A lesson this morning will be
taken from Joshua chapter 1. Joshua chapter 1, verses 9 through
18. I titled the study this morning,
On the Outside, Looking In. Let's read these verses together.
Joshua chapter 1, beginning with verse 9. Have not I commanded
thee? This is the Lord talking to Joshua. Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with
thee, whithersoever thou goest. Then Joshua commanded the officers
of the people, saying, Pass through the host. and command the people,
saying, Prepare you victual, for within three days ye shall
pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which
the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. And to the Reubenites,
and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake
Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses, the servant
of the Lord, commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given
you rest, and hath given you this land. Your wives, your little
ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave
you on this side of Jordan. But ye shall pass before your
brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them. Until the Lord hath given your
brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed
the land which the Lord your God giveth them, then ye shall
return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it which
Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side of Jordan toward
the sun rising. And they answered Joshua, saying,
All that thou commandest us, we will do, and whithersoever
thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearken unto
Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee. Only the
Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever
he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not
hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he
shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage. Now, if the historians were correct,
the book of Joshua was was completed and received into the canon of
Scripture somewhere around 3,475 years ago, almost 4,000 years
ago. Yet its message is as current
as today's newspaper. And that's the way the Word of
God is. You can read things back in Genesis where Moses, who wrote
about it, wasn't even alive. He received those things from
the Spirit of God. They're as much so today as they
were when he wrote it, as when he penned it. And the dispensationalists
would have us believe that certain things only apply to certain
ages. And other than their moral lessons,
they had nothing that would apply to us. The word dispensation,
however, in the Bible doesn't meet a period of time. It has
to do with stewardship. And sometimes you'll read about
economy, which is nothing but a broader statement of stewardship. It's all stewardship. When he
talks about a dispensation of the gospel, he's not saying that
the gospel wasn't back in the garden and the gospel wasn't
in the days of Noah. We know better than that. He
tells us in Hebrews 4, the gospel is preached unto them as well
as it was unto us. So dispensation is not talking
about a period of time. Dispensation is talking about
stewardship. And then they say, well, this
just doesn't have an application to us. But we're told in 1 Corinthians
10, 11, all these things happen under them for examples. That
is, types, pictures, illustrating gospel truth. We can look back
on them and gain knowledge from them. There's a message, an example,
and an illustration in the lives of all men in my life, in your
life. Paul said what he did before
it was to be read of all men. So there's a message. There's
an example and an illustration of these things in the lives
of all men and women. But these in particular are preserved
of God for our learning. Paul said, whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. So what's being taught in this
passage is not some rare and isolated fault, but one that
has plagued the church since its beginning. It's as current
today as if it appeared in today's newspaper. It is an outward conformity with
no inward desire. The promised land was not just
a place to live in where the ground was fertile and gardens
grew really well. It was not just a desirable place
to live. God didn't pick it out and say,
well, I'm going to put them there because things will be easy on
them there. It wasn't just a place to live
where the ground was fertile. It was a place where God would
dwell with them. That's what made Canaan, Canaan.
That's what made Canaan a promised land. It's a place where God
would dwell with them, where God would communicate with them
and manifest His glory. And a promised land is typical
of the Kingdom of God as it's established here on earth. You
think about it. so much typical of heaven, although
if you can be where God is here, you're in heaven on earth. Just
as close as you're going to get to heaven right here. You see
what I'm saying? But it's not typical of heaven.
There are no rebels in heaven to cast out. There are no idolaters
in heaven, he tells you that plainly in Revelation. False
prophets and idolaters, they're not going to enter in. So this
is not typical of heaven in that sense, but it's typical of the
kingdom of God right here on this earth. That's where it has
application to you and I. That's what makes it worth studying. It might be a very limited picture
of heaven because of these things. But there's no pagan worshippers
in heaven. and no need of crops and victuals. You won't need that. It's a picture
of heaven only in the sense of it being a spiritual realm. And
the glory of Canaan was in the heart, not in the land. If you were to glory in Canaan,
you're going to have to glory in your heart. The glory of Canaan was in the
heart, not just in the head, and it's not in the land. recognized
as an heir of God and have a place in his kingdom. That's something
to be thankful for, isn't it? To lay hold on that eternal promise
of God to all that believe. That's worth studying. That's worth thinking about.
And that's the glory of Canaan. But to the Rumanites and the
Gadites and to half the tribe of Manasseh, Canaan was just
a place. It was just another parcel of
land. And it had no appeal to them
because they were cattlemen. Cattlemen and sheepherders don't
get along. Anybody that's ever watched the
Western knows that. They don't get along. These people, they
didn't care about crops. They were cattlemen. And they
come up there on that side of Jordan, and man, for miles, they
kept looking around. Wow. This is perfect for us. We've already had spies over
there. There's nothing over there for captains. We like it here. We like it here. Phantom was just a place. It
was just a nice place, a faithful, a fruitful land, and a great
place for farmers and sheep herders. Now let me ask you a question. What is this place where we're
gathered here this morning, what is this to you? Is it just another
place? What makes this place so different
than every other place out around here? Huh? Is it not the promises of God?
Is it not the presence of God? Is it not the gospel of God?
Not the way of God? The glory of God? That's what
made Canaan, Canaan. It's not just a place. It's not
just a, oh boy, if I could Build a church down here on the beach,
boy, everybody want to come. Well, that's not the point of
Canyon, no. What's this place where we're
gathered here today? Well, God's kingdom in this world,
I hope you'll listen to me, is manifested in his churches. That's where it's at. That's
where it's at. That's where he meets. where
two or more gather together in my name, there will I be in the
midst." His churches are the pillar and ground of the truth,
that's what he tells us. This is what supports the gospels,
these churches. Our Lord walked among the candlesticks,
that's his churches. Held his pastors in his hand,
that's the star. And everything God had to say
concerning the revelation of Jesus Christ, He said by His
Spirit through His ministers to the churches. Read it for
yourself. He walks among the candlesticks.
He holds His ministers in His hands. Do you seek to hear from
God? Well, that's who I want to hear
from. I want to hear from God. Do you seek His fellowship? His
benevolence, His grace, and His glory, they're all going to be
manifested in Canaan. Canaan is where the tabernacle
of worship will be. The holy priesthood dwells in
Canaan. The Ark of the Covenant dwells
in Canaan. The elect of God are gathered
in Canaan. You see what I'm saying? So what's
this place to you? Is it just another place? Is it just another place? Is
it just some mystical place that you go every now and then to
visit? Well, let me tell you something. If your heart's not
here, neither is your soul. That's right. Your soul's still out there in
the world. Where your treasure is, that's
where your heart's going to be. and the Reubenites and Gaddites
and half the tribe of Manasseh would fight with Israel. But
we got folks, let me tell you something, we got folks right
here in this place that'll fight you in the street over the doctrines
of Calvinism. They'll argue with you up and
down, I don't care who you are. I don't care how intimidating
you are. They'll sit and argue with you all day long over these
things, but they don't want to live here. Now there's a difference. And
the difference is the heart. The difference is the work of
God in the heart. Israel was not about raising
cattle and sheep and gardens. Israel is about the Lord and
his salvation and his glory. These men missed it. They missed
it. The Reubenites, Gadites, and
half the tribe of Manasseh would fight with Israel, would cross
over Jordan, go to war with Israel. But they didn't want to live
in Canaan. They didn't want part or parcel of Canaan. If you do your will, go back
to Deuteronomy 32, I believe it is, where Moses talked to
them before. about this thing, when they approached
him about letting them have this land on the wilderness side of
Jordan. And the first thing he tells
them is your fathers did, they had a sin too, it wasn't the
same sin, but be sure of this, your sin will find you out. That's
what he tells them. Their heart was in their fortunes
and their cattle and the land that seemed best for their interest. And I've known so many over the
years who go to war with any man over these doctrines, but
they could not and would not live with the children of God
in the church of God. So what was their problem? Problem is, affections are set
on things below and not on things above. That's where your love
is. Your love's out there, not here.
I come in here every now and then to visit, but I don't want
to live here. Our hearts were set on the promises of the earth
and not on the promises of God. And the sad truth is, Brother
Tim James said this, the sad truth is men may opt for others
to enjoy their inheritance of God, which was theirs by promise,
but they chose to live somewhere else. That's sad. Salvation is a heart
work. Salvation is falling in love
with Christ and His people. Salvation is laying hold of the
promised inheritance. It's receiving the earnest of
it. It's to press on until they enter
into glory. And oh, that the Spirit of God
this morning would raise us up to look down on these two camps. In Canaan we see means of worship. I've emphasized that to you because
I don't know anything in our day that's being challenged more
than that. I don't have to hear a preacher. No, you can go to hell. That's
your option. You want an option, there it
is. I'll tell you something, you're going to hear the gospel
by God's means, in God's place, by God's man, or you ain't going
to hear it at all. That's what the Scripture says.
How shall you hear without a preacher, and how shall he preach except
he be sent? God don't send him, you ain't
going to hear. I see in Canaan all the means
of worship. That's where the tabernacle went,
that's where the ark went, the labor, the altar, everything
that had anything to do with worship was in Canaan. It's where
the priesthood was, the sacrifices, everything was over there. In
Canaan, we see all the means of worship and the means of grace. The heavenly bread was over in
Canaan. There's nothing in the wilderness
but earthly glory once Israel left the wilderness. In Canaan, we hear the joyful
singing of God's saints, but in the wilderness, songs of men. And David wrote in Psalm 135
verse 4, how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? Why to stay home and worship?
And many who will stand and fight with the enemies of God, but
will not and cannot live with the people of God. Their heads filled with gospel
truth, but their hearts are empty of grace, and their joy is in
their success. Their joy is out on the lake
or in the woods, walking on a beach somewhere. This world's empty
promises offer them what their heart longs for the most. And
when Moses spoke to these men and granted them their request,
it doesn't say God gave it to them, it said Moses did. This
what you want? There it is. There it is. But you be sure of this, your
sin will find you out. There's a frightening psalm concerning
such things, Psalm 106.15. You might want to jot that down
and look at it a little later on this afternoon. But here's
what it says. And He gave them their request. Gave them what they wanted. This
is what they wanted. He gave it to them. But He sent
leanness into their souls. That's frightening. And a stern warning concerning
the things that we're looking at today. In Hebrews 4.1 it said,
Let us therefore fear. lest the promise being left us
of entering in to his rest, any of you should seem to come short
of it." They were so close, they could stand on the banks of Jordan
and look at Canaan. Huh? That's about as close as
you can get. But they had no heart to live
there. Had no heart to leave where they were at. Hebrews 4
verse 2, For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto
them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed
with faith in them that heard. For we which have believed do
enter into rest. We enter in. That's the difference. There's a world out there full
of earthly treasures, and if you look long enough and work
hard enough, you can find an abundance of whatever it is your
heart desires. It's out there. It's out there. But caning can only be had as
a promise. Caning can only be inherited
by God's elect, and caning can only be obtained by the power
and presence of God. And oh, for a heart to go with
God. and dwell in a place where He
leads me, and then find all I need for the rest of my days in this
world. Huh? Oh Lord, don't leave me with
a heart for this world. You know, people lose things
in this world and they're ready to die. That's what'll happen if your
heart's in this world. But if your heart is in Canaan, losing
things in this world is not going to upset you. It's not. That
is temporary, ain't it? This place is just for a little
while. That place is forever. And I'll tell you something else.
You know who you're going to dwell with in heaven? Not them
river rats. You're going to dwell with those
right here that you're looking at. That's right, with other believers.
That's who's going to be there, not this world. And there are
people in this world, we were talking about that this week,
there are people in this world who think clear. They can see
through the garbage, they can see through the trash. It's amazing,
it's amazing how clear they can see and how much they can see.
But they don't know God. I don't know God. And I tell
you, the Spirit of God, He's the only one who can help us
identify the men and women who are of God. And I hope, by the
grace of God, I can bring that out in the message today. All
right. Thank you.