Confusion and Clarification (Part A)

Can you ship God is awesome. Walking all of his save, choose the ways you like and then go that route. Jeremiah tried to get the nation back on costs. Look at the old paths find them walk. They are worth it.

They said no keep his commandments. Holdfast well. Whenever you hear that word holding here muscle involved to hold on to something special when forces are pulling you draw whole. 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 cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick in Joshua chapter 22 as he begins a new message called confusion and clarification.

Joshua reminds them.

It is all about Yahweh. And it comes to us through his word. When we say it's all about the word of God, we mean living word.

Jesus Christ, the print is useless without him. It is the Holy Spirit whom Jesus is given to us, energizes our faith inspires us passions as you serve a long time. You get tired things where you down.

You think maybe you going to get stronger as the years go by what you're thinking.

You're getting weaker, God has other plans.

Yes, a different view.

And if you cleave to the Lord. It will surface will prevail. It will get things done. Joshua was a type of man that is he speaking to them there listening to every word he's saying he is saying the main things of the main things. Minor things are minor.

Let's keep it that way. Take heed to do the commandment don't be hearers of the word only be doers of the word.

Well, what happens when you discover that there's a real devil in the surreal carnality in your own heart that is determined to stop you from taking careful he will struggle begins struggle continues.

We prevail, he says love Yahweh your God, to love the Lord. I think ministry can dim the flame of love. You've gotta be careful serving God for so many things will turn out your way and we think of love. We think of you know this good warm feelings which belong to love but in service in ministry and serving God. Faith overrules all the feelings and if you have strong faith you will trust God no matter how you feel. Otherwise, you have a happiness is not a joy much depth love Yahweh your God because Joshua loved him and then he says walk in his ways. What God told Abraham be blameless and walk with me, companionship with God is possible walk in all of his ways. He doesn't say choose the ways you like and then go that route. Jeremiah tried to get the nation back on costs. Look at the old paths find them walk them.

They are worth it. They said no keep his commandments. Holdfast well. Whenever you hear that word holding here is muscle involved to hold on to something special when forces are pulling you to hold serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, so easy in the early days serve God because you don't you don't know and you start taking hits and you find out this out is to serve him. Nonetheless, and Hell hates you for it. God God is a shield about you. The Angels of the Lord and About the righteous, because we need them. New Testament says it this way everything Joshua saying here in verse five, Paul says it like this, meditate on these things is bigoted that Timothy was a middle-aged man. You know he's in his 30s, maybe 40 meditate on these things.

Give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all fruit.

Timothy take heed to yourself, to the doctrine continuing them for in so doing you will save both yourself, self, and those who hear you take heed to yourself, check yourself, verse six now Joshua 22 so Joshua blessed them and sent them away and they went to their tents know we haven't gotten to the confusion for the clarification is to set up the story for us is dismissing the Transjordan Warriors. They are going home but on the way home. A funny thing happened. Verse seven now to half the tribe of Manasseh, Moses had given a possession in Mashhad but to the other half of it. Joshua gave possession among their brethren on the side of the Jordan Westward and indeed when Joshua sent them away to their tents.

He blessed them. So what the historian is saying at this point is that Moses gave land before this moment here years ago 10 years or so more, at least factor in the wars. About seven years in the divine vision of the land. That's just Joshua's leadership crossing into Jordan.

So Moses gave these tribes the land on the east side of the Jordan, Joshua, of course, is given them possession. Through his leadership of the land west of the Jordan course, God is given both verse 28 and spoke to them saying return with much riches into your tents with very much livestock with silver with gold with bronze with iron with very much clothing divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren. Armies were paid by the loot salary and pay grade, conquered the city. The stuff that you can grab is yours and so in the cities of God allowed in some cities.

He forbade it. So he dismisses them to their homes and he says share the prize with the National Guard that was left behind to watch over your homes, your families in your land and in your possessions, so they going home and this is the blessing he gives them to remind them that you know you fought here on in the on the east side, but without your brothers standing guard on the west side, you have nothing to go back to it's a nice note to put in their verse nine, so the children of Ruben the children of Gad, half tribe of Manasseh return a departed from the children of Israel at Shiloh which is in the land of Canaan to go to the country of Gilead land of their possessions which they had obtained according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses, so keeping the core of the first five books of the law and front of them. Verse 10 now and when they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan. The children of Ruben and the children of Gad, half tribe of Manasseh built an altar.

Thereby, the Jordan a great impressive altar. We were watching this in a movie. This would where this would be the point where you put in the trauma music to alert the audience something is about to happen and it's not very good. This is where would go evidently already fresh off the battlefield still on the east side of the Jordan.

They have the sense of isolation for being these Transjordan side Transjordan Brothers, of those in the East so they crossing Jordan going home to have tribes and they say you know we feel like we're leaving something behind this is going to create a great misunderstanding and where there are great misunderstandings. There are great opportunities. Satan and Satan is not going to get his chance on this one, but the lessons that we are going to get out of this I think are very beneficial to us all, says a great and impressive altar. The imposing side meant that it was visible was unmistakable at significant will assist take verse 11 develop it as we go now the children of Israel heard someone say, behold, the children of Ruben the children of Gad and half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the front tier, the land of Canaan, the region of Jordan. The children of Israel side. Someone sought, and he said this is not right.

They're not supposed to do this and they blow the whistle.

I like that word front tier megastore are really no frontiers land wise, but all of us. The future is a frontier verse 12 and when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them. There is even more trauma music now this is war. War drums all the heads of the tribes except for the 2 1/2 there still on the way home they might be there by now.

But some were gifted Joshua the rally all the tribes to go to war. That means to kill them. Deuteronomy 12 take heed to yourself, and that is throughout the Bayou. Jesus said watch how you hear watch what you hear. Take heed, take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see. But in the place which Yahweh chooses one of your tribes there you shall offer your burnt offerings and there you shall do all that I command you. Incidentally, while were on this. The fact that there is a central altar for atonement in the nation meant that there were, they were to assemble that home worship was not to be taken as a substitute for public assembly. We as believers are commanded to gather together, we are not to be separatist. We are not to be isolation what you what you do if if the other churches are all wrong watch at first because Eliza had that problem. The complex of Eliza was, I'm the only righteous one left.

I'm struggling for you and everybody else is sending. And of course God confronts Elijah first he starts picking and we do in the cave for fewer lines or were you running from left Elisha, the student you left them behind. And then God's is open. By the way, cough cough. I have 7000 have not bowed the knee to bow what you talking about your the only one we do the just like that. Granted, you may not find another church is wonderful system of care across getting what I mean. You may if you if you are just a way and you don't have anywhere else to go. God will provide. And then maybe there are some of the extreme cases where you can't but in this country at this time though this increasingly becoming difficult, we are not without someplace together. So let's just be careful about being separatist is too too easy. But back to what we have in front of us being careful about judging others to comes up all of a sudden because they've been told hey that building an altar. That of course violates the law of Moses, which will cover that as we move down the verses. But again, while were on the subject. Be careful that we don't judge the motives of other people what's really in their heart sometimes… On the surface, we know was going on. They've made it clear but not always so. John's gospel chapter 7 Jesus says do not judge according to appearance the judge with righteous judgment what what belongs to righteous judgment of the fruits of the spirit is long-suffering. This love. This kindness is faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness, Isaac, Matthew chapter 7 for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you that fair I mean you can dish it out should be able take it.

If the heart is right, but the actions wrong is still wrong but your heart could be rightness will be getting digging into this and in a minute right of the Hebrews says this about the Scripture says the Scripture discerns the thoughts from the intent in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. So as we read the Bible.

How many times are we forced to say strong. I did that I got to fix it. Over the years, you may get tired of doing, because we keep goofing God keeps encouraging as much growth as we can bring to the picnic, he can bring encouragement to counteract the goofs a Groover's and Gallant remember some of you might remember goofs a gallon of those of you who don't, well, I'm sure you have Internet abilities else, it wouldn't be conscious. Right now, so look it up anyway. Verse 13 then the children of Israel sent Phineas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the children of Ruben the children of Gad and half the traffic Manasseh into the land of Gilead, and with him 10 rulers one ruler, each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel and each one was the head of the house of his father. Among the divisions of Israel. Verse 15 then they came to the children of Ruben to the children of Gad and half tribe of Manasseh land of Gilead. They spoke with them, saying that the minute when I get to heaven. I'm going to ask who wrote this 22nd chapter and going to ask, did you really have to say Ruben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh, 32 times I we carded the first time I said that's how it is well the name that flies off the page. If you know anything about the man is Phineas the priest.

This one man's loyalty to God. That is, of course, stood against the flagrant sin in Israel stood up. He grabbed himself a javelin and he began to deal with the problem he halted God's or the godsend plague in response to the corruption of worship by the people of God, so there was phallic, the king, and he says I need you only hire the prophet Balla my need to curse the people down tribe. He failed.

He tried he failed. He ended up blessing than actually at some point the false prophet, the mad prophetess Peter calls him said to balance the king you can't beat them with your armies but you can beat them with the women send the women and make them have relationships with the men corrupt the men lead them away from Yahweh and you will be able to destroy them. Yahweh is there covering as Phineas is there he is a walking and living reminder of what happens when true worship is threatened. God dispatches his people to deal with it which many, many, of course dislike they don't want to be corrected. There will be another Phineas years later, who is the anti-Phineas. He stands against loyalty to God and he was the personification of flagrant sin that was the son of Eli the priest, the man of God.

It's terrible how that shows up in life is this one.

Phineas standing against sin.

Here's this other one that reeks of sin, and his father is such a godly man and well his father was dealt with by God for letting son Phineas get away with that.

But this Phineas here is a righteous man is one of the heroes of the Bible and we are going to come to him again as we move through this story because he speaks again.

Verse 16 thus says the whole congregation of Yahweh. What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day for following Yahweh in that you have built for yourselves and altar that you might rebel this day against Yahweh I the name Yahweh's course and print Lord it's but as the covenant name.

It's a personal thing between God and his people are supposed to mean something.

It's more than just Lord is deeper than just Lord you can have many lords there are many lords throughout history, but there's only one Yahweh, one God Almighty one. I am that I am an and that's why I try to use what we believe is the pronunciation or close to it of the Lord.

Scholars used to believe Jehovah was the proper pronunciation with modern scholarship with with more research collective research of come to the conclusion is probably going to be Yahweh you will be wrong either way. But I don't want to give the Jehovah's Witness satisfaction because they can even get the pronunciation right so that you got the wrong name kid but anyway that's why I take the time to do that. But here in verse 16. They confront them. Now what treachery is this is them is the confusion is the great misunderstanding you built an altar. You're not supposed to do this. This will this is a capital crime with a capital crime image is punishable by death. And if it's all of you, Gad, Ruben, half of Manasseh, then you're all going to die and so are your cattle, your livestock, your sheep, this is a judgment from God or Proverbs 1813. At this point serves us. He who answers a matter of four years. It is folly and shame to him how many parents have answered the matter for hearing it and then kicking themselves later on. I have not have a just man I should've asked first disc flew off the handle. The kids are so resilient. There are playing again and you know what happened when you're struggling what treachery is this. Again, if they were offering on an auxiliary altar which is prohibited. Just like we have no auxiliary cross of Christ is no auxiliary Christianity, the one we have is fine just the way it is and hear if they are making these offerings. This is punishable, no debate. Well, let's look at in Leviticus chapter 17. Also, you shall say to them whatever man of the house of Israel or of the strangers who dwell among you who offers a burnt offering a sacrifice and does not bring it to the door, the tabernacle of meeting law for it to Yahweh, that man shall be cut off from among his people cut off can meet that mean banister can mean executed.

Deuteronomy 12 take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see. But the place which Yahweh chooses in one of your tribes there you shall offer your burnt offerings and there you shall do all that I command you well Jerusalem will be the place, but until then, wherever the altar of Moses is that is the place to sacrifice and there's no other net that's why am reading these verses as far as the punishment. Deuteronomy 13. If you hear of in one of your cities which Yahweh your God gives to you to dwell in saying corrupt men have gone out from among you, and enticing inhabitants of the city, saying, let us go and serve other gods, which are not known, then you shall inquire search out and ask diligently which is what they're doing and if it indeed is true in certain that such an abomination was committed among you. You shall surely strike inhabitants of the city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it. That is in it and its livestock with the edge of the sword, so he saying here. Deuteronomy if you find a corruption to the faith.

One of our cities. This is how you have to deal with. While this is a corruption of faith doesn't have to be all the good could be a lot of things with altar would be certain of false altar would be one unauthorized and unauthorized dealer you is worse than that. It is an unpardonable sin in Israel to have had such a thing, it would suggest that God's commandments were meaningless and would undermine the entire faith and those who would do such a thing. Of course, would be guilty of homemade religion New Testament theology answers.

This also says that there are those that use the language of Christianity even may use the Bible they may love religion. They have this disappearance.

Paul says it like this. Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away. They act like they don't mean it sister form is not genuine and of course New Testament writers deal with false faith through throughout their writings and we look at this other section of verse 16 in that you have built for yourselves and altar that you might rebel this day against Yahweh again, no need for supplements we don't they didn't need it and we don't either for the Jews. There was one place for the blood sacrifices one place for tone for the Christian is saying the cross of Christ was no other way to heaven course there are. I believe unborn children automatically go to him and not just there are exceptions in their laid out subscription names that I the child should not come to me, but I should child who 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 also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so, you'll be notified each new edition of cross reference radio.

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