Love that Provides

[Announce text] Welcome, church members and visitors. Today marks the fourth Sunday in Lent, and we are journeying together through our six-week series called Signs of Covenant Love. Throughout this series, we will select Scriptures from the Old Testament that demonstrate God’s covenant love for his people to prepare our hearts for Easter Sunday.

If you have brought a Bible with you this morning, please turn with me to the book of Joshua. It is the sixth book found in the Old Testament.

[Scripture introduction] Our Scripture narrative begins with Joshua and the Israelite nation crossing the Jordan River, and then God’s people celebrate the first Passover meal together.

[Reannounce and read text] Let’s read the passage together over the first Passover in Canaan on Joshua 5:9-12.

[Prayer for illumination] Lord, bless, preserve, and grace us with your steadfast love. You know what we need for our soul to live into eternity. Provide it now through your Word. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Introduction] Last Sunday after church, my family celebrated three birthdays - Kayla’s, Mark’s, and Barry’s. We gorged with red-velvet beet cake, corn beef brisket, and other tasty entrees. After stuffing our faces, gifts were given, and some of us played a game of euchre.

For the record, Sarah and I won against Kerry and Barry on my lone hand. Victory never tasted so sweet!

When was the last time you celebrated, and everyone was full of joy, laughter, and thankfulness?

What if I told you that we do not need a specific reason to celebrate? It should be a daily activity, especially among God’s people. We should be known not as grump salads but as party animals.

Maybe you’re thinking now. I cannot celebrate. I have no mandate or reason. There’s too much to do right now. Don’t I need to work, stay busy, and be productive? Yes, do those things, but don’t be distracted or let self-reliance be a reason for holding back from recognizing God’s redemptive work in our lives.

[FCF] We have a divine reason today to celebrate what God has done, and we see this as we reflect on His love the provides.

[Scripture bond] This points us back to today’s Scripture reading in Joshua. We see the Lord’s people living in perpetual celebration because they recognize what the Lord has been doing for them.

[Main point 1] We celebrate today because the Lord graciously provides new life to all who repent of their sins.

[Explanation] Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land was based on the Lord’s gracious provisions.

He is a covenant-maker, promise-keeper, and life-giver to them.

They found their new life upon crossing the Jordan River and through Joshua circumcising the nation.

The nation repented compared to their fathers who died in the wilderness and accepted the change of heart, for they knew the sins that used to plague them - Egypt’s sins of shame and slavery, Canaan's sins of idolatry and self-preservation.

Joshua’s circumcising the nation was a marker to remind the people that they belonged to the Lord. This was the sign of repentance—facing God and throwing off the past, for the Lord has rolled away Egypt's reproach.

[Illustration] Imagine the day that Joshua announced that he would have to cut the foreskins of all the males in the nation.

Repentance is a painful experience.

[Application] Likewise, if we are a new creation, as Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 5:17, we will have an ongoing experience of repenting from the past and what lies before us.

The Lord has provided new life through repentance; now, we must live according to his standards.

We repent because it brings about life, which causes us to celebrate.

Why else should we celebrate?

[Main Point 2] We celebrate today because the Lord faithfully provides daily bread to all who trust in Him.

[Explanation] Israel lived in the wilderness for forty years, eating manna from heaven. God faithfully daily to them, sustaining their life.

Upon entering the Promised Land, the nation celebrates the Passover, when God freed them. On that day, when they consumed the produce of the land, the manna ceased, and the people now had the provisions of the land.

The Lord is always faithful in providing for those who trust in him.

The people's diets were bread, and it was a taste of the goodness of God.

The people celebrated with bread, knowing God could be trusted and faithful.

[Illustration] When did you last eat delicious bread that knocked your socks off? Sourdough, brioche, pumpernickel.

Please give me a simple wheat, but when I taste and eat bread, I know my stomach will be complete. It sustains and nourishes my soul.

Jesus said to his followers in the gospel of John.

John 6:32–35 ESV

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Jesus is our manna and Passover bread. We give what we need daily in Him.

Christ taught in the Lord’s prayer how we should pray, too.

“Give us this daily our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

[Application] We must pray for Christ to sustain and nourish us. He is our provision, and we celebrate because we have consumed the bread of life through faith.

Then, finally, after celebrating because of the provisions of Christ. We celebrate for this final reason.

[Main Point 3] We celebrate today because the Lord’s love provides everything we need for the Christian journey.

[Explanation] The love of God has given us everything we need to live and thrive. God has given us new life, his Son, and a church family. This is the way we can celebrate.

You have everything you need regardless of what the world tells you.

As the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they slaughtered the lamb, ate the bread, laughed with their neighbors and family, and rested in the presence of the Lord.

Likewise, we celebrate because the Lamb of God has sacrificed for us. We have Christ our bread of Life. We have one another, and the Lord will be with us forever!

[Illustration] The church I want to become is full of celebrating. I want people to see us full of joy, laughter, and life.

What a powerful testimony we can become by celebrating daily because of the Lord’s provisions.

[Application] So what now? I want you to live in light of knowing that God has given you everything you need to live the Christian journey.

I want you to have tables full of people and food. I want you to dance and sing, for God has given us a divine reason to celebrate.

I end my message with these words.

[Proposition] We celebrate today because the Lord provides new life, daily sustenance, and everything we need for the Christian journey.

[Conclusion] Celebrating today will remind us what we are looking forward to in eternity. We will dine with the King. We will be whole, and we will always live perfectly according to the will of God.

I invite you to celebrate today and forever more.

Amen.