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Good morning, we're in Joshua chapter number three
Joshua chapter three in the Bible reads
Joshua rose early in the morning, and they were moved from Shittim and came to Jordan
He and all the children of Israel had lodged there before they passed over
It came to pass after three days that the officers went through the host and they commanded the people saying
When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the priests the Levites bearing it
Then you shall remove from your place and go after it
Yet there shall be a space between you and it about two thousand cubits by measure
Come not near unto it that you may know the way by which you must go for you have not passed this way heretofore
Joshua said unto the people
Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you Joshua spake unto the priests saying
Take up the ark of the covenant and pass over before the people
And they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people and the Lord said unto Joshua this day will I begin
To magnify thee in the sight of all Israel that they may know that as I was with Moses
So I will be with thee now shall command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant
Saying when you're come to the brink of the water of Jordan you shall stand still in Jordan and Joshua said unto the children of
Israel come hither and hear the words of the Lord your God and Joshua said
Hereby, you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites
And the Hittites and the Hivites and the parasites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites
Behold the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan
Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel out of a tribe every man
And it shall come to pass as soon as the souls of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord
The Lord of all the earth shall rest in the waters of Jordan that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters
That come down from above and they shall stand upon in heap
They came to pass when the people removed from their tents to pass over Jordan and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant
before the people
It is they that bear the ark were coming to Jordan and the feet of the priests that bear the ark were dipped in the
brim of the water
Where Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest
that the waters which came down from
Above stood and rose up upon in heap very far from the city Adam that is beside
Zaratan and those that came down toward the sea of the plain even the salt sea failed and were cut off and the
People passed over right against Jericho and the priests that bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground
In the midst of Jordan and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground
Until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. Let's pray dear Lord God
Thank you for your word
Thank you for preserving it for us and just ask that you would
vote pass from here now with your Holy Spirit and
As he preaches it to us and pray that your your word would be manifested through the preaching and please help us to be
Edified thereby and in Jesus name we pray. Amen
So if you've been a Christian for any length of time anyone has heard of the Red Sea miracle
Right, and even a lot of unsafe people people who aren't Christian have heard of the story of the Red Sea miracle
Essentially referring to the final part of the exodus of the nation of Israel where God miraculously
Parts the Red Sea by the hand of Moses and allows essentially the entire nation to cross over on
Dry land they make it all the way over and then of course Pharaoh and his armies are pursuing them
They start crossing but then the walls of water crash upon them and destroy their enemies a very famous
Story very supernatural awesome miracle that's accomplished in the Old Testament, but sometimes, you know
It's so great that it often overshadows another similar miracle in the Bible in
The book of Joshua here in chapter 3 where essentially the same exact thing is done
but obviously on a smaller scale and in this particular story, what you have is
Joshua and the nation of Israel going to the Promised Land
but they have to cross over the Jordan River and the difference between
These two the crossing of the Jordan River and the Red Sea is that the Red Sea was a miracle that God
Performed and it required no effort on the part of the people to cross over right to split that Red Sea
And then eventually to cross over whereas here in the book of Joshua
The miracle that's accomplished here actually requires for them to participate
In other words, they have to put the soles of their feet first into the water and then the water parts and the miracle is
Performed and it's a very famous
Miracle that's done in the book of Exodus
but sometimes people can often forget about
What's taking place here in Joshua look at verse 13 and says it shall come to pass as
Soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord
The Lord of all the earth shall rest in the waters of Jordan
That the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down
From above and they shall stand upon and heap now if we could picture how this looks like
Later on in the next couple verses it actually explains to us that the rivers of Jordan are very tumultuous. There's a lot of
Waves, it's very tumultuous
Essentially referring to the fact that it could be very dangerous and what the Bible's telling us here is that God
Wants the children of Israel and specifically the priests who are bearing the ark of the Covenant
To place their feet in the water and then the waters will stop and it actually says that the waters will stop from the top
And it'll even stop from the bottom referring to the areas that are feeding this particular river
And then it says that it's gonna stand upon a heap. So as they're crossing
The rivers that are coming down from above not only are they stopping but they're essentially collecting
So if you can just picture this wall that's being
Essentially constructed by God's hand and it's impeding from actually coming into the river
It's standing upon and heap and the ones from the bottom coming from the seas also standing upon a heap
It's very incredible miracle when you think about it. Now, what is that picture? Well this evening or this morning, excuse me
I want to talk about the fact that or I want to talk about what specifically this illustrates
But in order to understand the spiritual truth behind the crossing of the Jordan River
We kind of have to start all the way at the beginning
When the children of Israel leave Egypt now go with me if you went to Exodus chapter 12
Exodus chapter 12 and we're going to look at these specific events in the life of the nation of Israel
Going from Egypt and coming into the Promised Land
So from the Exodus to the entering in to Canaan land also known as the Promised Land and what does it symbolize?
What is it all about?
What is it referring to? Well, if you look at the nation of Israel as a whole they essentially picture the believer
okay in the New Testament and
Of course, we're not going to hash out all that took place in the land of Egypt with the children of Israel
but as we know Moses is delivering the children of Israel out of Moses and he does so by the means of these
supernatural miracles these plagues that God allows to come upon Egypt and the last plague that he brings is
What's commonly referred to as the destroyer
Okay, essentially referring to the angel of death that comes and kills off all the firstborn of all the land
Not just the Egyptians
But even the Israelites can get it too and even the animals firstborn of all the animals died. Okay, and
So this is a very strong plague. This is a very strong judgment
It's gonna come upon them and obviously it's meant to not only harden the heart of Pharaoh
But essentially provoke him to allow the children of Israel to just go and worship the Lord and just release him from the bondage
Now look at verse number 11 of Exodus chapter 12
It says here and thus shall ye eat referring to the lamb that they slay with your loins girded
Your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand and he shall eat it in haste
It is the Lord's Passover. So what is what's being referred to here?
Well, God says look I'm gonna bring this major plague on the land of Egypt and the way you could avoid having your firstborn killed
Is the fact that you have to slay this lamb take the blood of the lamb place it on the post of your door
So when the destroyer comes it sees the blood it will pass over you
So in other words, you won't fall under the condemnation of this particular plague
It says in verse 12 for I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in
the land of Egypt
Both men and beasts and against all the gods of Egypt. I will execute judgment
I am the Lord and the blood shall be to you for a token
Upon the houses where ye are and when I see the blood I will pass over
You and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt
So we have this incredible miracle here
Where you have the angel of death so to speak the destroyer as he's also known as
Going through the land of Egypt seeking the firstborn but as long as they have this blood on the post of their door
They're essentially safe. They flee from the wrath to come so to speak and what this pictures is
Salvation right the Passover is a picture of New Testament salvation
Because of the fact that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God
Who should take away the sins of the world and of course we know that Jesus Christ
Sacrificed himself and when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, his blood is placed on our account
It's almost as if the blood of the Lamb is placed on the doorpost
So when the destroyer known as death comes it passes over us because we're justified. We're saved Oh death
Where is thy sting the Bible says right? And
So this is obviously a wonderful picture of salvation
Hebrew chapter 9, you don't have to turn there verse 26
Let me read you a couple verses it says for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world
But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself
Chapter 10 and verse number 5 says wherefore when he cometh into the world
He saved sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body has thou prepared me in
Burnt offerings and sacrifice for sins thou hast had no pleasure
Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book that is written of me to do thy will Oh God
Referring to Jesus Christ essentially saying that the Old Testament sacrifice were insufficient to take away sin
God wanted him to offer up himself
Because he is the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world his his blood
Imputed upon us not only brings us the forgiveness of sins past present and future
But you know the Bible tells us for the wages of sin is death
But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
So even though all of us are gonna physically die one day. We will live forever, you know
essentially when we believe or place our faith in Jesus Christ though, we were dead yet shall we live right and
so it's a wonderful picture of
salvation and you know
the Bible even tells us in 1st Corinthians chapter 5 that Jesus Christ is our Passover and
He is essentially the one that saves us
He saves us from not only the bondage of Egypt so to speak
But the clutches of Satan which in the Old Testament is pictured by who Pharaoh and of course death
The destroyer does not touch us because we have the blood of Jesus Christ imputed upon us
And let me just say this is that if you don't if you're not a hundred percent sure that if you died today
Then you'd go to heaven. You need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today and thankfully, you know
Believing on Jesus Christ for salvation is not a process. It's not something you have to believe every single day
You know the Bible likens it unto being born again
And when you're physically born and happens once you don't have to keep getting born every single year to stay alive
You're born once you live thereafter
Well in like manner when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you're born again, and you don't have to keep getting saved
Salvation is forever
The Bible says for by grace are you saved through faith and listen to this and that not of yourselves
Well, who is it up the blood of the lamb right this place on the doorpost of your heart
It says not of yourselves
It is the gift of God not of works a steady man should boast emphasizes the importance of the fact that
Salvation does not require your participation. It does not require your effort
It's all based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross
And this is why that lamb that will sacrifice the blood that was placed on the doorpost
Picture salvation. So when the children of Israel leave Egypt before they leave Egypt
You know that picture of justification takes place there by the blood now go to chapter 14 if you would chapter 14
Chapter 14
You know when we get saved, you know, we're delivered from the wages of sin, right?
We're delivered from death, but to a certain extent we have victory over Satan as well
Okay, because of the fact that he can no longer deceive us when it comes to salvation
We're no longer under the deception of the god of this world
when like manner the children of Israel will no longer under the cruel ruleship of
Pharaoh and Egypt they were being delivered by Moses, which is also a picture of Jesus Christ now after
the
Blood on the posts and after the destroyer comes
After they put the blood of the post on their doors and they are safe from the destroyer
Then Pharaoh lets them go right? He's just like get out of here
You know, you guys are just such a vex of vexing nation unto me. He wants them to go
Well now God wants them to go into Canaan land
But before they do that they have to cross through the Red Sea and this is the miracle that we're referring to
Earlier look at chapter 14 and verse 13
They're at the brink of the Red Sea and it says in Moses said unto the people fear ye not stand still and see
The salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today for the Egyptians whom he seen whom he have seen today
Ye shall see them again
No more forever the Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace and Lord sent unto Moses
Wherefore Christ down to me speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward
But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it and the children of Israel shall go
On dry ground through the midst of the sea. So we have this incredible miracle where God is basically telling them
Hey, your enemies are pursuing you but what you need to do is go forward, right?
Go forward
Moses lift up the staff part the waters and you shall cross on dry ground and obviously all of this is through the effort of
God himself splitting the waters of the Red Sea they cross through with the wall on the left and the wall of water
On the right. It's an incredible miracle there. Now. What is this picture?
well according to the New Testament it pictures baptism, okay, and
Here's an important principle when coming when it comes to interpreting the Bible
If you ever want to know what the Old Testament means you got to go to the New Testament
Because the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, but the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed
So it's important that when you read the Old Testament stories. Yeah, you can learn a lot
There's a lot of doctrine a lot of biblical truths
But at the end of the day if you want a conclusive answer and interpretation of the Old Testament
You got to read the New Testament
And if you only know the first five books of the Bible then you don't know the Bible
Because it's interpreted through the New Testament if you only know the Psalms if you only know
The Torah if you only know what the Old Testament prophets said
Then you don't know the Bible because you need the complete entire Bible to understand the Bible. You need the New Testament and
In fact, there are writers of the Old Testament
They didn't even know what they were talking about
It was sealed up according to the Bible with Daniel
You know until the time that it should come that it should be revealed into the world
We actually have more understanding than even some of the prophets of the Old Testament
Why because we have the New Testament available to us or with you we can read it and this is why you know
When people try to explain to you salvation, but then they use the book of Ecclesiastes. That's a no-go
First of all, you're going to an Old Testament book
But second of all you're going to the book of Ecclesiastes a book that does not
Talk about salvation or doesn't focus on salvation. That's about a dude who's depressed
He's just like he he literally says I hate life. He's not talking about eternal life
He just says I hate life and it focuses on a completely different topic completely different subject
But you know cults will do this a lot though. Is that in order for them to deceive you to give you false doctrine
They have to go to the very enigmatic
Cryptic passages of the Old Testament
To try to prove their doctrine because they want to stay away from the clear
Passages of the New Testament to tell you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Yeah
So anytime someone tells you well, this is what it says in the book of Ecclesiastes
Say hey, we're not studying the poetical books though. So what do you why are you bringing me here?
Let's go to the clear path. Why don't we go to what Jesus said?
Right. I mean we have an entire book called the book of John that is very explicit
When it comes to the message of salvation it puts the cookie on the bottom shelf when it comes to salvation
We don't need to go to the book of Proverbs
Proverbs is for wisdom
Proverbs is for practical living in our daily lives
It's not to teach you the doctrine of justification
And so it's important for us to discern and this is why the Bible says
Study to show thyself approve them to God a workman that needed not to be ashamed
Listen to this Riley dividing the word of truth
Meaning you need to know where to go to find the answer in the Bible and obviously we know that the Word of God is
a cohesive message and it has everything that we need to perfect us and all those things but the reality is this is the
Bible is broken up into genres and
There are particular
Aspects or sections of the Bible where the genres focuses on a specific topic and you know
What salvation is clearly taught in the New Testament?
Clearly taught in the Gospels clearly taught in the epistles of Paul
We don't need to go to Solomon
For that Paul did a better job in Solomon and talking about salvation
now is salvation
Sprinkled throughout the Old Testament the message of self the systematic teaching of salvation and justification sprinkled throughout the Bible
Of course, we're looking at one right now
Well, we looked at Egypt in the Passover and how it beautifully pictures
Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, okay, and so just wanted to give you that little interlude there
But as we mentioned the crossing of the Red Sea
Pictures baptism now how so well, let me read to you from 1st Corinthians chapter 10, which is in the New Testament
Verse number one says moreover brethren
I would not that you should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea
And we're all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in
The sea now make no mistake about it
Baptism in the New Testament is a New Testament practice New Testament phenomenon something that God
Something new that God introduced in the in the New Testament
But that's not to say that it wasn't pictured or foreshadowed in the old as clearly seen here that the Apostle Paul
Stating that the children crossing through the Red Sea
figures foreshadows
Baptism. Okay. Now what what's important about this? Well, what's important is that after salvation?
you're supposed to get baptized and
In fact, that's one of the reasons why?
We call ourselves Baptist
It's not because we believe baptism saves you it's because of the fact that we practice what the Bible teaches
That after someone gets saved they should immediately be baptized not to be justified not to confirm their salvation
But rather as a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ and because Jesus commanded it
Now there's a group out there that wants to tell you in deceiving to thinking that baptism saves you
But here's a couple problems with that
Jesus got baptized
And Jesus does not need salvation. He is salvation
Problem number one and then you know, you don't have to say yeah, but you know the Bible says
You know that baptism saves you though in Peter
it says that baptism saves you and it uses the story of Noah and
New Testament you said we should interpret the Old Testament through the New Testament says that baptism saves you
But let me ask you this question regarding no in the flood
Did the flood save Noah?
Last time I remember the flood killed a bunch of people
The flood drowned people is what it did
The water didn't save anybody what saved no in his family the ark and who does the ark picture Jesus Christ
Because once we're in Christ once we're in the ark the doors closed and we don't suffer the wrath that's on the outside
So, you know if you're gonna say that the Bible teaches that baptism doth also now save us, you know
You got your theology mixed up
You don't really know the story of Noah in the flood because water didn't save anybody actually killed the entire world
and
It didn't save Noah. They were actually supposed to be saved from the water and
It was the ark that saved them, right and
So there's many instances in the Bible
That kind of gives us this picture here and obviously baptism
Even if you get saved and you never get baptized you're saved because you can never lose your salvation
Salvation can never be lost. It is a gift. Jesus said I give it to them eternal life and they shall never
perish
Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. He says I will in no wise cast out
It's an old way of saying for any reason whatsoever
In no wise literally means for no reason for any reason whatsoever. I will not cast you out
Okay, and he constantly reiterates the finality of salvation throughout the Gospels
Because he knows there's a lot of people that will question the eternality of salvation that it's forever
But you know what?
It is forever because of the fact that we're forgiven of past present and future sins and it's called eternal life not temporal life
Eternal means once you have it you always have it it can never be lost
However, you know God does expect obedience after salvation and yes
Even if you don't if you choose not to obey you still have salvation, but you're not living a life
That's pleasing unto the Lord
Okay, and the first command that God gives you after salvation isn't read the Bible all the way through believe it or not
It's not go to church immediately, which is good, but that's not the first command. What's the first command get baptized?
The Bible tells us in Matthew chapter 28 go therefore and teach all nations and we know that's referring to salvation because that's a consistent
Example that we see throughout the Bible and it says
Baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son of the Holy Spirit
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I've commanded you so salvation always precedes
baptism and
Obviously, you know if you never get baptized and you choose not to after salvation
It really doesn't necessarily do anything to your soul to your to your spirit to your salvation
But really at the end of the day, you're just being disobedient literally to the first command that God gave you
And it's not like it requires like a whole lot of work either
You know, for example in our church
We have a baptistry there. We keep it nice and warm
so all you got to do is get in there and I just dunk you in and take you out and
Even for the ladies you got blow dryers and combs and all that stuff and probably get someone to do your makeup for you afterwards
You know, no, no problem. Now. It's not like the early days of our church, by the way
The early days of our church like only the hardcore people would get baptized in our church. You say why so or
Actually, let me let me rephrase that only the hardcore people were the people who got baptized in December
Or in them in the dead of winter because before we had heaters and the baptistry was inside
We actually had baptized people outside and we would get a horse trough which that's still a horse trough
Don't let the case fool you there
You know, we had a horse trough and it's like oh you got saved now. You got to get baptized
They're like, let's do it. We fill it up with the hose
Free I mean buried in the likeness of his death
And then you know, I you know, I have to go through the entire little
Dissertation there, you know, have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior as your savior and they're like
Yes, yes
Well, that's good
Upon your public profession now with no one else
No
I would you know
I wouldn't drag it out because it's just like they need to get in and get out and in fact we were doing that
Even up into the point where we're in this building. We're actually baptizing people outside in the backyard there and
One of our church members family members got saved and I remember I baptized him and you know
The last thing I said when I bring him back up is raised in the likeness of his resurrection
Or raised to walk in the newness of life. He like leapt out of the water like he was just like
I've never seen someone just jump so fast out of the water
But you know
Whether the water is cold or not, you need to get baptized right now. Thankfully here
It's warm enough and you can enjoy it and all that
but you know baptism is important and we have
That chronology even in the Old Testament right the Passover them crossing through the Red Sea
picturing that baptism
Now here's the thing is that after they cross through the Red Sea
This is what was supposed to happen. They're supposed to go into the Promised Land. What's the Promised Land?
The land that God promised Abraham Isaac and Jacob to their immediate descendants and
They're supposed to go there and live it, you know a great victorious life
it's supposed to cross through the wilderness receive the tablets of the law at Mount Sinai and
Just go there literally supposed to be like an 11-day trip. Okay?
But what happens? Well, they end up rebelling against the Lord in many ways
They end up backsliding in fact
And they start worshipping false gods. They start murmuring and complaining
They start just becoming a very
malcontent nation
Because of their murmurings and their disputings and a trip that's only supposed to take 11 days
ended up taking 40 years a
40 year round trip literally just circling the wilderness wilderness simply another word in the Bible for desert
They're wandering in the wilderness for 40 years why because they're backslidden, okay
This just a contumacious nation that's just rebelling against the authority
rebelling against Moses they just don't want
The blessing of God, you know and it's a very short trip, but they elongated that trip by their rebellion against God
So what happens a lot of them just end up dying in the wilderness
Now what is this picture it pictures the backslidden state of a believer and
Unfortunately, you know a lot of Christians fall into that category sometimes
People get saved they may even get baptized
But then they stay in the wilderness for like a really long time and you know what 40 years is a long time
But there's some people just stay there the whole lives
There's people in the wilderness. They just lived and died there in the wilderness in a backslidden state
Never being able to see the blessings that God had prepared for them that loved him
They just kind of stayed there and you know what God even took care of them in the wilderness though
He gave a manna from heaven. He protected them
There was a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire by night. He still performed great miracles
He even gave them meat to eat in the wilderness
He made sure that their their shoes did not waste and their clothing was still intact
He still took care of them, even though that wasn't his will for their lives and
You know what that echoes go to Numbers chapter number chapter 32 if you would numbers 32 that echoes often the spiritual condition of a lot
of Christians
Sometimes Christians they get off-kilter
They yeah, they get saved the blood is placed on the post of their doors
They get justified they may even go cross through the Red Sea they get baptized they make that public profession of faith
You know through their baptism they're letting everyone know that they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ
They may experience a small time of the wilderness
But then as it says in the book of Acts in their hearts, they turn back to Egypt
Now look at numbers 32 verse 11
Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt from 20 years old and upward
Shall see the land which I swear unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob because they have not holy followed me
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh
the Ken Kenezite and Joshua the son of Nun for they have holy follow the Lord and the Lord's anger was killed against
Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness 40 years until
All the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was consumed
So basically the wilderness wandering was just a huge funeral it was a 40-year funeral
of just people just dying in the wilderness and God is saying you know what if you didn't want the blessings that I had for
You in the Promised Land everything that I promised your ancestors all these things that I did for you all these supernatural miracles that I performed
Okay, then you can just die in the wilderness and let me just say this it's unfortunate when Christians decide that too
when they're just like
Promised Land and you know it's just like it's like that Drake meme right or it's just like Promised Land
die in the wilderness he's like
But there's nothing attractive about the wilderness
Yeah, you get fed manna
Yeah, your shoes never waste. Yeah, God provides for you
You know in a very minuscule type of a way to just kind of sustain you in the wilderness
But that's not God's original will for your life
He doesn't want you to just wander around in the wilderness
Just being a nomad just setting up tent and just kind of not having a place to call home
Spiritually speaking he wants you to be in the Promised Land. Okay, and
A lot of Christians unfortunately do not end up in a Promised Land
They live and die in the wilderness never really experiencing what their full potential could have been
Never really experiencing all the blessings that God had planned for them
You know the Bible says I hath not seen nor ear of heard neither have entered into the heart of man
The things that God has prepared for them that love him, but God has revealed them unto us by his spirit
And so it's only when you actually are living the Christian life
You become committed that you start experiencing a lot of what God had planned for you
A lot of the blessings that come with just being a committed Christian go back to Exodus 23 if you would Exodus 23
so you have
Well that clock is messed up, huh, you have here let me have my phone here because I
Looked at the clock like oh man. I got like another hour still cool
So, what do you have here you have some wonderful pictures of the Christian through the nation of Israel you have justification
With the Passover you have baptism with the crossing of the Red Sea
Well, let me skip one and let's get into the Promised Land, okay?
Now the Promised Land as I mentioned previously is a picture of essentially the victorious Christian life. It's the abundant Christian life
It's when you're serving God you're in church
You're reading the Bible your life is centered around Jesus Christ
Your family is centered around the things of God you are living out the Christian life
You're following the Lord you're reading your Bible. You're praying you're trying to learn how to evangelize
I mean essentially it's all about the Lord right. That's essentially what Canaan land was
because what God told the children of Israel is hey go into this land and
This land is just the land flowing with milk and honey. I mean you're gonna get houses that you did not build
vineyards that you did not plant wells that you did not dig and
You're just gonna have a great time in this land, but there's a catch to it though
You gotta you gotta evacuate everyone in that land
Okay, so basically it's like if you really want this very plentiful land
You got to like remove the inhabitants of this land
Go to war is what he's saying. Okay now when you look at you know the
Risk to reward ratio so to speak it was worth it
Considering how bountiful the land was and all the blessings that were there
You know they would inherit plots for each tribe
And then they would be able to give that to their descendants and how fruitful the land was it's like oh, man
It's worth the fight then okay
and obviously there was particular people in the land that God wanted him to just
God wanted them to just execute and eradicate you had the Canaanites who were there and
The Canaanites were extremely wicked there were sodomites. They're involved in all types of perversion
They were into bestiality and incest that would kill their children
They were worshippers of false gods and God basically said okay when it comes to them
I want you to just completely eradicate them
Like they all just need to die
He basically said like I want you to genocide this entire people here, and you know a lot of people today
They're just like I can't believe God would do something like that, but what people don't realize is that God literally gave the Canaanites
years
Almost like hundreds of years to like repent of their wicked ways, and they just wouldn't
They're just constantly killing their they're participating in infanticide. They're participating in
sodomy you know we're in the month of June and
You know it's it's not as bad as last year. I mean I mean we just started. I don't know
But you know like Huntington Beach is banned all pride flags
hallelujah praise God
I'll get Pentecostal about that amen a
Lot of the Starbucks don't even have flags up or anything. I think it's because people are just sick and tired of it
Well, you know what Canaan land was just worse though. It got to a point in Canaan with the Canaanite should I say
That God was literally saying that the land wanted to vomit
Which you know we can
Relate to that you know if you could speak to the land be like I know what you I know how you feel
You know I know you're just land. You're not a real person, but I feel you
Because you know I've shared this this statistic before, but there's a study that was done and
they basically took a bunch of dudes, and they showed them pictures of rotting flesh with maggots and
Basically that the men who viewed those pictures
Produce these enzymes in their mouth
That is
Associated with wanting to throw up, which is pretty normal right you look at like oh, man
That's gross, and then you know get those saliva glands and the enzyme start producing
But then they showed him pictures of sodomites and the same exact enzymes popped out as well
So like the people get the same reaction to both so you can see why the land felt that way
even the land
Had these enzymes popping out and just you know wanting to like throw up, and this is what God said so don't get mad
About what I'm saying literally God's the one who testified of that
He's like the land wants to vomit so then God told the children of Israel remove them all
Destroy them all and he it was only for those particular groups of people
There's others that he wanted them to remove
But not necessarily destroy and kill but the point is when it came to the land of Canaan
You know the promised land the land of victory the land of serving God it actually required for them to fight for it
You see
crossing the Red Sea
Putting the blood on the pulse requires no fight
Because it's God who's doing it, right?
God who did all that but when it comes to living the Christian life
it's gonna actually require your effort and for you to fight and go to war and
this could be essentially picturing the process of sanctification and
One thing about the process of sanctification of the Christian life is that it lasts for a lifetime
So you may have had a good fight last week, but the fight continues this week, though
And last year you might have had a really good bout
With the with the world the flesh and the devil, but guess what you're gonna have to fight again this year
Yesterday was good. You read the Bible you prayed you want some souls you were just doing great
But you know what there's a new fight today as well and so Canaan land as
wonderful as it is as
Many blessings are as our founder in you know, there's a lot of fights too and you know what in the Christian life
There's a lot of fights look at Exodus 23 verse 29 says
This is previous to them going into Canaan land
He's given them this promise here and he says I will not drive them referring to the inhabitants of the land
Out from before thee in one year
Lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field multiply against thee by little in little I will drive them out from
Before thee until thou be increased and inherit the land
So what is he saying? Hey when you go into the land of Canaan don't get discouraged if you don't take care of the job
Right away. You're you're basically life is centered around these battles. Okay
Now there's something you have to take care of immediately
But in general I'm not gonna remove them from the land immediately just in one year in other words
You're not just gonna be a perfect Christian in your first year or in the first couple of months. He's gonna remove
The inhabitants your sinful habits you your character flaws listen to this by little and little
Okay, and in a practical way the reason he said that to them was because of the fact that if he just removed everyone from
the land
Then the natural byproduct of that is the animals will start taking over
You know because the children of Israel there, but you have other nations
So if they removed all those nations
Then the Bears would come in the Lions would come in because anytime a land becomes desolate animals begin to take over
So he's like, you know, that won't be good for you because you know
They're just gonna eat you guys or whatever. So by little and little or remove them
Well in like manner as a Christian, you know by little and little we get better
Okay, but you know, here's the thing though is that you have to be in Canaan land to get better though
So you could get better as a Christian, but it has to be in Canaan land and Canaan land is not on
the Internet
Canyonland is not watching preaching on the Internet. That's not a Canaan land. You're you know what that is? That's on the other side of the river
That's where Moses was
You know right before he died, you know, there's a lot of Christians out there that are viewing Canaan land through YouTube and rumble
They're looking at all of us
You know, we're serving God over here and then they're kind of thinking to themselves like yeah, we're a part of that, you know
No, you're not you're on the other side
You're still in the wilderness
You're a Moses is God told Moses God told Moses go to the top of the mountain and go look at it
But you're not even gonna go there though
You know because of his disobedience, but you know, there's people who are willingly there though
like the tribe that wanted to stay on the other side of Jordan because they thought the land was better there and
They're just beholding Canaan with their eyes, but they're actually not in Canaan land. I
Don't want to behold Canaan land with my eyes I want to be in Canaan land. I want where's my house at
Where's the land where are the fights? That's where I want to be
But it says there that by little and little you'll get better as you're in Canaan land as you're fighting the battles
Hey as you're fighting your flesh as you're fighting the devil as you're fighting the ideologies of this world
By little and little you will be sanctified. God will clean up your life
God will begin to bless you and then you will be increased in the land. Okay now
The Bible tells us in the New Testament for though we walk in the flesh
We do not war after the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
But mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself
Against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
So the Bible tells us in the New Testament that we're not out there fighting physical wars
It's a spiritual battle, right?
that's one on spiritual grounds of prayer of Bible reading of evangelism of
warring after your warring
against your flesh and
So this is what's known as the victorious Christian life and you know, there's a lot of blessings that come with being a Christian
a lot of blessings will come with just being in church being a Christian you become a
Person who is the recipient of God's blessing at your job
You become a recipient of God's blessing in your household. You're no longer entrapped by the philosophies of this world
You're no longer plagued by the anxieties and fears that come upon the unsaved or even Christians who live like the unsaved
We live in a different world we're in Canaan land
Inheriting the blessings that God wants to have for us. All right, so go with if you will go back to Joshua chapter 3
Joshua chapter 3
So what do we have here? We have salvation being pictured by the Passover in Egypt
We have baptism being pictured by the crossing of the Red Sea
You have the state of a backslidden Christian being pictured in the wilderness, which by the way
It's called the wilderness of what of sin
Then you have the Promised Land, which is essentially where we all want to be or should want to be
But you know between the wilderness and the Promised Land
There's this major determining factor and that is you have to cross over
Jordan, okay
Look what it says in Joshua 3 13. Let's read it again
It says and it shall come to pass as soon as the souls of the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of
The Lord the Lord of all the earth shall rest in the waters of Jordan
That the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above and they shall stand upon and heap
So obviously, you know, this is like a callback to especially for them the crossing of the Red Sea
But here's the difference God wants the priests
to bear the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders and
Before he's able to remove the waters and stop the waters
They had to put their foot first into the water as soon as that happens. The miracle is performed
Now, I don't believe it's literally their foot that's making it happen
Really? What it is is them taking that first step
And I think the picture that's being signified here is that it's your move
You're like, oh man, I want to be blessed by God. Okay, the balls in your court though. Oh
Man, I just want more Bible knowledge. Okay, you're moved though. Oh
Man, I just want a successful marriage and I want to be successful at my job
Then put your foot in
You know, oh man
I just want to be a man of character to just be in church every Sunday then stick your foot in the door
and
One thing you realize is that when you put your foot in God takes care of the rest
God always makes up the difference. I don't think these guys are like doing a cannonball into the water
You know what I mean? They're like, you know, I
Don't even think they're like
They're just like putting their foot in the water boom it happens
Now what is this picture
Well in the Bible water can often picture the Holy Spirit
Right. I mean the Bible specifically tells us in the New Testament, right?
Jesus said he that believeth on me as the scripture had said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
But this he spake of the Spirit
Which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified
And in fact, there's various instances throughout the Bible when God
Likens someone being filled with the Spirit as him pouring the Spirit upon someone right so he's likened unto water
so if you can picture the Jordan River is almost like the Holy Spirit and
What is the priest picture the royal priesthood that has to walk in the spirit?
Like oh man, I'm just struggling with this sin
Well, this is what you got to do walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
And in fact, you know the Bible tells us
Teaches us that once we take that step
That our path is made plain. And in fact Proverbs 15 verse 19 says the way of the slothful man is
As and hedge of thorns, but the way of the righteous is made plain
So you think of the Jordan River and how it's being described in Joshua chapter 3. It's very tumultuous
It seems dangerous like how are we gonna cross an entire nation over the Jordan River into Canaan land?
With these very dangerous dangerous waters through the time of harvest. Well, this is how you do it
You step in first and God makes it plain for you to cross over now notice it in Proverbs 15
He likens or the contrast to the righteous person is the slothful person
The person who doesn't want to take the step
Cuz they're lazy slothful is a lazy person
You're just like oh man go to church
Wake up early in the morning. Well, first of all churches at 1030 that I hope that's not early for you
That would be weird if 1030 would be early for you
It's nearing the afternoon
Okay, it's almost lunchtime. Oh
Man, it's got quiet here. Good night
Not early at all, but you know what all you have to do and it's just like yeah
But it's so hard to go to church. All you got to do is step in and
Then I just yell you for like an hour
Doesn't really require a whole lot of work
Just sit there and you get you get the word the Word of God upon heaps, right?
But all you got to do is step in
What's the message this morning? The message is simply this, you know, the balls in your court
You have to take the initiative anything in the Christian life that God has promised to you
You can have but here's the thing you got to make the first move
You got to step in first
Isn't it interesting that you have the priests being the ones to step in the New Testament believers are the royal priesthood
Carrying the Word of God on their shoulders
Stepping into the water picturing the Holy Spirit that once it happens you stand on
Dry ground and in fact, you're firmly planted, you know, if you're walking through waters, it's just kind of unstable
But when you walk in the spirit, it's almost as if God stabilizes your life
And one thing that people will tell you if they've been back something to come back to church is like church stabilizes them
Like their their life is under control. Once again, their finances are under control
Their marriage is under control again
Their children will not so much but they can be under control, you know, depending on what age they are
You know their job like everything gets
Stabilized in Canaan land you walk through
Dry ground and the Bible tells us for we are as workmanship created in Christ Jesus
Unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should listen to this walk in them
What is he saying? You need to take the first step man?
I just want to learn the Bible and I want to just know a lot about the Bible. Well, what's stopping you?
You're saying it like someone's keeping it from you. I mean you have a copy of the Bible right there
You have access not just to a physical Bible
I'm sure you got a Bible on your on your phone and app
I mean you can literally read the Word of God every single day. We're not the Catholic Church trying to keep the Bible from you
I'm not like a priest. I'm here like you can't understand the Bible without the interpretation of a priest and all this
You don't have the authority
The anointing which you have received them in but better than you and even that than any man teach you
What's stopping you?
You have to take the first step. You have to take the initiative. It's your move
You need to put the soles of your feet in the water and take that first step
Now here's a little illustration to help with this because let's talk about Church for example
You know, we're going into the summer and sometimes churches in the summer
They take a dip when it comes to attendance because it's just it's hot people get lazy
And I don't know people just don't like to come to church
You know what I mean? But you know, it should be that in the summertime we come to church more
Because of the AC no, I'm just kidding, you know
Cool weather inside but you know church should just always be a priority period right and obviously
I'm preaching to the choir here because everyone's in church this morning. We have a full house
But think about this, you know
when you think about church because sometimes in the day and age in which we live we can often think of church as being only
One faceted meaning that it's only about the preaching and the preaching is very much important
But sometimes people think that that's the only thing that church is for
Which is why people don't go to church
We think about that. It's kind of funny, isn't it? They're like, oh man, the preacher is the most important part
So why even go to church I could just watch it at home
You know, thank God for the internet, but some internet makes people lazy, too, though
But I'm gonna give you a lifting illustration
Carol I don't care what kind of looks I get
Let me give you a 33.3% rule okay when it comes to lifting in order for you to succeed at lifting
You need these three things
You need to lift heavy
you need a diet correctly and
Get this you need a sleep a good amount as well
Like anybody will tell you like those are the three things that you need right there
lift intensely
Eat proper nutrition
get the proper protein, right and
Actually, you have to sleep a good amount of time because you build the most muscle when you're sleeping
so thirty three point three percent of your success in the gym is determined by
Your nutrition by the intensity of your training and by your sleep, right?
Well, you know that spiritually speaking. It's the same exact thing in
order for you to succeed at church or
In the Christian life you need preaching which makes up thirty three point three percent
But you also need fellowship
Which also equals to thirty three point three percent and you need evangelism
Which is thirty three point three percent making up ninety nine point nine percent of your success rate as a Christian
And you know what you a lot of people are just like well
I just need the preaching of God's Word. Yeah, but you're missing
The fellowship and you're missing the training to evangelize and you're actually selling yourself short as a Christian
If that's what you're doing, because you need all three, you know what I need fellowship for because you're weird
Because you're weird and you need friends
You're just that you're socially awkward covid mess you up
You socially distance too much
And you know what Christians in general how we have to be social creatures
Like literally, you know preaching is commanded for us to listen to and to do but fellowship is also commanded
Like God literally wants his people to talk to one another
not just on our phones, but literally face-to-face a
Brotherhood you need a brotherhood and a sisterhood
You need fellowship
Like oh man, you know, I just thought like, you know, the preaching would be the most important thing
Yeah, but where so if you hear preaching about being in church, though
And you don't want to be in church, how are you gonna be a doer the word of the preaching you just heard
Like, you know when you hear preaching about the importance of fellowship, who are you gonna do with the screen?
Brother I know him, you know, there's people like that on the internet
They're just like they know people in our church and they've never stepped foot in our church believe that they know miss kelly fransciscini
I point that cuz typically she sits there, but you know, they know her laugh
Like it's almost as if like they know her
And there's certain people in our church that people feel like they just know
You know, they're just like oh you're on the rod of iron podcast. I know you but this is like
But you don't really know them though
Like the people who know them are the people in our church
And then people can have this it's like people who watch like these movies for like
Multiple times and they feel that it's just they have this affinity towards that character in the movie. He's fake. He's not real
It's not a real person
And so what I'm saying, so it's just like oh man, I need yeah, that's the reader the guy with the mustache
the cop looking guy
He's the reader. He does it on Sundays and then the other white dude does it on Sunday night?
He sometimes shows up on the rod of iron
And
Then the other white guy he doesn't look like a white person, but I know he's why you know high key
he does it on Thursday and
They know our order of services. They know how everything runs then all the people but here's here
Let me give you a rude awakening. You don't know though, cuz you don't really know cuz if you really knew hi
No, I'm just kick
I'm just kidding
Hey, I can say it cuz I know hike
Cuz I fellowship with hike
You see I'm involved in that thirty three point three percent
But if you only have the thirty three point three percent of preaching and you don't have the other ones then you're selling yourself short
Because we need the fellowship and you also need to be to learn how to evangelize
How to go soul winning, you know, there's people out there that will watch preaching online
And yeah, they may do soul winning, but let's just be real honest though
You can never improve as a soul winner
Unless you're in a local New Testament Church with people who are more advanced than you in soul winning
That's just a harsh truth for a lot of people
You're like, oh man, I've seen all of the you know, the pastor he managed lessons and lectures on soul winning
I've seen how everyone does. Yeah, but have you actually stepped foot in a church for an entire year?
Going soul winning with people in a local New Testament
Well, I mean I've seen the lectures though
Folks you need the thirty three point three percent of evangelism that you get in a local New Testament Church as well
Cuz you know what you need someone to tell you that you're doing it wrong
And I know you don't like to hear that but it's fact
If we ever want to improve in a particular area, we have to be told that we're doing it wrong at some point
That's how we improve
You know if you ever want to learn a language
You go talk to someone who speaks that language you need that person to tell you you're not saying that right?
That's like the wrong way to say it. You know, you what do you I don't even know what you're saying
So that you don't do it again
But if you never get corrected if you're never given tips that you're never gonna improve you're just gonna remain right there
But the best way to improve is that to get is to actually get your rear end in a church
hear the preaching of God's Word
get fellowship and
Learn how to evangelize as well
That's the thirty three point three percent you said whoa, but evangelism man, that's kind of hard just step your foot just
Take a step
Sorry, you gotta do
Fellowship is just so hard though. You know, I'm an introvert just take a step and go talk to anybody
You might find out that they're just as weird as you if not weirder
You're like man, I look pretty good compared to this guy
You
Know and you you end up realizing that it's actually not hard to fellowship at all
Because you have more in common with the people here than most people out there because you're a Christian
Believe the Bible and you actually enjoy the fellowship and you'll become exhorted because you know all of us though
we have like a
tank a spiritual tank of
Knowledge that needs to be filled on a weekly basis through the preaching of God's Word
we also have an emotional tank that we need to get filled up to and
According to the Bible that emotional tank is filled up through fellowship and
You know what? Some people overflow their tank at our church, too
Which is not bad. I'm just saying, you know, they stay here to like 12 10 o'clock 11 o'clock at night
Just talking and it's just after a while, you know
You start talking about food and Taco Bell or whatever and it's just like all right now
It's just time to get out of here, you know now we're just vain jangling here, you know, the tank is overflowing
Mm-hmm, but you need
That emotional tank to be filled and you need the tank of purpose to be filled as well
How do you get that filled up by preaching the gospel and getting people saved?
You realize when you do that, you're like man. I'm like, I'm living the Christian life. Like I'm getting people safe
I'm preaching the gospel. Like I know how to articulate the gospel I can get people saved
I'm excited to do that and then you add all those three church attendance you get
Fellowship you get evangelism
That's a recipe for success. That's a recipe for the Promised Land
but all you got to do listen to me is
One foot in and that's it and God will do the rest
Okay
Bible tells us take you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness shall be added unto you go to James chapter 4
James chapter 4 if you would
You think about like God's provision
How do how can I get God to provide for me? Well, you just got to take one step and go to go to work
Okay, it's just like you have to pray you have to go to work and then God ends up providing the rest
And here here in James chapter 4, which this is the last passage we're going to
Really encapsulates this idea here, okay
Because a lot of times, you know, God is just simply waiting for us to just make the first move
Which by the way, let me just insert this point real quick. Okay for you single dudes out there
Make the first move
You know, it's just like oh man is I'm just I think I need dating apps
Whatever happens just talking someone to their face
Whatever happened to just going to someone and saying hi
My name is you know, whatever and actually like having not having to catfish them or something
You know, whatever happened to dudes not you, you know not using filters or something
Actually talk to some, you know, sometimes you just got to actually take the first step
And we need to bring that back by the way
Bring back dudes just actually going to people a women and actually just talking to them and not being all
introverted
scared
wusses
Hey, we all had to do it
Like what do you how do you how do you think you know, you know what you're talking about? I'm married
That's qualification enough and look at any guy in our church right now
That's married with children. They had to do that
They had to put themselves out there and
Spit some game. I don't know what you guys call it nowadays Riz. You got it. I raise them up or something
They have to raise them up
spit game and
Get the person to like them, but you know, we have to is like dudes wanting girls to come to them
Right, or they want some dating app to do all the work for them or something like that
Go and take the first step and go talk to someone
And you're like, well there's no girls in our church
Well, we got a conference coming up go to the conference and there'll be tons of girls there that you could do
They ain't got no excuses
Take a step into the van
Go there
I'll finish on this note though. Look at James chapter 4 verse number 6
It says but he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisted the proud but giveth grace into the humble
Submit yourselves therefore to God resist the devil and he will flee from you
Listen to this draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh unto you
Cleanse your hands these sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded
Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up
I want to repeat that in verse number eight draw nigh to God and he'll draw nigh to you
It's really simple if you really want everything that Canaan land has to offer if you want success in the Christian life, it's your move
Like oh man, I just feel distant from God
But that's not because God is away from you because God's presence is always here
It's you you got to take the first step into getting right with God
Take the first step into talking to God
take the first step and letting God talk to you through the Bible and
Then once you realize that you've taken a couple steps and after a while you just kind of running in the direction
God's will you're serving God and before you know, you're in Canaan land again
Get back into Canaan land
That's just it right and don't over complicate it
Don't over complicate it
Well, just tell me the one thing I got to do take the first step. That's it
And then on Thursday take another step and then Sunday night take another step and then tomorrow open up the Bible
You took a step
You wake up in the morning pray unto the Lord. That's another step
That's all it is
It's your move. Let's pray father. We thank you so much for your word and
Thank you for the pictures that we find in the Old Testament
help us as your people to continuously walk in the ways of the Lord to walk in the spirit and
Help us to realize that it does require faith because sometimes we look at
the situations before us or whether that's getting right with you or
Reading the Bible all the way through praying making those things a discipline and it seems very hard to achieve
but at the end of the day
All you expect us to do is to draw an eye to you and you
End up taking care of the rest and I pray you help us to have faith in you help us to increase our faith
In the principles that we find in the Word of God and bless us for doing so, we love you
We thank you pray these things in Jesus name. Amen