Orders and Allegiance (Part A)

Says when I was planning this lightly on the things I plan to.

I plan according to the flash that with me. There should be yes yes and no. No other what he said I don't plans according to the flesh, you little buddy yes little or no because I'm confused about what I have to do is that I'm organizing my head when it comes to ministry. I know where I'm going and it's not or have a yes and 1/2.

I know here and there it is, yes or no Vincent's cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick and Joshua chapter 1 as he begins a brand-new message called orders and allegiance Joshua chapter 110 through 18 verse 10 then Joshua commanded the officers of the people before we get to verse 11 with what he is saying, of course, Joshua was told by God to be a man of the Bible and to be strong, and the part about the Bible. He only needed to be told once that sort of thing. The righteous man righteous child of God does not forget but what had to be repeated was the emphasis on being strong, I find that to be a man of the word is the easier part to implement to do it to be strong in the face of resistance and all the things that throw out a letter from Madison life that requires strength and that requires might effort in the spirit and God's emphasis to Joshua was something of course we need to pass on to each other whenever we can, in the form of genuine encouragement as opposed to false encouragements six times the righteous are told in the book of Joshua to be strong. Joshua three times by God and then we'll get to that at the end of this chapter, the leaders tell Joshua to be strong and then later in the book of Joshua we find Joshua telling twice the people to be strong on two separate occasions. That is the foundation of of what is about to come again God was. I don't think this is redundancy.

It was an emphatic emphasis. It's like a some super emphasis. You could say and there stands the first two orders that we come across given to Joshua in this analysis.

The first order was of course to the man himself that would lead the people. And that is begins in verse two Joshua one where God says, arise, go over this Jordan you and all this people will there's the mandate that the day has come. It is now time all Gleason three days due to cross over and we should learn all of us, especially your younger believers to take orders. It's part of your training. It will pay off. If you learn to take orders, the chances are very high that God will use you to give orders. This is the life that we come across in Joshua we saw him taking orders from Moses being the assistant of Moses when he protested that they were all prophesying for the Lord Moses said would to God that all his people would prophesy wood to carpet all this people would have such zeal and Joshua four submits to that because he knew how to be lead and he was not a little boy when at this phase in his life as an older man.

He is still taking orders all the days now here that because in this is a pronounced teaching about Jesus Christ and the example, the Lord gave us when he lived was he was a man of authority because he was a man under authority and he was quick to point out that he was under the authority of his father that he was no reckless profit that came from the wilderness to do his own thing that everything he did was ordered and structured by his father infected one point would love to have heard the tone of his voice.

The expression on his face when Jesus said I always do those things that my father wills eye as you and I could never say that. But we can always shoot for that we aspire to that.

So this is big deal this liter and that's a you know that again the book of Nehemiah is one of the manuals for Christian leadership.

So is the book of Joshua.

Together they help us learn how to lead the flock and how to be led because if you learn how to lead. You should in that understand something about what it takes to follow instructions, to be led and so it was his faithful past that allowed him to have a faith filled future is not just good preaching courses but it's true. His future was faith filled. I could have used the word faithful but it at a think in this case, it gives a little bit more muscle a little bit more thrust.

It was faith filled the life I want. But I've covered any ground in my own life as a Christian is because I've tried to reach things that I can't reach. It's not because I can only only hang out where I you know it's comfortable I can get my hands on that it's become from reaching for things that are beyond me and sometimes laying hold of them. The effort alone. I think it's made me better off than what I would've been for not trying. So from judges of judges ends the story that we really get of Joshua but Joshua story begins in Exodus, of course, we first meet him there run through Deuteronomy and is finished in judges. We get so much from him.

And even when we get the judges will be learning sums something from Joshua for the second of the two orders the first order. Going to Joshua the second one through Joshua given by the leader to those being led.

That comes in verse 11. Now versus 10 and 11 will consume most of our analysis and so just looking at verse 11. There we read what Joshua as well as taken connected verse 10 then Joshua commanded the officers of the people saying pass through the camp and command the people, saying, prepare provisions for yourself or within three days, you will cross over this Jordan to go in to possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving you to possess catch the imperatives pass through command prepare food crossover possess lay hold of that.

All in one verse. This the Christian life.

There pass through the camp. These things move through us where the people are where we are where our heart is wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also commands to follow the preparation, the active actually following through with what you been told what you been preparing to do. Imagine coming. The church is studying up staying home studying up not staying home from church when you're home and and then you get a chance to share Jesus Christ and you don't will that that's not what we want we want to be prepared. Cross into whatever territory God has put before us.

Take hold of it. We notice here that Joshua does not call a Confederation of leaders conference. You might say tribal leaders to learn from any of them if he could count on their cooperation.

It is a thick. This is what I wanted to I want to cross into Jordan you guys with me images picture in her case division men does not do that because in this this case he is sure what God is told is no need for any of that.

There are times when it's not so clear to lead God's given them at a directive initially omitted many details and then you can just employ the leadership skills that he is given you in conjunction with the resources and the people that is given to you, but this is not the case here. Here he does not seek counsel or advice. He doesn't even ask how they felt.

Granted, he may have known this and also mustn't be understood because we learned this from Joshua. He's his firm but is always respectful is so even when a can is a part of the stony cyst is very gentle with him in the beginning party nugget heart is very firm but is is tell me son did you do this and so don't want to do misrepresent the man. He is sure with what what what he wants to do because God is told him and he is not asking for advice is not putting it to a vote is not seeking permission is acting on what God has commanded him to do. Paul the apostle operated the same way when he was sure what God's will was Paul did these things fall in fact one and he could say this one time. Galatians chapter 1 verse 16. I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood as he knew, up to that point. What he was supposed to do and pursue in second Corinthians.

He writes to them because you know it's the Corinthians, giving him a hard time. Paul you know you didn't you just hear you're there.

And that is unfounded accusations.

He writes them. He said therefore, when I was planning this. Did I do it lightly. What what insight into the man Paul that his mind worked this way he planned it out. He did not just do things recklessly.

Sometimes we do things impulsively, but not on the serious issues and when it came to his ministry. Use very serious all the time.

He says when I was planning. This is what I did I do it lightly or the things I plan to. I plan according to the flesh, that with me.

There should be yes yes and no. No other word he said that all plans according to the flesh, you little buddy yes little bit or no because I'm confused about what I had to do that I have that I'm organized in my head when it comes to ministry. I know where I'm going and it's not for half a yes and 1/2. I know here and there it is, yes or no and then he says, but as God is faithful. Our to you was not yes and no. We are not that kind of stuff that you wanted. I wanted you want to scoop it up and take it in and be this way all the time God says through his spirit. Okay, you have your chance you find out this is war. It's not it's not dress-up it's not just pretending and looking good. It is engaging a real enemy called my flash my carnality, my sinful ways.

My arrogance I've never felt arrogance too much at going on.

That's not true I strike that from the record. Please. When I got a Marine boot camp.

I was the most arrogant human being on the light on the ever I walked to the airport Dallas international Airport coming from cameras right in the book private and I'm walking past the full Air Force Col.'s salute them when you're in uniform, I wasn't going to salute Ms. Air Force. He had to be at least a Marine lieutenant. That's how Harry brainwashed me and I willfully submitted to it.

Portions of it is a convenient at times, a pop out every now and then we'll have the flesh and of course the military can can really pump that flesh up to 17 years old, lapping it up anyway.

So Joshua does not call a council to find out God is or he told him, neither does he delay it wasn't a procrastinator now some of us we do get around to procrastinating with the longer we delay, the more reluctant we become when God has sent us on an assignment unless we really like this growing need all the ice cream you can. Yes, Lord, what happened and you find out it's not your brand and you delay and delay can be disobedience itself. That delay itself can be disobedience in all works.

Are there some illustrations in Scripture are among good get into 11 with Joe at one of the rival generals delayed Joab went in and took care of business in his ruthless way, but procrastination. It evidences a lack of desire.

Clean up your room okay this man jostle we going to find him several times getting up early and moving early in the book with the sunrise. Joshua was up and he is moving.

That's called zeal. He was a zealous servant Jesus said zeal for his father's house. According to the prophecy had consumed him.

Psalm 119. The song about Scripture not the Scripture about the song about Scripture Psalm 119 verse 60 I made haste and did not delay to keep your commandments we can get in that zone.

Sometimes it's a good place to be, but we have this fallen nature each and every one of us. This fallen nature.

We must engage and not ignore or excuse or finding you ever get caught doing wrong and you want to blame someone else, or you don't want to own it and say I was wrong because it diffuses so much a kind returns back wrath align words as excites it. I'm in a child's that I didn't do that. We just saw them do that out about you. What is a dead belt. The belt get loose. Emphasis is lying. My pace now not not cool than anything I could give the belt my wife but a good idea though, isn't it. Gotta make a phone call but anyway it's ministry. Peter hesitated this not is not resistance to times the times because of the flesh. We hesitate with God. But it's a valid thing and God tolerated valid in the center. God will tolerated to a degree so envision Peter gets the vision and the goddesses Slaney Peter peters is not so this thing these foul things have never touched my lips.

Maybe Peter says is a test and on the failing.

It I know the law within them is Ananias one of my heroes of the New Testament in the book of acts that I can't wait to get the book of acts. Again, Ananias was told to go and of course ministered to.

Then Paul of Saul of Tarsus, soon to be the apostle Paul, but Anna nicely want to go places we've heard also that the good things about this bad guy and God has laid out from a little bit more. The didn't take much. Ananias was off and running with his orders and so godly and that kinda hesitation was tolerated by God because it was legitimate honest in the flesh is not always ready to say okay you said I'm gone here was no hesitation on the largest part true true leaders in Christ, whether in the home or in ministry are neither tyrants or puppets or figureheads or anything like that.

They do not behave as diopter fees lording over the flock as though he's king and ruler repressive leadership like that nor our leaders to be like Aaron was that one day subservient to the demands of the people. One commentator who died long before I was born.

He says this about pastors who cave-in to the whims of the people. Now there's a difference between caving to the whims of the people and listening to the bleating of the sheep sometimes to someone will say something and the Lord says will say that's a need and you got address that and fix it. Whatever you're supposed to do and that's different. But then there are, of course, those times were his caving is going against what he believes in those to be right because he wants to keep the peace. And so this all the commentator says so apologetic speaking of those pastors that cave fawning and effeminate. They have forfeited the respect of real men that's pretty heavy duty that was said back in the 19th early 1950s, late 40s. Joshua did not ask brief review. He did not hesitate and when he did speak and act it was with firmness and respect in obeying the Lord.

So now he's off and running. We look again in verse 11 says the pass through the camp and command the people, saying, prepare provision for yourself or within three days, you will cross over this Jordan to go in to possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.

Now he's giving this that he's delegating preparing the people to his commanders to those under his authority. Tribal leaders as officers.

It says and command the people, saying, prepare provisions for yourself. So the leaders are going to move through the camps and remember to 2/2,000,000 people. This is not a little girl campsite in the fall somewhere in the mountains. This is a nation will this command the people, telling them to prepare provisions preparation serious business course and before an operation like this and this. This is not going to be hurry, hurry up. Okay, wait three days they going to move and then on across and that land that's God's word to them and it will be honored.

There was much to do course before crossing the three B's of infantry combat beings, bullets and bandages. You got a have. You can't win the war without you gotta have the food and water.

You gotta have ammunition and you've got a patch of those who are need patching care for those who are injured.

Even the Romans, the Roman legions. They had field medics. There are beliefs you know carvings into stone. In this case of the pillar or forget the name of it but anyway and and there it is a Roman campaign. The troops moving in the horse cavalry and and and medics tending to the wounded on it anyway. They they they understood it, and they were very successful because of it. Of course, but this is this word in the Hebrew for provisions is food. Usually it. It means meat but here it does not means food of any type manner was still there essential diet that was going to stop the miraculous supply was going to be cut off. Once they crossed in to the promised land, and even with the manna. The people had responsibility, the way getting from it. They had harvested every morning that prepare it and then they had to keep from saving it, which is little discipline and those who tried in disobedience. Found out that it was not a good idea but the value of preparation is probably best realize when you've suffered for not being prepared unpreparedness. If you survive there have been those will not survive. And you know everything from just having the right spare tire versus the wrong one.

I've got stories about that with and you will come here to hear my stories. So first Peter chapter 3 verse 15 sanctify the Lord your Lord God in your hearts, sanctify the Lord God of God in your hearts.

Then Peter the ever ready Peter and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who ask your reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and respect.

And so here that what stands out to me. Of course the sink. Sanctify the Lord in your heart.

Well of course that comes with loving the Lord put that be ready as the hard work always be ready so we heed that injunction by Peter will not only be useful, but will be fruitful. You reap what you sow and if you refuse so righteousness righteousness you shall reap you.

So the word fruit of some sort, you shall reap now. It may not be the fruit you desire. But it will be what God wants. It will be fruitful to God that is always fruitful to us than men like nor preached the game you save his family but would've built all those people alive would not of been nice to save more wealth first Timothy chapter 4 verse six. If you are writing to the pastor Timothy if you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

Joshua continues, he says, for within three days, you will cross over this Jordan 33 days not three but three days is the number of the resurrection.

After you've read your New Testament whenever you see three days in the Scripture you think of the resurrection.

My the only one I don't think so. And of course, is the biblical typology we follow. There was a pattern is an emphasis that emerges from the text when reading it. During these three days of preparation. The spies were sent out, they would meet Rahab they would hide in the hills outside of Jericho. It would make their way back they went to the promised land reconnoitered anyway. We come back to Joshua get telling them three days to cross and they will then cross will come up to some little tricky parts of Scripture that was suggested was actually six days but to clarify that when we get there.

Once they get in the promised land there, but they're going to be delays before they actually fight at Jericho will not much of a fight really. He says you will cross over this Jordan not you shall attempt you will cross over language of faith that is no mention of boats little ridges. The Jordan is a real know it's not pretty is really ever seen the river. Nonetheless, in other words, he will drown you you're not careful and they can flow pretty pretty are. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia.

If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio in iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. You could also follow the links and cross reference radio.com. Glad we were able to spend time with you today due to next time to continue learning from the book of Joshua right here on cross reference radio