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THE LESSONS OF
GILGAL PART III
2005 Summer Series on Joshua Part 5
August 7, 2005
Rev. Kevin Baker
Intro
READ JOSHUA
5:10-15
·
So
far in our series on the Book of Joshua, we have learned that
complete trust and obedience to the promises of God is the
groundwork for success in all we do.
·
We
have learned that receiving the promises of God hinges on following
God’s priests by faith as they lead us into the presence of God.
·
And
we have been encamped with our forefathers in the faith on the west
side of the Jordan at Gilgal learning the lessons we need to learn
about crossing the Jordan before we enter into spiritual warfare
with the enemies of God in the land of our inheritance.
A.
GILGAL IS THE PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE—DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE…
B. GILGAL IS THE PLACE OF RESURRECTION
C. GILGAL IS THE
PLACE
OF RENUNCIATION
D. GILGAL IS THE PLACE OF RESTORATION OF TRUE WORSHIP
·
Today, we complete our learning the lessons of faith at Gilgal so
next week we can go to Jericho where the walls in our lives will
come down and our enemies will begin to be defeated.
E.
THE
FIFTH LESSON OF FAITH AFTER CROSSING THE JORDAN IS GILGAL IS THE
PLACE OF REALIZATION
Joshua
5:12
The manna stopped the day after [c]
they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for
the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.
KJV 12And
the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn
of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but
they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
·
Manna as good as it was, was wilderness food. It supplied the
people's needs only until the FOOD IN THE LAND was available.
·
Manna was not a permanent food supply. It was transient in nature; a
provision only for a transitional period. God never intended the
people to stay on manna.
·
The
spiritual picture here is one of spiritual growth. The wilderness
with it's manna is a picture of immaturity and the failures that
accompany it.
·
Even
in our immaturity and failures as believers, God provides our basic
needs, as the manna indicates.
·
Although God does not want us to stay immature and weak forever. He
wants us to grow up, get into the land of victory, quit eating the
child's plate of manna, and start eating the adult food called old
corn.
·
When
Joshua and Israel crossed the Jordan and came to Gilgal, they
realized the old ways of childishness and immaturity were over, and
now they were to exemplify strength, growth, and maturity in the
Lord.
·
The
wilderness journey had ended. The carnality experience was over, and
the food that went with it was finished.
·
Now
they were in a new land, enjoying a newness of life, eating the new
resources of maturity: old corn.
·
There's really a basic foreshadow of the resurrected Christ in this
story. It's good for a believer to reflect
on the marvelous work of Christ on the cross as indicated by their
observance of the Passover. But, it is also important for a believer
to give his attention to the resurrected Christ.
·
Because he lives, he is always leading his children on to new growth
and experiences of victory.
·
Too
many of us who know him are reluctant to the possibility of going
on: to any change in his dealings with us. We would stay on manna;
we are cautious of old corn.
·
As
children, we get attached to our old home, the old ways of our
parents, and our security blanket of youth. It's a little scary when
we get out of high school, or get married; and suddenly we are
leaving the security of the old ways.
·
Likewise, for the child of God, there comes a moment when the old
ways have served their purpose.
·
To
God, you are infinitely more important than any work you do. (He
didn't die for your work; he died for you).
·
He
will not be satisfied until you are in full conformity to his will
and ways. So, he keeps changing things in your life. He keeps
bringing new and different experiences to you, each designed to mold
you and make you more mature in him.
·
The
wilderness manna was miracle food. It was the spectacular; the food
of high emotion. The old corn was routine, ordinary food; not
miraculous, but full of substance.
·
Don't miss this picture. Believer, don't be dependent on emotional
excitement, spiritual thrills, and spectacular meetings.
·
It
takes a steady diet of these to keep the kindergarten and elementary
school Christians going.
·
However, Jesus is risen, and sits at the right hand of the Father
where he ever lives to make intercession for you, Heb. 7:25.
·
Jesus is the old corn for you; and he's all you need. He satisfies
the longing soul. He is your guide. He is your source of unending
power.
·
Col. 3:11
says, "Christ is all" In Rev. 1:8 he said, "I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending." The "Alpha" is the
first letter of the Greek alphabet. The "Omega" is the last letter.
·
Christian life reaches it's fruit bearing time through the cross of
Jesus, and draws it's power from the throne of grace.
·
Our
strength and power is drawn from his feasting on the risen Christ,
who is our all-in-all.
·
Yes,
Gilgal is a place of realization. A realization of maturity: a
realization that the wilderness and it's food of immaturity is past;
and believers are in a new land, eating on a daily, routine basis
the old corn of the reality of the risen, all sufficient, need
supplying Savior.
F.
FINALLY, GILGAL IS A PLACE OF REVELATION
Listen
to Joshua 5:13-15
13
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man
standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went
up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14
"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I
have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in
reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord [d]
have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the LORD's
army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are
standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
·
What
a revelation here of the power of God to help in the hour of need to
assure victory to those who fight the good fight of faith.
·
Who
was this man who met and challenged Joshua? the same one before whom
Simon Peter later bowed and said, "Lord...thou hast the words of
eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ
the Son of the living God" in John 6:68-69.
·
He
was the same one, who very near this spot 1448 years later gave
sight to blind Bartemaeus (Matt. 20:29-34), and
gave eternal life to a sinner named Zacchaeus, Luke 19:1-9.
·
The
words he spoke to Joshua in Josh. 5:9, are
identical to those spoken to Moses just over 40 years previously,
"Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place where on thou
standest is holy,"
·
And
once Joshua asked and found out who he was, how did he respond?
Without a moment's hesitation, Joshua was on his face at the feet of
this great Commander.
·
He
wasn't trying to line up the Commander on his side; he was lining
himself up on the Commander's side.
·
And,
what help could this great Commander give against such potent
adversaries as Jericho, Gath, Shechem, and Jerusalem? This Commander
said he was captain of the host of the Lord.
·
He
was not referring to the little Israeli army; but to the real,
though unseen forces of our God.
·
Jesus spoke of that host in Matt. 26:53 when he
said,
53Do
you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my
disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
That's 72,000
heavenly soldiers. When the servant of Elisha the prophet became
fearful of the great army of the King of Syria,
17
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the
LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full
of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
II Kings 6:17.
·
Today, I am here to tell you that Jesus our Commander has a heavenly
host that no man can number; and as the fallen walls of Jericho
testify, when he is with you, no one can successfully be against
you.
·
A
look at the power of God that is available to every believer is a
revelation. Have you had a revelation of Jesus Christ? Do you know
that the key to success lies in you lining yourself up with the
Captain of the Lord of Hosts?
·
Make
sure you see he main point of this encounter. The main objective of
the Captain of our salvation is his objectives: his enterprises; not
ours.
·
If
we are willing to line up with his plans, and make his objectives
our objectives, we can expect victory at our Jericho.
·
But,
if we get caught up in our own little private enterprises, we are
foolish to think the captain. of the Lord of hosts will command his
forces in our support.
·
Don't think you can have divine help in your personal project.
Divine help comes only to those engaged in God's projects, not their
own.
·
If
your project lines up with God's, he'll support it; not because it's
yours, but because it's his.
·
Failure in this area is at the root of a great many of our important
endeavors of life, which obviously lack the power of God in them.
·
Are
you working at the job you are on as a means of furthering the
enterprise or program of God?
·
Did
you marry the mate you have with the well being of God's enterprise
in mind?
·
Is
the business you've initiated, the move you're making, or the
education or training you are getting designed to enhance and foster
the program of God?
·
If
you must in honesty answer "No", then you've told yourself why you
have no help from God in the matter, why there's no evidence of the
power of God in your life, and why you are going to continue to face
troubles and disillusionment’s.
·
God
is not interested in your programs; he's interested in his. The only
help you get in prayer, or in any other way comes only when you're
asking for supplies to enhance his enterprise; not yours.
CONCLUSION
·
But,
oh, RIGHT NOW I AM MEDITATING ON SOMETHING GREAT--the power that's
ours when we make his work our work.
·
He said in that condition, "
Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”,
in John 15:16.
·
Listen to him in John 14:13,
13And
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring
glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my
name, and I will do it.
·
But,
when we ask or hope to receive the help of God that we may consume
it on our own personal projects, James 4:3 says,
"you receive not".
·
Oh, that believers might realize how vital it is that
they align themselves with God, and fight the battles of the Lord in
the strength of the Lord.
·
II Cor. 10:4
says, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through
God to the pulling down of strong holds."
·
In
the power of God, Joshuas are turned into heroes; and simple
housewives, ordinary men, and otherwise no-name individuals are
turned into champions for Christ.
·
But,
it is only possible when we submit ourselves to the command of the
Captain of the Lord of hosts.
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