Finding Joy and Rest in God's Inheritance
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor reflecting on the idea that there is no good apart from God, referencing David Clarkson, a Puritan Minister, who emphasizes that the Lord is our portion, which is far greater than having Heaven and Earth. The pastor encourages the congregation to look to the inheritance they have in Christ and to find joy in the Lord, as He is greater than anything the world can offer. The pastor then emphasizes the good news that in Christ, we regain all that has been lost. Through Jesus, every person who comes to Him finds rest and restoration. The pastor concludes by highlighting the beauty of God dwelling within His people, making them His temple and assuring them of His presence until the end of the age.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of appreciating and enjoying the allotment or portion of life that each individual has been given. He encourages the congregation to find freedom and joy within their own boundaries, recognizing that God has faithfully provided for them. The pastor challenges the congregation to reflect on how they are honoring the Lord with their minds, bodies, possessions, and time, and to identify any idols or negative influences that they have failed to remove from their lives. The pastor urges them to confess these things to one another and to God, as bringing them into the light diminishes their power.
The pastor then reflects on the significance of the land and inheritance in the book of Joshua. He encourages the congregation to see God as the one who keeps and provides, and to find rest in Him. The pastor then prays for the congregation to experience this rest and to understand that their lives and purpose are meant to be used for God's glory. The pastor then emphasizes the importance of setting our minds on the things of the spirit rather than the flesh. He encourages the congregation to renew their minds and commit themselves to understanding this concept.
The pastor then reflects on the story of Joshua and the Israelites as they enter the Promised Land. He emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. He highlights Joshua's call to the people to fear the Lord, serve Him sincerely and faithfully, and to put away the gods of their fathers and the surrounding nations. The pastor acknowledges that there is already unfaithfulness in the land, and questions whether the Israelites will remain faithful as they move into the book of Judges.
Finally, the pastor addresses the question of what to do with the physical life and lot that each individual has been given. The pastor emphasizes the importance of not being consumed or overwhelmed by the world, but rather living in it with the minds and bodies that have been given. The pastor suggests that one way to honor God with these possessions is to use them for His glory and to see them as a means by which God can continue to bring His kingdom.
Key Takeaways:
- God is our portion, which is far greater than having Heaven and Earth. Our portion in God fills the heavens and the Earth and is infinitely above both. We should look to the inheritance we have in Christ and find joy in the Lord, as He is greater than anything the world can offer. [12:45]
- Through Jesus, every person who comes to Him finds rest and restoration. Jesus does not come in violence, but rather takes violence upon Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. Despite the momentary victory of darkness, Jesus defeats the grave and comes back to walk among us, extending a beautiful invitation into rest. [24:30]
- We should appreciate and enjoy the allotment or portion of life that each individual has been given. We should find freedom and joy within our own boundaries, recognizing that God has faithfully provided for us. We should honor the Lord with our minds, bodies, possessions, and time, and identify any idols or negative influences that we have failed to remove from our lives. [36:15]
- Joshua's call to the people to fear the Lord, serve Him sincerely and faithfully, and to put away the gods of their fathers and the surrounding nations is a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. There is already unfaithfulness in the land, and we should question whether we will remain faithful as we move into the future. [48:00]
- We should not be consumed or overwhelmed by the world, but rather live in it with the minds and bodies that have been given. One way to honor God with these possessions is to use them for His glory and to see them as a means by which God can continue to bring His kingdom. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
```
1. Joshua 11:23: "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war."
2. Numbers 32:20-22: "Then Moses said to them, 'If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.'"
3. Joshua 24:14-15: "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
```
Observation Questions:
1. What does Joshua 11:23 reveal about the fulfillment of God's promises and the state of the land after Joshua's conquest?
2. In Numbers 32:20-22, what conditions does Moses set for the people to possess the land?
3. What does Joshua 24:14-15 tell us about the choice the Israelites had to make regarding whom they would serve?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fulfillment of God's promise to Joshua in Joshua 11:23 relate to the concept of God as our portion and provider?
2. In light of Numbers 32:20-22, how does the promise of the land relate to the concept of rest and restoration in Christ?
3. How does Joshua's call to serve the Lord in sincerity and faithfulness in Joshua 24:14-15 challenge us to examine our own faithfulness and obedience?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Joshua 11:23, how can you actively trust in God's promises in a current situation in your life?
2. Considering Numbers 32:20-22, what is one step you can take this week to find rest and restoration in Christ amidst your battles?
3. In response to Joshua 24:14-15, identify one "god" or idol in your life that you need to put away. What is a practical step you can take to do this?
4. How can you honor God with your mind, body, possessions, and time this week? Be specific.
5. How can you use your current life situation or possessions for God's glory?
Devotional
```
Day 1: Embracing God as Our Portion
God is our portion, a treasure far greater than the entirety of Heaven and Earth. Our inheritance in Christ is infinite, filling the heavens and the Earth and surpassing them both. The joy we find in the Lord is unparalleled, for He is greater than anything the world can offer. [12:45]
Psalm 73:26 - "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Reflection: What worldly possessions or achievements are you holding onto for satisfaction? How can you shift your focus to find joy and satisfaction in God as your portion?
Day 2: Finding Rest and Restoration in Jesus
Through Jesus, every person who comes to Him finds rest and restoration. Jesus does not come in violence, but rather takes violence upon Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. Despite the momentary victory of darkness, Jesus defeats the grave and comes back to walk among us, extending a beautiful invitation into rest. [24:30]
Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking rest and restoration? How can you surrender these areas to Jesus today?
Day 3: Appreciating God's Faithful Provision
We should appreciate and enjoy the allotment or portion of life that each individual has been given. We should find freedom and joy within our own boundaries, recognizing that God has faithfully provided for us. We should honor the Lord with our minds, bodies, possessions, and time, and identify any idols or negative influences that we have failed to remove from our lives. [36:15]
1 Timothy 6:17 - "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
Reflection: What are some idols or negative influences in your life that you need to remove? How can you honor God with your mind, body, possessions, and time?
Day 4: Upholding Faithfulness and Obedience to God
Joshua's call to the people to fear the Lord, serve Him sincerely and faithfully, and to put away the gods of their fathers and the surrounding nations is a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. There is already unfaithfulness in the land, and we should question whether we will remain faithful as we move into the future. [48:00]
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you struggling to remain faithful and obedient to God? How can you commit to serving Him sincerely and faithfully?
Day 5: Living in the World but Not of the World
We should not be consumed or overwhelmed by the world, but rather live in it with the minds and bodies that have been given. One way to honor God with these possessions is to use them for His glory and to see them as a means by which God can continue to bring His kingdom. [59:30]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: How can you use your mind, body, and possessions to honor God and further His kingdom? How can you resist being consumed or overwhelmed by the world?
```
Quotes
"The Lord is our portion and this is incomparably more than if we had Heaven and Earth for all of Earth is but a point compared to the vastness of Heaven and the heavens themselves are but a point compared with God what a large possession we have then there is no confiscation of it banishment from it our portion fills the heavens and the Earth and is infinitely above heaven and below earth and Beyond both poor men boast and pride themselves of a kingdom but we have more than all the kingdoms of the world and the glory thereof." ([45:11])
"Christ has given us more than the devil could offer him which is beautiful... He says blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great Mercy he has caused us to be born again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to inheritance that is imperishable undefiled unfaith in heaven for you." ([46:33])
"God ultimately comes to be with us in Christ that Jesus arrives that he is Emanuel God With Us that every person that comes to him finds rest and restoration he doesn't come in violence but he takes violence on himself and at the end of his life he walks up on a different Hill and he doesn't bring a sacrifice but he is the sacrifice and that final sacrifice not make on our own and while it seems for a moment that Darkness has won that the light ultimately remains and there is another day and that Jesus defeats the grave." #!!30:54!!#
"What he says then to his disciples he says go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold I Am With You Always to the end of the age what is different about that one it's the same in a lot of ways that Jesus has now recreated the world and what he does is he says he again sends his people into the world he says go what does he say to do make that sounds familiar he says go and create cultivate what are you going to cultivate cultivate a world how are you going to cultivate this world give them me give them Jesus and as I am interact with them they are going to see that they are restored and changed I'm the only one that can actually heal the things that have been broken." #!!32:05!!#
"Every single lot line...is actually the Lord's provision...each one of these tribes is actually given a place and they're given these boundaries...Within these boundaries they honor and love the Lord and live under his rule." #!!12:30!!#
"I remember that there was a value to life that I held after that um because I realized how quickly it can be gone um but as I grow older I just realized man every part of me wants to savor the time that and what I think I realized as I was reading today in throughout this week I just realized the way that we Savor time is that we Savor The God Who gave it that is all that we can do because what happens then is that these things that are just so fleeting in our time whether it's your grandkids whether it's your kids it's the beautiful thing moments where you're sitting down at a table and there's a good meal amongst friends like those times where you're just like I love this I just want to cherish this forever but you realize in those times that those times end because of time because time continues to move forward and you get to the point where you can either be overwhelmed by time and ruled by wait on you that actually would rob you of your time but the reality is if those things just terminate on themselves they all do come into an end but if those things ultimately are a greater just a model and an example that they result in US worship towards a God that created time itself that there actually is a value that can be Beyond Time not only did Jesus defeat death but also in time what he does is he makes all things new and so the idea that these things are just a taste of what is to come is such a needed for us we need to know if you want to savor time Savor the god that gave it to you." (#!!39:26!!#)
"Will they remain faithful?...there's already an unfaithfulness that has plagued the land." (#!!28:31!!#)
"God not only does he provide for us in the wilderness but what he does is that he provides a place for him to dwell among us and that is the beauty is that there is this place where the actual presence of God dwells among its people." #!!20:12!!#
"David is settling into this truth that what he's actually been given is not just the land and the kingdom that he has but what's far greater than that is God himself that God is his inheritance." #!!06:07!!#
"Our inheritance is God himself... The way that we keep ourselves from being taken captive by the world is that we are captivated by the one who made it." #!!44:26!!#
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?