From Shadows to Substance: Embracing Christ's Reality
Summary
In today's message, we explored the concept of shadows in the Bible, particularly in Joshua chapter five, and how they point us to the substance found in Jesus Christ. We began with a personal story of losing a child momentarily, which illustrated the fear and relief experienced when shadows give way to reality. This set the stage for understanding how biblical events serve as shadows of greater truths fulfilled in Christ.
We delved into three specific events in Joshua 5: the circumcision of the Israelites, the celebration of Passover, and the encounter with the commander of the Lord's army. Each of these events is a shadow pointing to a deeper spiritual reality. Circumcision, as a physical mark of the covenant, symbolizes our identity and belonging to God. It foreshadows the new covenant in Christ, where our hearts are marked by faith, not by physical signs. The Passover, a celebration of deliverance from Egypt, prefigures the ultimate deliverance from sin through Jesus, the Lamb of God. Lastly, the appearance of the commander of the Lord's army is a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, emphasizing God's presence and power in leading His people.
These shadows remind us not to settle for mere religious rituals or traditions but to pursue a genuine relationship with Jesus. The enemy seeks to distract us with lies, but our focus should remain on the substance of our faith—Jesus Christ. We are called to look beyond the shadows and embrace the reality of God's covenant, deliverance, and presence in our lives. This relationship is nurtured through prayer, scripture, and community, leading us to a deeper understanding of God's love and purpose for us.
Key Takeaways:
- Covenant and Identity: Circumcision in the Old Testament was a shadow of the covenant and identity we have in Christ. It reminds us that our true identity is found in belonging to God, marked not by physical signs but by faith in Jesus. The enemy tries to strip us of this identity, but we must hold firm to the truth that we are God's people. [50:14]
- Deliverance and Salvation: The Passover was a shadow of the deliverance and salvation we receive through Jesus. Just as the Israelites were saved by the blood of the lamb, we are saved by the blood of Christ. In moments of feeling lost or hopeless, we can find assurance in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, our true Savior. [58:46]
- God's Presence and Power: The appearance of the commander of the Lord's army to Joshua is a shadow of God's presence and power in our lives. It points to Jesus, who leads us into the promised land of eternal life. We are reminded that God is with us, guiding us through life's battles and challenges. [01:04:50]
- Relationship Over Religion: We are invited into a relationship with Jesus, not mere religious rituals or traditions. This relationship is cultivated through prayer, scripture, and community. By focusing on Jesus, we experience the fullness of God's love and purpose for our lives. [01:09:07]
- Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: We must look past the shadows and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. In doing so, we find freedom, hope, and joy in His loving embrace, knowing that He has already won the victory on our behalf. [01:11:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [43:57] - The Shadow of Fear and Relief
- [45:42] - Context of Joshua Chapter 5
- [47:51] - The Shadow of Circumcision
- [50:14] - Covenant and Identity
- [52:26] - The Mark of Belonging
- [53:43] - The Enemy's Lies
- [55:34] - The New Covenant in Christ
- [56:39] - The Shadow of Passover
- [58:46] - Deliverance and Salvation
- [01:00:14] - The Dark Night of the Soul
- [01:02:06] - The Shadow of the Commander
- [01:04:50] - God's Presence and Power
- [01:05:59] - Relationship Over Religion
- [01:09:07] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
- [01:11:17] - Embracing God's Love
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 5:2-15
- Genesis 17:1-14
- John 1:29
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Observation Questions:
1. What were the three specific events in Joshua 5 that were discussed in the sermon, and how do they serve as shadows of greater truths? [47:51]
2. How does the story of circumcision in Joshua 5 relate to the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 17? [50:14]
3. What was the significance of the Passover celebration for the Israelites, and how does it point to Jesus according to the sermon? [56:39]
4. Who is the commander of the Lord's army that Joshua encounters, and what is the significance of this encounter? [01:02:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of circumcision as a shadow of covenant and identity challenge our understanding of belonging to God today? [53:43]
2. In what ways does the Passover serve as a shadow of deliverance and salvation through Jesus, and how can this understanding impact our view of salvation? [58:46]
3. The sermon mentioned that the appearance of the commander of the Lord's army is a Christophany. How does this shape our understanding of God's presence and power in our lives? [01:04:50]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of relationship over religion. How can this perspective change the way we approach our faith and spiritual practices? [01:05:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own identity in Christ. Are there areas where you feel the enemy is trying to strip you of this identity? How can you hold firm to the truth that you belong to God? [53:43]
2. Have you ever experienced a "dark night of the soul" where you felt lost or hopeless? How can the understanding of Jesus as our Passover Lamb bring you comfort and assurance in such times? [01:00:14]
3. In what ways can you actively seek God's presence and power in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or battles? [01:04:50]
4. The sermon highlighted the importance of pursuing a relationship with Jesus rather than mere religious rituals. What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him this week? [01:07:46]
5. Consider the distractions in your life that may be preventing you from focusing on Jesus. What specific changes can you make to minimize these distractions and fix your eyes on Him? [01:11:17]
6. How can you engage with your community to nurture your relationship with Jesus and support others in their faith journey? [01:09:42]
7. Identify one area in your life where you are chasing shadows instead of embracing the reality of Jesus. What steps can you take to shift your focus to the substance of your faith? [01:05:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Covenant Identity in Christ
In the Old Testament, circumcision was a physical mark of the covenant between God and His people, symbolizing their identity and belonging to Him. This act was a shadow of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ, where our identity is marked not by physical signs but by faith. In Christ, we are called to embrace our true identity as God's people, holding firm to the truth that we belong to Him. The enemy often tries to strip us of this identity, sowing seeds of doubt and insecurity. However, by focusing on our faith in Jesus, we can resist these lies and stand firm in our identity as children of God. [50:14]
"For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed external factors to define your identity? How can you reaffirm your identity in Christ today?
Day 2: Deliverance Through the Lamb
The Passover was a significant event for the Israelites, marking their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This event serves as a shadow of the ultimate deliverance from sin that we receive through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Just as the Israelites were saved by the blood of the lamb, we are saved by the blood of Christ. In moments of feeling lost or hopeless, we can find assurance in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, our true Savior. His sacrifice offers us freedom and salvation, reminding us that we are no longer bound by sin but are free to live in His grace and love. [58:46]
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, how can you remind yourself of the deliverance and salvation you have in Jesus?
Day 3: God's Presence in Our Battles
The appearance of the commander of the Lord's army to Joshua is a powerful reminder of God's presence and power in our lives. This event is a shadow pointing to Jesus, who leads us into the promised land of eternal life. We are reminded that God is with us, guiding us through life's battles and challenges. His presence provides us with strength and courage, assuring us that we are not alone. As we face various trials, we can trust in God's guidance and rely on His power to overcome any obstacles that come our way. [01:04:50]
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)
Reflection: What current battle are you facing where you need to rely on God's presence and power? How can you invite Him into this situation today?
Day 4: Relationship Over Ritual
We are invited into a relationship with Jesus, not mere religious rituals or traditions. This relationship is cultivated through prayer, scripture, and community. By focusing on Jesus, we experience the fullness of God's love and purpose for our lives. The enemy often tries to distract us with lies, leading us to settle for empty rituals instead of a genuine relationship with Christ. However, by prioritizing our relationship with Jesus, we can experience true transformation and growth in our spiritual journey. [01:09:07]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you prioritize your relationship with Jesus over religious rituals this week? What specific steps can you take to deepen your connection with Him?
Day 5: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
We must look past the shadows and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. In doing so, we find freedom, hope, and joy in His loving embrace, knowing that He has already won the victory on our behalf. The distractions and challenges of life can often cause us to lose focus, but by keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can navigate through life's storms with confidence and peace. His love and grace empower us to live victoriously, trusting in His promises and finding strength in His presence. [01:11:17]
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions are currently keeping you from fixing your eyes on Jesus? How can you refocus your attention on Him today?
Quotes
1) "You know what we both didn't do in that moment? We didn't hug each other's shadows. We didn't kiss each other's shadows. We embraced each other because the shadow, it was only the beginning part of the joy and excitement and relief that we found. But the substance was what we really were after. I wanted to be with her. She wanted to be with me. And I remember her jumping into my arms and us weeping and sobbing and all the relief and all of that fear just melting away knowing that she now was safe. And the reason why I share that story is because this morning, we are gonna look at a bunch of shadows. But the cool part is, is as we take this journey together, is that we are gonna see these shadows. Shadows fulfilled." [43:57] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "God, there's no wasted words in the Bible. You are so intentional with how you bring to us the good news of Jesus. So God, as we take this journey together and we look at Joshua chapter five, I pray that you would illuminate in our hearts and minds your word and give us a passion and an excitement about who you are and what you have done for us." [47:51] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "So, once the people of Israel trusted God and passed over the Jordan, God required them to be circumcised. This was a reminder of the covenant that God made with them, and it affirmed their identity of belonging to him. But for us, circumcision, hear me on this, was just a shadow of God's covenant and identity of belonging to him. So for us, like a little lost child that first sees their parents for the first time, we're gonna look past the shadow with joy to find our identity and our hope in Jesus." [55:34] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "See, for them, Passover represented Yahweh's deliverance and salvation for people who felt lost and helpless. So I want you to think about this. Have you ever felt lost, helpless, hopeless? Theologians call this the dark night of the soul, the pit of despair. There's a movie that some of you have seen. It's called Castaway. One of the legends, Tom Hanks, gets deserted on a desert island all by himself. And he begins to go crazy because there's nobody around him. He's not alone. And he doesn't know when salvation's going to come. He doesn't know when someone's going to come rescue him. No one knew where he was. And so he makes friends with this little volleyball named Wilson, because it said Wilson. It was a Wilson volleyball. And so he becomes friends with him. And so this is the feeling that we have sometimes. We feel alone. We feel isolated. We feel like nobody understands us. Maybe we feel like we're under attack. And that's truly what the dark night of the soul is, where we feel like there is no hope. We feel like there's no hope. We feel like there's no hope for us. And that's how the Israelites would have felt while they were in Egypt. And so this Passover represents their deliverance and their salvation, waiting for hope." [58:46] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "When we continue to put our faith and our hope in the things of this world, we will always be let down. But there is a shadow of hope that we can look for that is a true salvation, a true savior. And his name is Jesus. Now, why is this a shadow of who Jesus is? Well, look at what the Passover foreshadows, because John the Baptist in John 1, makes a proclamation. He sees Jesus walking towards him as he's baptizing people in the river. And what is John the Baptist saying? He says in John 1, 29, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Just like the Passover lamb that saved them from death, the Lamb of God has now come. The ultimate sacrifice has come. What else? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5, 7, for Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. See, Passover is a mere shadow of deliverance and salvation that we now find in Jesus. So like a lost child that is waiting their father or their mother's arms, we look past the shadow of Passover to Jesus, and we find our deliverance and salvation in him and him alone." [01:00:14] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "So who is this being? A being? Merely an angel? No. This is what we call in theology and doctrine a Christophany, an appearance of God in the Old Testament before Jesus incarnate came down to earth. Now, why would I say that? Because often in the Old Testament, we see angels. There are certain angels that show up in different stories. Why is this different? Well, in Revelation 22, there's a passage where John is receiving a message from the Lord. And he's receiving the word of the Lord. and we see in Revelation 2 and 3 that Jesus appears to John and he gives him these commands and these letters to give to the seven churches and what does John do? He falls on his face as though dead and worships but in Revelation 22, an angel appears to John and what's John's response? He falls down on his face and begins to worship and the angel rebukes him and says, don't do that, get up, do not worship me and he points him back to the Messiah, Jesus because the only one worthy of our worship is God. So in this moment when this being is allowing Joshua to fall on his face to the earth and worship him, he doesn't get rebuked but what does the being say? The being says, you are standing on holy ground. A foreshadowing of Jesus who is to come, the ultimate Messiah and what is the question that he's asking? What is the question that he's really getting at? Joshua's going, are you for me or are you for our adversaries? He's saying, no and this is what we talked about in our teaching team this week. He said, are you for me? Are you with me? Because I am going to lead my people into the promised land." [01:02:55] (108 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "We as a people, we as followers of Jesus, we do not seek shadows. We do not put our faith and our hope and our trust in shadows. But we pursue a relationship with Jesus. That's what we're invited into. Because if we keep chasing shadows, we will forget that Jesus actually truly is real and he is for us and he is with us and his power and his presence and his deliverance and his salvation is with us. But if we're just chasing shadows, then we're gonna miss who Jesus is and what he's done. Because a hardened heart is gonna see something very different in this passage of scripture. A hardened heart is gonna see circumcision as meaningless religion that just hinders their life. Right, I can't do these things, the things that I wanna do, the things that make me happy. Right, it's just this meaningless thing, this religion that I have to follow. That's not what God has invited you into. He's not invited you into religion. He's invited you into a relationship with him." [01:05:59] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "The entirety of the Bible is about one thing. It's about Jesus. The Old Testament points to Jesus. The New Testament points to Jesus. This isn't a story of fables. This is a biography of God. He wrote it about himself. So what is that, an autobiography? Right? So God, it's about him. It's about Jesus. And I think often we just think it's something that is going to help us get through the day or something that's just going to give us a couple of to -dos that we got to make ourselves better. No, no, no. This is about Jesus. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And he wants you to know him. That's why when we talk about prayer, it's not just this abstract thing that you say a couple of Hail Marys and then you move on your way. No, no. It's about you having a personal, intimate conversation with God." [01:09:07] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "The good news for us is that God invites us into this relationship through his word, through prayer. And he invites us into this through biblical community. Not community that are just going to fuel our fire, uh, that, that makes us feel like, oh, we're, we're, everybody's against us. No, a community that's going to point you back to Jesus. A community that's going to help you. I want you to understand the grace of the goodness and the love of a father who sent his son to die for you. That's the beauty of the gospel. That you are seen, that you are known, that you are loved. That God gave up his life for you so that you can live for eternity with him." [01:09:42] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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