On Holy Ground

June 15, 2008

Father’s Day

2nd in Sermon Series of 4: “Be Strong and of Good Courage”

Text: Joshua 5:10-13


Theme: The Arlington Cemetery is considered by our nation and its leaders as Holy Ground. It symbolizes the sacrifices made by so many who have served our nation, for the cause of freedom for the rest of us. For Christians, we are a people whose freedom was bought by the death of Jesus Christ on the hill called Cavalry. Everywhere we step is Holy Ground. How then shall we live?

Joshua 5: The Passover at Gilgal

10While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

13Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?” 14He replied, “Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, “What do you command your servant, my lord?” 15The commander of the army of the LORD said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

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Outline

Introduction: Video Clip of Arlington Cemetery

  1. God brings us through.

  2. God makes Covenant with us.

  3. God tells us WHY.

  4. God’s provision changes.

  5. God gives us clear direction.

    Intro.: The Arlington Cemetery is considered by our nation and its leaders as Holy Ground. It symbolizes the sacrifices made by so many who have served our nation, for the cause of freedom for the rest of us. For Christians, we are a people whose freedom was bought by the death of Jesus Christ on the hill called Cavalry. Everywhere we step is Holy Ground. How then shall we live?

    I. God brings us through. (in chapter 3 of Joshua, God brings them through the river)

    Moses is dead. Joshua is called to lead the people to the Promised land just over the Jordan river. Moses could not enter because of his sin in the wilderness. The original people Moses led out of Egypt could not enter due to the same reason. But Joshua leads the people over at the Lord’s command. They cross over the Jordan river, on dry land. This miracle strikes fear into the hearts of the kings in the region, who remembered these strange people were once led on dry ground through the Red Sea, while the Pharaoh’s armies drowned! “There is no stopping them,” they must have thought.

    We hear the call of God to do great and mighty things, but often we wonder, we question, we ask, “how this is going to come to pass?” The HOW is the least of our problems when God is in control! What is it that God is leading you to do, which you cannot do on your own? What is God asking of you that makes no sense? What is it in your life that seems impossible? “With God all things are possible.”

    God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness; so that God may be glorified.

    What is your Jordan River? God Brings us Through!

    II. God makes Covenant with us.

    Circumcision (5:2) is the sign of the covenant God made with the people through Abraham. It is a renewed covenant with the people who have crossed over Jordan, from law to grace, from wandering to promised land, from manna to milk and honey. This is a new day for the people of promise;

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