1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,640 All right, well, many of you guys know that we are a part of 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,040 a network of churches and move of God really for that matter, 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,480 that began years ago. And one of our guest speakers 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,200 that been a part of the movement for since 1991. 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,400 So he's like an original 1. All right, so Oh yeah. 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,360 Scott, why don't you come up? Yeah, I was going to wait just 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:23,680 for a SEC. I was just going to introduce 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,680 you. But a lot of you guys know we 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,400 have, I think it's about 150 works around the world. 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:30,760 You've, you've heard me mention that many times. 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,000 We're actually going to go help some of our guys in Vancouver 12 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,760 this summer, Miami and, and in Baton Rouge this spring. 13 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,320 And so we've had many guest speakers over the years and 14 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,040 Scott and I just got to go to many different conferences over 15 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:45,920 the years. And I was looking and you guys 16 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,920 know I have this like this prophetic history, about 80 17 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,960 pages, single space, right? And just writing all these 18 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,800 different words that, you know, people have spoken over the 19 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,680 years. And I went ahead and looked up 20 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,760 one of them. And this is actually pretty cool 21 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,240 and very timely. In 2019, we were in in Hungary. 22 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:08,280 And one of the things he said was in 2019, you know, he's just 23 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,040 talking about citrus, citrus trees in Florida, which we 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,200 that's where we live off of, off of that street and in Oviedo. 25 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:20,120 And it said that you'll be harvesting citrus plants all 26 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,120 around the world. And it said praying for 27 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,520 protection over the frost of the enemy and also wisdom for us. 28 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,040 Oranges are not lab produced, but doesn't really they don't 29 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,560 really look pretty. If you've ever seen a flora 30 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,360 orange, it's like brown kind of ugly looking like mold all over 31 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,080 it. But they are they don't look 32 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,360 very pretty, but they're actually sweet and they taste 33 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:40,280 good. They're genuine. 34 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,080 And so and then just a few other words over the years and just so 35 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,000 thankful for fathers and mothers who could come in and and speak 36 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,320 over you. And not just in conferences, but 37 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,040 then to us personally, for Nicole and I for encouragement, 38 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,600 but also to encourage our church as a whole and what we're doing. 39 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,840 So we got to spend about 3 or 4 hours whatever yesterday and 40 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,920 over at the house and just got to hear his heart. 41 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,600 He's like I said, he's been with the network and the movement of 42 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,080 churches since 1991. Even before, you know, I was 43 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,120 officially called Antioch Community Church in Waco, TX, 44 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,560 which many of us, 85 of us are going this week to World 45 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,720 Mandate, which is going to be really exciting to be there. 46 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,640 And but he's, he's served in Africa for 21 years, Debuji, 47 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,560 Somalia and Namibia. He's the area oversight for all 48 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,800 of Africa. And so we're really thankful for 49 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,120 him and he invited us in already. 50 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,040 I was already getting excited. I was like, OK, we need to get 51 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,080 into Africa, as many of you guys have asked already. 52 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,640 So I'm already thinking for like in the future, next couple of 53 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:40,360 years of where we could go and be a part of that. 54 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,360 And so I'm going to have Nicole pray for him. 55 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,160 And then let's just receive what he has. 56 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,920 And you know, the whole idea of like, just to receive the 57 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:50,800 prophet's reward, right? We receive the, the word of God, 58 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,680 let it transform our hearts. Amen. 59 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,200 OK, here we go. All right, y'all want to stretch 60 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,040 out your hands as we pray for Scott? 61 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:02,920 Jesus, I thank you so much for Scott and his wife Jocelyn. 62 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:08,720 Lord, I thank you that they are a couple who runs to the battle, 63 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,240 that they do not sit in their comfortable lifestyle, but they 64 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,240 say yes to whatever you are saying and they they are willing 65 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:20,840 to lay down everything to go where you are calling them, 66 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,960 Lord, as you have called them back here. 67 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,800 Lord, I pray just for their hearts as they are grieving 68 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,480 actually living physically in Africa, but Lord, that you would 69 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,200 use them in a mighty and powerful way here in the United 70 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,400 States as they still oversee Africa from afar. 71 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,080 Lord, I thank you for the way that you have used this couple 72 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,320 in our lives just to be mothers and fathers as we have sat 73 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,960 around the table with them different meetings and just 74 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,600 enjoyed their wisdom. When we thank you that you give 75 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,520 wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 76 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,680 When I pray that the wisdom that you have given to him will be 77 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:05,680 poured up upon us this morning. Jesus, that we will learn and 78 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,800 fall in love with you more because of His words. 79 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:13,600 Lord, would you fill him up and fill us up and translate 80 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,200 everything that is being spoken to exactly what we we need to 81 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,839 hear this morning? We thank you Lord for your word 82 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,280 that it is active and alive and sharper than A2 edged sword 83 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,200 Lord, that we are going to lean and grow because of this. 84 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,680 In Jesus name, Amen. Amen, Amen. 85 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:39,320 Well, the rumors are true. It's been spoken far and wide 86 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:44,880 and for many years that Antioch Orlando does family on mission 87 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,000 better than any other church in the Antioch movement. 88 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,560 I don't say that to puff you up. I say it to encourage you and 89 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,000 actually you do it so well. I'm overwhelmed. 90 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:07,240 Not a whole lot overwhelms me, but when the Spirit of God is in 91 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:12,440 a place, I'm undone. So today I am so thankful to be 92 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:13,480 here. It's actually an honor and a 93 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,960 privilege because the Spirit of God is here and you guys are 94 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,400 setting the standard and setting the bar for family on mission in 95 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,120 such a great way. And so to be here with you today 96 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:28,240 is a true joy. It's actually such an 97 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,840 interesting thing because little background context is I'm a 98 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:37,680 Floridian. I would almost say I'm a native, 99 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,320 but that would be a lie. I'm kind of a native. 100 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,440 I was born in Georgia to Floridian parents, my mom from 101 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,640 Jacksonville, my dad from Miami, and when I was about 6 months 102 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,920 old, my parents left Georgia, came back to Florida, and they 103 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,680 moved back to Miami, as my grandfather used to say, because 104 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,120 he's an old Floridian. And if you know old Floridians, 105 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,040 they called it Miami, not Miami. So it's great to be here today. 106 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,600 Obviously, anytime I'm back in the Sunshine State, it's a 107 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,440 homecoming, even if it is a deep freeze Sunday. 108 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,120 The good news for me and maybe for you is that it's so cold in 109 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,040 here that I'm not going to lose you if I start rambling on too 110 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,640 much. You're not going to lose me 111 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,240 because I'm freezing. As John and I've been talking 112 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,480 over the last few weeks, he was sharing with me about the fact 113 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,720 that y'all have been focusing on the word of the Lord that we 114 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,880 have as the Antioch family. I think most of you know that it 115 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,080 might be up on the screen on the next slide. 116 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:37,040 And the word of the Lord for the next 5 year arc is families of 117 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,400 promise. We've already said Antioch 118 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,680 Orlando does family on mission so well. 119 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:44,240 So you're sliding in already so greatly. 120 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,640 Obviously the first one, 2026, is strengthen the family to 121 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,120 multiply. It's a beautiful word and I'm so 122 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:53,680 thankful that you guys are doing that. 123 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,200 And as I look out across the room and I look at the flags of 124 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,000 the nations and I hear about what you're doing to share the 125 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,080 gospel and build God's Kingdom not only here in Florida, but 126 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,520 around the nations of the earth. It's so encouraging to hear 127 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:09,000 stories about Colombia and every other place that y'all are going 128 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,320 and you've been to Europe and Japan and all these different 129 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,320 places. So a little fun fact though, 130 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,920 about the international application of the word of the 131 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,040 Lord is it's not something just for those of us here in the US. 132 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,360 It's a word for the whole globe because God's made the earth and 133 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,320 it's his his to possess because it's His creation. 134 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:31,200 So one of my real good friends is Pastor Dennis Acara, and he 135 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,120 lives in Antioch Gulu. He's the son of the movement 136 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:35,960 who's become a father in the movement. 137 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,400 It was a joy to have Dennis actually at our recent regional 138 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,400 conference for half of the Antioch movement overseas. 139 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,680 John, Nicole, why weren't you at that one? 140 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,040 You were in Thailand, but you didn't come to us next time. 141 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,800 But it was a great time and Dennis was able to join us. 142 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,400 And to have a Ugandan there as a son of our movement who, as I 143 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,520 said, is now a father, was just such a joy. 144 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,760 Now they've taken this word of the Lord and they've owned it in 145 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,400 such a way that earlier in this month, actually today is 146 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,240 February 1st, I think. So let me let me retract that. 147 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:11,520 In January they had a four day retreat for 45 different leaders 148 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,880 from all over Uganda, South Sudan and the Eastern Democratic 149 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,680 Republic of the Congo. If you look at the next slide, 150 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,480 you'll see this beautiful group and look at that black and white 151 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,800 Antioch A painted right on the building of Antioch Gulu. 152 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,880 It's just so fun and amazing to see that God is about his family 153 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:36,440 no matter where we are. So today, with that in mind, 154 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,440 John and I had discussed Acts 931. 155 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,240 Great verse. I think all of you know it. 156 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:43,840 We will read it in just a minute. 157 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,800 But as he and I were talking about it, it really became 158 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,480 apparent to me as as he was sharing what he, what he's been 159 00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:54,240 going through, what the series on spiritual warfare is all 160 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,040 about, that there's some key things there that God wants to 161 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,600 remind us of. There's a lot of this passage, 162 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,640 so let's just start reading it real quickly. 163 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,280 Acts 931 says so the church throughout all Judea and Galilee 164 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:10,280 and Samaria had peace and was being built up and walking in 165 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,680 the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 166 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,400 It multiplied. Very apropos for where we are. 167 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,640 A couple of obvious things stand out for for all of us, I'm sure 168 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,560 there was peace. The church was being built up, 169 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:30,480 they walked in the fear of the Lord, and they were comforted by 170 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,840 and in the Holy Spirit. And because of those things, 171 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,200 they were a setup to multiply. Most of this is pretty 172 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,160 straightforward, but one thing that really piques my interest 173 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,760 is that word and that sense of peace. 174 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,320 Because in actuality, it really wasn't a peaceful time. 175 00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:52,400 It was actually a tumultuous time that they were all going 176 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,360 through when those words were written. 177 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,720 You remember what happened just before this, just after 178 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,960 Pentecost persecution started. It began to culminate when 179 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,760 Stephen in Chapter 7 was stoned, and then in chapter 8 of Acts, 180 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,080 that's when God intervenes and he saves Saul. 181 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:15,240 Jesus appears to Saul on the Damascus Rd. saves him and 182 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,480 begins a whole new process of intervention and a course 183 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:22,840 correction which has LED us to the point we are today as the 184 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:30,640 people of God. So here in Acts 9 God imparts 185 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,240 His peace in the midst of persecution and chaos. 186 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,600 They were the spear tip of the New Testament. 187 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,760 They were leading the way for us, and what they faced was 188 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:45,440 actually spiritual warfare. So when Luke refers to peace, 189 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,240 he's not just talking about ooey, gooey feeling peace. 190 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,360 He's actually saying in the midst of chaos and trials, God 191 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,800 will give you peace for your souls and he'll give you 192 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,840 protection. And that's what we want to look 193 00:10:57,840 --> 00:10:59,960 at today. This is the kind of peace that 194 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:04,160 Jesus felt when he was in the boat when The Tempest was raging 195 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,520 and the disciples were freaking out saying save us, save us. 196 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:12,080 And he said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, relax, be calm, have 197 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,000 faith. I'm with you. 198 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,640 See, we're that family of promise, and that's the word 199 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,960 that we want to apprehend for 2026. 200 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,520 We want to live in a state of peace irrespective of the 201 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,720 turmoil that surrounds us. So as I was pondering what all 202 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,720 of this meant, the Lord really clearly led me to a passage in 203 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,640 the book of Joshua that I think provides a template for us to 204 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,760 live as the people of God, particularly in the face of 205 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,400 extreme challenges and in the potential to shrink back or give 206 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:46,280 up entirely from a crippling fear that we often don't see 207 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:50,040 when we read this passage. This is the extraordinary story 208 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:55,920 of the conquest of Canaan, of the promised land that God has 209 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,440 given us. And it shows how that plays out 210 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,680 in the book of Joshua. So let's turn to the book of 211 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:03,480 Joshua. And by the way, I'm going to 212 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,520 stay a little more tethered to my notes today. 213 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,320 The reason for that is I'm typically more of an all over 214 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:13,720 the show kind of person and more exhortative than expository. 215 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,000 So I'm really thankful that I've got this because I can use both 216 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,640 of my arms. You can see that I'm, I'm not 217 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,320 bashful about that, but I'm going to kind of tighten my Ted, 218 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,720 Ted talk circle today and stay a little bit closer here because 219 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,640 there's some things that I believe the Lord really wants us 220 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,280 to, to hear. And I don't want to get off 221 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:34,600 track as I'm prone to do. So let's let's turn to the book 222 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,480 of Joshua. And as we do, I want to set the 223 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,160 stage for where we find ourselves. 224 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,360 Israel's encamped on the eastern Bank of the Jordan River Valley. 225 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,920 They're awaiting God's next move. 226 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,800 So picture this for a minute. There are at least 1,000,000, 227 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,720 1/2, maybe 2 million Israelites that are on the eastern side of 228 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,040 the river, the rivers and spate. It's flooding, as it always does 229 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,080 this time of year. They're waiting on God. 230 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:02,440 The baton has just been handed to Joshua from Moses. 231 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,960 Moses has recently died. And the challenge that they face 232 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,560 is far more sinister. It's not just about going in and 233 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:12,800 taking over and colonizing a piece of land. 234 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:17,280 There is a very real sinister and fear provoking challenge 235 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,400 that lies before them. It's not the same thing that we 236 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,320 learned about in Sunday school, and I'll explain why in just a 237 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,080 moment. But as you'll see, they need 238 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:29,960 deep wells of bravery, of courage, and of peace. 239 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,560 You see, because God's rescue plan had started long before it 240 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:40,760 began at Babel, when Yahweh, the Most High God our Father called, 241 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,520 separated himself from the nation, scattered the nations. 242 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,800 And then he calls Abraham to be the heir of his blessing and to 243 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,800 be a blessing to the nations of the earth. 244 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,720 While the nations were scattered, scattered, God's 245 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,480 ultimate plan was actually to bring them all back in the 246 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,120 fullness of time. That plan was later threatened 247 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,880 by the gods of Egypt. It was threatened by 4 centuries 248 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,680 of enslavement. And Abraham's descendants, who 249 00:14:07,680 --> 00:14:11,040 in time came to be known as the Israelites, were ultimately 250 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,320 delivered through the story that we all know through the Red Sea. 251 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,920 But then what began was a period of immediate fear and immediate 252 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,000 disobedience that crept in. And for 40 years, the 253 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,680 consequences of that fear and disobedience was a wandering in 254 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,840 the wastelands of the southern deserts of what we know is the 255 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,760 Promised Land. So now here we find ourselves at 256 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:35,320 the beginning of the book of Joshua with Israel encamped on 257 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,440 these on these riverbanks. And here's what happens next. 258 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,520 Israel stands on the brink of appropriating the land of 259 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,520 promise, and they need courage and bravery to do it. 260 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,120 The task is literally impossible, as you'll soon see. 261 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,720 Why? Diving deeper in the story, we 262 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,520 see a few themes that permeate this entire saga. 263 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,640 So as we read this passage in just a moment, let these things 264 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,240 stand out for you. There's a promise from God. 265 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,520 There's an inheritance that must be appropriated and possessed. 266 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,880 There's extreme fear that could thwart everything that's meant 267 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,600 to happen. There's a call to complete 268 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,760 obedience in holiness and in action. 269 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:25,280 And there's a need to consecrate ourselves, consecrate ourselves 270 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,240 to the purposes of God if we're going to be able to walk any of 271 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,160 this stuff out. So let's read Joshua 1 verses 272 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,600 one through 9. After the death of Moses, the 273 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,720 servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, 274 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,080 Moses's assistant. Moses, my servant is dead. 275 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,480 Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this 276 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,440 people, into the land that I'm giving to them, to the people of 277 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:49,640 Israel. Every place that the sole of 278 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,160 your foot will tread upon, I've given it to you, just as I 279 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,800 promised to Moses. From the wilderness in this 280 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,960 Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all 281 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,280 the land of the Hittites to the great sea, the Mediterranean 282 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,280 toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 283 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,440 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your 284 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,440 life. And just as I was with Moses, so 285 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:14,680 I will be with you. I will not leave you, and I will 286 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,160 not forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for 287 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,560 you shall 'cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to 288 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,160 their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very 289 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:30,880 courageous, being careful to do all the of the law of Moses, My 290 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:35,160 servant commanded you. Do not turn to the right or to 291 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,240 the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 292 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,960 This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you 293 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,240 shall meditate it on it day and night, so that you may be 294 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,480 careful to do according to all that is written in it. 295 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,480 For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will 296 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,400 have good success. Have I not commanded you? 297 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:59,120 Here it is again. Be strong and courageous, Do not 298 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,960 be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God 299 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,720 is with you wherever you go. And then at the very end of of 300 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,480 the chapter in verse 16, which we don't have up on the screen, 301 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,520 they repeat back to Joshua showing that they get it, they 302 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,119 understand. And they said, echoing what 303 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,079 Joshua said, only be strong and courageous. 304 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:24,240 It's so important that we take heart into what's happening here 305 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,079 because there's a reason why God is saying that. 306 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:29,800 It's vitally important. God's reminding the Israelites 307 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,960 of his promise to multiply them and prosper them. 308 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,800 He says they'll be with them. He demands again complete 309 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,760 obedience. And most interestingly, he says 310 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:44,000 this, be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid, only be very 311 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,320 strong and courageous. He says it four times just in 312 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,480 chapter 1. These Hebrew words he says, the 313 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,480 Lord says and are used only seven times in this way 314 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,120 throughout the entire Old Testament. 315 00:17:56,360 --> 00:18:01,080 So why then is God saying this four times in chapter 1 alone? 316 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,720 I would say it means it's important, and God does this 317 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,800 because, as I said, it's vitally needful, because you'll see what 318 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,400 awaits the Israelites in Canaan, and they knew it. 319 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,680 We don't see it at front isn't this version that we're taught 320 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,600 in Sunday school. But the forces of evil that are 321 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,800 aligned against the purposes and plans of God are waiting for 322 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,640 them on the other side of the river. 323 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,880 They're natural forces and they're supernatural forces. 324 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,120 And I promise we will circle back to what I'm saying here, 325 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:31,800 but I'm just wetting our appetite. 326 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,800 So this is our little intro into what's to come. 327 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:39,240 Everything will become clear and it has everything to do with 328 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,200 spiritual warfare. Chapter 2 goes on to tell the 329 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,280 story that we all know about the two spies. 330 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,240 They go into Jericho. Jericho is a massive fortified 331 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,200 city that we know from biblical texts as well as other 332 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,800 historical sources was actually a very sinister place with some 333 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,560 very sinister origins. But we know what happens there. 334 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,400 The spies go in, they're protected by by Rahab, and then 335 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:05,280 when they come out, we move into this pivotal scene in chapter 3 336 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,840 where Israel consecrates themselves. 337 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,800 So let's look at chapter 3 verses one through 10. 338 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,480 I'm going to read this together. Then Joshua rose early in the 339 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,680 morning and they set out from Shateem and they came to the 340 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,520 Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and they lodged there 341 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,320 before they passed over. At the end of three days the 342 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:26,880 officers went through the camp and commanded the people. 343 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:29,600 As soon as you see the ark of the Covenant of the Lord your 344 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,400 God being carried by the Levitical priest, then you shall 345 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,400 set out from there from your place and follow it. 346 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,000 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2000 347 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,360 cubits in length, that's about 3000 feet. 348 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,080 Do not come near it, in order that you may know that the way 349 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,920 that you shall go, for you have not passed this way before. 350 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,320 They need to rely on their father. 351 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,560 Then Joshua said to the people, Consecrate yourselves for 352 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,320 tomorrow. The Lord will do wonders among 353 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,840 you. And Joshua said to the priest, 354 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,720 Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people. 355 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,880 So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the 356 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,920 people. Then the Lord said to Joshua, 357 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:14,760 Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that 358 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,440 they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 359 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,800 And As for you command the priests who bear the ark of the 360 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,440 covenant, when you come to the brink of the waters of the 361 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,840 Jordan, you shall stand in the in the Jordan River. 362 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,240 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, come here and listen to 363 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:34,440 the words of the Lord your God. And Joshua said, here is how you 364 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,520 shall know what the living God is doing among you, and that he 365 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:41,040 will without fail drive out from before you. 366 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,200 This is important. The Canaanites, the Hittites, 367 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:48,760 the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites and 368 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,200 the Jebusites. These people represent something 369 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,840 to be feared, which is why God says be strong and courageous. 370 00:20:56,120 --> 00:20:58,080 So let's let's stop here for just a minute. 371 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,600 God says to Israel, consecrate yourselves. 372 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,280 What does that actually mean? When we consecrate ourselves, it 373 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,680 means we're dedicating ourselves to a sacred purpose. 374 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,320 We're setting ourselves apart. We're devoting ourselves to 375 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,240 something sacred, especially devoting ourselves irrevocably 376 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,840 to the worship of God. It's this. 377 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,520 It's essentially A solemn ceremony. 378 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,080 It's a decision that we make. So consecrate yourselves is a 379 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,680 common phrase that's used as a command throughout Scripture. 380 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,480 We see it a lot, which again means it's very important, and 381 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,920 it always comes as a means to prepare ourselves to follow the 382 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:43,080 Lord in complete obedience or in preparation for Him to do 383 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,120 something that will glorify His name. 384 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,840 Wonders among us. Consecrate yourselves for 385 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,080 tomorrow. The Lord will do wonders among 386 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:52,920 you. So I can promise you at the 387 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,960 moment, the Israelites knew the importance of consecration 388 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,560 because they knew what we don't know. 389 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,520 They knew what they were facing and how impossible the task it 390 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,320 was. And this is where things get 391 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:04,880 really interesting in this story. 392 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,840 Most of us don't understand what was actually happening here 393 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,960 because there's layers of truth hidden in plain sight. 394 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,840 But what's happened is since the Middle Ages, really since the 395 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,440 5th century, the Word of God in these stories have been 396 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:23,080 sanitized in demythology so that we miss something of gravity 397 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,960 that's actually taking place. So I'm going to take a big step 398 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,400 out on a limb right now because in many ways this is a very 399 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,360 complex subject and it's not going to be a long tangent, but 400 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:36,960 it is an important one. And we only have time to scratch 401 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,600 the surface today. So just please bear with me, but 402 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,280 I have to ask. I'm going to trust you to trust 403 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,640 me and to follow the train of thought here because it gets a 404 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,680 little bit weird. So what stood in the way of the 405 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:55,880 Israelites and in the land of Canaan included very real, very 406 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,640 literal giants. These aren't the so-called 407 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:05,200 giants in our lives that are so common in self help books or in 408 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,720 watered down sermons. These are the real thing we're 409 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:12,840 talking about. Real, voracious, devouring, 410 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:19,720 rapacious, depraved 8 to 15 foot giants who along with their 411 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,640 little G gods have rebelled against our Father. 412 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:27,520 And they have corrupted the nations that stand before Israel 413 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:31,520 and therefore threaten God's plan and purpose for His 414 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:34,680 families of promise. Now, I'm going to assume that we 415 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,000 all know that there was a remnant in Israel of giants 416 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,280 because we know about David and Goliath. 417 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:46,720 That story is about a giant who is leftover from a remnant of 418 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:49,560 earlier giants that we find ourselves looking at here in the 419 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:53,240 book of Joshua. Just to back this up a little 420 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,360 bit, we see in Second Samuel 21 and the First Chronicles 20, 421 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,680 they talk of several more brothers of Goliath actually 422 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:04,960 that were left after his demise. Then we see in Numbers 13 it 423 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:09,240 refers to the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, or the Anakim, a giant 424 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,720 himself. And this is when the 12 spies 425 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:16,880 went in to the land of Canaan, and only Joshua and Caleb were 426 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,800 men of courage and bravery. The rest were so frightened that 427 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,320 they led Israel in rebellion which had consequences because 428 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:29,280 it resulted in 40 years of wandering aimlessly in the 429 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,760 wilderness. And all of them of their 430 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:36,120 generation except for Joshua and Caleb died in that wilderness. 431 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,760 Deuteronomy 2 and other passages talk about the Raphaim, another 432 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,760 catch all name, kind of like the Nephilim, which was used for 433 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:46,280 giants. Then there were the wicked kings 434 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:51,120 Sihan and Aag of Bashan. They're spoken about in Numbers 435 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,640 21 and in Deuteronomy 3IN detail. 436 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,280 And actually they were so important. 437 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,960 If you look through the Psalms and many of the prophets they're 438 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:01,760 referred to again, which shows that these were important 439 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,520 figures. These were important stories in 440 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:08,960 the whole history of Israel that needed to be remembered because 441 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:12,960 the threat had been so grave. Agav Bhashan, just as an 442 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,080 example. We knew about how big he was 443 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,080 because he had a bed that was 15 feet long and seven feet wide. 444 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:24,320 But somehow the church and all of her modern pomposity has 445 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,680 conveniently sanitized many of the Old Testament scriptures and 446 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,280 turn this story of Goliath as though it was some kind of lone 447 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,920 occurrence into a nice Sunday school story. 448 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,320 Point made on that. So if I haven't lost you 449 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,680 already, you're probably asking where do these guys come from? 450 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,800 We know from the scriptures that they somehow are connected to 451 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,840 the Nephilim of Genesis chapter 6 pre flood giants whose 452 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:54,040 rebellion and depravity was so grave that God flooded the 453 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:58,520 entire earth to destroy them. Now this hybrid abomination was 454 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,640 was really the primary reason for the for the for the flood 455 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,400 happening to begin with. But somehow they reappeared 456 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,200 again, which is a mystery after the flood, as we see here in 457 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,000 this particular scenario. I've got my own thoughts and 458 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,200 theories on why this happened, but there's tons of theologizing 459 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,560 and speculation about it. We're not going to get in the 460 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:21,960 weeds too much today, but be that as it may, there were 461 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:26,640 giants in the land who are hybridizing with or consorting 462 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,360 with these tribes that are named in the book of Joshua. 463 00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:35,760 The Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the 464 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,360 Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites collectively, 465 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:43,160 along with several other names of giant type tribes that are 466 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,040 mentioned elsewhere. These were all the enemy who 467 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,760 stood in the way of God's redemptive plan. 468 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,400 But the point of this isn't really the giants themselves, 469 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:57,280 it's the fact that we need to understand this so we understand 470 00:26:57,360 --> 00:27:01,760 how amazing and extraordinary this story is, and that when God 471 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:07,560 said I'll be with you and be strong and courageous, he meant 472 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,760 it when God gave Israel the law through Moses. 473 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:16,720 The prohibitions that we find in Leviticus 18 and Deuteronomy 12 474 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,680 are deliberate and purposeful. We see in those particular 475 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:25,000 chapters that God commands the Israelites not to get into the 476 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,320 things that the land of Canaan is so famous for. 477 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,640 They were defiling the land because of their sexual 478 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:37,080 immorality, homosexuality, bestiality, incest of all sorts. 479 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:41,120 They were sacrificing their children to their little G gods 480 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:46,320 and to their they were, they were, according to historians, 481 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:50,200 even practicing cannibalism. This is actually all in the 482 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,240 Bible. I'm not making this stuff up, I 483 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:54,960 promise. We've just often been programmed 484 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:58,200 not to see it. But for me, when I look at this, 485 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:00,800 it actually makes our God so much bigger. 486 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,040 He's not just this most high God, this Yahweh that we read 487 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:08,440 about. He is mighty and powerful and he 488 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:12,400 is meant to be worshipped. And he and his purposes and his 489 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:17,200 plans have been threatened by a sinister, rebellious plan that 490 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,160 the that the original rebel, who we call Satan, instigated long 491 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:25,080 ago. The promised land was crying out 492 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,440 because of this defilement and because of all these atrocities. 493 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,720 And God's goal was to cleanse the land from all of it. 494 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:36,120 So as horrible as it all sounds, I do see some very eerie 495 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:39,120 similarities with things that are happening in our earth 496 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:42,640 today, right now, in this world. In the end, there's really 497 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:44,440 nothing new under the sun, is there? 498 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:50,760 It's just been recycled and reanimated, and it's still 499 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:52,560 things that oppose the living God. 500 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,320 So now we're starting to see why consecration was so important. 501 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:59,440 We need to set ourselves apart. We need to dedicate ourselves to 502 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:03,080 the sacred purposes of God, which is why he commands 503 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:09,400 consecration in Joshua 3. And this is absolutely integral 504 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,760 in spiritual warfare, consecration, which leads us to 505 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:15,680 another problem, and that's the obedience problem. 506 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,920 Because if we're not fully obedient to God, then we can't 507 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,000 align up. We can't align according to his 508 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,240 purposes. So God continued to warn his 509 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,600 people, be holy as I'm holy. He knew that Israel would be 510 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,200 tempted to drift and a whore after the gods of the nations. 511 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,360 Those are his words. And that's exactly the trap that 512 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:39,320 Israel would actually fall into from time to time, cyclically 513 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,560 over the ensuing centuries. So I'm going to fly through this 514 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,440 part and read a few scriptures so that we see the importance of 515 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:49,480 complete obedience because God calls the Israelites to go in 516 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,640 and wipe out all of the rebellious, defiling nations. 517 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:57,760 But over and over again, they delude themselves into partial 518 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,480 obedience and blatant disobedience. 519 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,000 We've seen the Israelites consecrate, consecrate 520 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,240 themselves, then they cross over the Jordan and they muster the 521 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,680 courage to engage in all of these battles before them. 522 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,640 A lot of it happens in these in these next several chapters. 523 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:17,480 It it starts at Jericho. We know the story there, so I'm 524 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,200 not going to go into all those details. 525 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,120 But then they go through decades long battles through the land. 526 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,880 Sometimes it just happens so quickly, Chapters 4 and on that 527 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,080 we don't realize how long this actually took. 528 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,480 The sin of Akan takes place at the battle of AI, and in Chapter 529 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:38,200 7 he disobeys, he keeps some of the spoils, deliberately 530 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,600 disobeying the commands of Joshua and actually from God. 531 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,600 And there was severe consequences to him and his 532 00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:47,080 family. They end up dying a very brutal 533 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:49,880 death. The Israelites drive out many of 534 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,800 the wicked Canaanite tribes, but not all of them. 535 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:56,640 So here's a few examples. Joshua 1122. 536 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,640 There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people 537 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,040 of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath and in 538 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,280 Ashdod did some remain. So some did remain, but the 539 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:09,120 Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah 540 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,480 could not drive out. So the Jebusites dwell in with 541 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,520 the people of Judah at Israel to this day. 542 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,880 Again, disobedience. Joshua 1610. 543 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:22,040 However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in in 544 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:24,520 Gizer. So the Canaanites have lived in 545 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:28,040 the midst of Ephraim, one of the tribes of Israel to this day, 546 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,400 but have been made to do forced labor. 547 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:34,960 Yet the people of Manasseh, this is in Joshua 1712 through 13. 548 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,720 Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those 549 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,640 cities, but the Canaanites persisted and dwelling in the 550 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:42,680 land. Now, when the people of Israel 551 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,560 grew strong, they put the Canaanites to force labor, but 552 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:49,920 did not utterly drive them out. All of these remnants actually 553 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:54,960 became a snare to the Israelites for centuries, and they suffered 554 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,880 the consequences of it. They were disobedient. 555 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:02,360 And if we're not careful, our disobedience leads to the same 556 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:07,400 kind of consequences hundreds of years later. 557 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,440 This is one example. We see what happens with King 558 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,480 Saul. King Saul is commanded by the 559 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,440 Lord to destroy the Amalekites. And you guessed that the 560 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,200 Amalekites were one more of these remnants that lived on the 561 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,160 borders of Israel that were a bloodthirsty people. 562 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:27,080 Actually, the name Amalek or Amalekites is blood liquors 563 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:32,600 because they were purported to be in many of the Hebraic extra 564 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,440 biblical texts and historical texts of that time. 565 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,600 They're purported to be cannibalistic. 566 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:41,320 Again, these are things we don't see on the surface, but they're 567 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:42,800 actually right there in front of us. 568 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:48,680 So Saul is disobedient, He deludes himself, He takes the 569 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:54,760 spoils. He takes King Agag back to the 570 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:58,360 royal palace and then Samuel the prophet shows up and is 571 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,840 absolutely livid because of Saul's disobedience. 572 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:02,440 Samuel could see right through this. 573 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:08,160 So Samuel actually hacks Agag to pieces and you think, how could 574 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,320 Samuel, a man of God, be so brutal? 575 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:17,720 Well, again, lest I get into the weeds too much, the king of Agag 576 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:20,920 was an evil, horrible man committing horrible atrocities. 577 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,120 So I think we can give Samuel a pass for that. 578 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:27,200 But then he prophesized to Saul. Saul, there are consequences for 579 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:31,640 your sin and disobedience. You have lost your throne and 580 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,000 you have lost your Kingdom forever. 581 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:39,760 God intercedes, but there are consequences for Saul and 582 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:42,960 friends. God doesn't play. 583 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:49,200 When His Holiness and the fate of His people are at stake, He 584 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,480 doesn't play. Stay with me for just a minute. 585 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,680 I promise we're going to land this plane pretty soon. 586 00:33:55,600 --> 00:34:00,880 One last thing we learned both in Acts 931 and in the Joshua 587 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:05,360 story is that in the midst of all these trials, God wants us 588 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:08,800 to know His peace even in the midst of this kind of spiritual 589 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,400 war. And this is good news. 590 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:16,600 Joshua 1123 says this. So Joshua took the whole land 591 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:20,320 according to all that the Lord has spoken to Moses, and Joshua 592 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,800 gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal 593 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:25,480 allotments. And here's the important point. 594 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:32,719 And the land had rest from war. Think back to Acts 931. 595 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,840 They were in the midst of persecution and yet there was 596 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:41,960 still peace happening in the same way much more to the story 597 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:44,239 lay before them. If you read the rest of Joshua, 598 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:46,520 you see, and I, and I hope you do read this when you go home 599 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,520 some point this week, that the whole land wasn't actually fully 600 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,480 subdued until much later. It wasn't conquered yet. 601 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:57,680 But somehow, as is the way of God, he brings peace in the 602 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,240 midst of the war. He brings breaks in the midst of 603 00:35:01,240 --> 00:35:05,640 the war between the battles, and He offers that peace and 604 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:09,560 protection as only His Emmanuel presence can give us. 605 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:14,280 I want to turn to a familiar Psalm again, the Psalm that we 606 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,360 all probably know but has some hidden gems in it. 607 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:21,880 Psalm 23 says this, Speaking of peace and protection. 608 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:25,960 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 609 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,560 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 610 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,320 He leads me besides still waters. 611 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:35,080 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of 612 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:36,920 righteousness for His name's sake. 613 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:43,080 Listen here, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow 614 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:47,000 of death, I will fear no evil, for you're with me. 615 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:49,120 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 616 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:54,040 Like so many familiar passages in the Bible, There's a deeper 617 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:56,640 meaning here. The valley of the shadow of 618 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:00,480 death is actually a real place. David knew it when he wrote this 619 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,120 Psalm. But somehow, through the sands 620 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,200 of time, we've lost the meaning. The Valley of the Shadow of 621 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:10,640 Death is the Jordan River Valley north of the Sea of Galilee, 622 00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:14,160 which it pours into. It runs from the snows of Mount 623 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:18,440 Hermon in the north, through the old land of Bashan, where King 624 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:23,080 Ogg of Bashan ruled, held sway, and had defiled the land. 625 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:28,680 In this dark and sinister valley of the shadow of death, even to 626 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:31,880 this day and certainly in David's time, there are what's 627 00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:35,440 called dolmens. Dolmans are stone tombs. 628 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:41,040 These were the these were the tombs of the ancient kings that 629 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:45,200 were evil and had defiled the land in the days before the 630 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:48,840 Israelites came. This was a place that was feared 631 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:51,200 in David's time when he wrote this. 632 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:58,080 You might be familiar with places that conjure up images of 633 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:00,720 this if you're a fan of JRR Tolkien. 634 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:03,480 In The Hobbit, it's a bit like Merkwood Forest. 635 00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:07,280 Or in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it would be like the 636 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:11,600 minds of Moria or the Dead Marshes or Minas Morgul. 637 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:16,160 Places that were in their minds haunted, where you wouldn't want 638 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:19,880 to go because the spirits of evil were so pervasive. 639 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:24,520 So when David writes this Psalm, he's saying even though I walk 640 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:28,880 through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil 641 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,440 because you're with me. The peace that only the Spirit 642 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:35,480 of God can give in the midst of the darkness and spiritual war 643 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:37,520 is that kind of peace that David refers to. 644 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:44,600 Friends, the fact is that until the trumpet sounds, we are a 645 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,920 people at war. John's going to be unpacking 646 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:51,040 this more and more. He's going to give you a lot 647 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,080 more practicalities. But I think setting this stage 648 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:57,920 and setting this foundation and coming to the reality that we 649 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:01,800 are not a people of of rest. We are a people who are 650 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:06,480 privileged to have rest. But as CS Lewis says, he frames 651 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,160 it this way. He says enemy occupied 652 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,000 territory. That is what this world is. 653 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:16,400 Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, 654 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:22,440 you might say, landed in disguise, Jesus, and he's 655 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,920 calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. 656 00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:32,760 So for us as believers, this campaign of sabotage is fueled 657 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:36,720 by a few things. It's fueled by love, It's fueled 658 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:39,960 by faith. It's fueled by obedience. 659 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:44,840 It's fueled by courage and by continual consecration. 660 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:48,560 So let's take a moment to consecrate ourselves today. 661 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:56,720 As I think about this, and I prayed about this, God has given 662 00:38:56,720 --> 00:39:00,320 us this amazing privilege to consecrate ourselves on a 663 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:04,080 regular basis through taking the Lord's Supper together. 664 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:10,880 Communion with Jesus our Lord is the time that we take to set 665 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:15,400 ourselves apart, to say, Lord, we dedicate ourselves to your 666 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:19,240 service. You've called us to be holy as 667 00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:22,120 your holy. What does that look like for us? 668 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:25,600 You've set us free from the bondage of sin and death. 669 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:30,160 You've indwelled us with the Spirit of the Most High God. 670 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:33,960 You've invited us to be your friends. 671 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:40,480 You've invited us to be warriors for your Kingdom, so the ushers 672 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:42,760 are going to be coming up, and we're going to take a moment 673 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:48,160 today to consecrate ourselves through Holy Communion. 674 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:59,880 As I've thought about it, and as I said, I was undone by the 675 00:39:59,880 --> 00:40:04,000 presence of God earlier. I didn't really share much of my 676 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:05,920 story today, but I'll share this right now. 677 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:15,120 I'm 55 as of a month ago, and for all of my adult life since I 678 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:24,960 was 18, to the best of my meager ability and through many 679 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:34,880 failings, I've said yes to God. I said it as a single young man, 680 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:40,920 I said it as a husband, I said it as a father, and I say it 681 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:45,640 today as a grandfather. And maybe let's say today I'll 682 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:49,920 say it to all of us to invite all of us to this consecration 683 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:54,360 table today as a father in the House of our Antioch family. 684 00:40:56,440 --> 00:41:02,560 So As for me in my house, we get that from Joshua, don't we? 685 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:09,880 As for me, in my house, we will serve the Lord as John and 686 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,920 Nicole and the rest of your team walk through the practical 687 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:19,760 aspects of spiritual warfare before we appropriate and 688 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:22,800 possess the promises that God has given us. 689 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:28,760 As a people of God here in Oviedo, in Greater Orlando, in 690 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,920 the state of Florida, and throughout the nations of the 691 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:36,840 earth, we need to be prepared for the battles that lie before 692 00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:41,320 us. There is so much onslaught in 693 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:47,000 our world today that will cause us, as the Scripture says, very 694 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,360 graphically to poor after other gods. 695 00:41:52,680 --> 00:42:01,480 That's a horrible thing to consider, Hebrews 1039 says. 696 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:08,640 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but 697 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:12,800 of those who have faith to preserve our souls. 698 00:42:14,920 --> 00:42:17,360 So as we take the Lord's Supper today, and I think you guys know 699 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:21,160 how to do it, as I understand it, you'll go to the sides and 700 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:26,160 then filter down as you go back to your seats and you think 701 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:29,560 about these things and what it means for you personally to 702 00:42:29,560 --> 00:42:32,720 dedicate yourself to the holiness of God, to get your 703 00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:37,520 hearts right. Meditate on the blood of Jesus 704 00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:44,560 that washes us from our sins, regenerates our spirit, and 705 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:48,640 grafts us into the family of God, the family of promise. 706 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:55,000 He's worth it because we're not of those who shrink back. 707 00:42:56,600 --> 00:43:00,760 So, Lord, I just want to pray as this begins and you guys can be 708 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:03,480 getting up and starting to take communion. 709 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:07,200 Lord, I pray over us today as the people of God. 710 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:14,640 We are a family of promise. We are what Israel has become, 711 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:21,600 the church. We say, Lord, we love you, we 712 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:25,800 want to worship you. Lord, even though we've delved 713 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:31,760 into some maybe graphic strange imagery, I pray today, God, that 714 00:43:31,760 --> 00:43:36,080 we see these things in light of the fact that we're not meant to 715 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:39,760 be fixated on the enemy. No, no, no. 716 00:43:40,360 --> 00:43:43,320 But we need to know who the enemy is so that we know how 717 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:50,120 great and wonderful and good and powerful and loving you are. 718 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:57,120 There is a task at hand. That task starts with being, not 719 00:43:57,120 --> 00:44:01,480 with doing so today we want to be in your presence. 720 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:04,840 We want to be a people consecrated to the purposes of 721 00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:08,600 the most high. So I pray father from for my 722 00:44:08,600 --> 00:44:14,440 friends here, my family here. Whether you're here with your 723 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:19,520 own family, whether you're here in a life group, get with 724 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:24,960 someone, hold hands, put your arm around somebody's shoulder, 725 00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:31,360 and consecrate yourselves in a place of not just individualism, 726 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:34,760 but in corporateness as the family of God. 727 00:44:37,120 --> 00:44:41,040 Jesus, we are so thankful that you are mighty and strong. 728 00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:42,880 We are so thankful to be your people. 729 00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:51,920 There is none like you. Spirit of God, glorify Jesus 730 00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:55,080 right now as we consecrate ourselves in your name.