Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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Three in the appendix rest my soul. The work is done done by God's almighty Son. This to faith is now so clear. There is no place for torturing fear. Fourth verse, come my soul, take up the cross, count the game, despise the loss, labor for and with the Lord.
Brings exceeding great reward #33 in the Appendix.
Customize all the work.
I'd like to speak this afternoon about Joshua, different instances in the scripture that God has brought him before us, and particularly is how the Lord worked with him and fitted him for a path of usefulness.
Let's turn first of all to the 17th chapter of Exodus, Exodus chapter 17 and verse 8. Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
So Joshua did as Moses had said to.
Him and fought with Amalek and Moses, Aaron and her went up to the top of the hill, and it came to pass when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Well, as I said, it was on my heart to speak a little of what God has brought before us about this person. He has spoken of in another passages, a passage as a young man whose name was Joshua. And so it seems that it's specially suited to those of us who are young here today. And we pray that God will grant that it might be an exercise to each one. We know the Lord is not only interested in all the affairs of our lives.
Lives for our own good and happiness. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. He cares about everything in our lives and so that there isn't a detail that we can't bring to Him. There isn't a decision that we have to make that we do not find that He cares, that He is interested and has given us direction in His Word.
All this is something that we can enjoy ourselves, our present.
Portion and I trust you young people, that we are conscious of this because his name is wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
But as we think of all he has done for us and all His care for us, isn't it a blessed thing that we can?
Find something in His word that shows us how we can do things that meet His approval. We can have some little part in His interests. When someone has done a great deal for us, it's a great privilege to be able to do something in return for their love. And there's a little hymn that we say.
Says that we may in some small degree return thy love again.
But, you know, if we're going to be useful in any way to the Lord, He has to pass us through certain experiences, and everyone of God's servants had to pass through certain things in order to be fitted so that he could use them. The school of God is very different from the schools of men. In the schools of men, why, it's a question of getting more knowledge, passing an examination, showing that we have qualified.
By something that we have learned and perhaps can take a certain amount of credit to ourselves. But you know, in the school of God, I believe it's the opposite. His way is to empty us of ourselves, to teach us our own nothingness, to teach us entire dependence upon him and then confidence in Himself.
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And now in this first passage that we have Joshua brought before us, it tells us about the time that Amalek came out and fought against Israel. And I believe Amalek pictures to us Satan's power over us through that fallen nature that we have within. Even though we know the Lord Jesus is our Savior, if we know the truth of God at all, we are realized that that old nature is still there. We're told to recognize.
Ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. But I say it's there, and it's good that God has told us that it's there, because if he hadn't, we might be very much alarmed as we discover something of that fallen nature within and the way it acts. But it's blessed to know that God has provided a way of victory.
And so it tells us here in this chapter that when Moses held up his hand.
Israel prevailed when he let down his hand. Amalek prevailed. God, I say, has provided a way of victory, but it was particularly in connection with Joshua. Here in this conflict with Amalek, we see that Moses chose Joshua to go out and fight with Amalek. And I want to say this to each young person here and to myself too, that this is one of the things that we must.
Recognize at the very beginning of our Christian life someone asked Mr. Darby I believe how it was that he had such a nice knowledge of God's word and asked how they should study the scripture. And his answer was study well 4 words. The flesh profiteth nothing. And so here we find Joshua engaged in leading the people of God in this conflict against Amalek.
You know, many a dear young person has started out, and our hopes were high that they were going to be useful. But unless we learn this truth that God has shown us, that the flesh profits nothing, unless there is that reckoning ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. Oh how often a departure in young life can lead to a great loss that may follow all through life.
We know that when David sinned, even although he was restored, a sword never departed from his house forever. We know that when Abraham took Hegar to be his wife, although he was afterwards restored, We know that Hagar and the descendants of the descendants of Ishmael were the constant enemies of the people of God.
Oh, what sad effects if we're not watching.
May the Lord teach us, dear young people, to be watchful about that old nature, and that it should be our constant and daily prayer to reserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. And if it was ever needed, it's needed today, because we're living in times when lust is almost glorified, where you're considered unusual and unnatural if you don't indulge in those things that God.
Sinful in his word, and I speak to you in love, and I speak to you in faithfulness. Dear young people, don't take your standards from the world. Take your standards from the word of God, that you might learn what God has to say about those things that we have to meet every day in life. So Joshua was chosen to be the leader to go out in this conflict with Amalek and Saul.
The constant conflict in the end of the chapter it says the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. And so perhaps when you're young you think, well, when I get to a certain age, these things are going to pass away. But I tell you, it's not. So as we get older, we discover that it's still with us that fallen nature, the flesh, hasn't improved with age in any of us.
It still there and so.
It's from generation to generation.
But Moses gave Joshua the directions, and isn't it very blessed for us that as this, as we go on in this pathway through the world and seek to be faithful to the Lord, to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, that we do have positive directions from the Lord? Joshua had positive directions. Moses was the one who told him to go out. And so I.
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Again, as I have often said, acquaint yourself well with God's Word, Read it often so that you have direction, and when difficulties and decisions come up in life that the Word of God would dwell in you richly. In all wisdom speaks about the Lord Jesus. Prophetically it says He openeth mine ear. Mourning by morning.
He openeth mine ear to hear.
As they instructed, 1 and I hope that each one of you will listen to God's Word each day. Receive it as God's message to your soul. Listen as one who desires to be instructed of him as to the path in which you should walk.
And then we also find here that Moses said he would go up on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand, and on one side was Aaron, and on the other side was her. And I believe these two hands which Moses held up represent to us the priesthood and the advocacy of Christ.
Isn't this most Placid for us too, because people that the things we have to meet are overwhelming. They're almost more than we can stand. We can hardly face up to some of the situations and we can't do it in our own strength, but it says when Moses hand was up, Israel prevailed and that's why it tells us in Hebrews he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by.
That's not talking of the salvation of our soul from sin, and that is I'm speaking now when we accept the Lord Jesus as Savior. That verse has particularly to do with salvation along our pathway. The same thought is in Romans 5 where it says being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
By that constant priestly work of the Lord Jesus, we are saved.
From what dishonours him saved from getting away from him in our souls? And isn't that most blessed? And if you and I don't ask his help, we may have to prove, as perhaps we often have, how weak we are in ourselves. Peter thought he was strong enough to meet the situations of life, but we find that it was just a little made that caused him to deny his Lord.
And none of us can say, well, I'm strong enough I can handle a sin.
Of life. Now we need that constant priestly work, and you can ask the Lord for help at any moment. Think of Nehemiah there in the presence of the king. And a question was asked him, and he realized he was in a difficult spot. And it tells us so. I prayed unto the God of heaven, and I said unto the king, before he even answered.
The the King's question he sent a swift little prayer up to the Lord.
All dear young people, we need that help. May it be the habit of our lives when fresh and difficult situations arise, just to look up and say, Lord, help me, give me grace. And how much grace will he give? Paul says of his fullness of all we received and grace upon grace. There is no limit.
And so when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed.
And then there was the other hand that was held up by her, no doubt representing the advocacy of Christ, perhaps as a young person here, and you have failed, you have got away from the Lord, you're conscious that something has come into your life. Well, isn't it blessed to know that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous? There's one there at the right hand of God.
And he wants to restore you. It's lovely, that verse in the 23rd Psalm.
That we all know very well. It says he restoreth my soul. You know, he wants to do that. He's the only one that can and he wants to restore your soul. And if you have got away from him, perhaps he has sent you to these meetings so that your soul might be restored. So we see Joshua here going out against Amalek. Lovely picture of how on her first saved.
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We become appointed with the fact that that all nature is there. We find out our own weakness and then we find that we have a high priest. We find out that when we failed, we have an advocate. And so this was the way that God granted victory to Israel in this conflict. We're not always in battle, but we're always in conflict.
That is, during World War Two, there were many times when there wasn't any actual fighting.
But there was a there was a conflict going on. It lasted for about 5 years. But there were times when there were special engagements. And we should realize that Satan is just always watching for a point of attack. And maybe when things are going along quietly, he's just preparing for an attack. Oh, may the Lord teach us, dear young people, from this through Joshua to quietly.
Look to the Lord for direction, for our pathway, for help in time of need, and for restoration when we fail.
Well, let's turn to another instance about Joshua in Exodus chapter 24.
In verse 12.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law and commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up into the mount of God, and he said.
And he said unto thee, Elders, tarry ye here for us until.
We come again unto you, and behold, Aaron and her are with you. If any man of any matters to do, let him come unto them.
Well, I thought of this little passage here to show the kind of companionship that Joshua had chosen. He has spoken of us as Moses ministered. He sought the companionship of one who walked with God. And you know our companions have a great.
Deal to do with our pathway. Scripture says evil communications corrupt good manners, and how often by getting into the wrong kind of company, we are LED astray. We need to be very careful.
I was thinking of that verse in the 119th Psalm on the 63rd verse. I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. Now I believe, dear young people, that we should be kind to everyone, that we should seek to the good of others, but those that we really count as our companions and friends should be carefully chosen.
And I think it's love.
Here to see with Joshua the kind of companionship, as I say, that he chose. He chose one who walked with God. He chose one who older than himself, had learned much in the school of God. And this was a real blessing to Joshua and no doubt had a great deal to do with his afterlife of usefulness.
And so during our younger life, it's very neatly.
For us to be careful about these companions because they are going to have an effect upon us. They're going to mold our lives one way or another. We know how that when Peter sat down by the world's fire, that was the beginning. That's what led him to after. He just sat down with those who were the enemies of the Lord and warmed himself beside their fire. Don't we often?
In careless moments.
Find ourselves drifting down to those who have little interest in the things of God, and we find that we are affected by their company. Well, as I say, we find here that Joshua was in this place of nearness. And it tells us it's most remarkable in this 14th verse that Moses said to the elders, carry ye here for us.
Until we come again unto you.
That is this privilege that Joshua had was because of the company that he had chosen then it's a great thing for us in our lives to learn to walk with God. We find about Enoch. It tells us that Enoch walked with God for 300 years and Joshua desired this company. And we find Joshua here brought into a wonderful.
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Privilege being able to go up even more than some of the others. The elders remained while they went even further into the very company of the Lord. And so you and I can have this portion here in life. It's open for all of God's people. Every one of us can have. My father used to have a little expression. You might have heard the expression repeated. We can have as much of Christ as we want.
And our lives show how much we want. Well, it was so with Joshua here that he showed how much he wanted by choosing this kind of company. And here we find him brought up into this wonderful place of nearness. And so I just want to encourage you, dear young people. You're here at these meetings through a great many young people here.
Everyone may not have the same desire for the things.
Lord, there's a verse in Proverbs that says I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly, that just being with the people of God doesn't mean that you are preserved. It's very possible to be among the people of God and yet not to be near the Lord.
We find that in the 2nd chapter of Luke. Uh.
Mary and Joseph went up to the feast and they brought the Lord Jesus and he got so occupied with the fellowship that when they started home, they went a day's journey and they didn't have the Lord with them at all. It wasn't until the end of the day, taken up with all their friends and the nice time they were having together, they had actually forgotten about the Lord. And so I just want to say to you while you're here at these meetings.
Seek to have.
Not just enjoyment of meeting one another, but that kind of fellowship that will result in you being drawn nearer to the Lord, into more of His company. And it can be a blessing to you and a blessing to others too. Now can we turn over a little further in exodus to the.
32nd chapter I believe it is 32nd chapter of Exodus and the 15th verse. And Moses turned and went down from the mount, and the 2 tables of the testimony were in his hand. And the tables were written on both their sides, on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God.
Graven upon the tables and when Joshua heard the noise of the.
People as they showed it, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that showed for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome, but the noise of them that saying, do I hear?
Well, here we find that Joshua had been in the company of Moses, and now they're returning down, they're coming down into the camp. And it tells us here that Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted. And I was just thinking of this little incident, assuring the concern that he had for the people of God. Nor if we're really going on with the Lord.
We'll not only be interested in others who are going on with him.
Two, but we will also be concerned about all the people of God. Very easy for us to become selfish and self-centered. Isn't it very easy for us to have our own little company and forget about others? But this wasn't so with Joshua. Although he had chosen the company of Moses, I believe this passage shows us that he had a concern for all the people of God. And this is very blessed too.
Because we're either a help or a hindrance. And I want to say this, that while it's very lovely to choose good company, let us also have in mind the good of all the children of God. And if we see someone who's getting away from the Lord, are we concerned about it? Do we care? We know the Lord cares.
Little poem says he loves, he knows he cares.
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Nothing this hope condemned. And so he does love, he does know, and he does care. And if you and I have his heart, we will care too. And so as Joshua came down, he wasn't just all taken up with the wonderful privilege that he had had of being in the company of Moses and on the top of the mouth there with God. But now he has this interest in God's people. And I beseech you, dear young people, to.
The good of one another. What a blessing it is. I have noticed in some assemblies that there are young people who have a real interest in other young people who really seek their good, who seek to encourage them, who are quick to notice if someone has become discouraged, if someone is being turned aside and in a loving way to seek their good for you know, this is a real work. The Lord Jesus is the.
Great Shepherd, who cares for the sheep? Do we have that care one for another?
Says in First Corinthians 12 That the members should have the same care one for another, that if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. We're living in a selfish world, but if we're walking with God, well, we'll rejoice in the blessings that we have. We'll never make a selfish. It always gives enlargement of heart. I believe one who is going on with the Lord.
Will always have a large heart, a heart that seeks to be.
Blessing of sinners, a heart that seeks the blessing of God's people, that feels everything that comes in. I believe it was one of the servants of God in the past days that said he had two great sorrows in life. One was that sinners wouldn't come to Christ and the other was the Saints that didn't follow Christ. Those were his two great concerns. As I say, we are so often concerned about ourselves.
In our interests, well may the Lord give us that largeness of heart. Dear young people, who can tell the blessing that you can be? Jonathan thought of the people of God in their state. And Jonathan was willing to put his life in danger in order that he might deliver the people of God. And God used him, and he was a real blessing. And there was a mighty V1 That day at Beth Haven.
And the people of God were delivered.
Because there was a young man who cared, a young man who was concerned. May the Lord give us grace to have an interest in a care for the people of God.
Now let's turn over to the next chapter.
33 of Exodus and the seventh verse.
And Moses took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that everyone that sought the Lord went out unto the Tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tabernacle to come the Tabernacle, that all the people rose up and stood every man.
At his tent door and looked after Moses.
Until he was gone into the Tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the Tabernacle. And the Lord talked with Moses, and all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the Tabernacle door. And all the people rose up and worshipped every man at his tent door.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friends.
And he turned.
He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed, not out of the Tabernacle.
Well, this is an event that follows close on to what we were just speaking about. Moses was coming down from the mount with the tables of stone in his hand. The people had turned away from the Lord and they were worshiping the golden calf. And we saw that, We noticed how Joshua was concerned about that.
That, and now we find that Moses took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. It seems to me that this is very precious here, that in spite of what had come in, that God did not give up his people, He cared for them. And Moses in his faithfulness takes the Tabernacle and pitched it without the camp. And so.
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That is the place that we read about in Hebrews chapter 13. It says, Let us go forth therefore unto him, without the camp, bearing his reproach. The Lord Jesus was rejected. He was crucified outside the gate of Jerusalem. And now if we desire to be identified with Him, we find that He is a rejected Christ.
And those that saith the Lord.
It tells us here, everyone which sought the Lord went out unto the Tabernacle of the congregation. Those that sought the Lord, if they were content to go along with the rest of the people, then they didn't go out to the Tabernacle of the congregation. But if it was the Lord that they sought, then that's where they found him. They went out to the Tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
And so there is, I believe, a place in the privilege where we can go and meet the Lord and where He meets with us. Isn't that a very precious privilege? Dear young people, many of you have been brought up under the sound of God's Word. You have been brought up in the assembly, and you know what it is to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. But you know there are things that come in just as we read in the chapter before.
We think of what came in among the people of God and that sad departure. Now the question was, were they still going to seek the Lord, or were they going to get thoroughly discouraged because of what had taken place?
Well, that's where Joshua comes in here.
Joshua, it says a young man departed, not out of the Tabernacle. Most of them came and stood up at their tent door and watched Moses as he went there and followed him with their eyes. But they didn't seek that place.
Perhaps because of all that had come in, they were thoroughly cast down and discouraged. But it's a great thing, dear young people, to continue to go on with the Lord in spite of things that come in that would cast us down, that would make us sad. And that's what I believe is brought out here in connection with Joshua.
Joshua valued this place where the Lord met with His people.
And he departed not from it. Then I want to say to you that no, don't allow any failure and weakness that comes in to cause you to leave now that which God acknowledges and that which God owns. What a lovely thing it is to see this progress in the life of Joshua. We have noticed first his faithfulness in the battle against Amalek. We have noticed, too, that he was concerned about the conditions.
That had come in among the people of God, how they had departed from the Lord, how they had made that golden calf representing how idols can come into our lives and rob us of the enjoyment of the Lord. But we find in the case of MO of Joshua, that when he came down he was concerned, and now he didn't give up.
He departed, not out of the Tabernacle.
And I just want to say this to you because I'm quite sure that there are many of you that come from smaller assemblies here. It's nice to be with a large group, but perhaps we come from smaller places. Difficulties and trials have come in and some say, oh, I'm just not going to go. And so we find here a great many of them. And they stood at their tent door, that is, they didn't stir themselves to go to this place.
Where the Lord met with his people. But Joshua valued that place and he departed not from it. Oh, may the Lord keep us. We need his keeping grace not only in our personal lives. It's all that we might go on faithfully in the conflict with Amalek, but collectively with God's people acknowledging.
The blessed privilege that we have, the Lord Jesus has asked us.
To remember him and his death until he comes. And so I just want to encourage you, dear young people, don't give up. Seek grace to go on in spite of those things which may cast you down at times and cause godly exercise. Have an interest in the people of God. Seek their blessing and don't give up, Joshua.
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The son of not a young man departed not.
How does a Tabernacle? And now let's turn over to Numbers and the 12TH chapter of Numbers the Moment.
It's the 11TH chapter of Numbers, the 11TH chapter and the 14th verse. This is Moses speaking here. I am not able to bear all these people alone because it is too heavy for me.
And now passing on to the 24th verse. And Moses went out.
And told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the 70 men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tabernacle. And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the 70 elders. And it came to pass that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and did not cease. But there remained 2 of the men in the camp. The name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad.
And the Spirit rested upon them, and they were of them that were written, but went not out under the Tabernacle, And they prophesied in the camp, and there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said.
Elder, Elder, and me, Dad, do prophecy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men answered, and said, My Lord, Moses forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Envious Thou for my sake would God, that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them.
Moses got him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
Well, perhaps we could speak of this as a failure that came into the life of Joshua, but I believe too that we can learn something from what we have here. In the verse where we began the 14th verse, we find Moses complaining and telling God that the burden of the people was too heavy, that he could not bear it alone.
But I read this first. I often think of a dear brother Speaking of this verse. Many years ago, he said Moses complained that the burden of the people was too heavy, that he could not bear it alone. But he said the Lord never asked him to bear it alone. He didn't, did he? He had said before, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And perhaps there aren't things that almost seem overwhelming.
And we realize that we can't bear them, but we're not asked to bear them alone. The Lord has said that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He loves His people far more than we do. He loves them with an everlasting love. He loves them to the end. And we need never think that He is unable to look after all the needs of His people. But He gives us the privilege of having a part in.
Service and in his interests. And dear young people, even though we are young, you can have a part in this too. You can have an interest among the people of God.
Well, when Moses complained here and asked that the.
That he might have some help. Then there were 70 elders gathered together, and it tells us that the Lord took out the Spirit that was upon him and gave it unto the 70 elders. As someone has commented, there was more machinery, but there was no more power. Here was Moses given a work to do and he thought it was too much for him.
So the Lord took some from him and gave it to the others.
Years. But he also took some of the spirit that was upon him and gave it to the 70 elders.
Though the Lord will never give us more than he wants us to do, if we're taking on more than we should, then this is wrong. But sometimes we're unwilling to do the service the Lord has for us. Sometimes we're like Moses and we complain and we say I just can't do all this well, if the Lord asks us to do a work, if he calls us to a work.
Then we don't go to warfare at our own charge.
He will provide everything that's necessary, as one is sometimes said, don't ask yourself, am I able to do this? Asked does the Lord want me to do it? Because if he wants you to do it, he's going to give you the grace, He's going to give you the strength, He's going to provide for all that's necessary. And so there was more machinery. And as soon as we have the 70 elders.
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Then we find there were those two who prophecy.
In the camp, and perhaps we could have a little exercise here as gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus.
Because we realize that God and His grace is working and spreading the good news, often through those who are outside, those who are not gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. And could we not often ask ourselves, are we as diligent as we should be in what He has given us to do? Can't we often say that in the little place where we have been put in the town or in?
The city and the assembly where we are, that there are openings that we're not making use of. And so God may be using others. We thank God that he does use others, but it's because very often we're unwilling to do the service the Lord has for us. And as one is often said, dear young people, I believe it should be the prayer of each one of our hearts, Lord.
What wilt thou have me to do? It's not just come.
Come to the meetings and be fed ourselves. There is some little service, some usefulness that the Lord has for you and that He has for me. Are we willing to seek that service? He gave to every man His work. Just as Aaron appointed to all the Levites their service and their burden, so the Lord has a work for you.
Well, when these two prophesied in the camp, we noticed what Joshua.
Said He, said, My Lord Moses forbid them. It seems to me that he was something like the time when the Lord Jesus was here on earth and the two disciples came and told the Lord about the one who was casting out devils in his name, and they forbade him. And the Lord said not to forbid him. He that is not against us is for us, and so we can be thankful for every effort.
In the spread of the gospel, we notice here that God didn't tell Joshua to go and identify himself with them.
Joshua abode in the temple, in the Tabernacle. He departed not from it, but he was not to be envious, he was to be thankful, as Paul was. In Philippians chapter 1, he says, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached. And I therein do rejoice. Yeah, and will rejoice. Isn't it lovely that we can have that largeness of heart that rejoices?
In every place.
In every way that Christ is preached, but your responsibility and mine is to walk in obedience. But perhaps it's because, as with Moses here, he was unwilling to accept all the responsibilities given to him. And I'd like to say to each one of us here this afternoon, are we before the Lord as to what He has for us to do?
I believe that if we were more diligent, we would find.
Many open doors, many opportunities for the spread of His word that we are missing because we're unfaithful and there isn't anyone going to be in hell because of our unfaithfulness. We'll lose the privilege of being those who have part in His work. For He has called us to have part in His work, to have the privilege of being workers together with God.
But no one is going to be lost.
Just because of our unfaithfulness, and if we're not faithful, He may use others. I say this was the beginning of prophesying in the camp. And may the Lord speak then to each one of our hearts and exercise us. Again, Dear young people, ask the Lord, He has a service for you. He has something for you to do, and He'll supply all the grace, all the strength, all the wisdom that you need for that service.
What a blessing you can be.
What a happy path as we sang in our opening hymn, Choose the Servants. Happy path. It is indeed a happy path to serve so blessed a master, one dear old servant of God many years ago said.
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He said he was often weary in the Lord's service, but he was never weary of it. He's such a blessed servant, a blessed master to serve, and anyone who has tried in any way to serve him can say what His service is, perfect freedom, because he's such a blessed master. Well, then, let's turn over now to the 14th chapter.
And the.
6th Verse. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which was of them that searched the land, rent their clothes. And they speak unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed through to search it is an exceeding good lamb. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it us.
A land which floweth with milk and honey.
Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Fear them not, but all the congregation bade stone them with stones, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the Tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
I didn't read in the chapter before, but in the chapter before we see.
But there were 12 spies who were chosen from among the people to go over and view that good land that God was going to give his people. For we've been speaking about faithfulness amid difficulties, Faithfulness when they worship the golden calf.
Faithfulness when when as we were just seeing Elder and Medad prophesied in the camp.
And now we see here that God sends these 12 men, or Moses I should say, sends these 12 men over to search out the land and see that good land. It reminds me of how the Lord Jesus, when he told his disciples that it was going to be a difficult path.
To follow him said, if any man come I after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Then what did he immediately do? Well, he took them up into the mound of Transfiguration, and there he gave them a little preview of the Kingdom. And we have been speaking about faithfulness in the difficulties that come in the path of faith. What is it that will sustain us? Well, there's a verse in Proverbs that says.
Where no vision is.
The people perish. And wasn't it gracious here that God gave to these spies a sight of the good land that they were going to? And so with us, God would bring before us that good land that's before us. I'm sure, dear young people, if one of us today could spend 5 minutes in heaven, we'd wonder why we didn't serve the Lord more faithfully. We'd wonder why we.
So taken up with the things that pass away. I don't I I don't doubt that if we could just have 5 minutes there, everything here would look so dim we would wonder why we put so much importance on it.
What we find here that of these 12 That went over.
Tam While they saw the good lamb, they seemed to get taken up with the giants, and they started talking about how difficult it was. The cities were walled, the people were giants. It was a good land, but it was far too difficult to ever think of possessing it. But there were two, Joshua and Caleb, and they didn't look at the giants.
And they viewed the good land and they looked at the Lord and they said it is a good land. They weren't blind to the fact that there were giants. They knew there were giants. But they said, if the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it us. He knew, they knew that the Lord was able to bring them in.
And so I don't minimize that the path of faith.
Is really a difficult path. I know there are giants, I know there are high walls, but there's a lovely verse in the Psalms that says he makes my feet like Hinds feet. He gives us that spring so that we can jump over the wall, so that we can rise above the difficulties. And haven't many of us prove this? He doesn't always remove the difficulties.
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The little hind when it comes to that fence, you don't.
To open a gate, to let the hind go through, it just has that little spring in its legs that just jumps so gracefully right over the fence. And so it says, by my God, I shall leap over a wall. Some of us think God must remove the difficulties. Oh no, dear young people, He doesn't always do that, but he does give us Hinds feet so that we can jump over them, so that we can rise above the difficulties. And so that was.
The way it was with Joshua here and Caleb when they thought about this good land, they said the Lord delights in us. He's going to give us this good lamb. And what if there are giants there? What if the walls are high? The Lord is greater than the high walls. The Lord is greater than the giants. And it's a good land flowing with milk and honey. Dear Mr. Darby once said the path of faith is worthwhile if it were 1000 times more difficult than.
Than it is. And dear young people, I want to encourage you just like Joshua did here when he saw the people were discouraged by the difficulties all taken up with the giants. And I'm sure that there are some giants in your life, There's some high walls in your life. And you just see, you're just thinking perhaps right now, I don't know how I can get through this. I don't know how I can jump over this problem. It's just too much.
Well, I'll just look over at the top and see there is a good land.
That's waiting us, a land that flows with milk and honey. The Lord delights in us. So here we find Joshua encouraging the people of God. Or do you encourage the people of God? You know, you can say little things that discourage God's people. We all say little things that discourage others at times. But let us be like Joshua here. Joshua.
Encouraged them. Was he appreciated? Oh no, he wasn't appreciated.
They spoke of stoning him with stones and you say I've tried but it's no use. Well Joshua did it just the same. Even though they spoke of stoning them with stones, he didn't give up and as a good many years, some 30 odd years afterwards, that Joshua was finally used of God to lead those people into the land.
His faithfulness was rewarded. He didn't give up because they.
Spoke of stoning him. He didn't give up because they were all occupied with their troubles. No, he continued on all those 30 years walking with the people of God, sharing their difficulties and going on in the path of faith. And dear young people, I want to encourage you. Look on. May the Lord give you a vision of the glory. I say again, if you and I just realized what's ahead of us.
Right. We would realize that the things of this world, as the Scripture says, are light affliction, which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. And so on we come to the book of Joshua. We find that Joshua now is chosen of God after the death of Moses to lead the people into the land. He's told that he's strong and very courageous.
And we find him going on in faith and faithfulness, leading them through the Jordan, bring them into the land.
Sharing, if I can use that word, in their difficulties as they enter the land, telling them there was much land to be possessed, identifying himself with the people of God.
And let's just turn to the one closing passage I'd like to turn to in the last chapter of Joshua. Joshua chapter.
24 and verse 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day, whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your father serve, that were on the other side of the flood, for the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for the Lord our God.
He it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt from the House of ******* and which did thee those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out from before us all people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land. Therefore will we also serve the Lord, for He is our God.
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Isn't it nice to see here?
Joshua at the end of his life, there is still that purpose, that decision in his life. He said As for me in my house, we will serve the Lord. He had been through many experiences. I say, dear young people, we've traced some of these experiences in his life. Some of them were very difficult in trying, some were very humbling. But as we see him going through this, walking with the people of God, what a joy it must have been at the.
And to finally lead them in and to see them possess that land, to see them find rest in it. And now he's encouraging them to go on and serve the Lord. And dear young people, that's what I want to do to you today. I want to encourage you. We're living in the last days. The Lord is about to come. There's only a little time left. And I want to encourage you not only to have the joyful knowledge of Christ as your Savior.
But to remember that we have such a blessed Master to serve, and all those things that He sees fit to pass us through in His school are all for our good and blessing and to make us useful, and so that we at the end might have an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Well may the Lord encourage each one of us.
The time is short, dear young people, the Lord Jesus has said.
Occupy till I come.