Do you know what they studied when they ‘searched the scriptures’? – What we would call the Old Testament. Now what is interesting is today, there are many who are under the impression that since we now have a ‘new testament’, that we no longer need God’s incredible presence and power working amongst us. They will even tell you that God’s spirit no longer even works in the powerful ways that it did back in the early church since we have the gospels and the epistles. Some will even suggest we have no need to really even read or study or find any relevance in the writings of old.
Yet, in the NT, Peter tells us to “Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets...” (2 Pet. 3:2). In fact, take a look at what he preached there in Acts 3 after a crowd gathered to hear him following the miraculous healing of the lame beggar there at the temple in Jerusalem. He told those who were listening: “Yes, all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.” (24) And to add emphasis of how serious this was, scroll back up to vs. 22 and read what he shares from Moses who pointed to that day when Jesus would be raised up, and please go underline what we are told in vs. 23. What did it say would happen to ‘every soul who will not hear Him in all things’? (Does that not sound like a serious warning to you?)
If you have time this morning, why not make a quick stop there in Luke 24. There are two pretty amazing passages as to what God does with this Word when we are disciples. (Not just ‘church members’ or ‘marginal believers’). The first passage is in verse 32. Jesus had just left those two disciples in Emmaus and they marveled over how Jesus had “opened the Scriptures to them”. Then take a look at vs. 45 where Jesus had met again with the original twelve (minus Judas) and “He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”
Since we are on this track...may I offer a few more? I’ve mentioned in times past how in the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13, Luke 8, Mark 4) Jesus gathered alone after that sermon with his ‘disciples’ who were puzzled by his message and asked about it. He was more than happy to explain it to them telling them that “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” (Mat.13:11). In other words, if you are not a ‘disciple’, (one who has turned his heart totally to Jesus and are abiding in Him), this ‘word’ is nothing more than a good collection of ‘bible stories’ where one can glean some good moral lessons, interesting historical information and entertaining illustrations of days gone by in bible times. Is it any wonder as to why so many would rather spend hours numbing and filling their minds with everything this world has to offer in place of...God’s word? It’s closed to them. (Matt. 11:25)
One more: Look what little nugget Acts 16:14 offers up for us: “A certain woman named Lydia heard us...she worshipped God...and the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” Now...the ‘word’ is likened as a ‘seed’ in multiple places. (Mark 4:14) Let me ask you this: What is needed for a woman to conceive a child? – A seed. Look at Genesis 30:22 – “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb...and she conceived and bore a son.”
Anyone having a ‘Holy Spirit Moment’ and seeing a pattern here? :- ).
Remember my ‘note’ earlier about ‘receiving the word’? You might want to look at 1 Thess. 2:13 and 2 Thess. 2:10-11 and see if you can draw a line of distinction there. (No, really...go do that now.)
So when Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he made extensive references to the account of Israel leaving Egypt, traveling through the wilderness (where most were destroyed) and explaining why they suffered so. He gives multiple accounts as to how they sinned and what occurred as a result. But it’s these statements in 10:6 and 11 that should be highlighted in your bible where Paul says that ‘these things became our examples...and were written down for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
All that ....to take us back to our study in Joshua 5-6 now. God led the people in to take down Jericho under the direction of Joshua. We talked the past two days how there was a total commitment of the people to follow and obey God as was demonstrated by an ‘outward sign’ of dealing with that ‘flesh’. Then God leads them to their first victory where it is quite apparent that it is God who does the work and they just ‘get in on it’. The walls came crashing down and victory was had by the people. Oh, you might be reminded from chapter 6 there that the people were told to destroy all and to not give in to temptation to steal or take any of the ‘accursed things’ from that city.(18). Did they listen? Of course not. Read 7:1.
When God begins a new work of revealing Himself and His plans to His people, there are key points He tends to underscore and drive home. We would do well to heed these lessons stressed over and over and over. From your readings of the New Testament, what are we told happens with a ‘little leaven’ that remains in the loaf? (Gal. 5:9; 1 Cor. 5:6). If you have yet to catch on to this little sidenote yet...God is pretty serious about this ‘sin issue’. He did not tell folks to ‘go and sin less’...he told them to ‘sin no more’. (John 5:14 and 8:11). Paul admonishes how ‘these things should not even be named among the saints’ (Eph. 5:3) and that we should not be making what kind of ‘provision for the flesh’? (Rom. 13:14)
I will let you read Joshua 7 on your own but you will see where Achan took some of the ‘accursed things’ and hid them in his tent. It may seem like just a little insignificant thing to most...Satan has a way of convincing us when it comes to those ‘little sins’. You know...God understands...you are not perfect...everybody does that...and God is a ‘God of Love’ so just try harder next time.
“Hath God said?” (Gen 3:1)
The Israelites learned real quick what happens when we think we can casually dismiss the warnings of God. They got their ‘rear ends handed to them’ when they launched off to take on their next foe, this ‘little town of Ai’. In fact, they were a little over confident now after their victory at Jericho. When they came whimpering back like a dog with its tail between its legs and Joshua got on his face broken needing answers quickly, God did not play around with them. He told him to ‘Get up!” (7:10-11) because there was sin in the camp and He wanted it dealt with right then. You can read all about it there in that chapter. But please make note of vs. 12 now. Here is a good verse to be reminded of daily...when there is ‘sin in the camp’ or ‘hidden in the tent of your heart’, you will never be able to stand against your enemy and will be doomed to destruction’.
Who is our ‘enemy’ today? And how does Peter describe him and what he does? (1 Pet. 5:8). What does Paul admonish us to not do in Eph. 4:27?
Did we not make the case how God lays down fundamental truths...and warnings when He embarks on doing a new thing in us? What lesson did the early church learn in Acts 5:1-11? It’s the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Peter called them out asking why did they allow “Satan to fill their heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” (3) Do you think vs. 11 describes the modern church today?
Final Thoughts for this morning: When Mary was first informed of God’s plan for her to bare a Son, she responded “Let it be to me according to your Word”. (Luke 1:38). She ‘received’ the word. We are told in Luke 2:19 she ‘kept/hid these things in her heart’. We are going to allow one of two ‘seeds’ to be hid in our heart. Both will produce two different outcomes. Go finish up with Ps. 119:11 and have a blessed day.
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