A Time To Remember
You remember the story of Joseph being sold to the Ishmaelites, who in turn sold him on the auction block in Egypt. After many years he introduces his family to Potifer, who invited his family to live there in Egypt. So he sent his chariots, to gather the children of Israel and bring them to live in Egypt. (I.E. the first bus ministry.) They had it so good, that they didn't need God any more and they did that which was evil in the sight of God. (Remember, what the devil can't do in poverty, he usually succeeds in prosperity.) So God allowed them to become slaves in Egypt until they finally turn back to God. God then, raises up Moses, and he, through the Holy Spirit, led them out of Egypt into the wilderness. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of rebellion, then came to the Jordan river, and Joshua led them across Jordan.
They came to Gilgal which became the place to remember. Then Joshua led the children of Israel through some great things, but he was getting old. But the whole time he led them, he made sure that they remembered where they came from and what God did for them. Even just before he died he calls them together to go over it all again. Then he dies. He had no Idea that he was about to die.
I hear too many people say “well I'll get saved later”, or I'll get right with God later.” You don't know if you will live to see later.Joshua didn't know that he was about to die when he said “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve” A few weeks ago we were coming back from church and got in a wreck that could have easily killed us. We didn't know it was going to happen. But it would have been great to be able to say I was in church right before I died.
Let’s read what the Bible tells us in Judges 2:8-13 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
We are told of January, which is said to have the highest suicide rate of any month. Why? Because we get on an emotional roller-coaster over CHRISTmas and New Years and when January comes, instead of thinking about the goodness of God, we look at the weariness of ourselves. We need to think of the things of God. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Did Jesus look at His situation and feel sorry for Himself? It also says in Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Can you say to people, mimick me and God will give you peace, or will you have to tell them like most others of us do? Do as I say, not as I do.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
What kind of things should I remember this year?
He descended that we might ascend. And I am not going to be afraid of heights on that day.
John 6:38-39 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Why will we rise out the ground? We won't need these bodies, we will have perfect ones, and we know that there will be no sin allowed in heaven. Is it maybe to dangle us before satan and say, you lose? Or maybe to say that we like Christ rose bodily from the grave like He did on that glorious Sunday morning?
He became poor that we might be rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.Understand that before God left heave to wrap Himself in flesh, He had everything; love, praise, servants, all of heaven. He came down to have nothing. His earthly parents (Joseph and Mary) gave Him a place to eat and sleep. Once He moves out He had nothing. Not even a tomb to be buried in.
He had no home on earth, so we might have a home in heaven.
Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
When He came to earth, he had no place to call home. He lived on the streets. But when we go to heaven, He will not treat us like that.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Let's review: What should we think of?
He descended that we might ascend.
He became poor that we might be rich.
He had no home on earth, so we might have a home in heaven.
They came to Gilgal which became the place to remember. Then Joshua led the children of Israel through some great things, but he was getting old. But the whole time he led them, he made sure that they remembered where they came from and what God did for them. Even just before he died he calls them together to go over it all again. Then he dies. He had no Idea that he was about to die.
I hear too many people say “well I'll get saved later”, or I'll get right with God later.” You don't know if you will live to see later.Joshua didn't know that he was about to die when he said “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve” A few weeks ago we were coming back from church and got in a wreck that could have easily killed us. We didn't know it was going to happen. But it would have been great to be able to say I was in church right before I died.
Let’s read what the Bible tells us in Judges 2:8-13 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
We are told of January, which is said to have the highest suicide rate of any month. Why? Because we get on an emotional roller-coaster over CHRISTmas and New Years and when January comes, instead of thinking about the goodness of God, we look at the weariness of ourselves. We need to think of the things of God. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Did Jesus look at His situation and feel sorry for Himself? It also says in Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Can you say to people, mimick me and God will give you peace, or will you have to tell them like most others of us do? Do as I say, not as I do.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
What kind of things should I remember this year?
He descended that we might ascend. And I am not going to be afraid of heights on that day.
John 6:38-39 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Why will we rise out the ground? We won't need these bodies, we will have perfect ones, and we know that there will be no sin allowed in heaven. Is it maybe to dangle us before satan and say, you lose? Or maybe to say that we like Christ rose bodily from the grave like He did on that glorious Sunday morning?
He became poor that we might be rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.Understand that before God left heave to wrap Himself in flesh, He had everything; love, praise, servants, all of heaven. He came down to have nothing. His earthly parents (Joseph and Mary) gave Him a place to eat and sleep. Once He moves out He had nothing. Not even a tomb to be buried in.
He had no home on earth, so we might have a home in heaven.
Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
When He came to earth, he had no place to call home. He lived on the streets. But when we go to heaven, He will not treat us like that.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Let's review: What should we think of?
He descended that we might ascend.
He became poor that we might be rich.
He had no home on earth, so we might have a home in heaven.