The PREPARATION PROCESS!

Joshua 5:2-12

INTRO: Wave and greet; Pray for one another.

TEXT: Joshua 5:2-12 (Stand and Stretch)

SERMON TITLE: THE PREPARATION PROCESS!

A good cook KNOWS PREPARATION is the first step to a good meal.

A good teacher KNOWS PREPARATION is the key to a good lesson.

The arrival of a newborn is preceded by PREPARATION.

PREPARATION is foundational to success.

RELEVANCE - God has MANY blessings in store for us.

He prepares us to receive the blessings He has planned for us.

NEED: to understand the PREPARATION PROCESS.

THE PREPARATION PROCESS INVOLVES SANCTIFICATION- 2

SANTIFICATION=set apart as sacred. Sabbath Day

Sanctification = A process of gradual purification from sin; gradual process of spiritual growth.

SANCTIFICATION is commanded by God.

LEV 11:44-45 - 44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

To enter the blessings of God - Holy Land = Holy People.

The SANCTIFICATION process is not easy or pleasant.

ILLUS: Circumcision. Removal of flesh.

That’s how Faithful God Is – He does all the work.

DEUT 30:6 - 6 The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

GOD PREPARES US THROUGH HIS SANCTIFICATION.

THE PREPARATION PROCESS INVOLVES SALVATION – 8-9

Salvation = ongoing deliverance from danger or crisis physically and spiritually.

God is concerned about your PHYSICAL and Spiritual Salvation - After circumcision there was SALVATION – ATTACK from the enemy.

SPIRITUAL – Remove the reproach - spiritual rescue through deliverance from sin.

ILLUS: MK 2 – man healed/forgiven (carried by 4); Physical/Spiritual Rescue.

ILLUS: Luke 7 – woman forgiven with Alabaster box. Physical/Spiritual rescue.

ILLUS: JN 8 – Woman caught in adultery. FORGIVEN – Physical/Spiritual rescue.

God PREPARES US THROUGH HIS SALVATION to live eternally with Him.

He is Faithful to remove the reproach of shame from the sins we’ve committed.

They remained in the camp until they were healed.

The Camp was GILGAL = Circle of Stones; footprint-shaped stones; ownership.

THE PREPARATION PROCESS INVOLVES SUPPLY – 10-12

Supply = to provide what is needed.

At Gilgal the Israelites celebrated the Passover – praise time.

God supplied Manna every morning BUT the manna stopped after the Passover. AFTER THE PRAISE…YOU HAVE TO TRUST HIM.

SUPPLY LAND and FOOD - They ate food from the land.

They didn’t plant it, God supplied it. TRUST!

He supplied it to remind them He’s in charge.

PHIL 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

CLOSE: THE PREPARATION PROCESS - SANCTIFICATION; SALVATION; SUPPLY.

John 17:17 - Jesus – prayed for our SANCTIFICATION. Sanctify them in Your truth…

Jesus – died for our SALVATION. JN 3:16.

Jesus – our SUPPLY.

God is Faithful! To take us through the PROCESS.

Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.