HUMBLE WORSHIP: HOLY WALK: HEAVENLY WARFARE

1.      Joshua 5:13-15 > Humble Worship

Ø  Joshua 5:13 > When God walks onto the scene he does not come to take sides.He comes to take over. The more appropriate question is, “Are we on the Lord’s side or against Him?”

Ø  Ways & acts: In Old Testament, Children of Israel shows miracles, only Moses knows the reason of the miracles.

Ø  When the messenger identified himself, “ Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

Ø  This is Christ appearing a man 1400 years before he appears in Bethlehem as a baby.

Ø  This is Jesus because;

                                                        i.            This messenger allows himself to be worshipped, angels never do.

                                                      ii.             Joshua was instructed to remove his sandals because he was on holy ground just as Moses had at the burning bush (Ex. 3:5).

Ø  In Old Testament time Jesus appeared according to the need & circumstances

§  For Abraham, He appeared as a traveler

§  For Jacob, He appeared as a wrestler

§  For Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, He appeared as a companion

§  For Joshua, He appeared as a assurance

Ø  Joshua was standing on Heathen territory, yet because GOD was with him he was standing on Holy Ground > If we are obeying the will of GOD, no matter where He lead us, we always stand on Holy Ground.

Ø  Joshua 4:7 > God commits himself to bringing his people across their Jordan. All that was required of Israel was that they trust God! God has good account of what he has done, Jesus is all-powerful, He is all-knowing and He is all-present. He knows what you are going through.

> A monuments of  the Faithfulness of God

>  A monuments of the Faith of the People

Ø  Joshua 5:1 > The Amorite kings and all the Canaanite kings saw the powerful manner in which the Lord brought His children through the Jordan and that they were totally demoralized by these events. God prepared their heart to melt down

Ø  Joshua 5:3 > People of Israel appeared ready for the battle. They possessed a large army and they faced an enemy that was terrified at their presence. However, God knew that they would never be ready to fight and win the battle until the proper spiritual preparations had been made.

Ø  During the 40 years of their wilderness wandering, the rebellious generation that was dying off were no longer a covenant people. Now, before these people can claim Jericho, they must be circumcised. They must renew the covenant with the Lord if they wanted God’s blessings on them and the victory.

Ø   Joshua 5:8 > reaffirming their confidence in the Lord > Here, Israel is camped in the heart of enemy territory. After they have been circumcised, every male is temporarily disabled and is rendered unable to fight. It took great faith for them to submit to the rite of circumcision! They had to be willing to trust the Lord to protect them until they healed. Their faith was the secret to their success. Christ offered circumcision of the heart.

Ø  Joshua 5:10 > the best way to hear from God is to be quiet > the tangible presence of God will released to you, when you cried out to God, when you commune to the living savior.

Ø  Joshua 6:2 > Recognizing the control of the Lord > God says, “I have given Jericho into your hands.”  > It is just a sure as if it had already happened > Humble worship rewarded Jericho into Joshua's hand

2.       Holy Walk

Ø  Joshua 6:14 > Holy Walk > Israel marched around the city in obedience to the Lord and they prevailed, fruit of the spirit is long suffering. Gift is manifested immediately but the fruit takes time. When they had finished that seventh lap, the priests gave a long blast on the trumpets and the people of Israel shouted with a great shout in praise to their God Who had promised them the victory.

3.       Heavenly Warfare

Ø  Genesis 3:15 > God’s holy warfare against Satan & sin.

Ø  Ephesians 6:10-18 > Christian’s warfare is not against blood and flesh but against enemies in the spiritual realm. They march around the city joyfully

Ø  Joshua 6:16 > they marched acceptingly.

Ø  Joshua 6:20 > they marched with triumphal.

Ø  Joshua 6:23 > they march around redemptive. One kind act by Rehab promoted her in to the genealogy of The Lord. She became part of the ancestor of Jesus Christ in the midst of the judgment.

Ø  New Testament summary

§  Ephesians 3:14 > humble worship

§  Ephesians 4:1 > holy walk

§  Ephesians 6:11 > Heavenly warfare 

Theme of 2013 from www.intlcog.org 1/1/2013