Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.northharris.freechurch.org/sermons/5077/call-to-joshua/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Good morning everyone and a warm welcome to the service this morning. It's good to see everyone here and especially it's good to have some visitors with us this morning. Some I recognise and some I don't.

[0:12] Come in, come in. There's tea and there's coffee served at the end of the service and if you're able to stay behind, please do. It would be good to have a chance to meet with you. We don't just have visitors with us this morning but we have some of our congregation who've never actually been well enough to sit with us before.

[0:28] And it's great to see Dolock out this morning. She's a real answer to prayer in seeing her sitting here. So it's good to see everyone and it's good to see Dolock especially and those who are visiting with us.

[0:41] One or two intimations just to make the point that the service this evening will be at six. That will be a gala service and that will be conducted, God willing, by Dan Marry, Mr. Don John Morrison.

[0:54] The English Praise Service is at half past seven this evening. And it's good to see Nurse Marian back with us today after having been three weeks in Malawi.

[1:06] And Nurse Marian is going to share something about that three weeks this evening at the Praise Service, the English Fellowship which will be at half past seven and not at eight o'clock.

[1:18] Various things in the course of the week as usual. The Lady's Bible study on Monday, first group fellowship on Tuesday. Wrote to recovery on Tuesday on the normal places at the normal times. The tour meeting is on Wednesday at half past seven here in the community centre.

[1:33] The services next Sunday will be at eleven and six and will be taken, God willing, by myself. One more intimation. Two more intimations in fact.

[1:47] One is just to ask for help. The garden up at the New Mans on the Caw would benefit from many volunteers at this stage.

[1:59] There's some trees that have come down. Some more trees need to come down. If you've got the expertise to be able to do that in a chainsaw, you would be a huge help up there. If you don't, there's lots of trees that have fallen, branches that need to be cleaned up and disposed of.

[2:15] And so if you're able to help with that during the week or on Saturdays, please, the more the merrier. The more that are there, the quicker we get through the job. One more thing to say is that, just as a way of an update, on Tuesday of this week, the planning committee will be meeting to consider the application for the change of use from the inn to a church.

[2:41] And so we should have an indication of their decision on Tuesday, but that will either be ratified or potentially could be challenged at the meeting of the main council, which I think is a week later.

[2:55] So if you could be prayerful this week in respect of that, especially, that will be very much appreciated. We're going to begin now and worship God and sing to his praise from Psalm 14.

[3:09] Psalm 14. And we will sing from verses 1 to verse 5. Six stanzas. The words are on the screen.

[3:20] I waited for the Lord my God. And patiently did bear at length to me. He did incline my voice and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit. From the mighty clear on a rock he set my feet, establishing my way.

[3:35] The first five verses of this psalm. To God's praise. We stand and sing. I waited for the Lord my God.

[3:46] I waited for the Lord my God. I patiently did bear. I am to be justified.

[4:00] He took me from a fearful pit.

[4:14] He took me from a fearful pit. And from a fearful pit. He took me from a fearful pit. He took me from a fearful pit.

[4:24] And on the rock he set my feet, establishing my way.

[4:36] He put a new song in my mouth. other God to magnify.

[4:51] May he shall see it and shall fear. And on the rock he lay.

[5:06] O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord relies.

[5:21] Respecting not the proud nor such. As turn aside to light.

[5:36] O Lord my God, who many are. The wonders of us.

[5:51] Thy gracious thoughts to us were far. Above all thoughts are gone.

[6:06] In order none can recommend. To hear them be fair.

[6:21] But speak of them I would pay more. Than God be numbered all.

[6:35] Father in your will praise. Thank you! God is giving it Pipeline our Christmas time to drink, why Spirit has, holy 아이� 될MP Rich poin on the Ameniners Road.

[6:54] you could lead us in prayer. Let us pray. Most eternal and ever blessed God we bow our heads now in unity of praise and worship we come before the most holy God the creator and the sustainer of all things the one who gives us the breath of life and gracious Lord we bow this day and our prayer is this day that you would cast out all distractions from our hearts and from our minds and Lord may we be focused on Christ indeed Lord you have opened up an avenue of salvation for sinners such as we are your word tells us since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way opened up to us through the curtain that is his body and since we have a great priest over the house of God let us draw near to God with sincere hearts and with a full assurance that faith brings eternal God we thank you and we bless you for Jesus indeed he is the author and the perfecter of our faith indeed Lord he is the high priest who can sympathize with all our weaknesses and our frailty and yet he was without sin in order that we can be saved

[8:32] Lord we come before you and we marvel at the covenant of redemption that you sent in place where you would save sinners and Lord we thank you and bless you that your glorious Holy Spirit is still at work even today in this place convicting converting sanctifying oh what manner of love is this that the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called children of God and so we are and Lord to be called into your kingdom indeed is a privilege which has responsibilities and Lord we just rejoice in our hearts at Christ and all that he has done for us he is the the constant that we have in our lives Father you know our frailty indeed you know our weakness and indeed you know our sin and Lord we come before you this day and we confess our sin before you within our hearts and we ask that you would forgive us and indeed your word tells us Lord that you will cleanse us from all sin oh glorious

[9:49] God we just thank you for every blessing that you have bestowed upon us and Lord as we gather to worship here this day may Christ have all the preeminence and all the glory and may we be blessed Lord would you help and encourage David as he opens up your word to us that we may see wonderful things in your love Lord would you stir up our hearts today and would you help us to love one another the way that Christ loves us and indeed Lord as we gather here this day we pray that you will continue to bless this congregation and all that they do and we think of these meetings that take place at the council next week we leave that with you and Lord we pray for our brothers and sisters in the Church of Scotland as well and we ask your favour and your blessing upon them and indeed upon the three Presbyterians up the road too Lord may they know your blessing and presence too so Lord as we gather here this day may we sense your presence within our hearts and in our midst

[11:00] Lord you have promised to inhabit the praises of your people and where two or three are gathered together then there you are Lord in the midst of not only that but there to praise unite us today under the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and we pray for those who are unwell in this congregation Lord we ask your favour there are some Lord who cannot be with us here this day who are housebound Lord would you bless them in a very special way and Father we pray for those that may be working and in acts of mercy would you be with them too so Lord continue to bless this congregation and indeed this community Lord help us to remain faithful to your word and to all that you command us to do Lord would you go before us this day and we ask all these things always and forever in the name of Jesus Christ our

[12:00] Lord and Saviour Amen Thank you Joro for reading that same prayer Boys and girls could you come out to the front please How's everyone this week all good what lives in these things eggs and what happens if you take an egg and you throw it it cracks it smashes are you sure about that how do you know you've done it before yep I bet you have what's in the egg box just two eggs left you want to feel the egg just just want it very gently yeah lad you come you can just verify we have an egg here is that an egg yeah if you look like an egg look like an egg what would happen what would happen with it would smash so I should put it back in the box okay you sit down thank you

[13:31] I don't think I will put it back in the box how do I know eggs would smash I don't think this egg would smash I think if I dropped this egg it would be alright it wouldn't smash do you think I could throw this egg and it would just bounce yes yes yes yes if I could see into your hearts and I can't I would think that maybe you were just wanting to get me into trouble do eggs bounce they just smash don't they eggs that bounce is that possible or is it impossible you thought it was impossible and your faces when I threw the egg were telling me it's impossible but with this egg it's actually possible because it's not really an egg it's kind of like a bouncy ball rubber thing just looks very very much like an egg so what looked to be so impossible

[15:16] Bella that's the real egg we're not going to try it on that one what looked to be so impossible was actually possible boys and girls today when you're having your lunch you can ask your mums and dads or whoever you're having your lunch with about the story that we're going to read in the bible when you go to sunday school and the sermon that we're going to hear and it's a story about the children of israel a million of them and they're all standing and they're looking at the jordan river it was a mile wide massive massive wide it was going fast as you can really fast because it was a flood time and god said to a million people cross it just cross it when you put your foot into the water god said all the water will stop flowing is that possible no that is not possible that's not possible with us but can god do the impossible yes well god did the impossible and when they put their toe into the water all the water stopped flowing and they went across the jordan safe and dry what looked like an impossible journey god made possible boys and girls you know there's an impossible journey that we're called to make and it's the journey from earth to heaven do you think we can get to heaven we can't get to heaven in ourselves because in ourselves we have something that cannot be in heaven and it's called it's called sin yeah and so for you and me to get to heaven on our own it's impossible but god who can make the impossible possible what did he do he came from heaven to earth and his name was

[17:39] Jesus and he came so that our sin could be taken away to be our redeemer as jordan was praying he came to take our sin away so that what was impossible before he would make possible for all who would trust him boys and girls do you want to go to heaven so do you know what you need to do trust Jesus it's the only way ask him to take your sin away ask him to make what is impossible for us on our own possible through him and if you believe in your heart in him he'll do it let's pray lord god we thank you for this morning and we thank you that you love us and we thank you that you loved us enough to make what was impossible for us possible we thank you that we are able to know that when we go from this world we can get to heaven not because of us it's impossible for us but because of jesus and all that he did so help us we pray whether we're very young or whether we're much older to trust in jesus to ask him to take our sin away and to ask us to take him when it's your time from earth to heaven be with the boys and girls help them in sunday school today and all the things that you have to do be with the ones who can't be with us today and we think especially of andrew one of the big ones we pray that you would be with him in hospital that you'd help us food to get better and that he'd be back soon with us and we pray all these things in jesus name amen boys and girls we're going to sing now we're going to sing the words that are on the screen or we'll be just in the screen in a minute mission prays 673 and it's a hymn about jesus our redeemer there is a redeemer jesus god's own son precious lamb of god messiah holy one thank you my father for giving us your son and leaving your spirit till the work on earth is done let's stand up and we'll sing to god's praise okay boys and girls you can head to sunday school now if you could turn in your bibles please to joshua chapter 3 joshua chapter 3 as we continue our studies in this book joshua chapter 3 and we'll read from verse 1 but we'll read back from chapter 2 and verse 22 last week we looked at the whole episode of rahab and how rahab came to trust in the lord how she gave testimony to the faith that she had in god and how that testimony was encouraging to god's people and was carried back over the jordan to joshua and to god's people and so it says in verse 22 of chapter 2 or verse 23 then the two men started back they went down out of the hills forwarded the river and came to joshua son of nun and told him everything that had happened to them they said to joshua the lord has surely given the whole land into our hands all the people are melting in fear because of us chapter 3 verse 1 early in the morning joshua

[21:41] and all the israelites set out from shittim and went to the jordan where they camped before crossing over after three days the officer went throughout the camp giving orders to the people when you see the ark of the covenant of the lord your god and the priests who are levites carrying it you are to move out from your positions and follow it then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before but keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark do not go near it you might ask the question why partly that was out of reverence for that place that holy place where god was there's a distance between the lord and his people and more practically and the emphasis on that is on this point in this chapter they were to stay back from the ark the ark a million of them remember so they could see where the ark was going and they would know which way to follow keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark do not go near it joshua told the people consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the lord will do amazing things among you joshua said to the priests take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people so they took it up and went ahead of them and the lord said to joshua today i will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all israel so that they may know that i am with you as i was with moses tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant when you reach the edge of the jordan's waters go and stand in the river joshua said to the israelites come here and listen to the words of the lord your god this is how you will know that the living god is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the canaanites hittites hivites perizzites girgashites amorites and jebusites see the ark of the covenant of the lord of all the tribes of the earth will go on to the jordan into the jordan ahead of you now then choose 12 men from the tribes of israel each choose 12 men from the tribes of israel one from each tribe as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the lord the lord of all the earth set foot in the jordan its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap so when the people broke camp to cross the jordan the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them now the jordan is in flood all during harvest yet as soon as the priests who carry the ark reached the jordan and their feet touched the water's edge the water from upstream stopped flowing it piled up a great in a great peak a great distance away at a town called adam in the vicinity of zaratham while the water flowing down to the sea of the arabah the salt sea was completely cut off so the people crossed over opposite jericho the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the jordan while all israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground amen and may god bless to us that reading of his holy word and give us understanding as we come to it just shortly neil cameron is now going to lead us to prayer in galen please please please please please man

[25:43] chains jets ton hugo紧 aw car dehyd ay h ass mies dei And the language of eternIEL was forced into to respond later.

[26:22] doctrine letsdd act as reputation because it teaches children anything more than just itsCan the Studioana writ what ensures fulfillment things idyllically said I can't see what I can do.

[26:41] To come to appear, there are no limits to be focused on what I want to do. In Provided what I want to do to know and what Islam is also.

[26:55] For chwilорот Scheinen, Ill that helped her out .

[27:17] And a scholar who helped her to achieve the success of an understanding of her undert shortened fromожесть. Yes. And she doesn't have a very predictions betweencelana and moralices and in thermal they choose David for Rany糊 No, flowing to wol kry It so hard acid And that is the result of radio The peace is really hard I'm terrified Whatashi is wanted to uneas wish I could If I Josh And you'd sext The taithna is 열� your fire-free impulses of the captive circulology andAPPA dream.

[28:39] When I went to the church to visit the church all day, How do I do that? When we're done, everyone will learn.

[28:52] We will justice. ... ... ... ...

[29:04] ... As a god of faith awife will ever go to Me He loved God But my Entwicklung will come from me If I don't know this My mum is telling me My father included we are selffully aware, and weiao are stalled, stop turning is a rifle, we will not APPoperate nothing but the this will does not agree upon us These will thank you very much for giving all 50% of the wishes, VP of Hepha, on Market to thealnız,alysts yellow

[30:32] Our.

[30:49] Our. Our. Hayasta, adventures,henianhe rest pain En knocked the doors home He stands for living in amar Against that Heddes아 Amen.

[31:35] We're going to sing again to God's praise from Psalm 40 and verses 6 and 7 of Psalm 40. We sing in Gaelic this part of the psalm.

[31:50] 6 and 7 of Psalm 40. No sacrifice nor offering didst thou at all desire. Mine ears thou bore, thou opened. Sin offering thou and burnt didst not require.

[32:04] Then to the Lord, these were my words. I come, behold and see. Within the volume of the book is written. It written is of me.

[32:14] In Psalm, we're pointed forward to Jesus. We remain seated to sing in Gaelic. A lot of our Gaelic people are awake today. So please be encouraged to sing out and help Donald as he leads us in praise.

[32:30] No sacrifice nor offering God in saying so much for our скорее乐.

[32:40] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS

[33:42] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS Satsang with Mooji

[34:50] Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji

[36:00] Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji

[37:02] Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Not only for ourselves but for the young ones.

[37:14] And as the gospel message is explained to them simply and clearly. We ask that they would trust you in their youth. And that they would walk close with you in their lives.

[37:27] And we pray for others. Those around us in this community as has been prayed for. And every church across this land where Christ crucified is preached.

[37:38] We pray that you would speak Lord. And that you would work and build your church. And not only in this land but across the world.

[37:50] We think of those who meet as we meet. But who meet in secrecy. And with a fear of whether or not they will leave the place in the same shape.

[38:08] That they arrived in physically. And we are conscious. We heard even on Friday evening. Of those who meet in the land. To hear the gospel. But who if they are found will be punished.

[38:21] And perhaps even executed. And yet still they come. And as your church is persecuted. We thank you that Jesus continues to build the church.

[38:33] And Lord we ask that you would build your church here. And Lord that you would glorify yourself in and through our lives. As we come to you. Hear our prayers.

[38:44] And meet with us we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. I vividly remember being.

[38:59] I guess it had been age 12 or 13. It was first year in secondary school. It was Aberdeen. Bonacord Baths to be precise.

[39:09] And I was standing on the top diving board. It was 10 metres high. 33 feet.

[39:22] And I was and I still am. Not at all Keenan Heights. Now so much to remember the feeling. Of standing there. Probably standing.

[39:34] A good. 5 or 6 feet back from the edge. With a whole class watching. And stepping forward. Closer to the edge. And then stepping back.

[39:46] And then stepping forward once more. To the very very edge. And then stepping back. And pathetically I have to say. I went back down the stairs. I never jumped.

[40:00] Now we might be. Thinking. As we've been going through Joshua. And as we've come into Joshua. Chapter 3. Are Israel ever going to jump?

[40:12] Are Israel ever going to actually make a move? Because. Already we've seen them come so close. And then step back.

[40:24] So are they going to do the same thing yet again? At the end of chapter 1. Just if you glance at it. To remind ourselves of where we've been in the plot line. At the end of chapter 1. The nations seem confident.

[40:36] They seem poised to proceed. Moses had died. But Joshua is brought into the spotlight. Joshua is the one who is leading them. They are told by the Lord.

[40:48] To be strong. And to be courageous. And to. To have faith. To follow him. To follow him. It's the end of chapter 1. And we expect chapter 2. To begin with them following. And yet chapter 2.

[40:59] Begins with them hitting the pause button. And then we're told the story of the spy mission. And the two spies who went over into the land. To survey it. And their encounter with Rahab.

[41:09] And all that happened there. That we explored last week. And at the end of chapter 2. Having heard Rahab's testimony. And heard how the whole nation. Is fearful of God's people.

[41:21] As they are ready to cross. They're encouraged as a nation. And so chapter 2. In verse 24. They said to Joshua.

[41:32] The Lord has surely given us. The whole land into our hands. All the people are melting in fear. Because of us. Spirits are high.

[41:44] Confidence is high. They have that clarity of vision. So what happens next? What will Joshua say? What will Joshua do? How will the people respond?

[41:56] With the words of Rahab's testimony. And the people fired up in Joshua's ears. Will he give the command to proceed? Will they advance?

[42:09] Well. As we have read. We have discovered. The answer to that question is no. Not yet. It seems before they move.

[42:21] They have to wait. That's the first point. For this morning. The people are called. First of all to wait.

[42:32] And the second point. That we'll come to. In due course. Is Joshua. Is called. To lead them. And he leads them in waiting.

[42:43] And the third point. Is we see. And hear the calling. That Joshua gives. That they are to follow. But first of all. We consider this. This calling.

[42:54] That's placed upon the nation. To wait. Not to proceed. Not to rush on. But to wait. Look at verses one. To five. Early in the morning.

[43:05] Joshua. And all the Israelites. Set out from Shittim. And went. To the Jordan. Where they camped. Before crossing over. After three days. The officers went. Throughout the camp.

[43:16] Giving orders. To the people. When you see the ark. Of the covenant. Of the Lord your God. And the priests. Who are Levites. Carrying it. You are to move.

[43:27] Out from your positions. And follow it. Then you will know. Which way to go. Since you have never been. This way before. But keep a distance. Of about a thousand yards. Between you and the ark. Do not go near it.

[43:37] Joshua told the people. Consecrate yourselves. Well think about that word. Consecrate yourselves. For tomorrow. The Lord.

[43:50] Will do amazing. Things. Among you. But today. Wait. I was visiting.

[44:01] In a home. A while back. In the conversation. For a minute. In the home. Turned to football. And the man. I was visiting. Said to me.

[44:11] Are you going to be watching. The big game. On Saturday. I said. I'd love to. But I'm not going to be able. To watch the big game. On Saturday. In my house anyway. Because I don't have. Sky Sports.

[44:23] He says. Hang on a second. He went over. To the unit. And he produced. This coupon. That he'd taken out. Of a newspaper. He says. I've got Sky Sports. But here's a coupon here.

[44:34] And it gives you. Three months. Of Sky Sports. For free. Would you like it? I said. Absolutely. Thank you. Took it. Put it in my pocket. Went home. Checked online. Trying to make sure.

[44:44] This offer. Was actually a valid offer. And to my delight. Yes. It was a valid offer. This is Thursday. Could I watch the game. On Saturday? Well when I clicked.

[44:56] And I read the terms. And conditions. I was dismayed. To discover. That I couldn't. Because the offer. Valid as it was. Couldn't actually be claimed. For another two weeks.

[45:06] Two weeks. I'm getting too head off. I'm saying weeks. Not weeks. The offer. Couldn't be claimed. For another two weeks. So.

[45:17] I had to wait. Before I could realize. The promise. And take hold of the offer. Claim it. In some ways. That was the situation.

[45:29] That Israel. Were in. At this point. They had God's promise. God's promise. Was clear. God's promise. Was reliable. Reliable. It was powerfully.

[45:40] Given to Joshua. It was a promise. Of victory. It was a promise. Of possession. Of the land. That they longed for. It was a promise. That was valid. And true. From the God.

[45:51] Who cannot lie. But it was a promise. That would only become. A reality. In God's time. And so.

[46:01] As Israel. Teeter. On the brink. Of the promised land. What Joshua. Says to them. At the start. Of chapter 3. Is not charge.

[46:12] But wait. Consecrate yourselves. For tomorrow. The Lord. Will do. Amazing things. Among you. What does consecrate mean? Well.

[46:22] If you want a picture of it. Go back to Exodus 19. We're not going there just now. We haven't time. But in Exodus 19. We're given details. Of what it looks like. For the nation. To consecrate themselves.

[46:33] They were called to. Consecrate themselves. Before God would. Speak to them. In the Ten Commandments. But essentially. To consecrate themselves. Meant that they had to.

[46:44] Dedicate themselves. They had to devote themselves. To the Lord. They had to be set apart. From this world. They had to be set apart. From the sin. That was. So plaguing them.

[46:55] And they were set apart. For the Lord. In anticipation. That in a powerful way. He would meet with them.

[47:08] And he would deal with them. And so Joshua's order. Was not charged. It was. Be consecrated. And it wasn't actually.

[47:20] A complicated instruction. It wasn't a difficult thing. Technically. That he was asking. The people to do. But put yourself.

[47:31] In their shoes. As they stand. Seeing. Almost able to touch. The land. That they had so. Longed for.

[47:42] With their confidence. High. With their courage. Levels. Up. They were set to charge. But actually.

[47:54] Wait. Was the hardest thing. That. They probably. Could have been asked to do. And still today.

[48:06] I think this remains. One of the hardest things. That. We are called to do. If we are here. This morning. And we are Christians. It is easy. It is easy.

[48:16] To be on the move. It is easy. To be busy. It is easy. To do things. For God. In inverted commas. But it is so difficult.

[48:28] To wait. Upon the Lord. And yet. That is what God. Called them to do. On that day. And that is what. God calls us. To do.

[48:39] On this day. He calls us. To wait upon him. And spend time. In his presence. And to be set apart. From the world. And set apart.

[48:49] From sin. And set apart. With that intent. That we will. Meet with him. And worship him. Every day. That is our calling. But especially today. This is the Lord's day.

[49:01] And we are called. As we sang in the psalm. To wait upon him. You ever give someone a gift.

[49:15] You have taken a wee bit of time. You have thought about what. Would be good for them to have. Something that they would appreciate. Or something that you expect. They would appreciate. So you go out.

[49:25] And you choose it. And you spend your money on it. You go to their house. And you hand over the gift. Maybe. They are wearing a shabby jacket. All the time.

[49:36] You think. He has a nice jacket. So you buy them a nice jacket. Maybe they are always giving you. Horrible coffee. You think. They could deal with a nice coffee machine. They like coffee. So you give them.

[49:47] A nice coffee machine. And then the next time. You see them. You go to their house. They are still wearing. A shabby jacket. And they are still. Offering you the horrible. Decaffeinated coffee.

[50:00] You know. You take the time. To give them the gift. But they never. Actually take the time. Themselves. To benefit from it. Don't you think.

[50:12] That the Lord. Must sometimes. Look at us. As we charge around. On his day. Or maybe just as we sleep. Through his day.

[50:25] Don't you think. He must. Look at us. And think. Why won't they use the gift. That I gave them. Because the Lord's day. It's a gift.

[50:38] He's given it to us. And we should see it that way. Why has he given us. This gift. It's because he knows us.

[50:51] It's because he knows. That we need it. You know. One of the things. I've learned. In the man's garden. Over the last week or so. Is if you rev a chainsaw. For too long.

[51:01] Without oil. It doesn't work well. Starts to smell. Starts to kind of. Slow down. And if you persist. In revving a chainsaw.

[51:13] For too long. Without oil. Calm you relax. Your chainsaw is fine. If you persist. In revving a chainsaw. For too long. Without oil. It will break. It will seize.

[51:25] The engine. It needs oil. Now if we don't take. The Sabbath rest time.

[51:36] That God has set. Aside. For us. We become like. The dodgy chainsaw. If we are not being. Anointed. With.

[51:49] The Holy Spirit. As we. Take time in God's presence. Each day. And especially today. We become. Ineffective. We become. Tired.

[52:00] We become. Worn out. We become. Broken. And so we need. Daily. And in a special way. Weekly. To be revived.

[52:13] To be strengthened. To be. Prepared. For what. God has set out. Before us. Just ahead of us. In the week. We need to stay.

[52:26] You know. When I was preparing. This message. It was Thursday morning. And. I went out. Mid morning. As instructed. When the washing machine. Came to an end. To hang out.

[52:37] The washing. So I was hanging out. The washing. And literally. Just 30 yards. Ahead of me. There was a seagull. And it was a wild.

[52:48] Blustery day. And this thing. Was just. Soaring. Not a movement. In the wings. Just soaring. Effortlessly. And I took my mind.

[53:00] Straight to. Isaiah 40. In relation to all these things. Says there. They that wait upon the Lord. Shall renew their strength. They shall mount up.

[53:12] On wings. Like eagles. They shall run. And not be weary. They shall walk. And not faint.

[53:22] Israel. Were so close. The temptation. Was the charge. But before.

[53:32] They could enter the land. That God. Had promised to them. They had to wait. And today. Let's just take that. Simple application. Myself first.

[53:43] Because ministers. Are some of the. The biggest. Guilty culprits. In terms of not taking. Sabbath rest. Let's be encouraged.

[53:54] Today. To use. God's gift to us. Of his day. To spend time with him. To wait upon him.

[54:06] To listen to him. To speak to him. To be with him. Not just the hour. But the day. So that's the first point.

[54:19] It's a calling. That they had. To wait. The second point. That we have. This morning. Is we hear. Joshua's calling. And that was a calling.

[54:30] To leave. He led them to wait. But he would soon. Lead them. To proceed. And we see that. From verses 6.

[54:41] Through to verse 9. In particular. Joshua said. To the priests. Take up the ark. Of the covenant. And pass on. Ahead of the people. So they took it up. And went on ahead of them.

[54:51] And the Lord said to Joshua. Today I will begin to exalt you. In the eyes of all Israel. And so they may know. That I am with you. As I was with Moses. Tell the priests.

[55:01] To carry the ark. And the covenant. When you reach the edge. Of the Jordan's waters. Go and stand in the river. Joshua said. To the Israelites. Come here. And listen. To the words.

[55:12] Of the Lord. Your God. Joshua. Joshua's calling. Was a calling. To lead. It was a calling. That went back. To chapter 1.

[55:22] And verse 6. Remember. Chapter 1. Verse 6. Joshua. Is told. By the Lord. Be strong. Joshua. Be courageous. Because you will.

[55:34] Lead these people. To inherit the land. I swore. To their forefathers. Together. And so. Joshua. Knew. From the second. That God. Took hold of him.

[55:44] With this. Special mission. That his calling. Was not a calling. To. To stand back. And to be passive. But he had a calling. To lead. So Joshua.

[55:56] Knew. His calling. Was a calling. To lead. But think about. The million people. That were gathered. Around him. Some of whom. Would have been saying. Joshua. We changed Joshua.

[56:07] As an atheist. We've seen Joshua. Since he was that size. We know about. Joshua's faults. We're all too familiar. With Joshua. Moses. Now he was something.

[56:19] With Joshua. The likelihood. Was that. There would have been. Those present. Amongst the children.

[56:30] Of Israel. Who may have. Lacked confidence. In Joshua's. Leadership skills. Joshua himself. Needed. A whole lot more. Reassurance. Than Moses did. And that lack.

[56:42] Of confidence. May have. Gone through the camp. And if you have. A nation. Who lacked confidence. In the one. Who is leading them. We have problems. We see that.

[56:54] In different realms. Of life. Think about politics. When a party. Doesn't believe. Their leader. Is fit. To lead. The whole party. That party. Starts to. Fall apart.

[57:06] Think about. Corby. Labor. We see it. In battle. We see it. On a sports field. A platoon. Or a team.

[57:17] They need to have. Confidence. In their leader. To be able. To perform. And. To work. Effectively. And so.

[57:27] What the Lord. Does. In that context. Is he starts. To lift up. Joshua. He starts. To exalt. Joshua. In the eyes. Of all the people. So that they.

[57:38] The people. Will have faith. In Joshua. As a leader. The Lord. Says to Joshua. Verse 7. Today. I will begin. To exalt. You. In the eyes.

[57:49] Of all. Israel. How do we feel. About that. If it was the prayer meeting. I would ask you. I'm not going to ask you.

[58:00] Just now. But let me tell you. When I read that verse. On first reading. It kind of bothers me. Today. I will begin.

[58:10] To exalt. You. Joshua. The man. In the eyes. Of all. Israel. Now. The idea. Of Joshua. Or any other man.

[58:21] Being exalted. And lifted up. And set on a pedestal. That bothers me. Why does it bother me? Because. The only one. I want to see. Lifted up. On a pedestal.

[58:33] Is Christ. The one. Who said. That when he. Is lifted up. He will draw. All people. To himself. As they should. Be drawn. Because he is.

[58:43] The king of kings. And he is. The lord. Of lords. But. What's the point. On having. Joshua. Or you. Or me. Or anyone else.

[58:55] Lifted up. Seems pointless. So what's God doing here? Why.

[59:05] Does he say this. To Joshua. Well. God says this. To Joshua. Because. In. Exalting Joshua. He was actually.

[59:16] Exalting. Himself. And his own. Glory. And his own. Word. Was becoming. Focused. The focus.

[59:27] Of the people. Today. Verse 7. Says the lord. I will begin. To exalt you. In the eyes. Of all. Israel.

[59:38] Why? So they may know. That I am with you. As I was. With Moses. God wanted.

[59:49] To lift Joshua. And as Joshua. Came into focus. As he was. Elevated. Joshua. Did not. Point himself.

[60:01] Point the cameras. To himself. Joshua. Didn't say to the people. Look at me. Joshua. Took every. Opportunity. To say to the people. Look at God. God. As Joshua.

[60:13] Has handed the microphone. Joshua. Does never. Take the. Opportunity. To say. Well let me. Give you my. Thoughts. On the matter. Joshua. Takes every. Opportunity. To say.

[60:25] Not his. Words. But God's. Words. Verse 9. Joshua. Said to the Israelites. Come here. And listen. To the words. Of the Lord. Your God.

[60:35] God. Joshua's name. Means. The Lord. Is. Salvation. And Joshua.

[60:47] Was called. To lead. But Joshua. Led the people. Not to himself. But he. Led them. To God. Joshua.

[60:57] Took every. Opportunity. To lead the people. To the God. Who could. Save them. And that's my calling. As your minister.

[61:10] And that's the calling. Of every preacher. Who will ever stand here. Or anywhere. That's the calling. Of the office bearers. Of this congregation. Yes.

[61:21] We have been called. To lead. But leadership. Involves. Very simply. Pointing people. Past ourselves. And to Christ.

[61:32] Christ. Leadership. Involves. Speaking. Not. Of ourselves. But speaking. Of Jesus. So if I were.

[61:45] Give you my. Thoughts. On cooking. Or football. Or sports. Or whatever. Feel free. To bend. I've no business. Doing. But if I speak.

[61:56] To you. About Christ. Listen. If I say. Let's open. Let's open. God's word. And listen. To what God is saying. Listen. I was preaching.

[62:08] In Kamali. A couple of weekends ago. And. They've got this beautiful. New church. And there's a lectern. A fancy lectern. And inscribed. In the lectern. Where you just.

[62:18] Cannot miss it. It says. We want to see Jesus. Jesus. The text. From Acts. We want. To see.

[62:29] Jesus. We don't want to see you. We don't want to see anyone else. We want to see Christ. And that's a great reminder. For every preacher. Who'll ever stand there.

[62:41] But it's also a necessary reminder. For every Christian. Christian. You. If you're a Christian. Are called to be an ambassador. For Christ. Christ. Every one of you.

[62:54] You are called. To point people. And lead people. Not to yourself. But to Jesus. So are we doing that?

[63:08] If people were to look at our lives. And say. What. What is it they. They guide and direct us to? What do they. Use their sphere of influence for? The answer that should come back is.

[63:21] Well. They're always pointing people to Christ. Are we using our lives? Are we using our words? Does our example.

[63:33] Point people. Not to ourselves. Not to another. But to Jesus. The Lord is salvation. Are we pointing people.

[63:44] Christians. To the Lord. Who can. Save them. The only one who can save them. And that's the calling of the church too.

[63:56] Obviously. The collective group. Not to speak of ourselves. Not to talk about some brand. Or denomination. Speak about Jesus.

[64:07] Jesus. So. First point is to wait. Second point is to lead. Third point. Finally. And quickly. Is. They were called to.

[64:17] To follow. And as we. Read on the chapter. We saw that. After waiting. After consecrating themselves. For Israel. Now was the time. We've been waiting.

[64:29] And we've been waiting. We've been standing. Coming closer to the edge of the diving board. And now is the time. This was the moment. For all the people of Israel. To follow the God of Israel.

[64:41] Into the land that he promised. This is where the promise becomes reality. This is where faith. And things unseen. Becomes.

[64:52] The visible reality. So the people follow. As they're called to. And there is two things to note. In conclusion. As we see them follow.

[65:03] First of all. As they follow. They receive assurance. The assurance doesn't come before. It comes as they follow.

[65:16] Now put yourselves. For a moment. In the shoes of Israel. They had the promise from God. It had been given to them. And emphasized. And re-emphasized. And. They had it.

[65:28] Emphatically. They had had a good report. From the spies. Who'd been in the promised land. They had a leader. Who they trusted. But as they looked out.

[65:39] They still saw the raging torrent. Of the Jordan River. And as they looked out. They could still think about. These warrior people. The Canaanites.

[65:49] The Hittites. The Hivites. The Perisites. The Girgashites. The Amorites. The Jebusites. They were all against them. So they still had these people. To face. And my guess is.

[66:01] If I was one of that camp. I would still be sweating a fair bit. At the prospect. Of all. That stood between me. And the reality of the promise. But God said.

[66:14] To Joshua. Follow me. Trust me. And Joshua said. To the people. God has said.

[66:26] Follow him. Trust him. And when. Verse 13. You set foot. In the Jordan. As waters flowing downstream.

[66:37] Will be cut off. And will stand up. In a heap. How would that happen? We think. If you were in the camp.

[66:47] You'd be thinking. How could that possibly happen? How could the water. Stand up in a heap? How can this torrent. Go from this. To dry land?

[67:01] That's a question. I think. That would have been natural. For them to ask. But it wasn't. A question. That they were called. To study. All they were called. To do.

[67:13] Was take one step. In faith. And God. Would do the rest. And. This is not hard.

[67:23] To apply. Because I believe. That there will be. A number of people. Here. Many people. Here. Whom God. Is calling.

[67:33] To take. A step. In faith. And there are. Some people. Here. Who have been. Looking at. The Jordan River. For year. After year. With every passing year. It seems to flow.

[67:44] Faster. And be wider. And more formidable. And God says. To those. Whom he is calling. Don't look at that. Don't look at the Jordan.

[67:56] Don't listen to the roar. Or. Look to me. Listen to my call. Upon your life.

[68:07] And don't look at your life. And the mess that your life is. Don't look at yourself. And all the things that you can't do. Look to the cross.

[68:20] Look. To Jesus. And all that he has. Already done. The Lord Jesus. Is salvation. And he lived for us.

[68:32] Sinlessly. And he died for us. In our place. And he rose from the dead. And he is the one. Who says. Follow me.

[68:44] Take a step. Take a step. And follow me. Give your life to me. He says. To the one. Who is not yet a Christian. Submit.

[68:57] Give your life to me. Take the step. Oh. But what's going to happen. With this and that. And the next thing. Forget that. Forget how God's going to do it. All in your life. Just take the step.

[69:11] Stand up for me. Perhaps he's saying to others. You've been mine for years. And you're still under the radar. But if I stand up. And if I profess my faith.

[69:22] There's going to be this. And the next thing. And then that one. And this one. What are they going to say. And what's this one going to think. Dismiss that. Take the step. Maybe he's calling some.

[69:35] To be a bit more brave. Than we are. Speak a word in our family. Speak a word in our. In our workplace. And we're saying. Well. If I do that. There's going to be this.

[69:45] This implication. This ramification. There's going to be trouble. How's it going to work. Never mind that. Take a step. Open your mouth. Maybe he's taking hold of somebody.

[69:58] In a specific way. And calling them. To some specific ministry. And you're saying. I can't do it. How could I do it? And the Lord says.

[70:09] Take a step. And when you do. Then. You will receive the assurance. Until you do.

[70:20] You'll be dithering. And working things out. And trying to engineer things. In your mind. But when you do. As Israel did. It's mid-step.

[70:32] That the assurance came. We never get. Assurance. This side of the Jordan. We always get assurance. Mid-step.

[70:44] As we step forward. Individually. As we step forward. As a congregation. It's then that God. Meets with us. And if he can make the Jordan River.

[70:57] Stand an end. I'm pretty sure. He can deal with your worries. And mine. So trust him.

[71:07] Follow him. There's the assurance. They receive mid-step. And there's the amazement. That. Overtakes them.

[71:18] As. They survey. All that God. Actually did. Which was just. As he said. It would be. But there's ten minutes.

[71:28] Of a sermon there. For another day. Let's close in prayer. Amen. Heavenly Father.

[71:44] We thank you. For your word. We thank you. That you're the God. Who calls us. To. Receive. Salvation. And Lord. We thank you. That we receive. That salvation.

[71:55] Not. By our own endeavors. But by. Obedience. To your call. And we ask. Lord. That we would. Follow you. As you call us. And as salvation.

[72:06] Is offered. We pray. That we would not. Overthink. All the complications. Of what it will mean. To be. Your child. But Lord. That we would simply. Take your hand.

[72:17] And trust you. And follow you. And we thank you. For your day. We pray. That as we go. From here. That you would.

[72:28] Enable us. Not to. Waste the day. Not to. Fill it with. So much. That will distract us. From you. Not to waste it.

[72:38] By. Sleeping our way. Through it. But help us. We pray. To take time. To wait. Upon the Lord. And to find. That there is. Refreshment. And there is.

[72:49] Strength given. To all. Who will come. In that way. And help us. We pray. As we go. From here. Whether. As an individual. Or as a congregation. Or as those.

[73:00] From different congregations. Enable us. We pray. In our lives. To take every opportunity. That you give us. To point. Not to ourselves. But to point to Jesus. And we pray these things.

[73:12] In Jesus name. Amen. We sing to conclude. From hymn number 683. The words. On the screen.

[73:25] I hear thy welcome voice. That calls me Lord. To thee. For cleansing in thy precious blood. That flowed on Calvary. I am coming Lord. Coming now to thee. Wash me.

[73:36] Cleanse me in the blood. That flowed on Calvary. We'll stand to sing. Amen. I hear thy welcome voice.

[73:51] That calls me Lord. To thee. For cleansing in thy precious blood.

[74:04] That flowed on Calvary. I am coming Lord.

[74:14] Coming now to thee. Wash me and hear the blood.

[74:25] That flowed on Calvary. Tis Jesus calls me on.

[74:37] To perfect love. To perfect hope and peace and trust.

[74:50] For earth and heaven above. I am coming Lord.

[75:01] Coming now to thee. Wash me. Cleanse me in the blood.

[75:13] That flowed on Calvary. Tis Jesus to confirm.

[75:25] The blessed word. By God. By God. By God. In grace. To help.

[75:37] No grace. Wherein. The power. Of sin. I am coming Lord.

[75:50] Coming now to thee. Wash me and bless me. Wash me and bless me. Wash me and bless me. In the blood.

[76:00] That flowed on Calvary. All hail. Our atoning blood.

[76:12] All hail. Redeeming grace. All hail. All hail. The gift of Christ.

[76:23] Our Lord. Our strength. Our righteousness. I am coming Lord.

[76:36] Coming now to thee. Wash me. Wash me. Wash me. In the blood.

[76:47] That flowed on Calvary. And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the love of God the Father.

[76:58]  And the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit. Be with us all. Both now and forevermore. Amen.