Crossing The Jordan

Num 13:30-32 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31) But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32)  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

 We are finding ourselves at the end of human history. We have the opportunity to have front row seats as history, as predicted in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation actually play themselves out right before our own eyes. We have the privilege of observing the signs which our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST foretold in the gospels unfold right before our own eyes. It can be said that the Books of Daniel and Revelation are being rewritten, but this time in past tense and, not future tense, as before. The signs that Jesus foretold are happening in such a manner and with such accuracy that it is only proper to say ‘OH, how great Thou art.’

But, we are faced with a dilemma. A dilemma that might cause us to be left out of the Kingdom of God. A SICKNESS that has buried itself so deep into our souls, that we have passed it on to the next generation, and that will be passed on to the generation thereafter.  A sickness that we as Christians have come to accept as NORMAL AND ACCEPTABLE.

 Let us read the scripture reading again - : Num 13:30-32 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31) But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32)  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

The question you need to ask yourself is “What kept the Israelites out of the Promised  

 Now in order to answer this question, we need to look back further and ask ourselves “What ultimately caused Adam and Eve to leave the Garden of Eden. Let`s go to Gen 3:12-13  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

In both Numbers and Genesis there is one common factor, which in Genesis resulted in causing GOD`s creation to have to leave Eden, and in Numbers, keeping GOD`s creation from entering Canaan. And that common factor, my brothers and sisters, is UNBELIEVE and EXCUSES for your unbelieve.

EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES.

The definition for the word excuse is ‘To explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood’

Oh, aren`t we full of that. Just think. In our everyday life how often we use excuses to help justify a decision, and thereby making us feel good and proud of those decisions, or to help cover up the mistakes we have made. In our work place we use excuses to help justify a mistake that we have made, just to protect our pride and keep face, so that the next time round you won`t be doubted or that your mistake would not affect your performance appraisal at the end of the year. And it is usually these excuses which keep us from opportunities that could lead to a better job opportunity or promotion. It is usually these excuses that cause our colleagues to doubt or not trust us. It is usually these excuses that cause our own demise in our careers.

If we look at the excuses that we use in our relationships, especially our marriages, to cover up our mistakes. A lot of times we use an excuse to justify a point in an argument just so that you do not lose the fight. We will use an excuse to put the blame on our spouse just so that we can feel better about ourselves

 I think the best definition for the word excuse is to lie to yourself in the hope of being forgiven or understood.  Or we could say that the definition for excuse is not to trust the LOVE and POWER of GOD.

If we look at Adam and Eve, I believe GOD gave them the opportunity to basically come clean and say that they have made a mistake and that they take full responsibility for their mistake. In other words, my brothers and sisters, they needed to repent at the feet of GOD, and in so doing TRUST and BELIEVE That GOD would find a way to keep them in Eden. But they did not. They rather relied on their excuses to justify their actions and their unbelief. And in doing this they broke the heart of Christ. He was hoping that they would repent and come to Him. Instead they chose to lie and leave Him. And yet, even though they did not trust and believe in Him, He still had a plan to get them back to Him. Because our GOD knows the end from the beginning, and He saw that they would not trust in Him, He had already decided what to do in order to save them. And my brothers and sisters, it is for this reason that I believe that He allowed the first sacrifice to be done in the garden. It is for this reason that I believe He clothed them in the skins of this first sacrifice, as a promise that He will always be with them and one with them. As a promise that if they trust in Him, if they believe in Him, they would be led back to Him.

How often today still don’t we use excuses even in our prayers to justify what we have done wrong. To justify our unbelief in Him. How often do we refuse to accept the outstretched hand of Christ through the excuses that we make for ourselves? Christ is waiting and we only need to reach up to Him in full surrender and He will take us into His fold.

At the river Jordan the Israelites were making ready to cross, but GOD instructed Moses to first send a party of spies to scout the area. And in doing this, they could bring not only a report of the strength and weakness of the enemy that awaits them, but also what treasures and beauty the Promised Land held for them. God wanted the scouts to come and preach to the followers of the amazing Love that He has shown them by bringing them to this beautiful place. A place that was promised to them even before they were born. A land flowing with milk and honey.  An inheritance so great and wonderful, despite their lack of trust and their unbelief in God. In spite of the fact that even though they were in the physical presence of God, they still decided to build their own idols and worship it.

How painful that must have been to God. He showed them His awesome power through the plagues in Egypt. He showed them His great strength like none other by defeating the whole armies of Egypt with one blow. He showed them His amazing love for them by providing for their every need in the desert. And yet they bowed down to another god.

Even after all of this He still led them to the Promised Land. He allowed scouts to see beforehand the beauty that awaits them, so that they could come back and prophecy about the amazing life they were going to have in this wonderful, new home.

But as humans are, they only saw the bad. They only saw their defeat. And the King James says they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel. Basically saying, they made GOD a liar. But they were lying to themselves. Could it be that they became used to suffering and would rather their suffering lives over the amazing promise of God? Could it be that knowing the law of God they knew that there were things and practices that they had to do away with?

 I read this story in the Bible and I asked myself, how does this story relate to me? Does it make any reference to me? The Bible says that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God,” which is His Holy Scripture. So this story had to have a meaning to me. This story had to have a message for me in the last days. Because as we know the crossing of the Jordan symbolises our crossing into Heaven after the second coming of Christ. The Promised Land or rather the Inheritance symbolises the inheritance that is ours WAITING for us once we have accepted the Love of Christ and believe that His sacrifice has saved us.

With all this symbolism there had to be a message for me in the last days.

Ellen G. White says that:

"While God has given ample evidence for faith, He will never remove all excuse for unbelief. All who look for hooks to hang their doubts upon will find them. And those who refuse to accept and obey God's Word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light" (The Great Controversy, p. 527).

 I started asking myself: Is it possible that there could be unbelief in me. Is it possible that even though God has given me so much evidence of His Power and Strength in my life, the same type of evidence that He gave to the Israelites, That I still don`t believe in His promise. Could it be that because of my unbelief I am preventing myself from crossing the Jordan? Can it be that in my unbelief I am making an excuse not to give up the sufferings of my life because I have become comfortable with them, rather than claiming my Inheritance? Could it be true of ALL of us?

If we look at the Israelites. They just came out of Egypt where a flogging was part of the normal day. They were used to hunger, even they believed they ate better in Egypt than in the desert. Now tell me, what is better than manor or quails from heaven.  But yet they felt they had better. They were free, but yet they longed to be held captive. They longed for the humiliation that came with being a slave in Egypt. Why, because they were COMFORTABLE with it. At any given opportunity they sought to disobey GOD and return to their chains, rather than obeying GOD, and experiencing true freedom.

They had just experienced the physical presence of GOD, and as soon as Moses left to go up the mountain, they took the opportunity to return to their chains by building their own god.

2Pe_2:22  What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

Take a look at the Apostacy that took place right at the Jordan, just before they were supposed to cross the Jordan. The Ellen White writes: “At first there was little intercourse between the Israelites and their heathen neighbors, but after a time Midianitish women began to steal into the camp. Their appearance excited no alarm, and so quietly were their plans conducted that the attention of Moses was not called to the matter.” Isn`t it true of how subtle satan enters our lives. We not even aware of his presence because he is carefully disguised in all our comforts. “It was the object of these women, in their association with the Hebrews, to seduce them into transgression of the law of God, to draw their attention to heathen rites and customs, and lead them into idolatry. These motives were studiously concealed under the garb of friendship, so that they were not suspected, even by the guardians of the people.” Amazing. We only need to apply the symbolism we have in prophecy, and we see the Prophetic language that sister White is using here. That is. A woman being a church. And a church being anything that adds comfort in our lives.
“At Balaam's suggestion, a grand festival in honor of their gods was appointed by the king of Moab, and it was secretly arranged that Balaam should induce the Israelites to attend. He was regarded by them as a prophet of God, and hence had little difficulty in accomplishing his purpose.” Can we start seeing how closer this portion of Sr white moves closer to our present time. “Great numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground, and were entangled in the snare of Satan. Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites.
It was not long before the poison had spread, like a deadly infection, through the camp of Israel. Those who would have conquered their enemies in battle were overcome by the wiles of heathen women. The people seemed to be infatuated. The rulers and the leading men were among the first to transgress, and so many of the people were guilty that the apostasy became national. "Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor.” (Patriarchs and Prophets,455-56)

 Mat_24:24  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

And it will be the fact that we are unwilling to let go of our comforts that we so dearly treasure each and every day – our sufferings, because we would rather have that in our lives than the peace of GOD.
To put it plainly. We are more comfortable with the idea of being out of heaven than in heaven.
How often has it happened that we caught ourselves wondering on what will we find in heaven. How will we travel. Will there be cars, aeroplanes. I heard one day in a sermon on television that the minister says that his porche is waiting for him in heaven.
Pollution caused by motorised vehicles amounts to a large proportion of the total air pollution today. You see we are not willing to leave our sufferings behind.
Youngsters (and even older ones) might be hoping to have his own big screen tv with playstation. The most violence that takes place in this world today, takes place on the playstations that we have in our homes. It might be make believe. But we still contemplating to kill a creation of GOD. Mat_5:22  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment
I am making the simplest of examples  to try and get a point across.
But the most common example that I can make and that is used by all Christians across all denominations is “it is the generation of our children that the LORD will come” And it is this same attitude that we are teaching our children, and which they will be teaching their children. This is the disease I started out talking about.
How do we know that it is in children’s generation that Christ will return? Its only GOD that know when the hour is right.
Why are we so afraid to say that Christ might return in our generation? It was this same attitude and unbelief that kept Israel from their inheritance from their inheritance. And the time was right for them to cross, just as the time is right for us to claim our inheritance.

Num 13:20…" Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.”

It was the harvest time, just as it is the harvest time now. All the signs that Jesus spoke about has taken place and is taking place. But we don`t want to believe.

Rev 3:14-17 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Just as Israel at that time we believe that we know it all and that we own it all. We want to believe in the promises of Christ, but we find it difficult to let go of the comforts of this world.

 The time was right for Israel to cross the Jordan, but Israel found excuses to try and cover up their disbelief. That very same disbelief that shut Adam and Eve out of Eden, - That very same disbelief that we run the risk of keeping us out of our inheritance.

     GOD always has a plan. He knows the end from the beginning. He knew what our weaknesses would be before we had them. And that is why He gave this lesson of Israel. A practice run of the character that we should avoid from developing, unless if we want to follow the same fate those Israelites suffered, having to dwell in the wilderness for 40 years because of their unbelief. I am not saying that Christ is coming tomorrow or next month or within the next five minutes, but what I am saying is that we should be like Caleb, who had so much faith and belief in GOD that he was ready at that moment to cross.

And that is the belief and faith we need to develop in our relationship with Christ. We should to GOD to provide us with the guidance and wisdom to avoid the same mistakes that the Israelites made, the same mistakes our forefathers made, Delaying our own prize giving day.

The promise is there. The example is there. Just as GOD shows us through scripture what to avoid when preparing to enter the Promised Land, He also reveals to us the character to pray for to successfully enter and claim our inheritance. GOD uses the same example of the crossing of the Jordan, this time the second attempt by Israel. Sister White says:

“Joshua was now the acknowledged leader of Israel. He had been known chiefly as a warrior, and his gifts and virtues were especially valuable at this stage in the history of his people. Courageous, resolute, and persevering, prompt, incorruptible, unmindful of selfish interests in his care for those committed to his charge, and, above all, inspired by a living faith in God— such was the character of the man divinely chosen to conduct the armies of Israel in their entrance upon the Promised Land.    (Patriarchs and Prophets, [p. 482])

It was with great anxiety and self-distrust that Joshua had looked forward to the work before him; but his fears were removed by the assurance of God, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. . . . Unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them." "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses." To this promise was added the injunction, "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded." (Patriarchs and Prophets,p 483)

Clearer and more straight forward I don`t think the message can become that needed to bring to you today. There might be some who don’t agree to what I had to say today. But it is the faith in Jesus Christ that we need to focus on. We need to keep our eyes on Him. We need to pray to Him daily to remain the light to our feet and the lamp to our paths. We need to daily pick up our crosses and follow Him. We need to let go of all our sufferings and take up his burden because it`s lighter and His yoke is easier. The character of Christ IS THE ANTITYPE of the character of Joshua at the time of the crossing of the Jordan. We need to make the character of Christ our character. We need to be like Caleb who is ready today to enter the Promised Land and who does not think of an excuse because the task seems to daunting.

The times are just getting worse. There will be no relief until the second coming. All our burdens will just get heavier. A time is coming that prophesying the Love of Christ will be a crime. A time Is coming that because of our faith we will be prejudiced, locked up, tortured and murdered. Do we really want to leave this for our children to bear. Do we really want to sleep in the dust while all of this is happening to our seed.

Or do we want to have the privilege of looking up one morning, and seeing the heavens roll open like a scroll. Do we want the privilege of seeing Christ on that bright cloud of angels coming closer and closer to the Earth, until He is so close that you can actually see His face. Do we want the privilege of hearing that sound, like no other sound heard before, that mighty trumpet when it blows. And seeing the dead rise in Christ. Do we want the privilege of being number as one of the 144 000.

Self-Examination and Repentance

 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

A verse in strength and purity as an individual takes his burden to Christ in search of true repentance and confession. We as human beings with all our corruptness and weaknesses cannot in most instances identify that which is keeping us away from God. We therefore have this need to allow God to show us and guide us to that which is keeping us away from Him. Many a times we are also afraid to admit to ourselves those things which keeps us short of the glory of God. In claiming the promise of Psalm 139:23-24, God also protects us from our own pride in that He guides us not to claim our own Salvation, but rather Salvation through the intercession of Christ.

“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth” (Psalm 26:2-3).

 “These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching. The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 37).

 “After Christ’s ascension, the disciples were gathered together in one place to make humble supplication to God. And after ten days of heart searching and self-examination, the way was prepared for the Holy Spirit to enter the cleansed, consecrated soul temples. Every heart was filled with the Spirit, as though God desired to show His people that it was His prerogative to bless them with the choicest of heaven’s blessings” (Evangelism, p. 698).

 “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:12-15).

Leading from the Psalm 139:23-24, this prayer needs to be said. After God has guided us and revealed all that is impure within us, we need to ask HIM to help repair that which is broken. It has been shown through history as well as the history of our own lives that when we rely on our own strengths to repair that which is broken in our lives, we actually worsen it. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to create a new being within us and not only that, but also a contrite heart that should convict us every day to help guide us in Gods way. By trying to fix things ourselves we more often end up hurting others and even turn them away from God.

 Many times we evangelise to people and they really show an eagerness to want to learn more about the God and His plan for their Salvation. But for some or other reason they just never get to that point where they completely submit to God. And we actually become upset at them for not accepting the Word. This is usually the case in our families with close relatives and we usually ask the question “Can’t they see what God has done in my life?”

 “In the family if one member is lost to God every means should be used for his recovery. On the part of all the others let there be diligent, careful self-examination. Let the life-practice be investigated. See if there is not some mistake, some error in management, by which that soul is confirmed in impenitence” (Christ Object Lessons, p. 194).

 “Thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children” (Isaiah 49:25).

After this process of self-examination, a process that we need to go through on a daily basis, (as the old me needs to die daily) God leaves us with a wonderful promise. He promises that whatever tyrant that may be holding us captive He will release us. He promises that whatever burden may be pulling us down, He will pick it up and carry it for us. As He promises in:

·         Mat_11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

·         Mat_11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

And His promise is not only for us, but for our children also. For as we learn from Christ, so our children learn from us. And as for what we follow in Christ so our children will follow also.

Loving Unity

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1, 2).

The need for unity in the church

"Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose," (Phil. 2:2).

·         One of the signs of apostasy (falling from the truth) in the Christian Church is the bickering and disunity among Christians. 

·          Jesus said that the world would know that we were His disciples by the love that we have for one another (John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ).

·           In Col. 3:14 (And above all these things put on charity/LOVE, which is the bond of perfectness.)  it says that love is the perfect bond of unity.

·          The New Testament speaks about us being unified in Christ (Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ). 

·          In response to Christians who follow after individuals rather than Jesus, Paul says that Christ is not divided (1 Cor. 1:12-13 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? ). 

“This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12, 13).

Ask yourself what is most important in life. Is it your relationship with God?  If it is, and it should be, should you not also be seeking the same thing that God wants?  Should you not also be seeking to love one another as Christ commanded us? Love is the perfect bond of unity

The Christian church, as a whole, needs to repent. We need to look at ourselves. We need to look at our churches. We need to look at one another and decide that we will stand on the essential doctrines of the faith and that we will be united against the enemy. Those of us who are united by the blood of Christ are not enemies with one another.  It may be difficult for many of us to look lovingly into the eyes of those of a different denomination without thinking in our hearts that they are wrong about this doctrine or that doctrine.  But, we need to be reminded that there is neither a Presbyterian nor a Baptist nor a Lutheran on the throne of God.

How Important Is Church Unity?

Unity Reveals the Reality of God's Kingdom. A truly united church on earth reveals that its members are serious in their expectation of living together in heaven. Unity on earth demonstrates the reality of God's eternal kingdom. To those who live in this way the Scripture will be fulfilled,

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).

Primarily, it is the saving work of Christ that unites us. We have, as a common heritage, the blood of Christ that has been shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  True Christians serve the true and living God and we know Jesus in a personal and intimate way (1 Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  ). We have been redeemed by God himself.  Furthermore, we have the body of Scriptures which tell us the essentials of the faith and deviating from these essentials means to be outside the camp of Christ.  It is the essential doctrines that we must know and unite in.

 THE PRAYER FOR UNITY BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:20-23).

·         But what if the world began to see the Christian Church uniting in spite of its differences?

·         What if the world started to see how the Christian Church started to love not only their own church members but other church members?

·          What do you think the world would say if the churches' bickering stopped?

·         What do you think the unbelievers would say if they saw us living more and more the loving attitude and a sacrificial life of Christ across denominational barriers?

·          It would be a tremendous witness for Christ. It would be a tremendous assault on the enemy and I know that God would use it mightily to bring others to Himself by his grace.

What should we do to bring unity wherever possible?

We need to look at our own hearts and our own minds and compare them to Jesus and the Scripture. Where ever the two are not in agreement, it is we who need to change.  We need to pray that the Lord would provide opportunities to work with other Christians across denominational lines.  We need to recognize that we have differences of opinions and worship styles and that that is okay.  But we need to lift each other up and be united in Christ.

 “In spite of all the good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independently of those connected with him. Occasional and uncertain movements, however earnest and energetic, will in the end bring defeat. Take a strong team of horses. If, instead of both pulling together, one should suddenly jerk forward and the other pull back, they would not move the load, notwithstanding their great strength. So the soldiers of Christ must work in concert, else there will be a mere concourse of independent atoms. Strength, instead of being carefully treasured to meet one great end, will be wasted in disconcerted, meaningless efforts. In union is strength. A few men and women who unite together, having the glory of God in view, will be growing in strength and wisdom, and gaining new victories” (Signs of the Times, Sept. 7, 1891, par. 7).