Sermon Summary
For this exciting first Sunday in our new building, Pastor Chris wrapped up our mini-series about crossing over and responding to change in a Biblical way. God has an inheritance for us and He has a vested interested in the condition of our hearts before we run into battle and conquest. He wants to prepare us for the land He’s called us into. Pastor Chris shared four major instructions from the book of Joshua for having a heart that is postured and prepared to take the promised land.
- Remember the Enemy is Intimidated – Remember that the enemy is terrified of the people of God. The Lord’s moving demoralizes the enemy because He has already secured the victory. Our role is to start living more in light of this victory. The first generation of Israelites let their eyes dictate reality rather than the truth of God’s triumph.
Joshua 5:1 (ESV)
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV)
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
2. Increase your Faith and be Prepared – God’s ways are often upside down. It was an act of faith for the Israelites to obey God’s command when it didn’t make sense. The consequence of their disobedience was forty years of wandering, leaving the next generation to enter into the Promised Land. There are often things that we need to leave behind and things we need to pick up in order to fully align with God in the new day.
Joshua 5:2-3 (ESV)
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
Joshua 5:4-7 (ESV)
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
| Leave Behind | Pick Up |
| Observation | Participation |
| Casual Living | Committed Living |
| Rental Mentality | Owner Mentality |
| Coasting | Caring |
| “I am a Victim” | “I am Victorious in Christ” |
- Everyone is an Owner
- Everyone is a Restorer
- Everyone is a Minister
- Everyone is a Healer
- Everyone is an Evangelist
3. Remember your Freedom through Jesus – When the Israelites left the land of their bondage, the Egyptians taunted them with destructive, shameful accusations. We can often find ourselves in between two opposite opinions of us, with the Spirit of God reminding us that our identity lies in Christ. It matters which voice we listen to.
Joshua 5:8-9 (ESV)
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
Colossians 2:11 (ESV)
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh (the sinful nature), by the circumcision of Christ,
4. There are New Beginnings for you – There is a new beginning in front of you. The Passover was instituted when judgment was coming against the Egyptians. The people of Israel sacrificed a lamb and covered their doorposts so that that angel of death would know to pass by their door. Once the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, it was time to sow seed across the land in order to bear much fruit.
Joshua 5:10 (ESV)
10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.
Joshua 5:11 (ESV)
11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
Joshua 5:12 (ESV)
12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Discussion Questions
- Legalism says we need to get our actions right to align with God, but the Bible says that He looks at the condition of our heart. Have you ever fallen into the trap of trying to align yourself with God from the outside in? What was the result?
- Have you ever let your eyes dictate your reality instead of the truth of God’s secured victory? How can we guard ourselves against this?
- Pastor Chris said there are often things we need to leave behind and pick up in order to successfully cross over. What is something (from the list or not) that the Lord is telling you to leave behind? Pick up?
Application Questions
- How can we guard ourselves against agreeing with the voice of the enemy who stands ready to accuse us? Ask the Lord to protect your mind this week and bring remembrance of your identity in Him.
- Is the Lord asking you to commit to Him afresh? Go before Him this week in the secret place and do so in your own, personal way. Remind yourself daily that Jesus is committed to you.