Courage to Identify
Notes
Transcript
Courage to Identify
Joshua 5:1-9
INTRODUCTION
Wearing an opposing team's jersey and sitting in the student section.
Jonathan going to watch Sooners play basketball at Allen Field House.
Are we willing to identify with Christ in every environment of our life?
At church it is easy.
At work?
with family?
at a football game?
We must have courage to identify with Christ.
Every generation has to choose for themselves if they will identify with Jesus.
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.
5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.
9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
4 Truths Concerning Our Identity
4 Truths Concerning Our Identity
1. Our Identity is a Reflection of God (1)
1. Our Identity is a Reflection of God (1)
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
Caused fear by Canaanites
They feared God.
Bring the glory of God
Reflection of God's glory- Moses' face
They made him hide his face.
Made them feel bad for failing him.
God tried to have a special relationship with them but they hid in fear. Just like Canaanites.
They hate us because they hate him
Darkness hates the light.
2. Our Identity is a Reminder of God (2-3)
2. Our Identity is a Reminder of God (2-3)
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
The covenant relationship with God was restored
Circumcised again= as a nation as a whole.
Israel has a special covenant relationship with God that no other nation on earth has.
Circumcision is the visual reminder of the covenant
God gave his covenant to Abraham (Gen 12)
The covenant was sealed with a sacrifice (Gen 15)
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,
13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him.
24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised.
27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Circumcision was a covenant reminder that their bodies belonged to God, that they were special and were set apart.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Israel many times forgot that the covenant came with expectations. They had to live by faith.
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
The mark was only good for the obedient.
We can give ourselves any Christian title we like, but what matters is our changed life.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
We live under a new covenant. A covenant that was sealed by the blood of Jesus.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are reminders of the covenant.
17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.
18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
3. Our Identity is a Requirement of God (4-7)
3. Our Identity is a Requirement of God (4-7)
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.
5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
Circumcision was a sign but it was a sign required of those in the covenant.
40 years they had lived in disobedience. They had not kept the covenant.
You are either 100% obedient or 100% disobedient. - Circumcised or not circumcised.
For those living in the new covenant our obedience goes beyond just baptism and Lord's Supper. It is a call to new life that is manifested in good works.
We are either changed or not changed. Saved or not saved. You cannot be saved without being changed.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Jesus, "You will know them by their works"
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
4. Our Identity is a Reward of God (8-9)
4. Our Identity is a Reward of God (8-9)
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.
9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
"to test their faith"= why was this a test of faith?
They were camping 2 miles from Jericho.
The city of Jericho knew they were coming to attack them.
They just made every male 100% ineffective for battle for the next several days.
In their weakness they were made strong.
They used flint stone knife-- not the best tool available.
Through faith and patience they inherited the promises.
10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
They passed the test!
Jesus, Luke 16:10-13
10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
It is not easy to identify with Jesus. But one day it will be rewarded.
CONCLUSION
A day is coming when you stand before the throne.
Are you characterized by Light?
Are you characterized by Light?
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”