Don't Forget, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. You are a new creature in all the old things are passed to getting to know. Don't forget that. She don't forget that whatever you do. New Testament has so many reminders of this in John one is you need to know that your God's time in John 15.

Know your price friend in first grade instructor need another member Christ body. Why does he keep telling us that over and over and over again. He says that the new creature.

Don't forget that joining us today on this additional fellowship in the world. Pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana and pastoral Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word meets the world how much the Lord, how I know she might not be up in your history with God you see any system forget what I've already done for you. He says and it came about when all the nation had crossed. He said the crossing of the Jordan that the Lord spoke to Joshua and said, take up yourselves. 12 men from the people.

One man from each tribe and command them, saying, take up yourselves.

12 stones from here. Out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the prescreener standing firm and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight and so Joshua gets the 12 men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel one man from each tribe and Joshua said to them cross again. He said to to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan.

Each one of you take up a stone on the shoulder. According to the number the tribes of the sons of Israel.

Let this he said be assigned to you. He said there were that when your children ask later. One of the stones mean then you will say to them because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord when it was crossed and the waters of the Jordan were cut off. See these stones shall be a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.

She might seem like a dumb thing. There are a cross. He says take one man from each tribe go to the middle in the middle your season big stones and must be got to put your shoulder put a stoner shoulder walk to the shore we going to And make a memorial you need to remember what God's done so when your children ask why you know God's not working, you sure got a work in your life son look at the stones look at the memorial is when you see that you're going to see that it's a very different kind of thing.

She got us much more concerned about something that we think when we read Joshua the book of Joshua's not about real estate. It's not about God saying there's a land that managers go get the land that is not in the book of Joshua was about the book of Joshua was about what's really going on the book of Joshua is about a spiritual dimension to all this.

You see, the real enemy of Israel are not the-ites giants are victims of the enemy. The real enemy of Israel as Lucifer. That's the real enemy is and what he did.

He said no, stop Israel never get to the promised land.

So Lucifer filled the land with-ites and all of the-ites everyone of them are about as evil and paganism.

Norfolk can be an warlike and he said I'll make this a very evil haven of warlike people so Israel can get in the land is second strategy was to what also do I'll discourage Israel. You see, I'll discourage them so much that they won't even try to get in the lantern that happened four years earlier when they said the 10 of the 12 spies only Caleb and Joshua submits go and the others that we can't, they're too tough for us. We can follow God and he spent four years in the wilderness that's the case for you and me and hold the place of a go with me to Ephesians chapter 6 Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 12 Paul writing the church of Ephesus, and he says something is very important for us. He said for our struggle isn't that a description of life.

He said our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers and against powers and against world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. We think that people are our struggle, but are not going to be victims of were the real struggle with.

You see, the real struggle, spiritual path, so that's what the real struggle of lifers. We have a real enemy. You see, and he did undo everything he can to make our life but as bad as it can possibly be listened to his rap sheet first Chronicles 21 Satan incited David Luke 22, Satan has asked us if you Simon, lightweight John 13 the devil persuaded Judas Iscariot to turn against Jesus. Luke 13 this woman. Satan has Bound for 18 long years. Second Corinthians 4. Four. Satan has blinded the minds of those who don't believe in. As a result, they don't see the light of the good news.

Ephesians 2 he rules this world and his spirit has power over everyone who does not obey God, Satan, insights sips, persuades blinds, blinds and rules. He has one objective. Jesus said in John 10 to steal one to kill and to destroy. It's what he wants to do. He wants to discourage you in every possible way you can and you'll know if he so it's working on the basis of the anxiety and worry.

You have about a situation is getting to you got to stop them. Don't do this, don't do this.

Remember don't forget this. I go before you and don't forget what I've done in the past. She don't forget that actually a great illustration that go with me now. Back to first Samuel 17 first Samuel chapter 17.

Now you know the story it's up on the most famous in the Bible daily life. He learned in Sunday school. It's probably one of the most predictable entire passages in the Old Testament. Great story. All of us face our own giants. All of us face on the lies everybody does. What's interesting about this is Goliath has been tormenting and taunting the armies of Israel, he starts on one side and then on the other, but eventually he worked his way down to start working his way across becomes all the way to the bottom of the hill for them and are more terrified than ever now.

The logical person who should take on the life of Saul. He's the king is the tallest.

You see, he should be able to defend his people, but he's terrified as well so he has an encounter with David and David says let me know them as a teenager.

Goliath is 9 foot nine. David might not even be 5 foot nine okay he's just a kid and sounds like, why would you Howdy how do you think you could do this. He knew what David said I remember what look at verses 34 and 35 it says, but David said to Saul, your servant was tending his father's sheep when a lion or a bear came and took the lamb from the flock and I went out after him and attacked him and rescued it from his mouth and when he rose up against me. I seized him by his beard.

I struck up and I killed your servant has killed both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them since he is part of the armies of the living God. He remembered Goliath is formidable but take a typical teenage boy, what are his chances with a lion or a bear in the wilderness by himself. It was a gun both knowing that I rescued the sheep getting together sheep by what took the sheep off him, he rose up against me and then I killed him. It was as I remember, that if God delivered me from the lion and the bear what this uncircumcised Philistine going to do to me. He remembers city you do that if you look at all the things that happen in your life do you look back and see God's hand on your life. If God did that. You see, do you remember it you forget it completely sees this. Don't forget that whatever you do don't forget know what you know the story. They do a lot of trash talking back and forth from that point of view and then there's a they rush each other. David takes a sling hits Goliath and the four head and down he goes. David goes over and picks up Goliath's sword, which is probably much taller than he is and with a two-handed baseball swing to be heads the giant that gets everybody in Israel's camp all excited, they go and attack the proceeds of Philistines going total route they start running, but I want to see now what happens at the end of the song verse 54 is is and David took the Philistines head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent what why now. This is a this is ahead. Ms. Pettigrew Summit. This is ahead.

They were similar to Gehenna Jerusalem, and to be able to stand there. Goliath had torso going to come by and say hey look at that that's Goliath said, why is he going to do that.

So they remember look at that head, you need to remember that he's a military something else.

I'm taking his weapons. No understand Goliath weapons are so enormous as a description.

David can use the weapons he doesn't take him in his tent to use him. He takes him in his tent to remember.

You see, when Saul was chasing them all through the wilderness with his own son Absalom goes and rebelling against the looks of this test.

He looks at those weapons.

This is God delivered me is the unlocking forget what you've done for me in the past is that's what God is telling the nation Israel he's telling them don't forget to remember what I've done for you in the past.

So back to Joshua two things happen one thing I like the pen meant to do just verse nine it says. Then Joshua set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place of the feet of the priest to carry the ark of the covenant was standing there and are to this day just to set the stones of remembrance. One is a Gill gal on the land for Israel to see, but Joshua takes the others and puts her right in the middle where the ark stood now when the waters come back you can see it, but God can. Joshua said you oversee that Lord you know what you did here so he doesn't for him.

Then you pick it up in verse nine it's is now the people came up from the Jordan on the 10th of the first month in the camp that Gill gal on the eastern edge of Jericho the right there. It says, then it says those 12 stones which would been taken. The Jordan Joshua set up the Gill go and he said to the sons of Israel when your children ask your fathers in time to come, saying, what of the stones you shall inform your children say Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground for the Lord your God dried up the raw waters of Jordan before you until you cross just as the Lord your God had done so with the Red Sea, which he dried up before us until we we had crossed that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty so that you may inspect or fear the Lord your God forever. While these two reminders. Don't forget I'll go before you and don't forget what it done in the past. Now what would you be thinking okay is go get and there's a good reason to think you're going to get a look at verse one of chapter 5 it said it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west and all the kings of the Canaanites were all the way to the sea which means a Mediterranean. They heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed the hearts melted. There's no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel done the will. What we going to build. Think of it of your Canaanite we have spies there. I'm just telling you for 18 miles up the Jordan turn dry. He held it back to 2 million people got across which a be a long time. What are you going to do against them.

You see, if God did that what you want to do against them. The hearts melted.

It said now what would you and I think right there. Now is the perfect time right we got great PR there terrified of us were in the land.

Let's go.

And God said not so fast there something else you. I want you not to forget, don't forget that I go before you.

Don't forget what it done in the past.

Notice what he introduces in verse two he said at that time the Lord said to Joshua make for yourself. Flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel for the second time. What Joshua made flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel.

This is the reason Joshua circumcise him that all the people that came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness on the way they came out of Egypt. What now member will have the Jordan to protect us were now in the land.

Now if everybody 40 and youngers get circumcised. You can see men's faces grimacing here kind of there's going to be a little bit a healing. Here is under the idea of going to war is not something light on our mind. And what about the women and the children. The ides are going to come to attack. We can even defend ourselves.

God says you don't have to defenders.

I want you to remember something I want you to remember and never forget whose you are. You see, 600 years earlier God in that's when he brought about circumcision as a sign of the covenant and he said to the sons of Abraham.

You be circumcised the male Jews at eight days old. Get circumcised. The reason is you're not like the other people you see are not like those people. Those are pagan sure my people circumcision as a sign. You see, you have to have it circumcision he said is a wonderful sign, God wasn't concerned about the battle at all. I want to see other supplies.

Let's go with me to Colossians chapter 2 Colossians chapter 2 in the New Testament in verse nine because is a direct application to you and me here verse nine of Colossians 2 says, for in him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form.

In Jesus, and Jesus Christ all the fullness of the deity dwells and then he says this and in him you have been made complete and he is head over all role in authority and in him you also notice in him you were also circumcised. That's us, he said with the circumcision made without hands, and the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which he says you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead, you were dead in your transgressions and the circumcision of your flesh, he made us alive together with him, he said forgiven all of us are transgressions pulses Christ cut away your old life circumcise you. He said you're not who you were somebody else. You see the Scripture says you are a new creature in Christ all the old things are passed away. Should you need to know that, don't forget that you don't forget that whatever you do, the New Testament has so many reminders of this in John one he says you need to know that you're God's child in John 15, you need to know your Christ friend in first Corinthians 12, you need to know your member of Christ body in chapter 1 of Ephesians, he said you need to know you're a saint, set apart by God in Colossians 1, you need to know that your redeemed and forgiven of all your sins in Colossians 2, you need to know your complete in Christ you like nothing in Romans eight he says you need to know your free from common condemnation in second Corinthians 6. You need to know your God's coworker Ephesians 2. You need to know that you're seated with Christ right now in the heavenly's Ephesians 2 also said you need to know your God's workmanship Philippians 3, you need to know you're a citizen of heaven. Ephesians 1. You need to know your adopted into God's family. First John five pieces you need know you're born of God, the evil one cannot touch you. Why does he keep telling us that because we forget over and over and over again. He says this new creature. Don't forget that you not who you were. I circumcised you. You're different forever.

My spirit indwells you is you really have to understand what's going on here. What happened to them physically is what happens to us spiritually. If I can embrace that I'm a new creature in Christ, then my past and my flesh, and Satan himself. He wants to hold on me. They can control me. First Corinthians 6 have been bought with a price. I belong to God. Second Timothy one I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. Romans eight I cannot be separated from the love of God. Hebrews, for I find grace and mercy in my time of need and Philippians 4 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. That should be our mindset.

That's how we should think about our lives promised land. People think that the people. Hebrews chapter that the entire book of Hebrews who enter what is called the faith rest life.

That's the way they think. They think that way. They remember these things.

You see, that's the way it is. They live out their inheritance as I said in the first week they take what is theirs.

You and I are spiritually circumcised by Christ himself, a new creature. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. It keeps trying to remind us whatever you do don't don't forget these things.

Don't forget them at all.

You seek we don't need to be obsessed with our problems. We need to be obsessed with our Savior. You see, that's what it has to come down to that's that's why said looking Philippians whatever is good whatever is of good reputation. What might your mind dwell on these and we don't we start thinking about the problem and running the cycles in our head says don't do that.

Don't forget, don't forget that God goes before stone. Forget all the things of God is done in the past and don't forget whose you are.

Maybe the most important thing at all you see is only then that you're ready to take on Jericho only after you've done that spring father, thank you for the reminder we get consumed with our own problems.

We stress over them.

We worry we fill ourselves with anxiety and we try our best to figure out how we can solve them, but father you tell us that the key is to remain close to you and to remember that you go before us that you brought us through so many different things in our lives, and most important, never forget whose we are your children were new creatures in Christ. Your spirit resides in us, we can do all things through him who strengthens us father make that a reality in our lives.

Help us become promised land. Believers help us to become the believers that enter the faith rest life will be for our good service for your Christ and pastor broke apart on the radio ministry or fellowship floor if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just listen to the message one more time. Remember that you can go to great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio program is at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible with all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help with radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly with just the one time support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds of pastoral sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for.

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