In Joshua 5, Israel goes to the extreme in their confidence in God's covenant. If we trust in God's covenant, we can celebrate his provision and have confidence in His victory.
My translation of Phil 3:3 goes like this: For we are the true circumcision, the ones who worshipfully serve by the Spirit of God, proudly boast in Christ Jesus, and do not have confidence in our natural humanity. Paul goes on in that chapter to describe his natural strenghts and assets as hindrances or liabilitities in the real pursuit of knowing Christ.
How might you agree with the apostle? How do human strengths and capabilities get in the way of knowing and serving Christ? Your honest comments will help all of us.
Circumcision--An uncomfortable topic...
Joshua chapter 5 is about circumcision. All of Israel's soldiers submit to debilitating elective outpatient surgery, just as battle with Jericho looms before them! This doesn't make any sense, on a human level. But, if their success only comes from relationship with God, it does.
They are willing to lay aside their own strength and ability. They intend to enter this battle standing in the strength of their covenant relationship with God. The procedure itself was not the issue, but the devotion and dependence it indicated (Gen 17:8-10; Jer 4:4).
Philippians 3:3 says, "For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on the flesh [or who we are naturally]."
Abilities are good, but how do we rely on our natural human abilities when we should be relying on God and His promise?
Maybe this is an uncomfortable topic, not because of the procedure involved, but because of its implications on our dependence upon God...what self reliance must I lay aside?
They are willing to lay aside their own strength and ability. They intend to enter this battle standing in the strength of their covenant relationship with God. The procedure itself was not the issue, but the devotion and dependence it indicated (Gen 17:8-10; Jer 4:4).
Philippians 3:3 says, "For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on the flesh [or who we are naturally]."
Abilities are good, but how do we rely on our natural human abilities when we should be relying on God and His promise?
Maybe this is an uncomfortable topic, not because of the procedure involved, but because of its implications on our dependence upon God...what self reliance must I lay aside?
Living Stones
Israel set up stones to provoke questions, to make opportunities to tell about the great thing God had done. Several of you have told me of ways we can do that.
Peter (1 Peter 2:5) also suggests a way. Coming to Christ in faith we are Living Stones. as such we should be always be ready to give a reason for the hope we possess (1 Peter 3:15).
How can we oursleves be living stones that provoke others to ask?
Peter (1 Peter 2:5) also suggests a way. Coming to Christ in faith we are Living Stones. as such we should be always be ready to give a reason for the hope we possess (1 Peter 3:15).
How can we oursleves be living stones that provoke others to ask?
Joshua 4: Setting up stones
There is so much to do, a city to take, land to conquer, an inheritance to claim, yet they take time to pause and prepare in advance for questions children will ask. What God has done is too great to allow memories to fade, or the next generation not to know. The stones are set up to provoke couriosity, to lead to a question, so that then the parents can give their children "an answer for the hope that is in them."
How have you done this in the past? How have you (or could you) prepared a circumstance or setting to provoke a question so that you can tell what God has done.
How else could we set up stones so that "people may know?"
How have you done this in the past? How have you (or could you) prepared a circumstance or setting to provoke a question so that you can tell what God has done.
How else could we set up stones so that "people may know?"
Crossing over on dry land... again!
Israel had been here before, 40 yrs before at the Red Sea... Why again?
3:7 says it would show everyonethat the Lord was with Joshua. Do you think Joshua was a little nervous to see God come through when the priests first put their feet in the water? "Sure, God did it for Moses, but will He do it for me?"
3:10 says that it was for all God's people, that "you shall know that the living God is among you" and will give you victory. I wan't to know more of that victory and awe of that comes with a greater confidence of the power and presence of the living God.........
My feet want that dry ground!
3:7 says it would show everyonethat the Lord was with Joshua. Do you think Joshua was a little nervous to see God come through when the priests first put their feet in the water? "Sure, God did it for Moses, but will He do it for me?"
3:10 says that it was for all God's people, that "you shall know that the living God is among you" and will give you victory. I wan't to know more of that victory and awe of that comes with a greater confidence of the power and presence of the living God.........
My feet want that dry ground!
Joshua 3 Enter in to New Life in Christ
Joshua three - an interesting passage - it seems like we have been here before. Crossing the Jordan is so much like Israel crossing the Red Sea, 40 years earlier. Why the repeat?
What do you think God is showing them by this obvious parallel to their redemption in the Exodus, as He now brings them in to their inheritance?
When you determined to walk with Christ, what obstacle or barrier was in your way? How has God walked with you through it?
What do you think God is showing them by this obvious parallel to their redemption in the Exodus, as He now brings them in to their inheritance?
When you determined to walk with Christ, what obstacle or barrier was in your way? How has God walked with you through it?
Grace to serve
Joshua's agents take on a difficult mission, find out the enemy has them trapped, yet God gives them shelter, a way of escape, and complete success in their mission. We also serve by God's grace, God working for us and through us. Tell me a story of what that has looked like.
Joshua Chapter 2
I am struck by God's grace. The story is intriguing, with some unexpected twists, but the biggest plot twist is that the harlot becomes the heroine, some random immoral woman would save the day--and be saved that day.
Rahab takes a real leap when she changes loyalties. What was she risking? Why does she do it? How is she similar to someone coming to believe in Jesus as their savior today?
You're not a spy, you're not CIA, your not involved in counterintelligence, so what's in this story for you? What difference does it make?
Rahab takes a real leap when she changes loyalties. What was she risking? Why does she do it? How is she similar to someone coming to believe in Jesus as their savior today?
You're not a spy, you're not CIA, your not involved in counterintelligence, so what's in this story for you? What difference does it make?
Introducing Bob's BP Blog
Okay, here we go. The first run of Pastor Bob's BP Blog.
I like sermons. I'm a Pastor, that's normal, in fact I probably like sermons more than most people. God has given us the opportunity to gather together and learn from His word, but sermons can be a tedious thing. Its all one way communication, monologue, there's not a lot of opportunity to interact, to dialogue along the way.
This blog is for that. I intend to post the passage for next Sunday early each week. I'll toss out some questions or musings that occur to me as I'm studying and musing on the text. I hope you'll respond to those and also even toss out some questions of your own. Share your own thoughts and insights or the difference you think this part of God's word should make in Clark County today.
I look forward to studying with you.
Pastor Bob
I like sermons. I'm a Pastor, that's normal, in fact I probably like sermons more than most people. God has given us the opportunity to gather together and learn from His word, but sermons can be a tedious thing. Its all one way communication, monologue, there's not a lot of opportunity to interact, to dialogue along the way.
This blog is for that. I intend to post the passage for next Sunday early each week. I'll toss out some questions or musings that occur to me as I'm studying and musing on the text. I hope you'll respond to those and also even toss out some questions of your own. Share your own thoughts and insights or the difference you think this part of God's word should make in Clark County today.
I look forward to studying with you.
Pastor Bob
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