Right before God, Unity with Brethren
The worst battle is the discordance within the brethrens
- Revere God the Right Way
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- Background: Israel had experienced success for the last 7 years, more lands to conquer (more souls to save, more workers to be raised up etc..)
- What is revering God in this? It is more lands to conquer. He who protected you will protect you further, and rise you up further. So look to Him and seek Him carefully
- Continue to live set apart lives
- What is set apart?
- How to set apart?
- But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5 NIV) = you need the word day and night, this is where the conviction of HS comes
- The word is the promise of life, strength
- Love The Lord = have him has your reliance! only trust, find comfort in Him. Loving god comes from meditating and confirming the word
- Serve Him with all your heart and all your strength (works) - the right word gives rise to the right works (you will take steps, make decision in a way to live in him, edify church and people whom God loves) -- Be very careful to do this (diligent)
Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord ! (Joshua 22:17 NIV)
- sin of Peor (rebellion and being tempted in the wilderness) --> plague
And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that the Lord is God. (Joshua 22:17, 34 NIV)
Phinehas confrontation
- He has been through the sin of Peor
- He went with the holiness of God but with the heart to win them back
- Like our relationship with people, as self righteous people, it is easy to condemn others (holy anger went overboard in condemning people)
- Our relationship with people must be like this
- Give them reminder (Peor, achan stories)
- Not as accuser
- Let people meditate, give them time to change their hearts
- Sincere and sacrificial offer
- This is your prayer for them
- He believed them purely as what they have explained.
- He put himself in their shoes to understand
The Eastern tribe defense
- First take refuge and appeal to God
- Live before God - God is the justice, so be right before God first, have clear conscience (only then you are teachable)
- If you are strong in God, you are humble before man
- Recognize the rightness of others in coming against them (not defensive mode at once! )
- This is a humble act, unlike what we usually do, we are quick to defend
- HS is a spirit of humility and wisdom
- For the good of all and their descendants (future ministries)
- Not for self, but for heavenward direction to save more souls
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1 NIV)
Spirit in relation to the gospel
- Living before God (Right before God). > getting a gracious spirit
- Confront with spirit of grace
- Have the answers! Only then you will be more hungry for the word (step of faith)
- God made it known to you your imperfection, so thst His perfection is manifested in your imperfection