To Do List for War (Part A)

Paul said to Timothy, no soldier gets entangled. Be careful may nonetheless be entangled in the affairs of the world carry out the work of judgment when a corrupt and depraved people. That was their mission. Our mission is to carry out a work on depraved people, not to destroy them with the sword, but to save them with use the word of God preached to them the truth of God and not telling you it works best face-to-face. It doesn't work instantly. As a rule, this is 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 today.

Pastor Rick will begin a brand-new message called to do list for war in Joshua chapter 5 Joshua chapter 5 for pastor V has a bad day in the pulpit. It looks forward to that next chance to make it right.

Danger is doing it in the flesh, but I know this chapter so well.

I am excited this chapter 5 is the to do list before war and everything about it. Spiritual, not by accident.

The drying up of of the waters that's remembered in the first verse. But then we get to the rite of circumcision. The Passover, the manna stops. Then commander of Lord's army appears very spiritual might miss it in a casual reading, but that is true of much of the Scripture. We look at now we look now in verse one Joshua chapter 5 again to do list for war before they go to war. These things have to be dealt with. So it was when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan and all the kings of the Canaanites were by the sea heard that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel invasion is underway, and the devil knows and the devil knows that he is not invincible, though of course he tells us otherwise.

If you can. If we listen to him but these Canaanites and one again using that phrase not bringing in sort of like an umbrella under it are all the peoples in the land, the Amorites, the Jebusites, all the other peoples will just say the Canaanites to cover them all they were doing what God told Joshua not to do. They were trembling and quaking God said to Joshua, be not dismayed, nor afraid that he was giving them the land and work is worth reading.

Joshua chapter 1 verse nine have I not commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, the Lord your God is with you where ever you go. Part I want to bring out of that is be strong. Don't be afraid. They were these Jewish people. This army of people a juggernaut can be stopped.

The church is been that way even though she's not always felt that way even in the darkest days of the dark days of the mid-evil. When Roman Catholicism silenced the word of God. There were still remnants of true believers that Satan could not stop and to the enemy. They were a juggernaut even though they were a minority remnant, even though at times they were slaughtered, the people of the Lancet there headed this way and they're still getting miracles they know about the miracles from Egypt and in the ones out in the wilderness, but they also heard about the Jordan being rolled back they say it. That frightens them the presence of God was visible in their lives and as a believer you look at that is that I want that in my life as a believer I want unbelievers, not necessarily to see me doing better than they are doing, though I wouldn't complain but to just know that God is with me. That happens you know there are times when unbelievers will come to a believer who is living the life they want some of what we have and we are to give it to them in verse two he continues. At that time Yahweh said to Joshua made flint knives for yourself and circumcise the sons of Israel again a second time wouldn't have been a better idea Lord cough cough to have done this on the other side of Jordan with now invaded the land wars on why now the armies of Canaan. They will hear they hear about this. We've hobbled our army following a religious right.

They will attack us when I'm ready. That would've been some of the unfortunate comeback of an inexperienced leader of God's people. Joshua forces not push back all is what will the Lieut. say when I tell them that were going to incapacitate our fighting force with this religious right cannot wait doesn't do that wonders to what God has told him to do. We are not to fight comes the lesson. According to the principles of conventional war we fight according to the rules of spiritual war wisdom of God is foolishness to the world, but it's not to God because he knows he knows what he has what he can do what he's going to do what's going to happen. It's just like being a passenger if you're used to driving the car. You'll notice that the brake on the passenger side is in operative in the other person should break way before they do. Or maybe they break to Layton anyway. They know what they have. You don't you they can feel the break.

In most cases, of course, otherwise we have situation. First Corinthians chapter 1 we on I think would know this verse and it's good to hear it every now and then because it is a verse that we also need first Corinthians chapter 1 verse 27 through 30. God's chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise God's chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. The base things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not to bring to nothing the things which are pause therefore moment there despised by the world. God is holy and is not chosen. Things that are despicable does not give us license to be fools to go to do things that are wrong we are to operate on a higher plane and we know that we get that throughout the New Testament. He continues Paul writing to the Corinthians that no flesh should glory in his sight were just was not that much to Gloria about when God takes command of his army and says I want you to get this part of our relationship right because everything going forward is going to be based on your response to me telling you to fix this. That was neglected amongst my people. Paul goes on, he says, but of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that, as it is written, he who glories that in glory in the Lord all that makes it clear to me as a New Testament Christian reading about this Old Testament story that it's an illustration for me of how I'm to live in my Christian life today with Christ that he gets the glory. God's school of ground warfare is different from man school of ground warfare that does not mean that what humans do in war. Is this foolish in and of itself, the strategies the planning, but when it comes to spiritual war. We have a different commander we have different orders and we have different set of plan of attack and defense. We fight differently will come to that again from Corinthians and 7.0 will or Lamaze will do it now.

We all know this when I hope for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they're not physical, that is continues, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

You want to win souls to Christ.

You've got to get. I tie you have to get face-to-face. You have to establish a perimeter of battleground you have to become one on one to engage people, they have to know you.

It works best is when there are exceptions, yes. But overall, if you want to be used more and more to save souls you got to be around people that got to see you is a good thing to build up this trust for them to say you know I was watching you. You not like one of those crazy ones, or you not one like one of the hypocrites or your decent person.

You're a hard worker those things open up for us conversation that allows us to share Christ. But if we're not ready if were too interested in becoming one of them.

Then it won't work as well because we have to remember the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, though we walk in the flesh, we do not war.

War according to the flesh, he says make knives flint knives for yourself here in verse two all those things don't grow on trees. People are going to have to go get the flint and then make the knives. Someone has to do the work without without these flint knives.

The Army would be in a state of disobedience, the nation would not be compliant with the God they would be disobedient. This has to be done. This particular time, but it has to be done.

He says make flint knives for yourselves and circumcise the sons of Israel. This first order again in the war zone in the territory in the promised land was of course to keep it. Get it right with God will come back to that would essentially to make your put all of your army and sick bay. Now it's likely that he did it in phases that would be the nice thing to do when I told straight out there some suggestion in the language that he did not have all of the men submit to the right, at the same time. But even if he did, God of course was protecting them. This order again would seem weird or the way God conducts battle often seems weird.

We get another dose of it and second Chronicles. You might remember this one and when he had consulted with the people he appointed those who should sing to Yahweh who should sing praise.

The beauty of holiness as they went out before the Army. They were singing praises to the Lord for his mercy endures forever. In that case they put the musicians at the front of the Army and I of course we like the Joker, at least I do, because they were bad musicians eliminated by the enemy. Of course it's not the case.

They were singing praises to the Lord, but who fights that when will the British later would fight that way right up but bagpipes ahead. Anyhow, God's ways of fighting are not our ways. We need to be sensitive to that. That does not mean we should be foolish, but we need to be sensitive to how God conducts war.

In that case, as in all the cases were God was permitted to leave and the people obeyed. There was victory in the case from second Chronicles that I just read with a put the musicians up front singing praises to the Lord about his Butte.

The beauty of his is a holiness not a sword had to be swung they won the battle miraculously saw we had come across. Here are the inhabitants of Canaan living in fear, then dying by the sword and then being judged by a holy God for their wickedness while they were on earth, and the lesson comes to us. There's nothing lighthearted about hell there's nothing funny about dressing up like a devil.

It is serious business, and these folks were being judged because of their iniquity.

It was out of control had continued as it was with Solomon Gomorrah. It would've been even worse for humanity within that region of the world and perhaps engulfing all of this is not the first time. This was the case with before and in Noah's day. Also, anyway, the circumcision, a sign of separation, a sign of agreement with God. We look back at it and we know it. It's a type of dealing with the flesh the Old Testament is God's picture book, and in this picture book he teaches to type an illustration for us in the New Testament we look back we see the pictures we learn before attacking the enemy God called for his people to turn the knives upon themselves. What kind of lesson is there for me. What do I as a Christian get out of reading that God's army before engaging the enemy before being his instruments in his hands.

They were to turn sharp knives upon themselves.

We look at that and we say sharp knife of self judgment.

That's what I'd turn on myself before I can be used by God.

Jesus said it this way or how can you save your brother brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye hypocrites first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye that a man examine himself. Consider who you are in the presence of Christ that you deal with the things that God tells you to do it say is struggling with some sins are struggling with your fighting, but that's what you're doing. You're fighting it in Christ, as opposed to dismissing it and encouraging fundamental secret of Israel's success was Israel's God and this right could no longer be neglected.

It was neglected in the wilderness, but in the promised land.

It had to be address today. Of course, we Christians are not obligated to follow this right at all. It characterized Judaism as a big thing for the Jew Paul Puffer safe starting. They were out.

They gave him for preaching against the rights of Judaism and replacing it with the fulfillment of Messiah and in his Galatian letter, he pointed out said that system is dead.

He did it in Romans attended. If you believe you wrote the Hebrew letter and he doesn't is a mention Galatians and Ephesians. He dressed addresses this very thing. He says God is set that on the side. Our relationship with him is not your is not established by this rite of circumcision established by faith by believing everything Jesus said about himself and about us and about his father and if you engage in circumcision to gain favor with God. You fall from grace, Galatians 5, you have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law. You have fallen from grace."

What does that mean who wants to find out please your hand. Who wants to find out what it means to fall from grace because grace saves me plunging into low-level attempts to gain salvation by human effort. That's the law and the Christian is warned against that. So we we move on to the bottom of verse two he says again the second time. Now this does not mean that it was repeated on on those who had already gone through and that this means generation that had come out of Egypt were not circumcised males. Of course, and those who were born in Egypt they were in this is that second-generation that is now having to face this verse three so Joshua made flint knives for himself and circumcised the sons of Israel at the Hill of the foreskins now. This again is teaching us that worship comes before warfare. If you're out of fellowship with Christ, if you've not been worshiping Christ, why would you be expected to be used by him in a positive way. You can use in a negative way. We know that Caiaphas quoted him a few weeks back. Caiaphas prophesies expedient that one should die for the nation. He did not know what he was talking about the John says you know what you just spoke of prophecy and you don't wickedness know you did it. God overruled your folly. Who wants to be Caiaphas I'd rather be a prophet of God, rather than by that I mean a child of God that speaks God's word. We all prophesy. We speak God's word that one element of prophecy there several of his predictive prophecy of courses you sing songs considered in Scripture prophetic in that it is in God is very much involved in a part of it and you can't do it without him. You cannot genuinely worship God in song without God you can fake it can be an imposter.

But you cannot be received in your worship without the Holy Spirit, a man must be born again and kind that is what this lesson here, so he made flint knives and of course he's not carrying out the circumcisions anymore than Solomon.

Solomon built the temple you will. Solomon was another with a hard hat and gloves putting the screws in place.

Of course it doesn't mean that but this was physically painful. It would be more painful to sidestep what God is telling him his troops before they could be used as warriors had to turn these knives upon themselves. They had to submit to this none of them were going to go kicking and screaming and still be part of this army, and while they healed while they recovered, they would be mindful of the will of God that this was that they were in pain. In God's will.

They could've escaped the pain by staying outside of his will. Are there not lessons. And that for all of us. Verse four.

And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them. I pause there, this it's it's worded in an unabashed way it's here is why still walking this back. This is God's word he says. And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them all the people came out of Egypt were males, all the men of war had died in the wilderness on the way. After they had come out of Egypt. Moses was the leader in the wilderness is a type of the law who could not bring the people into the promised land. Yeshua had to do that. Joshua he was of course a rep representing Jesus as our Savior taking us out of the law and into the land. The inheritance of God's people. People that for inheritance will Moses. This leader of the wilderness. It was negligent on this right were not for his wife. God would've killed them. How many of you may not like the head so reluctant to lessen your wife got a savior from God. That's the story of Moses shameful moment in his life.

He wrote that he put it into the record because he doesn't. He didn't know know, trying to cover himself. He writes down in his own way.

I was a full and I had a good life and God preserve the record for us to see Israel is now becoming a nation of soldiers is not the church supposed to be a royal priesthood, Paul said to Timothy, no soldier gets entangled in these things be careful may none of us be entangled in the affairs of the world carry out the work of judgment on the corrupt and depraved people. That was their mission.

Our mission is to carry out a work on the depraved people not to destroy them with the sword, but to save them with the sword to use the word of God to preach to them the truth of God and on telling you it works best face-to-face.

It doesn't work instantly. As a rule, if you going to be used, to win souls in Christian should be wanting this. It takes time.

As I mention it takes a relationship takes them seeing you amongst the others in the office and in the school in the neighborhood wherever you find yourself verse five. For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised this coming out of the wilderness. Remember the stones we read about the they put 12 stones in the Jordan River.

They took 12 other stones out of the Jordan River and the pile them up.

Ultimately, Gill gal as a monument symbolizing ownership that they own the land and they could do with it as they please. Now, as the owners circumcision by the Flintstones and I don't mean anything humorous and that Betty some of you may not have ever seen. The Flintstones it's a cultural thing, the circumcision with the flick. Okay, got us a different way, the circumcision with the stones of flint symbolize God's ownership of the people. That's what the painful the process was all about. What about the church signs of ownership do we have in his love. Agape love. Sometimes it's heavier than the stone. Sometimes it's more painful than those knives of flint. Thanks for tuning into 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