From Moses to Joshua, 2...

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I suppose it has been true throughout the history of the world that there have been numerous religions, and then a handful of people who really walk with God and hear from God. So it is today, in America at least, that there are millions of religious people, mostly Christians but also of other religions and sects.

But I think I am correct in saying that only a few people are walking with God and hearing from God. Sometimes these are referred to as a "remnant."

(October 3, 2010). If I am correct, we are at a very significant time in the program of redemption. The Bible seems to be becoming more clear. We can see several unscriptural traditions being emphasized, such as the doctrine that Divine grace is an alternative to growth in righteous behaviour.

In the first chapter of the Book of Joshua, God told the Israelites that they would possess every place they put their feet. This was confined to a specific area of land. So it is today. The current teaching that Christ did it all and our task merely is to believe is utterly false, and works against the continual pressing forward in Christ, which is the normal Christian experience.

An emphasis was placed on the fact that no enemy would be able to stand against the Israelite army. But they suffered two defeats: first, when Achan sinned; and then because Joshua did not pray when the Gibeonites came. Later they were not diligent to destroy all the inhabitants of an area, and, as the Lord told them would happen, they gradually fell into the ways of the Canaanites whom they permitted to live among them.

God would have given them total victory. But they did not have the faith to believe, and so they finally were overcome by the Assyrians and the Babylonians.

What a lesson that is for us today. We keep being told that it is not necessary, nor even possible, to overcome sin while we are in the world. We are trusting that physical death will be our redeemer and we will be set free to go to live in a mansion in Heaven. The result is, the churches in America are not strong enough to overcome the increasing immorality in our country. Even the ministers are falling into sexual sin.

No enemy possibly can stand before us when we are following the Lord Jesus Christ and obeying him perfectly and completely.

Another emphasis in the first chapter of the Book of Joshua is that placed upon reading, meditating in, and obeying the Bible strictly. Victory in Jesus is not possible when we are preaching unscriptural traditions rather than what is written in the Bible.

Following are three of the unscriptural traditions that are rehearsed every Sunday in many (perhaps the majority) of the Christian churches in America:

The most destructive of the unscriptural traditions is that we are in a new dispensation of grace. Paul preached that grace is a substitute for the Law of Moses, not a new dispensation. We have made grace a substitute for growth in godly behavior. This misinterpretation does away with the bulk of Paul's admonition to the churches.

Another longstanding tradition is that being saved means we will go to Heaven when we die and live eternally in a mansion. Heaven is viewed as our "Canaan." The truth is, being saved means we will be saved from wrath and brought over to eternal life on the new earth.

In addition, for the members of the royal priesthood, being saved means we will be completely set free from sin and self-will and filled with all the fullness of God. This is the message that is to be preached to members of the Church. The Gospel of saved from wrath and brought over to eternal life on the new earth is not for the Royal Priesthood but for those from the nations whom God saves.

The message to the members of the Church, the Royal Priesthood, is found in the third chapter of the Book of Philippians. It is that we are to turn away from the things of the world and lay hold on that for which God has laid hold on us.

The message to the members of the Church often is not preached, as the Christian leaders in their blindness spend most of their effort trying to get everyone in the world "saved." Meanwhile, those whom God has called to the Royal Priesthood are not given the nourishing food of the Word.

A third unscriptural tradition, the doctrine of the pre-tribulation "rapture" into Heaven of the believers is preventing God's people from taking seriously the need to prepare themselves to stand in Christ during the coming evil days. It may be true that this fanciful belief will fall of its own weight in the coming dark days.

Joshua told the people to get ready to cross the Jordan and take possession of the promised land. God had given them a description of the land he had given them for an inheritance.

God has told us of the "land" we are to inherit:

The fullness of the indwelling of God such that we are living in perfect, complete harmony in God's Person and will.

Change into the inward moral character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then change into the external image of Christ. I think the external change will begin when the Lord next appears, and then develop throughout the coming ages of ages. Image, and then likeness.

The people whom God saves from the nations of the earth are our inheritance, whom we shall serve as governing priests.

Finally, all the works of God's hands. That includes all of the present earth. Then the new earth. Then whatever God creates after that.

Such is our true, scriptural inheritance. Because we are not hearing from God, we have changed our inheritance into eternal rest in the spirit world, doing nothing of importance; having no problems or projects to pursue. Luminous spirits in eternal rest in a large mansion situated on a golden street.

God created a garden. We created mansions.

The truth of the matter is, most people would rather be reunited with their loved ones than be a luminous spirit in eternal rest in a mansion on a golden street.

The issue in the present hour is the need to prepare to enter our inheritance.

There always are distractions to prevent people from learning to walk humbly with the Lord Jesus. In America in the present hour we have at least two major distractions. First, are the increasingly fascinating electronic devices, aids to communication. As someone said, "improved means to unimproved ends."

The second major distraction is the political turmoil. Millions of Christians are concerned with the direction the government is taking the country. For myself, I do not like what I am seeing in America or England. Being eighty-five years of age, I am accustomed to the America I was raised in, with the English cultural influence (but not the English culture of today, however!).

I have the typical conservative dislike of strong central government. But then, Christianity was born in an empire, not a democracy; which tells me that God's work can be done under any kind of government.

God is speaking to us today to get rid of our sins and begin to follow Jesus Christ into our inheritance. I do not know about you, but Jesus is not speaking to me about the present political situation.

Let's pretend that at the midterm election (November, 2010) the Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress and begin to dismantle the hated programs sponsored by the Democrats. Let's pretend further that it is proven that the President was not born in America, and he is thrown out of office and a fervent conservative person takes his place. Hurrah many would shout!

Now what. The Christians will relax, believing that happy days are here again. Then they will return to their late-night blasphemous comedians, X-rated movies, acceptance of homosexual behavior, acceptance of mosques in their neighborhood, abortions, child molestations, gossip, envy, drunkenness, haughtiness, and especially lewd sexual practices.

As long as the Democrats continue their tax-and-spend policies, the conservative people will be up in arms. But once that pressure is off, and we have a return to a more conservative government, then the passions of the flesh in the Christians will take over. Finally God will step in, and much blood will be shed in our country.

I find abominable the moral values of the present government, the lying and deceit that is present. But occupying ourselves with political reform distracts us from what Christ is emphasizing. At least to me, Christ is not emphasizing political reform. Rather He is pressing on me to tell God's people to draw closer to Himself so they will be able to stand in Him during the coming chaotic days in the United States of America.

Prepare yourselves with prayer and meditation in the Bible. Be sternly obedient to whatever the Lord is saying to you. Christ is ready to lead his Church into their inheritance. He will do this in the midst of the troubles in the world.

We are not to be distracted by anything we hear or see. We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus with singleness of heart. Then we will be able to stand and to help others to stand throughout the period of great evil that is to descend on our country.

You can hear the morning sermon at morning. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

You can hear the evening sermon at evening. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

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