by Jericho – the concept is that he was ‘in the city limits’ – but outside the walls – on the eve of battle – any good commander would scope out the area – figuring out the final strategy – how to tear down the walls – how to get inside – how to fight the battle against these people. And out of nowhere, this warrior appears – with his sword drawn, as if to challenge Joshua. He knew he couldn’t be from Jericho – it was closed, so Joshua asks this stealth/ninja warrior – he issues this question – an inquiry and a challenge… - are you for us or our adversaries? Friend or foe? Whose side are you on? It was also a challenge – there is a battle about to be fought – and it is time to choose sides – we are going to engage – these people/this city – and he is telling him – you need to choose – whose side will you join. We know the story – we know who the stranger is – but we need to see this as Joshua not knowing who this stranger is…
We can expect that from Joshua.
What is challenging to understand – the warrior’s response – No! Joshua must have been like – that wasn’t my question!
14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.”
I’ve not come to take sides – I’ve come to take charge! The first task for Joshua – in finding God’s plan – this lesson has been transformational in the history of our church and you could say ‘saved our church’ – He is saying – Joshua, this is not your battle – it is not about Me being on your side or your foes’ – but whose side are YOU on?! Are you on MY side?!
This is not your war – this is my war – and are you going to join with me? Will you get in line with what I am doing here? There is a big difference between God being on our side and us being on God’s side! Rather than asking God to bless what we are doing, we need to do what God is blessing. That is God’s calling to us – where is God? What is He doing? How do I become a part of that? In work and community…
A little sidestep – this battle is a divine war. This is a Yahweh war. This is not about Israel and the Canaanites. God is going to battle against this people. That is hard to hear. Throughout history, every army has believed that God is on their side. And they take things like this – using things from Scripture – to convince ourselves that God is on our side.
Three things about divine battles – they are always initiated by God. Some might say that God told them to do battle or crusades or Jihad – we don’t know that – but the second thing – They are led by God – He determines the strategy. Usually, those who believe they are doing some sort of Holy War – they determine the strategy.
Third – the victory is accomplished by God in His way and that can be verified. Like Jericho – marched around, shouted, the walls fell down.
Gideon – in Judges – they break the lanterns and the enemy is afraid and they turn on themselves – this was a God-thing.
I did get one question – when I asked – it is about the issue of nonviolence and ‘just war’ – there are two schools of thought – and there have been since the beginning of the second century – biblical arguments for both sides – and the reality – I don’t have an answer – it has been argued by the greatest minds in Christianity for 1900 years. The solution for us – we want a quick answer – yes or no – we tend to want quick answers – simple answers – but the development of convictions is a slow process. We falsely think that someone who develops quick convictions is mature. But I think that is a sign of immaturity. There are things – Jesus and the gospel – that are clear – and we can point to everything – so that those areas are clear and certain. But so much has been debated about these types of issues – not the topics of salvation and God and things like that. I can’t tell you what side is right – I have my own thoughts – non-violence and just war – you hear someone answer the question – maybe through a sermon – or you read a book – and you say – that makes sense to me. The nonviolent side will go to Jesus – Sermon on the Mount – turn the other cheek – don’t live by the sword – and they’ll put together a persuasive argument from scripture – and if that fits with our current political perspective –
And then the ‘Just War’ people will talk about Romans 13 – the government yields the sword – or will talk about John – what do I need to do – and he doesn’t tell him to put the sword away – and he will say – that is right! I would say to do this – I encourage you – instead of doing that – if this is not an issue for you – fine – but when theological things come up – I urge you to study both sides so that you might come to a clear understanding of all that scripture might say on this. There might be other social issues that are bigger to you than this one – to just simply hear a sermon and read a book does not a conviction make! If we are making convictions that lightly – I would challenge you against that! It is okay to say, I’m not sure yet! If you have questions about this one – type in Christian Just war or Christian non-violence – whatever the issue is – it is critical to not be quick to say – this is where I stand – if you have not thoroughly sought what the scriptures say, it is best to stay silent on it.
You don’t need to come to the world view perspective – you need to know the Christian perspective.
How do we know if God is for us or against us (and God comes in to say, No!)
When we make plans and set out to accomplish them – and then ask God to bless them – our dreams/visions and ambitions – and jump into those – not that they are right or wrong – and we start going for it without taking the time – and then we say – Come on, God, let’s get going – and we have not taken the time to ask – what is God doing? What does God want from my life? How do I join His side? We can do that in personal things or Christian service and ministry – when we dream up ways to serve God – coming from a pure heart, but never stopping to ask how God is engaged in this.
Grab a pew Bible –
Matthew 11: 28 “Come to Me, all [z]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is [aa]easy and My burden is light.”
How many of you feel like following Jesus is an easy yoke – easy – and burden is light?
Dallas Willard talks about this – Cindy and I have been watching a series he did – it seems like it is a lot to carry. Dallas says – it is a lot to carry when we are making our plans and asking God to bless them.
Dallas Willard: The way to experience the easy yoke – when we lay aside our projects and pick up God’s projects and goals – very simple.
Our projects and goals are crushing us! Your projects and goals and ambitions are crushing you! That is what Jesus is talking about- Israel had this project – to drive out Rome – and it was crushing the nation. Jesus’ yoke WILL be one of great struggle – not easy in the sense that it works out nice and fine and we don’t do anything – but we give it our all – doing what He wants – and leaving the outcome to Him. When you raise children – it can be a crushing concern. We want it to go right. But we need to find out what God is doing there – get in line with Him –and leave the outcome to Him. Leave the outcome of your marriage to God – your children’s outcome – leave it to God. The outcome of your career – to God. But if I leave it to God, it might go wrong! But how much have you made right?
Joshua 5:14 And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua is standing on holy ground – he is in the presence of God. For Joshua, there is a whole new level of consecration – becoming holy – because he is standing in His presence. The level God calls us to in our holiness is higher than we imagine.
Second – He is identifying Joshua with Moses. Joshua has the same experience. The leadership has been passed to Joshua – Moses was his hero… like stepping into the shoes of the owner of the company – and God is saying to Joshua – you are ready for it – encouragement and courage to do what God has called him to do. That is what God will do with you – give you the encouragement and courage to do what He calls you to do.
We need to understand the ancients’ view of the land.
Genesis/Creation
The Fall x3 – A pattern that runs through the story of creation.
Adam and Eve – that is the primary fall – man’s rebellion against God – and we see that as the beginning of a pattern. We know the story – can eat of any fruit in the garden except the one – and what do they do? They eat of it. God creates space and then places for that space to go – first created light – and then on fourth day – created sun moon and stars… - and He creates the garden – a space for humans – but there is a space you are not to go – and they cross the line – a line they are not to cross.
Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—
There was a space created for God and God only – and Man stepped into it.
Genesis 6
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
There is a line that is crossed… - we don’t know exactly what that line is – Humans enter a space they are not meant to enter – and what is the result?
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Third – tower of Babel – Genesis 11
1 Now the whole earth [a]used the same language and [b]the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and [c]settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
Here it is again – Man enters space he is not meant to enter – and what does God do? He scatters them across the globe. Something else happened at that point – First Adam and Eve cast out of the garden – then only Noah and his family are saved – and then he spreads the people throughout the world – and he starts over with Abraham –
It is as if God is saying – You refuse to worship Me? You refuse to obey Me? I will turn you over (Romans says) – and they begin to worship other gods. And what happens – every single nation of the Old Testament had their gods – and these gods are tied to the land the nations dwell in – so what happened – when nations would go to war, their gods would go to war – the army who won – it was considered that their god was the stronger – and nations would take more and more land – and conquer the next land – that is the way people thought.
And where is Joshua? Where is He standing? Inside Jericho’s territory – and God says – take off your shoes – this land is HOLY – it belongs to Me! It does not belong to Molech or anyone else. But each land through here is the beginning of taking it back for God – it all belongs to God today – and we have been given the same commission as Joshua – Go into all the earth – make disciples – baptizing. For us, it is not an issue of territory, but of peoples’ hearts. The transformation of lives – and it begins with ours! He is not concerned about the land – not about 2960 Bailey Rd – but the people who worship there – that our hearts are holy ground – fully devoted to Him – let’s pray.
Lord, thank You – for Your word – You have called us – we are Yours – may we learn to live as Holy people under Your reign -