Pick A Side

On To Victory!  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Joshua has an interaction with God and is reminded that it is not that God is on one side or the other but that we need to be on God's side.

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Introduction

This is the time for “shipping.” Not Amazon, Christmas.
Shipping has become slang for the desire to see two people start a relationship.
Shipping from Relationship. Whether real people or fictional characters.
Well, shipping season is here - Valentine’s Day.
For some, there is a great deal of pressure to have someone or to feel left out.
For others, there is an internal identity change they feel when they are with someone.
We can fall into this trap with our faith and how we perceive Jesus.
Who, or more specifically, what causes do we perceive Jesus joining?
We want to connect Jesus to what we personally want.
Joshua finds himself in this same situation, expecting God to be about what Joshua is about. Instead God reminds Joshua that His purpose is His own.
God is not constrained by your desires.
We need to experience a reset with the work of God.

Encounter God

v. 13
Often I have conversations with people who feel distant from God.
A conversation typically reveals why that is. A lack of relationship.
So, how do we regain that sense of encountering God?
Joshua encountered God (the identity of the Commander) here, by Jericho.
Camping at Gilgal. Plains of Jericho. But, he is at Jericho. Scouting. Doing his job.
We encounter God when we are about His work.
But, who is this God we are to encounter?
Joshua’s question demanding God choose a side. For us or for them?
God is not your tool.
A future mistake. Marching out the Ark in 1 Samuel 4:1-11.
The Israelites diminished God. Joshua diminished God.
They did not approach Him rightly.
We should desire to encounter God and do this in the right way.

See God

v. 14
Joshua’s eyes were opened by God’s words. “I have come.”
And Joshua reacted!
When we see God we understand our weakness.
Sin, frailty, limits, Uncleanliness.
Isaiah 6:5 ESV
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
To walk in pride is a big indication that we haven’t truly seen God.
Joshua set out to command God, but repented and humbled himself.
“What does my Lord say to his servant?”
Spending time with Jesus prepares us to accomplish our purpose.
We Encounter God, We See God for who He is and who we are and then we...

Worship God

v. 15
Parallel to Moses and the burning bush.
Exodus 3:5 ESV
Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
“And Joshua did so.”
It didn’t matter the circumstances or the location. Didn’t rush back to Gilgal.
Worship is confined to neither a time nor a place.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
See where this centers around? Jesus.
Worship begins with an awareness of God.
Indwelling Spirit of Christ. He is always with you. Strengthen. Encourage. Guiding.
Encountering God lets us truly See God which will always lead us to Worship God.

Conclusion

There were all these scholars who wanted to discover what they considered to be the “Historical Jesus.” That is that they didn’t believe the Bible. Rejected anything supernatural, like miracles.
And so they would try to say what Jesus really cared about and what He really had said. Albert Schweitzer wrote a book about them, detailing how each of them really were projecting their own ideas onto Jesus.
William Lane Craig said this about them: They were peering down the well of history thinking they were seeing Jesus, but in reality they were only seeing their own reflections.
You must look beyond yourself to see Jesus.
Begins with salvation.
Then on to spending time with Jesus in the Bible. Have a system to read Scripture and include the Gospels.
Think about how Jesus lived, spoke, and treated others.
Then apply those things to your life.
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