21 January 2007: OUR CORNUCOPIA OF CHOICE – The Fruit To Eat In Our Temporal Wilderness!
TOPIC: Providence; death, eternity, fruit, provision, reality, sanctification, walk
TEXT: Joshua 5:12
CONCISE OUTLINE:
It seems foolish to spend precious time and anxious energy (Df. – “greatly concerned … respecting something future or unknown) over the things of this world.
The principle is this: “things above” always trump “things of this world.”
The Scripture says on the day we eat of the fruit of the Promised Land we will no longer eat the old corn. No, in fact we won’t even recall the taste of the old meal or suffer under its insufficiency.
Israel's wearying wanderings were all over. Their promised rest was under foot: no more moving tents, no more testing, no more fiery serpents, no more giants, and no more dusty, dirty desert; they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate.
God lifts His hand of provision from us when we take our eyes off Him … maybe not in a way we can see but He will discipline us if we don’t discipline ourselves.
Perhaps this year, this will not be your case or mine.
But God rests His hand of provision upon us when we fix our eyes on Him … maybe not in a way we can immediately discern but He blesses us if when we discipline ourselves.
Perhaps this year, this will be your case or mine.
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What might our fruit be in this earthly wilderness of ours?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. A JOY-FILLED HOPE
Is it well with your soul?
RELATED LINKS: The SHEEP'S CRIB
TEXT: Joshua 5:12
"The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, so they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year."FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What ought our fruit be in our earthly wilderness?
CONCISE OUTLINE:
I. A JOY-FILLED HOPETRUTH/CONTEXT: The manna eaten in this life will cease once with the first nibble of eternity’s provision.
II. A FEARLESS ASSURANCE
III. A FORETASTE OF GLORY DIVINE
IV. A PRESENT REALITY
It seems foolish to spend precious time and anxious energy (Df. – “greatly concerned … respecting something future or unknown) over the things of this world.
The principle is this: “things above” always trump “things of this world.”
The Scripture says on the day we eat of the fruit of the Promised Land we will no longer eat the old corn. No, in fact we won’t even recall the taste of the old meal or suffer under its insufficiency.
Israel's wearying wanderings were all over. Their promised rest was under foot: no more moving tents, no more testing, no more fiery serpents, no more giants, and no more dusty, dirty desert; they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate.
God lifts His hand of provision from us when we take our eyes off Him … maybe not in a way we can see but He will discipline us if we don’t discipline ourselves.
Perhaps this year, this will not be your case or mine.
But God rests His hand of provision upon us when we fix our eyes on Him … maybe not in a way we can immediately discern but He blesses us if when we discipline ourselves.
Perhaps this year, this will be your case or mine.
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What might our fruit be in this earthly wilderness of ours?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. A JOY-FILLED HOPE
A. A Joyful Life is Ours, Should We Desire ItII. A FEARLESS ASSURANCE1. Jesus says we are to …"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”2. Then Paul defines the Kingdom of God with …Matthew 6:33“The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”Romans 14:17B. An active and liberated faith will bear authentic delight1. The rest which remains for God’s people (the prospect of being with Jesus for all eternity) is a soothing expectation
2. To expect this indescribable glory is a double delight (sounds like a new 31 Flavors)
A. Unbelief trembles in fear on Jordan’s eastern shore; that Jordan which yet rolls between us and Beulah LandIII. A FORETASTE OF GLORY DIVINE1. But let us rest assured Christ has removed all threats from before His childrenB. A remnant will tarry on earth this year, to continue in service for our Lord.“I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”2. Let’s drive out every apprehensive thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy in the certain knowledge we just might be "forever with the Lord" this year.Romans 8:38-39[FEAR] Some years ago, a circus act with Bengal tigers was broadcast live. The trainer entered the cage to do a routine performance. The door was locked behind him. The spotlights highlighted the cage, cameras moved in close, and the audience watched in suspense as the trainer put the tigers through their act. However, in the middle of the performance, the lights went out! For 20 or 30 seconds the trainer was locked in a dark cage with Bengal tigers, a whip and a chair. The tigers could see the trainer, but he could not see them!We don’t have a whip but we do have a sword …
After the event was over, in an interview, the trainer was asked how he felt while in the cage. He admitted to an initial fear, but then he pointed out the tigers did not know he could not see them. He said, "I just kept cracking my whip and talking to them until the lights came on. They never knew I could not see them as well as they could see me."If this is your lot, there is no reason why Scripture should not be true for you …"We who have believed do enter into rest."Hebrews 4:3
A. The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritanceIV. A PRESENT REALITY
B. There the heirs are secure; so are we who remain & persevere
C. There they triumph over all enemies, here faith is our victory
A. The heavenly host enjoys communion with their LordAPPLICATION/CHALLENGE: We should get our minds off the manna of this world, of this wilderness experience, and get them onto things above, the things of Christ, the Bread of Life.
B. This isn’t forbidden to us1. they rest in His love; so do weC. This year we will gather eternal fruit on this temporal rock
2. they have perfect peace in Him; so should we
3. they sing His high praises; so do we
4. and they count it a privilege to bless Him; so should we
D. Yet, as Peter says, if our faith and our hope are not in vain, our wilderness is like a garden planted by Living Water
[LOOK] You are familiar, no doubt, with one of the most famous paintings ever done by any artist: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, that classic portrayal of Christ and the twelve apostles at the table.Again Jesus said we are to …
Many art historians believe the painting, when first created, was somewhat different from the version which we now see. There was initially, it is believed, an exquisite lace border on the tablecloth.
Upon completion, as the story goes, da Vinci invited a group of his students to view the masterpiece; they were immensely impressed by the delicate lacework. They praised it a great deal.
Seeing the reaction of these young men, the artist took up a brush and obliterated the lace. Then, with uncontrollable furry, he shouted, "Now, you fools, look at the face of Christ!"
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”Oh my friends, that we might know the Holy Spirit more; that He might forgive us our aversion to Him, overlook our fearful acknowledgment of Him, and cleanse us of our powerlessness in spite of His constant attendance to us.Matthew 6:33
Is it well with your soul?
RELATED LINKS: The SHEEP'S CRIB
GENERAL TAGS: Homiletics, Preaching, Sermons
SPECIFIC TAGS: Death, Joshua, Providence, Reality, Sanctification
SPECIFIC TAGS: Death, Joshua, Providence, Reality, Sanctification
Labels: Sermons
posted by John Gillmartin at 4:20 PM
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