Strong and couragous 8

A Spiritual Renewal

Joshua 8:30–35 NKJV

30 Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

Intro: In our lives there are time of renewal.

Renew your car insurance.

Renew your Gym membership.

Renew their marriage vows.

Renew your spiritual lives.

People will rededicate their lives to Christ. Which means a new start, a time say I haven’t been as serous as I need to be, but I am going to now.

That is what I feel we need to do here at Pine Grove. Renew our spiritual commitment. Last week “Getting back on track”

Last week in Sunday School Bro Archie people have used the pandemic as an excuse to no longer come to church.

For us we have not been having a Wed night service. I have gotten use to not coming on Wed night.

I need a passion to come back on Wed nights.

As a church, we should have a passion to reach the lost.

A passion show people God’s love.

A passion to help people.

A passion to see people grow in their faith.

A passion to be closer to God.

As individuals, and as a church.

We need to make a spiritual Renewal.

Israel had a great victory, and they had defeat, then victory. Now they would have a spiritual renewal, they would recommit themselves to God.

Sin will cause us to move away from God.

Our jobs can cause us to move away from God.

Hobbies.

The business of life.

Sports, youth sports.

I was asked to join the Marine Corps league. Too busy.

Things in life will cause you to move away from God. Its called drifting. I preached a message before called “Beware of drifting”

Drifting takes no effort.

We have a faithful God. A God that loves us, a God that wants us to seek Him, and He rewards us for doing so.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

I am thankful for a faithful God. We see His faithfulness throughout the book of Joshua.

God called Joshua to lead the people of Israel.

Joshua 1:9 NKJV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1.Joshua was able to lead only because of a faithful God.

2. Rahab the prostitute, she hid’s the spy’s. She confesses God. And a faithful God saves her and her family, and there is victory over Jericho.

3. When they crossed the Jordan river, it was because God was faithful.

4. They placed the 12 stones to remind them of Gods faithfulness.

5. The battle of Jericho. Elab on what happened. Because of God’s faithfulness.

6. Then they were defeated at Ai, not because of lack of God’s faithfulness, but because of sin.

Joshua 7:11 (NKJV)

11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.

Because of their sin, God judgment came down on them. Achan and his family stoned to death.

Then when do as God says, they follow Gods plan, they have a great victory over Ai.

Now they are going to renew their covenant with their faithful God.

Even when drift away from God, He never leave us. We have to renew ourselves to Him.

We need a Spiritual renewal.

Why do we need a spiritual renewal?

Because if we are careful we will draft from God.

King David sinned.

He was confronted about his sin by Nathan the prophet.

Psalm 51:12 NKJV

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

When we drift form God, will not have Joy. A spiritual renewal will restore that joy.

Drifting from God will give you a bad attitude.

Jonah:

Called by God to preach in Nineveh.

When they repented he got angry.

He sat on the hill side waiting to God to destroy them.

Israel had sinned, but God was faithful and they had great victory. Now before they would go a further, they would renew their covenant with God, a spiritual renewal.

To have a true Spiritual renewal we have have a commitment and fellowship with God.

Commitment and fellowship with God.

Joshua 8:30–31 (NKJV)

30 Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal,

31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.

They renewed their covenant God by circumcision. (Chapter 5)

They will do it here. Again in chapter 24

For us today as believers who do not live in the OT days, but live under the blood of Jesus, need to desire a spiritual renewal.

If we do no commit ourselves to God on a regular basis, we will drift away from God.

Philippians 3:12 NKJV

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

The New Testament: An Expanded Translation Chapter 3

but I am pursuing onward if I may lay hold of that for which I have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus

Paul was so committed to Jesus, that pressed on (Pursuing onward)

Why? Because “that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me”

Paul is saying in that last part, “I belong to Christ Jesus”

Jesus was faithful to Paul, and that motivated him, to stay committed to Him.

That is what we are seeing here in the book of Joshua, God was faithful, the people a committing themselves to God by a spiritual renewal.

God is still faithful today.

He has been faithful to Pine Grove. We have to stay commited to God, spiritual renewal.

(Remember God faithfulness)

Joshua builds an altar to the Lord. At Mount Ebal. (20 miles)

They build an altar as command of Moses.

Deuteronomy 27:4–5 NKJV

4 Therefore it shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, and you shall whitewash them with lime. 5 And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool on them.

READ VS 30-31 AGAIN

Joshua built an altar to the Lord.

VS 31

“an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.”

whole stones. KJV

unhewn stones AMP

By doing this, man would not receive the glory, only God.

Exodus 20:25 NKJV

25 And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it.

Profaned: Defiled, polluted, (unclean)

The Altar is picture of the cross. Salvation only comes through Jesus. There is nothing we can do to earn it. It is a free gift.

We do not build altars to the Lord. But we do come to the Lord. Your place, your quiet place (we all need that place)

Where it is just you and the Lord, no distractions. Just you and God. Our prayers are not something repeated (Lords prayer) it is you pouring your heart out to God.

VS 31 brunt offerings, sacrificed peace offerings

Part of this offering was to be eaten.

Peace offering fellowship with God.

I want us to focus on “Sacrifice”

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Spiritual renewal means a personal sacrifice.

What are you willing to sacrifice?

Are somethings you a doing, involved with, the you should give up so you can have a greater commitment to God?

Praying is a commitment, you may need to turn off the tv , put down the phone, or whatever is getting you from praying the way God desires. (fellowship)

Remember, they had failed in the first attempt, but then had a great victory.

This sacrifice, this spiritual renewal, this commitment to God was important because it was a reminder of God faithfulness ad God forgiveness.

It is so important for us to remember that. It will give you peace with God.

John 14:27 NKJV

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:7 NKJV

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Spiritual renew involves the Word of God.

Joshua 8:32–35 NKJV

32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

“The book of the Law” mentioned 4 times in these verse. That was their Word of God.

Spiritual renewal comes when commit to God, fellowship with God.

Spiritual renewal comes through Gods word.

Look what Joshua does.

VS 32

He wrote the Law of God on stones.

VS 33

Joshua read the the books of the Law (VS 34)

He read them to the people of Israel. READ VS 32a

Elab Strangers. (Rahab)

Even those who were not born Israelites were there, taking part in a spiritual renewal.

Joshua writes the word of God, now he reads the word of God.

If you want spiritual renewal, you need to read the Word of God.

Spend time in Gods word. Read a book of the bible, pray it as you read it. As God to speak to you as you read it.

A good devotional.

According the VS 33

“Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal”

The Ark of the Covenant was in the middle.

Joshua red the Word of God. And the people would call out Amen. Amen. Means so be it.

I like to hear “amen”

Look at VS 34-35

Both the cursing and the blessing. This didn’t mean that one the half on one side were cursed and the others blessed .

Cursing is the opposite of blessings.

I want to be blessed.

I want Pine to be blessed.

Stay in God word.

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

God’s word will light our way to a spiritual renewal.

God’s word will light our way and guild us,

Are you will to commit to God? Do you want a spiritual renewal?

You can’t have a spiritual renewal with a relationship.