Living in the Promised Land Pray for & dismiss children to Sunday School Take 30 seconds and greet someone next to you. PRAY! From the Pastors’ Heart

What’s your promised land? [Show various pictures] “It’s where the grass is greener” “Where our dreams come true”

Canaan: The Promised Land 1The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Genesis 12:1-3 This morning, I want to us explore the promised land given to the Israelites, which is recorded in the book of Joshua. However, the promise starts in Genesis.

Canaan: The Promised Land 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:7-8 God speaking to Abram.

Canaan: The Promised Land 5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”  Deuteronomy 4:5-6 Moses speaking to the Israelites.

Joshua 1:1-5 1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Let’s pick up the story in Joshua 1. After 40 years of wandering, Moses’ successor, Joshua, leads the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the promised land of Canaan.

Jesus Christ: The Promised Land 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,  John 5:39 Whenever we read the OT, we must ask how it points to Jesus Christ. The OT acts as a signpost to Jesus. Why? Because Christ is the ground and the goal of everything in the OT. How? Fast Forward to the NT… Luke 24:27. The resurrected Christ speaking to 2 of His disciples on the road to Emmaus. John 5:39. Jesus talking to the Pharisees. The Promised Land acts as a signpost to Jesus, His work (New Covenant and His message (the Kingdom of God). Therefore, we must reinterpret the promised land through the lens of Jesus, His work (New Covenant), & His message (the Kingdom of God)

Jesus Christ: The Promised Land 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20 Salvation: Jesus Christ enables us to cross the Jordan River (His death and resurrection) and into the land of Canaan (victory over death & sin). But, we must learn to live in the promised land by trusting in Him and being faithful to Him.

Joshua 2:1-21 1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab:“ Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.  Let’s continue the story…

5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 

19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. This is a story of God’s Grace. God’s grace—via Rahab– to the Spies. God’s grace– via Spies-– to Rahab. God’s grace– via Rahab– to Rahab’s household. Rahab: Prostitute and Innkeeper. She was not an Israelite by birth. Yet, her faith is commended twice (James 2:25 & Hebrews 11: 31) She is even recorded in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). This story was God’s way of teaching Rahab, her household and the spies of the currency/culture of the promised land. It models to us what the currency is of the promised land.

Grace: The Promised Land Grace= Gift A gift is not a loan. A gift costs nothing to the recipient but it comes at a cost to the giver. When a gift is given, there is a transfer of ownership. When a gift is given, the giver becomes poorer so that the recipient becomes richer. Grace: Gospel= God’s grace. Intrinsically linked to His nature and character. Definition= His favor toward the unworthy or getting what you don’t deserve. We are in need of grace (Romans 3:23) Jesus provides the grace what we need (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is a gift (Ephesians 4:7) A gift is not a loan- no repayment or return necessary When a gift is given, there is a transfer of ownership- giver permanently gives up rights to take back gift.

FICF: The Promised Land 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, Romans 5:20 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:14-15 Grace does not stop once we are saved; We forever live under His grace. FICF: The Promised Land May we know God’s grace, may we be transformed by God’s grace and may we never stop pursuing a revelation of His grace. May we enter and live in the promised land of Grace. May we cultivate a culture of grace in this church family. Where we’re going, demands a culture of the grace of Jesus Christ. Grace is a gift and gifts are intended to be used/ enjoyed/ consumed/ played with.