Pinocchio's Problem

August 15, 2021                       NOTES NOT EDITED
Pinocchio’s Problem
John 3:1-16

SIS:  Being born is not enough to be alive.

Pinocchio is a wonderful children’s story.  It is hard to find a child anywhere T.V.s are sold who hasn’t heard about the beloved puppet crafted with great care by Geppetto.  The story could be used as a lesson on what it means to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.  Pinocchio was wonderfully crafted by Geppetto.  But, Pinocchio was not alive.  As wonderful as he was, he was not a “real boy.”  Geppetto longed for Pinocchio to be a real boy.  Now think of man.  Man was wonderfully crafted in the Garden of Eden by Almighty God.  The human body is a miraculous work of art.  But, Adam was not a “real man”– he was not really alive – until God breathed His Spirit into him and Adam became a “living soul” – or as Pinocchio would say, “A real boy.”

Men, women, or children who have never received the gift of eternal life from God through Jesus Christ are like Pinocchio when he was first crafted by Geppetto.  He was a wonderful work of art – but he was not alive Likewise, when a child is born into this world they are a wonderful work of creation – “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  But, we are all born with one serious flaw – theologians call it, “original sin.”  The sin of Adam infects every child born.  After a child reaches the “age of accountability” (5, 6, 7—we don’t know for sure), the penalty for Adam’s sin must be paid—eternal death.  The only way to remove that penalty is to accept what Jesus did on the cross when He died for the sin of man, and be “born-again.”  Being born once is not enough to be truly alive, eternally alive.  You “must be born-again.”  

Nicodemus was Pharisee, a very devout and religious Jew.  In fact, he was an “expert in religion.”  Jesus, also a devout Jew, looked Nicodemus straight in the eye and said, “Being religious is not enough—you must be born-again?”

Another way of saying this is: “Even good people can and do go to hell.”  Religion is like being born once – salvation requires being born twice. 

This encounter Nicodemus had with Jesus raises three important questions about what it means to be born-again.

1.  The First Quesiton is “Why be born-again?”

Look at verse 7.  Jesus says very directly,
“You MUST be born-again.”

Why be born-again?  Because there is absolutely no other way to get into the Kingdom of Heaven!

The Greek construction of this phrase makes it clear that being born–again is absolutely necessary to gaining eternal life.  One N.T. scholar preserves this meaning in his translation: “it behooveth you to be born again” (Young).  I understand “behoove.”  It comes from an old West Virginia world that means: “I suggest strongly you get moving in this direction.”  I remember my Mom saying, “It behooves you to get over here right now!”   I know that there was no other option than to comply with the command.  That’s what Jesus meant when he said, “you MUST be born-again.”  It is not an option if you want eternal life.

The word, “again” actually means, “from above.” It is a God Thing!
God sets the requirements for salvation—not man.

Being “Born-again” describes the spiritual transformation that takes place when a person is saved.  Something radical happens when a baby is born.  The process of birth leaves no doubt that the world has been changed forever.  Spiritual birth is such a radical transformation that if there is any doubt as to whether you are saved – you probably aren’t and should talk to someone right away.  Spiritual birth is even more radical and transforming than when a baby bursts forth from the womb of a mother.  

When we are born once we have a relationship with the world around us.  We have a relationship with our environment that we can experience through the five senses (assuming we do not have a medical condition like blindness, etc.)  We can experience things beyond what our five senses tell us.  We can experience love for example.  We can establish important relationships with others. When we are born into this world we not only have a relationship to the physical world through our senses, or the social world through our emotions, we can experience the world through our mind.  We can achieve great things through our intellect.  Being born once allows us to have a tremendous relationship with our world.  But, this is not enough.  Even with all we can experience by being born into this world, we can never experience “salvation.”  We can never through our physical, emotional, or intellectual faculties experience the “real meaning of life.”  Without a relationship with God through Christ, we only experience a very small fraction of reality – as spectacular as that reality may seem, it is still only a small part of the whole.  

Imagine the situation like this.  Being born once is like growing up in a wonderful castle.  There is much to explore in the varied rooms of the castle.  The castle grounds are immaculately groomed and there are many wonderful places to experience.  But, you never leave the castle.  There is no T.V. or contact with the outside world at all.  All you know is the castle.  As marvelous as it is, it is still a very small part of the whole.  A person may indeed be quite happy and content in the castle.  They food is plentiful and the experiences quite pleasant But, your experience would be so small—so limited.

That’s how Nicodemus was.  He was a deeply devout and religious man.  He was quite a learned man.  He was a Pharisee.  He spent his days in religious study and devotion.  The religious devotion of a Pharisee was unmatched by anyone then or sense in regard to religion.  Nicodemus was not only a Pharisee, but he was also a member of the elite ruling council of the Jews called the Sanhedrin.  From all external appearances it would appear that if anyone know what it meant to have “salvation,” Nicodemus was surely such a person.  Yet, this is what Jesus said to this good, devoutly religious person: “You MUST be born-again.”

Without this transformation of the soul – even a person as good, devout, and religious as Nicodemus will miss heaven.  Look at vs 3

“No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born-again.”

Did Nicodemus understand the gravity of what Jesus said, Notice in verse 4 how Nicodemus reacts:  “How can a man be born-again when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 

Nicodemus reacts in horror, bewilderment, and confusion. Nicodemus said, “Such a thing is impossible.  How can a person enter into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” The reaction of Nicodemus leads us to the second question we must answer in order to understand “real salvation.” 

That question is

2.  What does it mean to be “born-again”? 

Being born–again is a mystery.

In the case of Pinocchio, the beautiful Blue Fairy made him come alive with the touch of her wand.  In the case of someone who becomes a Christian, the process is even more wonderful and mysterious.  It is something only the Spirit of God can do.  The Apostle Paul said (1Tim. 3:16):

“Beyond all question, the mystery of Godliness is great.”

The word, “mystery” does NOT refer to something that is impossible to understand, only something that is impossible to understand without God.

What does it mean to be “born-again?”  This is indeed an important question.  It is a question that has troubled the intellects of great men throughout history.  Many people reject Christianity because they reject the miraculous.  Theologians like Rudolph Bultmann have tried to scrub away the miraculous elements of the gospel so “men of intellect” could accept it.  

The gospel of salvation without the miraculous is like a ice-cream cone without ice cream

Salvation IS a mystery.  There is no getting around it.  New birth

happens in a completely different dimension than the three-dimensional world we live in.  New birth is spiritual, miraculous, cloaked in mystery. Even a learned man like Nicodemus was clueless about the New Birth. The Bible says in verse 7 that Nicodemus was “surprised” (NLT, amazed, do not marvel).

This word was commonly used by Rabbis (Jesus was a Rabbi remember) to indicate that a student was being “thick-headed.”   

The word, “surprised” referred to a lack of insight or inability to think deeply on a matter. It indicates a rebellious, childish attitude.

Nicodemus could not appreciate the wonder and mystery of new birth because he was only thinking with his mind and not his heart.  This is a common problem all humans face.  If we can’t see it, hear it, taste it, smell it, touch it or analyze it in a test-tube we disregard it. Nicodemus is the example of how mankind buries his intellectual head in the sand of science without taking into account the God of nature.  Spiritual birth – being born-again – happens in a different dimension, a different level of existence.

There is one level of existence we call the natural, “flesh”.  There is another we call the supernatural, “spirit.”  In order to be “really alive” we must operate in both dimensions.    Look at verse 6.  Jesus said,

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

There is a “natural life” we gain through being born into this world.  There are indeed several levels of natural life.  The lowest is ① vegetable life, like the fungus or the potato.  Certainly, you would agree you are more than a fungus or potato!  There is another level of life we call ② animal life.  This stretches everywhere from a single-celled amoeba to the great creatures that sail the skies and swim the sea.  Biology would even put man in this category.  But, certainly you know that man is much more than an amoeba or a monkey – regardless of how we may act sometimes.   There is another level of life, it is ③ human life.  It is a life that spawns space pioneers and poets.  It is a life that can think, feel, and accomplish.  It is life that is only found on this tiny speck of cosmic dust we call earth.   Certainly, human life is a marvel.  But, human life is “natural life” as I said before.  Human life is like being a Pinocchio tethered to the strings of materialism and manipulated by circumstance.  There is a higher order of life than that which is “born of flesh.”   Jesus goes on to say in verse 6: “That which is born of Spirit, is spirit.” 

Real life is ④ spiritual life.  This begins when you are “born again.” Spiritual life is cloaked in mystery.  Eternal life is not subject to study in the laboratory.  Eternal life cannot be dissected and studied like a frog on a lab table.  There is mystery in salvation that we can never fully understand this side of heaven – and perhaps not even in heaven itself. 

Nicodemus was right to be shocked by the mystery of “being born again” because he was trying to analyze new birth like a scientist  analyzes a soil sample.  Nicodemus wanted to know God with his mind and ignore Him with his heart.  He wanted a “fleshy religion” instead of a spiritual relationship.  Real life at its deepest level is a great mystery.  We have to get beyond the gravy to the real meat and potatoes below.

A grandpa asked his little grandson, “Jimmy, why don’t you ever eat your gravy?”  Jimmy replied, “Because you never know what’s underneath.”  Some people avoid the mysteries of the spirit like Jimmy avoided the gravy because we don’t always know what will happen in the spirit realm.  Jesus said, “Spirit gives birth to spirit. This is a mystery we must embrace if we want to see heaven.

When we come to God, we must come to Him in faith, “like a little child.”   Salvation does not begin in the intellect, but in the will.  This is so important let me say it again:

“Salvation does not begin in the intellect, it is born in the will.” It is not a matter of “can I believe it,” but a matter of “will I believe it?” 

If you wait until someone can answer all your philosophical and theological questions before you surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will die in your sins and be asking questions for eternity!

Jesus said in verse 8 that Spiritual life is like the “wind.”  You can’t see it, but you know it is there because it changes and affects things all around you.

Salvation, being born-again, is a supernatural event that is cloaked in the mystery and majesty of God.  Surrender to God’s control in life is the only way to find security for your soul and satisfaction for your mind.

3.  Now, consider a third question: How does this miracle of salvation happen?

Salvation is a very simple process that, though the process is shrouded in mystery, the result is attained in a very simple, ordinary way.   Jesus said the method God uses for salvation involves simple addition:   Water + Spirit.  Look at verse 5:

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Now, it is fairly clear what the “Spirit” refers to.

It is the very Spirit of God.  It is the same “Spirit, or breath” that God blew into the nostrils of a pile of clay named, Adam, and Adam became a “living soul.”  It is that same idea by which Pinocchio receives the force of life and became a “real boy.”  There is no salvation without the Spirit.  There is no “real life” without the Sprit.  This is the mysterious part of the process.  The Spirit as Jesus said, “Is like the wind.”  We can see the effects or results of the wind, but we cannot see the wind.  There is something mysterious about seeing a leaf flying on the invisible tail of the wind, being carried along seemingly by nothing.  And yet, that nothing is really something.  The same is true of the Spirit.  We may not understand the process fully, but we know that the Spirit is something, not nothing—like wind is something, not nothing.  To be born-again carries us into the dimension of the supernatural, or the Spirit.  A realm where what seems like “nothing” is more “Something” than anything we can see, taste, touch, smell, or hear.  

But, what is this “water” involved in the process of salvation?

Some suggest it means ①“baptism.”  Some churches teach that you must be “baptized in water to be saved.”  The Bible does not teach this.  The Bible teaches that you are not a proper candidate for water baptism until AFTER you have been saved.  The water here is NOT baptism.

I’ve read where some suggest that the “water” here refers to ②“natural birth.”  The real beginning of the birth process comes when we say that a woman’s “water has broken,” referring to the breaking of the amniotic sack surrounding the baby.  I have no real disagreement with saying a person must first be born before he or she can be born-AGAIN.  But, this is merely stating the obvious.

The “water” here refers to the ③Word of God.  Titus 3:5 says,

5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 

Washing is a process. Water is the what we wash with or in.  “To wash” was a “preliminary event” in preparation for something else in the Jewish religion (and many other religions). Washing was an important part of the Jewish ritual.  Before one entered into religious activities, they washed with water.  Washing in water was a preparatory event, like we wash our hands to prepare for eating.

But, you can’t wash a soul in literal water!  So,how is a soul prepared for the experience of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or being born-again.   What is a soul washed in?   1Peter 1:23 clearly tells us that the “word of God” is instrumental in preparing us for salvation.  

23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Paul also says in Romans 10:17 that:

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Hearing the Word of God preached—like I am doing now—or hearing the gospel from a personal friend, or even from a leaflet or tract, is essential preparation to being born-again.  

The “water” is The Word!  When combined with the activity of the Spirit of God it brings salvation.  The simple, ordinary method God uses to bring people to a saving knowledge of Himself is the preaching of the Word combined with the power of the Spirit.

You—here in our auditorium or by some other medium—have heard the Word preached.  It has washed over you to prepare you to receive the Spirit of God into your life so you can be born-again. 

Are you ready to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and become his disciple.  Do you want to be more than a wonderfully carved puppet tethered to the strings of the material world?  All you have to do is surrender your life to Jesus Christ and let his Spirit fill your inmost being.  Now, what about those of us who have been born-again already? 

There is an application for us in this text also. Are we being carried about on the Wings of God’s Spirit Are you letting God’s Spirit fill the sail of your faith to blow you to where God wants you to be? 

“You MUST be born-again.”  There is no other way to get to heaven.

Being born once is not enough, you must be “born–again to be really alive.

PERSONAL APPLICATION (John 3:1-16)

 1.  What first comes to mind when you think of Pinocchio?

 2.  Read John 1:1.  What is significant about John beginning his gospel about Jesus with “In the beginning” rather than with the birth of Jesus?  See if John 20:30-31 give you a clue?  Matthew 16:13-16 might help, too.

 3.  List at least three facts about Jesus from John 1:1-5.

4.  Read John 3:12.  What does this say about “how” a person becomes saved?  How would you explain this to a non-believer?

 5.  Read John 3:13.  What problem, or way of thinking, keeps many (most) people from believing in God?  Can something be “real” but not directly experienced through our five senses?  Explain.

 6.  Read John 3:1. Nicodemus was a Pharisee—expert in the Jewish religion.  Yet, he did not understand the most basic concept of faith, being born-again.  What does this tell you about “being religious, even devoutly religious?”

 7.  Read John 3:7-9.  Do Christian believe based upon “blind faith,” or are there reasonable explanations for spiritual truths?  Explain.

 8.  Read John 3:16.  List five aspects of God’s love from this verse.

  

Risk vs Reward

 August 8, 2021 NOTES NOT EDITED
Joshua 24:  “Risk vs. Rewards”

SIS –  Retaining God’s blessings on your life will require taking significant risks.

The Book of Joshua chronicles the Israelites campaign to possess the land promised to Abraham centuries before.  Joshua follows 40 years of wandering in the wilderness because the Israelites were not willing to take the risk of fighting for the Promised Land.  They opted for comfort instead of blessing.   Joshua leads a whole new generation of risk-takers into the new experience of God’s blessing by fighting for and securing a land that “flows with milk and honey” (Exo. 3:17).

The result of “playing it safe” was 40 years of misery in the desert.  The reward for “taking a risk” was prosperity and blessing.  When we assess and manage the risks of life, immense blessing falls upon us.

One common cliché in business training is:  “Profit is the reward one gets for the risks one takes.” Therefore, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.  This works the same way in regard to spiritual matters. Great spiritual gains for the Kingdom of God involve great personal and collective risks for the people of God.  

Risk always involves a level of fear because risk inherently involves a level of danger. Our self-preservation instinct makes it unnatural to choose a path one knows ahead of time will involve risk and danger. Faithful obedience to God involves such a choice that may bring great danger—and therefore, we may be reluctant to make such choices. but imagine our world without risk-takers.  We would still be lighting our homes with kerosene lanterns, riding horses to work, and trying to order “door dash on a rotary phone.”  Without risk-takers, our world would continue to live in the Dark Ages. 

I remember a quote by Charles Swindoll I read over 34 years ago. This is a great gem that reflects so much of what the Scriptures teach. “Running scared invariably blows up in one’s face. All who fly risk crashing. All who drive risk colliding. All who run risk falling. All who walk risk stumbling. All who live risk SOMETHING!” 

In Joshua 24, the Great General of Israel recounts the risks God’s people had taken resulting in possessing the Promised Land.   Joshua is calling the people together to remind them that they must continue to do their part in order to continue to have God’s favor upon their lives.  This did, and does, always involve a measure of risk and potential loss.  

Five young missionaries speared to death in Ecuador understood the risk of obedience to God.  Five young men just out of college in 1956 dropped into the jungles of Ecuador to share the gospel with a tribe so remote no outsider had ever met them and returned alive.    For his efforts, they speared him to death, along with four others.  A few months before embarking on this risky mission Jim Elliot wrote this in his diary:  “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose!”

That is really the underlying sentiment of this final chapter of Joshua.  Risking everything in this world, and even losing everything including our lives, simply cannot compare to gaining the favor of Almighty God.  With this foundation, let’s examine some key elements in regard to risking everything for the sake of the Kingdom. 

READING:  JOSHUA 24:1-13

1.  The PATTERN of Risk 

Throughout the Bible we have a continuing saga establishing a pattern of God’s people taking great risks to fulfill God’s plan and purpose.  First we are introduced to Abraham as a risk-taker.  

2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the region beyond the Euphrates River, led him throughout the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants.  I gave him Isaac,  4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.  I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

These verses take us all the way back to the “Table of Nations” when national identities were being established in Genesis 10-11.  This links Joshua and the Conquest to a story-line continuing over 600 years long.  The bulk of the story of Genesis deals with the family of Abraham.  Abraham, at that time Abram, was a businessman minding his considerable business in a land called Ur.  Ur was a Chaldean city about 150 miles south of Babylon.  God called Abraham to go to a city that God would show him later.  That city would be in Canaan after a trip of over 1500 miles! Keep in mind that Abraham’s family were pagans, not followers of Yahweh. So, Abraham was already on the edge. Abraham was probably a novice in regard to Yahweh, and no doubt had some pagan baggage to carry.  Here’s God’s call to Abraham to take a great risk of faith:

Gen 12:1 The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

Leave it all behind! Take a risk!  That was the task set before Abraham.  Leave everything you had grown up with and grown accustomed to and march out into the unknown.  Could you imagine if God called you to pick up everything you own and begin travelling north to a city He would show you later—a trip of about 1500 miles that would end up somewhere in Saskatchewan, Canada!  Even with all our modern conveniences that would be a daunting task for us, full of risk and uncertainty.  Yet, that is what Abraham did by faith.  Verses 3 and 4 add another twist to the life of Abraham:

But I took your father Abraham from the region beyond the Euphrates River, led him throughout the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants.  I gave him Isaac,  4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.  I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession,  but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

God promised to “multiply” his descendants and proceeds to give him one—Isaac!  And, that would come when Abraham was near 100 years old.  But, Isaac would not even get an inheritance in the Promised Land—at least not initially—but Isaac’s descendants would end up as slaves in Egypt for over 400 years.  Everything about Abraham’s adventures points to “risk and uncertainty.”  Yet, Abraham took that risk and his descendants did indeed multiply and are at the time of Joshua, settled in the Promised Land.

Joshua includes in the pattern of risk takers Moses and his brother, Aaron.  Verses 5-7 introduce us to the next risky situation.  Verse 6 sums up that risk

. . . I brought your fathers out of Egypt.

You know the story.  Moses challenges the most powerful man on earth, Pharaoh.  Pharaoh was considered a god, not just a man.  Moses had no weapon but a shepherd’s staff and a saint’s trust.  

Verses 8-13 complete the discussion of the pattern of risk related to taking possession of the Promised Land.  Verse 8 says,

8 Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan.  They fought against you, but I handed them over to you. You possessed their land, and I annihilated them before you.

Verses 9-13 fill in the details of the campaign to possess Canaan.  The Israelites took that risk, by faith.

All throughout the Bible we have the pattern of “risk-takers” from Noah taking on a flood to David taking on a giant, and many others.  The Biblical pattern shows us that obedience involves risk.

2.  The PURPOSE (14-27)

When the Bible speaks of “risking everything to be obedient” to God, we must establish what we mean exactly by “risk.”  Verses 14 and 15 give us insight to what godly risk is all about:

14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth.  Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped  beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.”

We can identify the next section in our chapter by the English conjunction, “therefore.” Therefore translates a single-letter word in the original language (וְ,wa).  This one-word conjunction connects what follows to what has gone before.  We have just talked about the “pattern” of risk-taking in the Bible, and now Joshua focuses on “why” we take these risks.  

The purpose for taking any risk is to demonstrate our complete trust in and devotion to Almighty God.  It is not for our own gain, but for the gain of the Kingdom that we take risks. God wants to know we are serious about “being a blessing before He gives us blessing!”

Risk is not foolishness, or presumption. Godly risk is more closely associated with the idea of “choice.” Joshua 24, verses 15 and 22 point this out.  The original Hebrew word, bachar (בָּחַר), conveys the idea of preference, but it also involves an “examination, proving, or testing” (Gesenius), but not testing in the sense of “tempting God.”  Remember, the Devil once tempted Jesus to “prove” God’s power and love by jumping off the high pillar of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus answered,  Jesus told him, It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God (Mat. 4:7).

The idea of “choice” here in the Hebrew is not foolish, presumptive speculation about God, but recalling to mind all that God has done in the past to give one confidence of what God can do at present, or in the future.  In other words you might call this kind of risk-taking, a  "calculated risk." Risk based upon faith in Who God is and what He has already done. This type of risk is based upon an absolute trust in God and an all-encompassing devotion to God.  Risk is based upon a confident choice to place oneself under the shadow of God’s Providence.  I think of the great line from the Psalmist (91:1):

the KJV says it most beautifully, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Ironically, taking even the greatest risk as a matter of worshipful obedience to Almighty God, in fact, is the safest decision one can make. Choosing the path of God even if it leads straight toward the enemy’s lines is safer than choosing to remain in the foxhole.  Trusting in worldly fame or fortune, or other false gods, put you at an eternal risk—a risk of losing God’s favor, not only now, but forever.

There is no blessing for presumptive or foolish “thrill-seeking.” But, blessings incalculable accrue to our lives when we risk all because of our love and devotion to God.  Biblical risk-taking involves trusting God’s promise, or in other words, acting in faithful obedience to God's directions. Sky-diving may qualify as an adrenaline-pumping risk but it is not of necessity a Kingdom activity.  For a risk to lead to blessing it must be based upon an act of faith according to God’s revealed Word, or promise.  Otherwise, it may be nothing more than foolishness.

Verses 16 through 24 describe the response of Israel in regard to her obligations under the covenant.  Israel resolutely chooses to “abandon all and live only to worship and serve Yahweh.”  Verses 16 and 24 serve as bookends for the renewal of the covenant responsibilities:

16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods!

………………………………

24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will worship the Lord our God and obey Him.”

The purpose for risk-taking is to demonstrate our love and devotion to Yahweh, the God of the Covenant, not simply to enjoy an adrenalin rush or hope to gain some great material blessing.

3.  The PAYOUT (28-33)

In one regard, the Bible is like baloney.  No matter where you slice baloney, it’s 100% baloney.  No matter where you slice the Word of God it is 100% promise!  I’ve heard people say, “Even if there were no heaven, I would love God for Who He is.”  Baloney!  That’s a great sentiment, and it is probably how it “SHOULD” be, but in reality we are in this faith for what we get out of it—and, God has no problem with this.  I know this because His Book is a “book of promises.”  According to one person’s count there are 3573.  Others have counted 7000. Herbert Lockyer wrote a book called All the promises of the Bible and claims to list 8000 (from, the Internet).  I don’t know.  I’ve never counted.  I do know this: if there are any, there’s at least one more than I deserve!  In fact, I know there are many promises.  In fact, after discussing the Covenant Renewal in verses 14-27, the Bible adds this summary statement:

28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

This reminds us of God’s promise in 1Peter 1:3-4:

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  According to His great mercy,  He has given us a new birth  into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead  4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable,  uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Or, the promise of the Lord, Himself (John 14:1-3):

1Your heart must not be troubled.  Believe  in God;  believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;  if not, I would have told you. I am going away  to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back  and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.

I have said several times that there is a connection between “risk and rewards.”  This is true in business; it is even more true spiritually.  This great book based upon the theme of “Turning Obedience Into Blessing” concludes with the beautiful story of Joshua, the Beloved Leader of the Conquest, finally receiving his reward.  I don’t mean his allocation of property in the hill country of Ephraim in the Promised Land, but his reward of entering into the Paradise of God.  (Jesus has not yet died, so Joshua even has more promises to see fulfilled!)

Not only does Joshua receive his glorious “pay out” here at the end of the book bearing his name, but the ancient patriarch, Joseph, also receives his payout having taken nearly five centuries to come to fruition.  Joseph, had died in Egypt as you recall, hundreds of years earlier.  But, he made the Israelites promise to carry his bones to the Promised Land.  Let me read the beautiful end to a wonderful saga:

32 Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt,  were buried at Shechem in the parcel of land Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for 100 qesitahs [unkown value].  

Joshua, Joseph, and Eleazar, faithful followers of Yahweh, all received the grand payout of God’s fulfilled promises.  There is most definitely a pattern of risk-taking in the lives of God’s servants for the purpose of faithful obedience and devoted worship to Yahweh.  That risk always leads to great rewards.  Obedience always turns into blessing.  Whatever risk you may have to take, there will be a PAYOUT.

Who does God’s work will get God’s pay

However long may seem the day; However weary be the way;

Though powers and princes thunder, “Nay!”

Who does God’s work will get God’s pay.

He does not pay as others pay; In gold or land or raiment gay;

But God in wisdom knows a way, 

And it is sure, let come what may,

Who does God’s work will get God’s pay.

The greatest risk and the greatest dangers come not from boldly pushing forward in what God has asked you to do, but the greatest risk is pushing back when God asks you to do it!

GodSpace

 

August 1, 2021 (2/24/19)                                NOTES NOT EDITED          
GodSpace: Living Within the Boundary Lines of Blessing
Psalm 16

 SIS—Living within the boundary lines of God’s Word brings unimaginable blessings. I call this:  Living in God Space. I’ve preached from this text several times because it has such a powerful, clear message.

In 2003 (The Stone Age in Modern Times), a new social networking site was created called, MySpace.  It was “all the rage” on the Internet becoming the number one visited social media website from 2005-2009.  In 2009, FaceBook was created and has buried MySpace beneath 500,000 new members—PER DAY!  MySpace still exists . . . sort of, but only has 50 million new visits per year.

MySpace was a bad concept from the beginning if you ask me—and nobody ever has asked, just for the record.  The worst place I, or anyone else, could ever spend our time and energy is in “my” space.  Living In MySpace guarantees your life will never be any bigger than yourself.

I have a better idea that MySpace—or even FaceBook.  My proposal is that we all seek to live in GodSpace.  This means we do not live according to our own dictates and desires but we live according to the decrees of God as He has presented them in His Word, the Bible.  Living within the boundary lines of God’s Word brings unimaginable blessings.  It means living in obedience to God. 

The Psalmist expounds upon the issue of “boundary lines” in a beautiful poem about the pleasures and blessing of obedience.  Let’s read that together:

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. 2 I  said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who take another ⌊god⌋ for themselves multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips. 5 LORD, You are my portion and my cup ⌊of blessing⌋; You hold my future. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I will praise the LORD who counsels me — even at night my conscience instructs me. 8 I keep the LORD in mind  always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. 10 For You will not abandon me to •Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the •Pit.   11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

The phrase that seems to jump off the page at me in this passage is v. 6

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 

This passage and the Word in general, from Genesis through Revelation, teaches this important principle:  “obedience to God’s Word brings blessing.”  The safest, most productive, indescribably beautiful place in the world to live is in what I call “God Space” – Living Within the Boundary Lines that Bring Blessing. 

Most people think of any rules or boundaries of any type as being “restrictive upon our freedom.”  The opposite is actually the case.  The world is full of boundary lines like fences or walls.

Like the boundary lines on a roadway with two-way traffic.  The center line marks each traveller’s lane clearly.  When someone crosses that boundary line, disaster and death often follow.

Years ago a famous study investigated the affect of boundaries on the behavior of children.  A group of children were observed playing in a large area that had no fence.  They were observed without their knowledge over a period of several days.  They noticed that the children would congregate in the middle of the large open area.

A fence was added to the area that enclosed the wide open space.  The children again were observed.  At first, by force of habit, they huddled in the middle of the large area.  Then, gradually, as they discovered the fence, they began to spread out until they were enjoying the entire area from fence line to fence line.

Boundaries promote safety and exploration.  Boundaries give us the freedom to experiment, to explore, and to investigate our world.  Even the act of taking a risk can be calculated because there are boundaries.

 

God has established boundaries for our lives and had them recorded in His Word.  When we move out of the space God has outlined for us, we move into an area of danger, disaster, despair, defeat, and oftentimes even death.

Before I get to the “blessings” that come from Living In God Space, let me outline 3 prominent “boundaries” God has established for our lives.

1.  The Boundary of His Presence (1)—Daily, personal devotions

2.  His People (3)—Regular, enthusiastic fellowship and worship

3.  His Precepts (11)—Memorizing and meditating on His word 

All throughout the Bible we watch the principle of God outlining the boundary lines between blessing and cursing.  History is littered with the broken lives, unfulfilled dreams, and horrible atrosities of those who leave the God Space to live in rebellion.  My hope this morning is we will all be inspired to stay within God’s boundary lines and enjoy the blessings of living in God Space.  These blessings are:

1.  In God Space, He Guards (1, 8) 

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
……………………
  8 I keep the LORD in mind  always.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  

In these two verses there are actually three different ways in which God’s care and protection over His children is described. 

In verse 1 the word, “Protect,” is a word that means to preserve in a manner that one cares for and ❶ tends a garden.  This word first shows up in Genesis

2:15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it

God guards our lives by keeping the weeds of Satan’s influence from taking hold and growing out of control.

 Another description of how God guards our lives comes in the second half of that verse:

1. . . for I take refuge in You.

This word provides a picture of ❷  shade (as shade of a tree) or as a roof or structure (as in a house, or even the temple).  The idea is that God guards us by protecting us from external attacks or circumstances.  Even though our circumstances may put us in the midst of very stormy weather, God will protect us from destruction.  We will “weather the storm” as long as we abide in God’s shelter.

The third word picture describing how God guards our lives is in verse 8:

 8 He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

The idea expressed here is one of a ❸ “courtroom.”  The “right side” is where one’s defence attorney would stand to defend you against any accusation. 

 Psalm 109  31For He stands at the right hand of the needy to save him from those who would condemn him.

As we will see in a minute, this is a Psalm which is quoted twice in the New Testament in reference to Jesus Christ, particularly His resurrection.  God guards us ultimately when Satan accuses us by bringing up our sin, Jesus Christ defends us by bringing up our salvation.

This Psalm, as many of David’s psalms, was written during a time when David was under pursuit and attack from his enemies. David realized that the only safe place for Him was in the God Space, where God would guard and protect him. 

The safest place on earth is the center of God’s will.  In the God Space God will guard our hearts, minds, and souls.

The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.

When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of a thick woods and he was terrified! Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was his father. He had been there all night long.

When we are in the God Space, we can count on God being near, armed and ready to guard us against any and all evil.

2.  In the God Space, He will GUIDE us (7)

7 I will praise the LORD who counsels me — even at night my conscience instructs me. 

I don’t usually read long passages from books or articles I come across in my sermon study.  But, I’m going to make an exception this morning.  A great preacher by the name of John Phillips has described the terrible result of ignoring God’s boundaries in our modern culture.  Please listen closely,

“Nearly all the old guidelines have been broken down today.  Old restraints, old moral standards have been swept away and people are frightened, confused, lonely, and at their wits end.  They run to professional counselors for help as never before in history.  They turn to the dark world of the occult and devour the prognostications of [fortune tellers]. . . . They are looking to [other] religions hoping to find answers there, all in vain.  The Christian has [a great advantage] over them.  [A Christian] can know what it is to be guided by God.  In this life!”

Wow!  How true.  People are turning in every direction imaginable for guidance – accept the direction where they can actually get help.  In God Space, God not only guards us, but He guides us.

The word for “instructs me” in verse 7 is presented in a particular stem (piel) that gives a word intensity.  The idea here is more of giving a warning than just providing information.  God knows where all the pitfalls and dangers are for our lives and when we get too close, His Word – if we have hidden it in our hearts – sounds a strong warning to keep us within the boundary line.

This may sound odd or even crude, but God’s guidance is sort of like those “electronic” collars you can buy for your dog.  If they venture too close to the boundary line, it gives them a “shock” that will keep them in a safe space. 

God’s Word, empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, reminds us when we get too close to the edge and “nudges” us back into the safety of God Space.

When we abide in God Space, God guards us, God guides us, and

3.  God GLADDENS us (9)

It’s a good thing to be glad.  Verse 9 says,

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; 

Living in God Space brings us great joy and gladness.  And, the Bible says joy and gladness bring us health.

Prov 17:22  A cheerful heart is good medicine. 

Laughter has been proven to have therapeutic effects—everything from lowering blood pressure to helping you lose weight.  It always amazes me how eventually science always catches up with what God has said.

Living in God Space will gladden your heart.

Consider the man who was driving down a secluded country road and his car breaks down.  A little ways up ahead he sees the lights of a monastery.  He goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, "My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?" The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk." The man is disappointed but thanks them anyway and goes about his merry way. Some years later, the same man breaks down in front of the same monastery. The monks gain accept him, feed him, even fix his car. That night, he hears the same strange noise that he had heard years earlier.      The next morning, he asks what it is, but the monks reply, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk."

     The man says, "All right, all right. I'm dying to know. If the only way I can find out what that sound was is to become a monk, how do I become a monk?" The monks reply, "You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of sand pebbles. When you find these numbers, you will become a monk."    The man sets about his task. Some forty-five years later, he returns and knocks on the door of the monastery. He says, "I have traveled the earth and have found what you have asked for. There are 145,236,284,232 blades of grass and 231,281,219,999,129,382 sand pebbles on the earth."  The monks reply, "Congratulations. You are now a monk. We shall now show you the way to the sound." The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, "The sound is right behind that door."

     The man reaches for the knob, but the door is locked. He says, "Real funny. May I have the key?"  The monks give him the key, and he opens the door. Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man demands the key to the stone door. The monks give him the key, and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby. He demands another key from the monks, who provide it. Behind that door is another door, this one made of sapphire. So it went until the man had gone through doors of emerald, silver, topaz, amethyst.  Finally, the monks say, "This is the last key to the last door." The man is relieved to no end. He unlocks the door, turns the knob, and behind that door he is amazed to find the source of that strange sound. What he saw was absolutely beyond anything a person could ever hope to see.  Would you like to know what it is?  I can't tell you what it is because you're not a monk.

The point of that story is this: there’s no point.  I just wanted you to experience a little gladness of heart.  That’s one of the benefits of living the God Space:  He guards, he guides, and He gladdens.

But, the most important reason of all for staying within the boundary lines of blessing, or living in God Space is:

4.  God GATHERS (10-11)

For You will not abandon me to •Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the •Pit. 11You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

These are two of the most remarkable verses in the O.T.  They refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Peter quotes from this Psalm in his Pentecost sermon and Paul uses this text in Acts 13.  Both apply these verses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Psalmist is declaring prophetically what we know now historically.  

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, those who follow Him will be raised also. 

There are many reasons to live within boundary lines God has established:  God guards, God guides, God gladdens—but most importantly, God GATHERS! Those who abide in God Space will one day ultimately enjoy the eternal rewards of heaven.  Look at verse 11:

11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy;  in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

It is so sad that most people in our world never enter into the God Space—they never surrender their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and so they will never experience eternal pleasures. 

Most people forfeit an eternity of bliss for a few earthly moments of fleshly gratification.  Most people sell out to cheap and settle for a few crumbs of happiness in this world, when they could experience the full loaf of God’s blessings in the next world. 

The Psalmist points out that one day God will “gather” His people to Himself and to His eternal home and we will experience what can only be described by the Ancient Poet as, “abundant joy and eternal pleasures.”

Will you be in that “gathering?” Are you committed to staying within God’s boundary lines?

Heartache, despair, disease, and even death can happen if one ignores the boundary lines of God Space.  But, living within the boundary lines of God’s Word brings unimaginable blessings.

The Psalmist declares for all who will listen:  “6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”