LOOSE THE SWORD OF GOD INTO ACTION

January 14, 2001 pm
MF Blume


Joshua 5:1-2  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.  At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

Joshua 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Joshua 5:9  And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

Joshua 5:11  And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.  And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.



Notice all the signs pointing to a parallel with a present-day spiritual maturity that we require. Second circumcision. Not only that but maturity is shown when they ate grain of the land and the manna stopped appearing each morning as it had appeared for forty years.
Exodus 16:35  And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
For a generation, they ate manna until they got to the land of Canaan. The spiritual part of our lives is infantile at first. The infants are now grown men and women. Hear Rahab’s words.
Joshua 2:9-11  And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Read this:
Joshua 5:1  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Chapter 5 Verse two says that it was at THAT TIME, that Israel received the second circumcision. We’re baptized into Christ.

If that “baptism” struck such fear in the mind of the enemies of Israel, then how much more did our baptism into Christ’s death strike fear into every devil that exists!?

Look at the reason that older Israel did not know this and did not enter Canaan.
Hebrews 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:2  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 it.

So any fear here today about the enemy is due to not being fully made aware of the condition God put us in. Paul said do not be children any more who are tossed with every wind of doctrine. In the same chapter where we read that Israel did not mix their word with faith, and could not enter into Canaan because the opposite of faith is FEAR....
We read this:
Hebrews 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
We need to rest in what God did on the cross. I like what one brother pointed out. Back to Hebrews:
Hebrews 4:10-16  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
After telling us to mix the word with faith so we can enter our rest, we read that we must labour to enter this rest. That sword will work. Excuse some crudeness here, but its an important point. We need to do a bit of work here tonight. Instead of fearing the enemies of 40 years ago, this time Joshua knew what the enemy thought of them. But the truth was that this was no enemy. What happened? Now where do you suppose the angels and their swords were going to start cutting?
Joshua 6:1-2  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
How do you think walls were going to come down by the Israelites’ shouts and trumpets?

Folks, the angels of God’s army would draw their swords and bring down the walls.

Why do you need to get the word down into your hearts?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
This is speaking about coming into a place of maturity where you gird up the loins of your own mind. A sword is said to stand at the very entrance into our rest according to Hebrews 4. A sword stood at the Garden’s entrance, too. Cast them down. Conquer your fears through the word.
SERMONS