I wonder if you've ever had a day full of, like, a bunch of
hard work, like strenuous or mentally fatiguing that during
the day as you're going through it, or maybe even a season that
you're in, You're daydreaming about the end of the day, right?
You're in the middle of the muck, but you're thinking about
the end of the muck. Anybody.
So, like, you're out in the yard.
It's hot. It's sweaty.
You're working, you're grimy, you're filthy, and you're
thinking about the. Ice cold shower and the even
colder glass of lemonade and some chips and salsa that just
seems right. Like something salty after
you've been sweating a lot, right?
Am I the only one? Am I the only one?
Chips and. Salsa, OK?
Praise God. See you at 2 E's later.
And the best part? Like what I really?
Think about is like cool, clean, crisp sheets at the end of the
night, the fan blowing. Falling asleep.
The right kind of exhausted not. Weary just.
Exhausted. It's like crossing the finish
line while you're in the race. I don't know if you're ever a
runner. I was a runner in high school,
and I was. Terrible at it.
Like, really bad. I need a Hot Pocket go run 800
meters which is only twice around the track.
But after like the first 10 steps, I'm already thinking
about the end. True story, but I'm so glad.
Then I get to the end. I puke out my hot.
That the race is over. Done.
And what we're discussing today is this kind of idea that we've
been daydreaming for the finish line for so long.
Here at Illuminate Church it was. 11 years we've been in
existence. Today's message is called.
Victory in the promised land. It's that feeling at the end.
Of the race when you cross the line.
And what happens there? God wanted at the very beginning
to make His name famous, just like we do.
And when I say that we want to make the.
Name of Jesus Famous. I'm not talking about
popularity. I'm not talking about fame as.
The world knows it. What I mean?
Is that every heart in our region would.
Think of Jesus first kids at night when it be clamoring for a
movie. Or this or that people in their
homes that they're thinking about.
Jesus. It's the lens through which
everything comes. Through it's What gives life and
what gives hope? What gives purpose to every
person and that's how the name. Of Jesus becomes famous, I'm
not. Talking about a popularity
contest, right? God wanted the same at the
beginning, that everybody would know His name, know His power,
know his love, know his. Will for their life.
That they can live in peace with God.
He wanted that to happen. So what did God do?
He has to plan where he. Chose a certain group of people,
and he gave them a certain. Place right?
That people were called the Hebrew people or they eventually
called the Israelites or even today called the Jews right?
This group of people got hand selected on the earth and then
he gave them a place and that place is called the promised
land. Everyone said promised Land,
also known as a Holy Land. Now it's known as.
Israel and we can talk about what the name of Israel means is
amazing, but essentially means God wins.
God perseveres in the end, the journey for the people.
Of God to get to this promised land was.
Arduous. Incredible.
It all started with Abram. I'm going to read out of Genesis
chapter 12, but I want you and your Bibles.
To go to Joshua Chapter 5, because we're really going to
spend time in Joshua chapter 5, but in Genesis.
Chapter 12. The selection of these people
begins with a man named Abram Verse, one the Lord had said to
Abraham, who becomes father. Abraham, who had many sons and
many sons, had. The Lord say to Abraham, go from
your country, go from your people, go from your father's
household to the land I will show you he's.
Picking the people and the place, I will make you into a
great nation. I, the Lord God, will bless you.
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you and whoever.
Curses you I will curse, and all peoples on the earth will be
blessed through you. God pick a people to bless so
that they could then bless the nations.
How Letting the nations. Know about the Holy One.
About the Lord our God, the King.
This is the plan. God's picking the people to make
himself known to all peoples, and he blessed the.
People that he chose. But as the story goes and and
listen, I'm going to fly through a lot of things and the.
Details aren't what necessarily matters here this morning.
I mean, we can. Talk details after service if
you want to. We can have a little.
Hang out and talk about them. Really, what I want you to
experience if we can. This morning is the long
journey. Of these people as they got to.
The Promised land. All right.
It starts with a man named Abram.
I got this little. Do we have the little family
tree thing here? Yeah.
Abrams up there, He has a son named Isaac, and Isaac has a son
named Jacob. And Jacob has. 12 Sons who
become the. 12 tribes of Israel. And while all this is going on,
the people have kind of moved and checking out the promised
land, it's called. Canaan at the time and while
they're there there's a massive famine and the.
Lord has already provided this is one of the details I just
don't have time to dive into. Today, but God saves them and
brings them down to. Egypt through one of the twelve
sons named Joseph. He's son 11 there and they get
to Egypt and they're saved from the famine and then they are in
Egypt. For quite a while I from from
the time of Abram to the time of Joseph saving his people in
Egypt is 220. Years, right, 220.
Years have passed. Just anybody want to take a
guess how many years the United States has been a nation?
Let me just do the math. 247. So roughly, the entire existence
of the United States of America has transpired between Abram
coming down and finally they end up in Egypt by God's saving hand
through one of. The sons of Egypt, our sons of.
Israel Joseph here, right? Jacobs, by the way, he's.
He's the one who gets his name changed to Israel when he
wrestles with God. And there's a bunch of details
I'm just. Flying through here.
So then they get to Israel, I'm, excuse me, Egypt.
And in Egypt they begin to multiply.
They become so numerous that Pharaoh puts them into slavery.
They are in. Egypt for 430.
Years. It's we say this number all the.
Time, But we don't really think about the meaning of 430.
Years nearly double the time of our nation.
They're there all combined so far.
It's been 650 years since Abrams been told I'm going to.
Bless you. And you're going to have a home,
the promised land. We've been waiting 11 years as a
church. Just so we're all together and
some of you that were in the church that was previous to.
This one have been waiting maybe. 20 I don't know, 600 and
50 years. And then if you know the story,
God sends Moses, Moses let my people go and Farrah lets them
go. There's a whole Passover thing.
Again, details. Incredible.
Details Amazing parts of the story.
They walk through the Red Sea. They get to the Jordan River.
When they're at the Jordan River, they have a faith crisis
and after 650 years they get turned around.
None shall enter. They wander around in the desert
for 40 more. Years 40, that's four times.
Roughly the length of. Our church's history they.
Wandered in the wilderness waiting to enter into the
Promised Land and. Then finally, 690 years after
Genesis chapter 12, verse one, the people of God enter the
promised land under Joshua's command.
We made it. Hallelujah.
Let's open some. Let's open some barrels of wine.
Let's eat figs, make tents and villages, and be a family.
I don't know if you read your Bible.
The first five books of the Bible.
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Due toronomy called the tour of the
Penituke, right? Then you get Joshua.
They enter the promised. Land and the first.
Thing. They have to do.
In the promised land is fight. Like for real, God, 690 years we
thought we're going to cross the finish line, kick back in a
hammock and be like. Peace out, homies.
But that's not what happened. You better know this truth.
Write it down. Enemies still lurk in a promised
land. Where we're headed as a church.
In just a few months, it's not a season to kick.
Back our. Heels and take it easy and say,
hey, we made it. It's been 11 years, right?
Look at 11. It's time to fight as soon as we
get to the promised land. Enemies lurking isn't just the
curveball of all curveballs. Like they cross.
Over the Jordan, and there in front of them is the oldest city
in civilization. Jericho May excuse me.
March of. 2025 come with me to Israel and you can see it for
yourself. It's right there.
Like, wait, this is it? Yeah, that's it.
We'll have lunch together. In Jericho, you just want to be.
There, okay. Just start saving your pennies.
That's all I'm telling you now. So you finally get to what you
think is the finish line you're. Ready to receive your reward,
And the Lord says Nope. You got to get back on the the
starting line and let's go again.
I don't know if you've ever felt this like, hey, once I get
there, then I'll be. Able to rest like if I just get
married all my problems are going to go.
Away if I just get divorced. All my problems.
Will go away. If I just get that new job, then
whoo. If I just get that raise, then
yeah. I just get that spiritual
breakthrough, then Whoo, go on that vacation.
Just got back from one enemy still lurking.
Just saying what you think is the promised land with the
promised land still has enemies. So while we're talking about the
ancient church and while we're talking about our today.
You can also use this in your. Own mind and heart.
There may be a season that you're wandering through and
you're want to get to the finish line, but just.
Be aware, beware. When you get to the finish line,
there's an enemy lurking there until we get to heaven.
Lord, may that come. In Jesus name.
I'm ready. Let's just go.
So I want. You to take.
A quick journey with me I'm going to look through.
The book of Joshua. Super quick.
Again, it's not the details that matter as much as the.
Journey Joshua Chapter One. The Lord gives the command of
the Israelite. People to Joshua, and he gives
him the confidence to command, he says to him in Joshua chapter
one. Not once, not twice, not three
times, but four times. Be strong and courageous one
time even saying be. Strong and very courageous.
Why would God tell Joshua to be strong and courageous unless
there was an enemy to fight? If you don't need courage, then
there's no enemy to fight. But God knew.
What he was about to face, so he says.
Listen to me Joshua 12244 times. Be strong and courageous.
Let God's word be true to us today to where we are headed.
What he wants from this? Church in this region, we need
to be strong. And very courageous.
Look at your neighbors. You sounded like you're talking
them up for a Checkers match. Say be strong be.
We're going to spiritual. Battle with the enemy, say.
Be strong. Be courageous.
You're going to. Need it.
The Lord knows Joshua chapter two, we get the story of Rahab,
this prostitute who's included in the.
Story of Jesus. Just think about that for a
minute. The chief of all sinners
included in the saving. Story of Jesus if Rahab can be
included. Then we certainly can be
included. A beautiful, wonderful,
incredible story. We ain't got time for that
today. Joshua Chapter 3 The Crossing of
the Jordan. While it's at flood stage, the
Elders put their toe in the water.
The water splits. They walk across Joshua.
Chapter four. I told you we're going fast.
The Lord says Hey. You're going to forget this
moment. So before the rivers close back
up, go in and pick 12 Stones stack.
Them up on this side so that when your children.
See them, you'll say. Yeah, this is when the.
Lord brought us out of the. This is a testimony, You know,
I've said it. Before we are fearful because we
are forgetful, but we're going to be faithful because we
remember. The good works of God.
In our life a little bit later and this fall we're going to
celebrate our time here at the high school.
We have a time of remembrance testifying.
To all that. God has done not forgetting the
season and what God is doing. That's going to happen a little
bit later on in the fall and then we.
Get to Joshua Chapter 5 and Joshua Chapter 6.
It's in Joshua chapter six we find a pattern that you can
find. All throughout Scripture, I'm
going to show it to you just a little.
Bit today, but if you look through the Old Testament and
then the New Testament, you'll see this pattern over and over
and over again. We.
See it right here in Joshua, chapter Five and six as they
enter the promised land. So let's learn it.
For as we enter our promised land.
We can do the same here. It is consecration, provision,
obedience. Victory.
Consecration, Provision, Obedience, Victory.
You say it consecration y'all still sound like you're.
At a checkers match or maybe like on the 7th.
Hole on a Thursday of a golf tournament we're talking about
taking out. The bully of the souls of the.
People in our region bringing him to his knees at the name of
Jesus. Something in you has.
Got to rise up with gumption. Like it did for Abram.
Like it did for Joshua. Like it did for the apostles.
Like it did for Jesus. Not on my watch, they all said.
And now the world. Looks at us as it says in
Hamilton. History has its eyes.
On you, on us, Joshua, Chapter five and six, Consecration,
Provision, obedience, victory, consecration, Comes in, Joshua.
Chapter 5 Verse two At that time the Lord.
Said to Joshua, make Flint knives and circumcise the
Israelites again. Not again, right?
Once there's enough, see what happened.
Is that the people who had been circumcised?
I'm going so fast. Let me back.
Circumcision was a sign of consecration.
Consecrating meaning to be. Separated out to the Lord.
I'm separating out. I've been a part of the world.
I've been touched. By The world of the world's gunk
is on me, but I'm stepping out of the muck.
And being set apart. To the Lord.
The Lord did that with the. Israelites through circumcision,
Those that have been. Circumcised died in the
wilderness those 40 years, and so those that entered into the
promised land had not been circumcised and the Lord said
it's time for consecration. Circumcised the Israelites
again. And so they.
Did that chop chop we all that fun provision?
Joshua Chapter 5 Versus 11:50. Watch this on the evening of the
14th day of the month. While camped at Gilgall on the
plains of. Jericho So they've crossed over
the Jordan River. They're on the.
Jericho's there, right? The Israelites celebrated the
Passover. Again, a great detail.
I'm just flying. The day after the Passover, that
very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened
bread, and roasted grain, the manna.
The day after they ate this food from the land, there was no
longer any manna for the Israelites.
But that year they ate the produce of.
Canaan for. 40 years they'd eaten this, this miracle.
Bread that showed up on the ground every.
Morning except for Sunday and it would collect it and manage.
Just meant. What's that?
What is that right? Is this sweet?
Kind of like honeycomb bread? And that's.
All they had to eat for 40 years except.
For some quail, occasionally. Right. 40 years of eating this.
They walk into the promised land.
They eat the. Passover meal and that very day.
The produce of the. Promised Land became theirs.
And they ate there full of it. God was providing for them
strength. For what is about to come, he
consecrated them then he provided.
For them. Then he asked them to be.
Obedient Joshua Chapter six Look at this March around the city
once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
Have 7 priests carry trumpets of Rams horns in front of the ark.
On the 7th day, March around the city 7 times, so they're going
to March 13 times in total with the priests blowing the trumpets
right. When you hear them sound a long
blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout,
right? Then the wall of the city will
collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.
Josh is like, all right, goes to the people, he said.
All right, we're going to take out the city.
They're like how? Well, we're all going to have to
join the marching band. Y'all been making fun of the
high school marching band for too long.
That ends today. In the name of Jesus.
It's the marching band that gets the victory.
Can I get an Amen? I played the trombone.
Anybody in the marching band? OK, this is our moment of
redemption right here, OK? Just OK, good God, you and I had
this moment. So, like, all right.
That's a that's. A terrible plan like we have.
All these fighting men and you want us to walk around the city?
For six days and on the 7th day, seven times.
And then we're going to blow a trumpet and we're all going to
yell. Boo.
And we're going to. Win and Josh is like, that's
what God said. And if God said it, we do it.
So get in line. And that's what they did.
And look what happens Joshua chapter 6 verse 20 when the
trumpet sounded. The army shouted, and at the.
Sound of the trumpet. When the men gave a loud shout,
the wall collapsed, so everyone charged straight in and they
took the city. Consecration, provision,
obedience to even something that sounds completely ridiculous but
God said it, and then comes a victory.
Do you see the pattern? Do you see the pattern?
Somebody say. Somebody's talked back to me.
Come on. Are you here?
Yeah. OK, good, good, good.
All right, it happens again. This same pattern you can.
See, with Jesus institutes the new promised land, the new
covenant that He gives us. The consecration comes in the
last. Supper, which signifies his
sacrifice for sins and salvation that separates.
People out who put their faith in.
Jesus and they have. This Last Supper.
Together, then, the provision comes at Pentecost.
Again, another detail, but let me just tell you Acts chapter. 2
The Lord sends the. Holy Spirit to the Church, the
Church has never been the same. The Holy Spirit is lifted up,
then obedience you can find it in the entire.
Book of Acts. You're talking about guys like
Peter and Paul, who are whipped and beaten, Stephen who is
stoned to death, the apostles taking the message of the.
Gospel out to everybody. Who will listen under great
persecution and threat of bodily harm, Yet they obeyed.
And the result is victory. What does Victory look like 2?
1000 years later, the church is still.
I'm on this platform preaching because of what Peter and Paul
obeyed 2000 years ago, right? This lasted 2000 years yet.
Have you done? You're about to.
I really believe it. I really believe it.
Consecration, provision, obedience, victory.
He picked the people. He picked the place.
And he gave them a mission. I want you to.
Know you can do this in your own personal life.
You can consecrate yourself to the Lord.
Set aside a season. Really the rest of your life?
To be holy. I'm not going to dabble with the
world, I. Want to be set apart I.
Want to be sincere in my prayer. I want to be.
Sincere in my devotion and the reading of His Word, Then you
look for provision, and you're most likely going to find that
provision right here in His Word.
This is the Bread of Life. Jesus Christ is the Word.
He is the Bread of Life. This is.
The bread, the provision. For us and then.
Obedience, we believe. Here at illuminate.
Church and Something called here believe, obey, he says it.
We believe. It's him saying it.
And now we just got to do it. Even if it sounds like marching
around the city and shouting, like, really?
Yeah, really do that. Trust God.
And then you will see. The victory, it's kind of a.
Simple but eternal formula that you can apply to your.
Life and as we. Approach the promised land.
It's what we're going to. Do together to.
Ensure that the bully of the souls of all these people who's
out. Here keeping them oppressed and
then sin will finally be broken. Through because my Bible tells
me that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen.
So. Here's what we're going to do.
Consecration. Well, it's going to start today
with communion. In just a few moments in the
middle of the service, we're going to practice holy.
Communion together to consecrate ourselves just as the disciples.
Did way back when. Not only that, but during our
soft launch series. We're going to do.
Some consecration. What's that?
Well, before the building is given to the world, we're just
going. To meet as a family there a few
times. The first time will be what's
called an anointing service. Everyone say anointing.
It'll be the very first service ever at the.
Brand new building. It's going to happen on a
weeknight. You're going to have to miss
work or just move everything, move heaven and earth to make
sure you're there. We're flying people in from all
over who work at churches, that's why.
It's not going to be on a weekend so they can get back to
their churches and I want you to be there for that special night.
As we anoint the building, we give it over to the.
Lord, and we ask for his anointing on everything that's
about to happen in that place. Then we'll have a couple Sundays
of soft launches where it's just us at the church.
Partly doing this whole consecration.
Bit and hearing about how we can launch the church successfully,
but also just to figure things out of the building like hey,
this toilet. Don't flush right or this check
in thing. Don't work right.
Or when we parked, I parked over this nail and we just want the
body. To communicate to us and say hey
this works great, this doesn't work.
Every business does soft launches, right?
You understand this concept? It's going to be wonderful.
We'll have Q R codes everywhere. You just point your phone and
say, hey, this is terrible. Thanks for the new.
Building We love you. We really do want your feedback,
but say it nicely. All right, promise.
OK, good. That'll be the consecration
provision for the campus. Is the provision.
It's a tool that God has given us to reach the region.
The name of the church went up on the building just this last
week. So now.
Everybody driving by knows that's a church obedience.
Will come in the plans that I'm about to reveal to you that God
has given us a strategy, a very clear strategy to saturate.
Our region with the Gospel and then VV looks like.
Finding abundant life in. Jesus, the Baptistry full of
people. Giving their life to God and
then following him. After I.
Believe in the same way that God picked a place and the people
from the very beginning, He's picked you.
From the four corners of the earth.
To be in this place as we take that promised land together and
we're going to see the victory of the Lord like we've never
seen it in this region, never in this region.