WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.919 We had a baptism family here this morning and so we had a number of guests in our church service 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:11.120 and I saw this passage coming a few weeks ago and I thought, oh wow, Joshua 5 00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:16.980 and the name that Steve stumbled over the minute ago in how to pronounce it, 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:21.780 I'm not even going to bother with the pronunciation, I'm just going to tell you it means hill of foreskins 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:26.500 which gives you some sort of an idea of the passage that we're about to enter into. 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:34.100 Our preaching passage, it's Joshua 5, it's MA rated, there's no other way to say it, 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:36.200 mass circumcision of adult men. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:44.420 One of the features of the passage is that the place where all the action happens comes to be known as the hill of foreskins. 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:47.280 So I've got your attention now, we'll see where we go from here. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:53.359 I told a small group of friends on my dilemma in preaching today, we were at dinner a week or two ago 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:59.759 and they very helpfully told me a whole series of circumcision jokes 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:03.159 and I can't tell any of them tonight. 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:08.159 But if any of them were here I could say something like number two and they would laugh 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:10.319 because they'd know which joke that was. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:13.859 So in the meantime, let's move into it. 00:01:14.099 --> 00:01:19.960 Arnold Palmer was one of golf's greatest players and he tells a story about overconfidence. 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:49.939 He says, 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:51.319 I knew that I lost my focus. 00:01:52.759 --> 00:01:58.199 And on the next two shots I hit the ball into the sand trap and then put it over the edge of the green. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:01.199 I missed a putt and I lost the masters. 00:02:04.099 --> 00:02:11.060 Overconfidence, pride, self-sufficiency can trip us in a moment. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:18.860 A preacher I know told me the story travelling home with his wife in the car after preaching one Sunday. 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:21.520 Now this is a preacher problem, not your problem necessarily. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:24.979 And he was fairly self-assured that he'd preached well. 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:26.319 He'd done a good job that day. 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:31.840 And she seemed quiet and angry and withdrawn. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:36.819 And so he tried to turn the conversation back to church that morning. 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:43.439 Peter told me how much he appreciated my message and how it helped him with something they'd been struggling with. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:43.800 Hmm. 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:48.120 Said his wife. 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:50.419 And they travelled in silence for a few more minutes. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:52.359 And he tries again. 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:57.479 Darling, like, how many great preachers do you think there are in the world? 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:01.659 Long pause, more thought. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:06.699 And then she reflectively says, one less than what you've currently got in mind. 00:03:10.179 --> 00:03:20.319 Power, success can be suddenly followed by pride and overconfidence and self-sufficiency and fall. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:29.560 When you get to Joshua 5, 6th book in the Bible, Israel has begun to taste power and success in large measure. 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:31.439 Big things are going on. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:34.719 They've wandered in the desert for 40 years. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:38.199 It's 440 years since they've been in the land. 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:46.159 And in chapter 4, maybe 3 million refugees have crossed the Jordan River in a dramatic entry into the land. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:53.060 And the passage Steve took us into last week was this passage where God stopped the flooding river. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:04:01.719 So the flooding Jordan River stopped it in its tracks and the people walked across a dry riverbed and into the land. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.900 And the impact on the surrounding nations is stupendous. 00:04:07.900 --> 00:04:09.780 Joshua 5, verse 1. 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:21.519 When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we'd crossed over, 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:27.160 their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:30.399 They're petrified. 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:34.860 They're terrified for what the future holds. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:40.220 Now there's been this change of status for the people of Israel. 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:41.560 They've been the hicks in the desert. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:44.160 And they are now the line at the door. 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:51.780 And they have become a feared enemy and a vast multitude is in the land and they're on the front veranda and they're about to sweep all before it. 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:55.520 And verse 9, the Lord said to Joshua, 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:59.139 Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.400 God has brought these people full circle. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.639 They failed 40 years ago. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.779 The nation rebelled against God and against Moses. 00:05:08.159 --> 00:05:10.959 God was ready to kill the nation except for Moses. 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:14.339 And Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the rebels. 00:05:14.479 --> 00:05:16.799 Numbers chapter 14, he said this. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:18.719 This is Moses to God. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:21.719 If you put these people to death all at one time, 00:05:23.159 --> 00:05:25.739 the nations who have heard this report will, 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:30.739 about you, they're going to say the Lord was not able to bring these people into the land 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:34.579 which he promised them on oath and so he slaughtered them in the desert. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:40.759 Moses was concerned about God's name and about God's reputation. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:46.300 He doesn't want God to act in a way which would cause unbelievers to slander him. 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:54.980 He doesn't want people to say the Lord was not able to bring these people into the land which he promised them. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.639 And so the Lord says, verse 9, chapter 5, 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.420 Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:06.160 The old generation is dead. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:08.300 The past is left behind. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:10.879 God has kept his promise. 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:12.500 They're standing in the land. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:15.579 This is about God's faithfulness, God's ability. 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:17.180 It's about his glory. 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:22.079 God has done what he promised and he was able to do it despite their sin. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:25.339 He is just amazing. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:33.540 And there is nothing in this story that allows the Israelites to claim one tiny little bit of pride 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:35.959 or to boast about their achievements or their abilities. 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:41.500 They're in the land because of the grace and the mercy and the power and the promise of God. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:43.100 He has done it all. 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:49.699 So when future generations tell the kids how they came to be into this land, 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:54.600 the answer will be that God rolled away the reproach of Egypt. 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:55.920 He kept his promises. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:57.199 He did it. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:05.839 It's incredibly similar to what we know as Christians in Christ. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:11.579 When God speaks to his people in the New Testament, Ephesians 2, verses 4 and 5, 00:07:11.579 --> 00:07:14.539 because of his great love for us, 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:22.039 God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:24.719 It's by grace you have been saved. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:31.479 His love, his mercy, his grace brings us from death to life. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:33.699 It is God who saves us. 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:36.379 It is all of him and none of us. 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:46.639 We steal God's glory when we add anything to that equation. 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:50.759 If we quietly sit back and think things like, 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:56.600 well, I'll be okay with God because I haven't really been too bad 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:01.960 or I'm certainly not as bad as them, 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:09.340 we steal the glory of God and we behave as though there is something about us 00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:11.500 that merits his love and favour. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:15.520 I did that kind thing for that person yesterday and all that sort of stuff. 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:17.080 God keeps his promises. 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:19.000 God saves his people. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:22.020 It is God who is entirely faithful. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.500 It is God that we put our trust in. 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:33.159 And you see in this story that total dependency on God 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:35.759 is expressed in a number of different ways. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.279 So verse 2. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:39.800 The Lord said to Joshua, 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:45.000 make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again. 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.779 Adult men being circumcised. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:53.860 We're not talking eight-day-old babies. 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:55.259 We're talking adult men. 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:01.440 And there's probably not a lot of sympathy when you read this story if you're a woman 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:04.860 because a woman who's been through childbirth knows plenty about pain. 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:10.440 And all these men have the foreskins of their penises cut off 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:12.960 as a sign of dedication to God. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:14.899 And it hurt. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:18.699 And it says in verse 8, 00:09:18.740 --> 00:09:21.279 after the whole nation had been circumcised, 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:25.299 they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:27.159 They were sore. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.600 And you know what men are like. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.740 We get a little bit sick. 00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:35.959 And it's like we're dying. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.860 We need to heal before we can function again. 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:42.360 And we need all this TLC and tender eyes. 00:09:42.420 --> 00:09:42.720 Is that right? 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:45.860 There's some smiles. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:55.420 But circumcision for an Israelite man was the covenant sign. 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:59.199 It was the cut in the flesh which says, 00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:00.839 I belong to God. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:08.240 It's a step of significant commitment, 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:10.479 especially as an adult man. 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:16.559 Like getting a tattoo of your girlfriend or your boyfriend's name. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.199 You know, that's a real step of commitment, isn't it? 00:10:20.219 --> 00:10:22.219 Because it's for keeps, isn't it? 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:25.339 Because if it's not for keeps and if you make a mistake, 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:27.079 you've got a problem. 00:10:27.219 --> 00:10:29.239 It's going to need to be done again or revised 00:10:29.239 --> 00:10:32.719 or get a boyfriend or the girlfriend with the same name 00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:33.599 somewhere down the track. 00:10:38.979 --> 00:10:40.039 But here it is. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:43.259 This cut in the flesh, it's an irreversible decision. 00:10:43.479 --> 00:10:44.439 There's no turning back. 00:10:44.439 --> 00:10:46.019 You can't put these things back on. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.719 It's an outward sign of an inner yielding or commitment 00:10:50.719 --> 00:10:52.419 or at least it's supposed to be. 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:55.539 And the really strange thing is, 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:57.219 if you read verses 5 to 7, 00:10:57.319 --> 00:11:00.619 it says all the people that came out had been circumcised. 00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:02.119 That's 40 years before. 00:11:03.119 --> 00:11:04.979 But all the people born in the desert 00:11:04.979 --> 00:11:07.519 during the journey from Egypt had not. 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:11.959 And the Israelites had moved about in the desert 40 years 00:11:11.959 --> 00:11:13.879 until all the men who were of military age 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:15.419 when they left Egypt had died 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:17.839 since they had not obeyed the Lord. 00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:19.539 For the Lord had sworn to them 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:21.079 that they would not see the land 00:11:21.079 --> 00:11:24.059 that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, 00:11:24.099 --> 00:11:25.659 a land flowing with milk and honey. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:30.319 So he raised up their sons in their place 00:11:30.319 --> 00:11:32.839 and these were the ones that Joshua circumcised. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:35.259 They were still uncircumcised 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:37.439 because they hadn't been circumcised on the way, 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.000 on the journey. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:41.899 So get this. 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:47.440 The earlier generation had the outward sign of commitment, 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:50.379 the covenant sign of belonging to God, 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:51.519 the religious symbol. 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.679 They looked really good on the outside. 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:55.179 They measured up. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:11:59.059 But they weren't right on the inside. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:01.019 They didn't listen to the voice of the Lord. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:02.980 They didn't live by faith and they died. 00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:07.139 And in another place, 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:09.120 Moses calls them a stiff-necked people 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.740 with uncircumcised hearts. 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:13.960 And this new generation, 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:15.480 well, they don't look right on the outside. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.940 They haven't been circumcised yet. 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:21.100 They haven't got the sign of belonging to God, 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:24.460 but God reaffirms and fulfils his promises to them. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.680 And Romans chapter 2 and 3 00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:29.480 talk about this idea of circumcision of the heart. 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:31.399 It's what's inside that matters 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.120 and they're beginning in a good place. 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:34.899 They've got circumcised hearts. 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:39.580 And you get this sort of picture, 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:41.320 if you look at the contrast 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:42.960 between the two groups of people, 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.840 that having religious symbols doesn't make you safe. 00:12:48.420 --> 00:12:51.399 So having a great track record of church attendance 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:53.580 or being baptised in the right way 00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:55.379 or participating in the Lord's Supper 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:57.620 or hanging a cross around your neck 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:59.000 or a fish on the back of your car 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.320 or going to Bible college 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.820 or reading your Bible and praying, 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:04.299 none of those things actually means anything 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:06.379 if we do not listen to the voice of God 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.179 and live by faith. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:13.720 So they've got this whole generation of Israelites 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.399 who had the religious symbols and they died. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:20.259 God said, trust me, and they didn't. 00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:24.059 Now, we had a baptism this morning. 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:26.259 I think we've got some adult baptisms next week, 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:27.519 which is just awesome. 00:13:29.839 --> 00:13:32.839 And we know that when somebody goes into the water, 00:13:32.979 --> 00:13:36.119 that going into the water doesn't make you safe with Christ, 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:39.259 but it's an expression of commitment, isn't it? 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:43.099 It's an expression that God has brought me alive in faith 00:13:43.099 --> 00:13:45.259 and I want to acknowledge this new faith 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:48.799 that I've been brought to outwardly in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.120 I want to do the outward thing to signify 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:53.719 what's been going on inwardly in me. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.740 It's a great thing to be able to do. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:04.120 We know that you can actually go through a ceremony 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:07.399 without it having any impact on your heart. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:10.779 And the Lord Jesus Christ wants both. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.879 He wants our hearts, 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:16.200 but he also gives us a ceremony like baptism, 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:18.200 which is this outward way of saying, 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:21.120 this is what's been going on in my heart with Christ. 00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:23.960 An outward way of identifying with him. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:29.039 But he wants deep inner change and dependence upon him. 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:33.100 So a great thing to do combined with faith. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.840 Dependence on God is seen in other ways in this passage. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.460 So verses 11 and 12. 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.879 The day after Passover, 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.680 that very day they ate some of the produce of the land, 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.440 unleavened bread, roasted grain. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.840 And the manna stopped the day after 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:52.320 they ate this food from the land 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:55.040 and there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:58.019 but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:02.440 So they've had their first meal in the land. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:05.100 They've eaten the produce of the land 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:06.840 and all of a sudden the handouts 00:15:07.420 --> 00:15:09.460 that they've enjoyed for the last 40 years 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.759 in the desert just stopped. 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:14.879 This 40-year miracle comes to an end 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.340 where they got up every morning 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:18.940 and breakfast was served 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.500 and Saturdays they had off 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.940 they didn't even have to gather for. 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:24.480 But it was now finished. 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.480 God had led them, 00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:26.879 he provided for them, 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.759 he'd done this wonderful miracle 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:30.480 and it just stopped. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.720 And now they've got to find it for themselves. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:38.300 But it symbolises that God has brought them into the land, 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:40.639 he's kept his promises, 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:44.600 and now he begins to provide for them 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.440 in the way that he had always promised 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:49.519 and the miracle is no longer required. 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:55.060 And then at the end there's this really strange encounter 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:57.879 in verses 13 and 15. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:59.860 Joshua was near Jericho, 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.559 he looked up, 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:03.039 he saw a man standing in front of him 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:05.159 with a drawn sword in his hand 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.679 and Joshua went up to him and said, 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.039 are you for us or for our enemies? 00:16:09.939 --> 00:16:10.379 Neither. 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:13.179 But as commander of the army of the Lord 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:14.019 I've now come. 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:16.820 And Joshua fell face down to the ground 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:18.200 in reverence and asked him, 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:21.519 what message does my Lord have for his servant? 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:24.759 And the commander of the Lord's army replied, 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.840 take off your sandals 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.879 for the place that you are standing is holy. 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.879 And Joshua did so. 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:33.179 So he's a mighty man, 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:35.019 his sword's drawn, 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.960 it begs the question, 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.159 what are you going to do with it? 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.539 Are you for us 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.899 or are you for our enemies? 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:45.460 Neither. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:49.120 I come as the commander of the armies of the Lord, 00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:49.939 get your shoes off, 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.319 you're on holy ground. 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:53.620 It's an encounter with the King of Kings 00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:55.379 and the Lord of Lords in the Old Testament. 00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.300 And what's coming out of this 00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:00.640 is that God is impartial. 00:17:00.900 --> 00:17:01.720 He's not my mate. 00:17:02.660 --> 00:17:04.240 We don't have him in our pocket. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:06.700 He won't drop a special word on our behalf. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:09.059 When we stand in his presence, 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.720 we do so on his terms. 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.700 And the question is not, 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.799 is he for us? 00:17:15.840 --> 00:17:17.059 Is God for us? 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.279 But are we for him? 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.819 And John F. 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:26.319 Kennedy's famous challenge to the people of America was, 00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:28.919 ask not what your country can do for you, 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:31.859 ask what you can do for your country. 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:35.479 What does the Lord require of us? 00:17:35.479 --> 00:17:37.899 He certainly wants the Israelites to trust him 00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:39.439 and depend on him, 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:41.439 knowing him for who he is. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:45.100 So this whole passage, 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:46.759 this is about God's glory. 00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:48.940 It's about God's purposes. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.660 The Israelites know the joy 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.759 and the awesome privilege 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.440 of standing in the Lord's presence 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:56.080 and being used for his glory. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.419 If we think we're doing God a favour 00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:00.699 when we pop up at church 00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:02.019 or we do some good thing 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:03.619 or a friend of mine's mum 00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:04.439 who said one year 00:18:04.439 --> 00:18:05.980 that she was going to church at Easter 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:08.299 to pay her respects to God 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:08.980 and I just went, 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.439 oh, 00:18:10.439 --> 00:18:11.500 think again. 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.779 He is awesome in might and power. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.720 He is glorious in his majesty 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.620 and his kingdom is over everything 00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.779 and it is forever. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.059 And God demands our attention. 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:27.759 He dictates the terms 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.420 of our relationship with him. 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:32.259 And wonderfully, 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.640 he has shown the most extraordinary love 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.759 in the death of his son. 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:39.980 He has acted mightily to save us 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.579 from his most deserved judgment. 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:43.539 Friends, 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:47.120 our God is not our puppet 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:48.680 or plaything. 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:49.860 Or gadget 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:50.860 or toy. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.779 He's holy. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.519 And as believers, 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:57.539 God will sometimes do 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.740 extraordinary things 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.100 through us and for us. 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.759 I can think of no greater joy 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.960 that I have ever known 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.779 than being there 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.620 when he brings about 00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:08.039 the miracle of new birth. 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.220 When the scales fall away 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.200 from somebody's eyes 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.079 for the first time 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.120 and they respond to God 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:14.380 with faith and dependence. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.200 I could cry right now 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.220 and I recall that happening 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.579 for one of my family members. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.559 When they put their faith 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.100 and their trust 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.380 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:24.579 tears of absolute joy 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.319 and delight 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.400 and relief 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.140 at the goodness 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.500 and the power of God 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.220 in Christ 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:31.200 as we yield ourselves 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.799 to him. 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:35.259 So the Christian life 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.799 is not about technique 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.799 or ritual. 00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:40.599 Life as a believer 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.559 is about dependence 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.319 on Christ, 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:44.279 a life of reliance 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.639 on him, 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.559 a life of trust 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.240 in him, 00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:47.279 a life which is 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.099 lived for him. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:51.240 The people of God 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.039 in Joshua 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.079 are on the verge 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.319 of experiencing 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.579 considerable power 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.839 and great success. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.879 They're about to see 00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:00.019 the walls of Jericho 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.679 fall without them 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.519 lifting a finger 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:05.480 and they prepare themselves 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.359 by submitting 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.259 to their God 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.959 and Father 00:20:07.959 --> 00:20:09.639 who will lead them 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:10.959 into that success. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:13.539 We are dependent 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.019 on God 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:15.019 for every breath 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.579 we take. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.420 He is holy 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:19.200 and our only 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.120 proper response 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:20.940 is to give him 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:22.120 glory in everything. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.279 Our confidence 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.140 is in him 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.840 and not in ourselves. 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.079 Amen.