Jordan – Page 5 – Praying Pint

Believe the works

John 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

John 4:39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

John 8:30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

John 11:45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

John 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

There are many accounts of people believing. Some that believed and told others. Some that believed and said nothing because of what it may mean to their way of life. In Romans it says; “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” In Matthew it says; “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” In James it says; “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believed that, and shudder. O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?” There is more to living for God than just believing. Believing is the first step and requires a heart that is open and seeking to receiving the Word of God. God’s word and call is to all mankind. He is the one who draws us to Himself and loved us and showed grace and mercy through His son Jesus Christ. Our walk of faith in Him is more than believing. Our lives should reflect the light of Christ through humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying Him.

Choose to be His disciple

John 4:1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

John 3:26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

Acts 10:36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Jesus’s disciples were baptizing disciples more so than John. When Jesus heard the Pharisees had heard of this he departed for Galilee. John’s disciples also made note of this. This had to have made John’s heart very very happy. People back then, like now, either reject or embrace the need for confession of sin and restoration (made right) with God. Baptism symbolizing death to old self (repenting) and rebirth of new self (turning away from old self). When God speaks to a persons heart they have the choice to come to Him or reject Him. To those who choose to listen, honor, serve, follow and obey they find new life. A life with clearer purpose, joy, peace, understanding, faith, and hope. Those who do not see this choice as foolishness and a sign of weakness. This is so much more to live when lived for serving Him. Find your purpose in choosing to be His disciple.

Action vs Intent

“it is a witness between us that the Lord is God”

Joshua 22:4 And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half- tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. And the people of Israel heard it said, “Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half- tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.” And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.
But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the Lord’s land where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God.
Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half- tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord. ’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord. Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.”’ And we thought, ‘If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, “Behold, the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.”’ Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!”
And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God”

Talk about doing the right thing and being totally misunderstood. The people of Reuben and Gad built this alter as a reminder and witness that they to were children of God. This was for both their generation as well future generations. How many times do we do something with proper intent and it is misunderstood? I am sure you have heard it said “when we judge others we do so by their actions” yet “when we judge ourselves we do so with our intent”. There are a couple of points in this that is worth remembering: 1. When we see our brothers in what appears to be sin we should go speak to them. Scripture says that we should go first by ourselves and if they don’t listen we should go with a brother and if they do not listen then we are to distance ourselves from them in hopes they will turn from their ways. I was impressed the other tribes had sent leaders with the head priest to offer them to come live in their land so that they did not fall under the wrath of God. (at this point they still believed the tribes of Reuben and Gad had done wrong). 2. It is important to be observant to the actions of our brothers and should we see something of concern we need to speak to them about it. Actions of others may lead us to one thought but their intent could be pure. When something like this occurs we need to have the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, heart of Love, and desire of obedience. However, what I normally see is a rumor mill running and no one willing to go speak to the other person. There is no room for this and every brother/sister in the Lord should shut down anything with a hint of rumoring. Wouldn’t you want someone to care enough about you and your walk with God that they would speak with you.

Attentive

“And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law”

Joshua 8:34
And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them

Deuteronomy 28:58
“If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting

Deuteronomy 31:12
Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess

Nehemiah 8:3
And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law

Being attentive is a choice. Sometimes we make this choice more because we are going through a trial or hardship in our life or the life of family or friend. Just take a moment and look back at when you were very attentive to God and wanting/needing to hear His voice, know His presence, feel His peace and forgiveness. Did He ever let you down – no He did not – His promise that He would never leave us or forsake us stands true and firm. This leads me to the question I often ask myself – Am I being attentive? Am I seeking God with my whole heart, mind, and soul? Am I being a good servant of what He has blessed me with? Am I seeking to be used by Him? Am I allowing His Holy Spirit to fill and lead me? If I am to be truthful there are days I would say absolutely and other days not at all. I do know that those days when I am seeking more of myself than God, God uses other bother and sisters to encourage me through some word or action. Be an encourager to those around you – stay close to God – serve Him – honor and glorify Him – always be ready to be used by Him – Listen for His leading – and OBEY.

Don’t Forget

to be a reminder to the people of Israel

Joshua 4:7
When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you? ’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever

Exodus 12:14
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self- control, and self- control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall

Why would Joshua have a memorial made? I suppose it has to do with how easy it is for us to forget what God has done. How much have we forgotten? How many times in the past have you seen God’s hand and overcome something that seemed impossible? I was sent a link yesterday and it reminded me of something very remarkable. The content of this link essentially said “Share your story”. Share what your life was like before, the day it all changed, and what it is like now. This miracle should be fixed in our heart and mind so firmly that like the stones we are reminded of God and His provision. Reminded of His awesome power that can change a person from the inside out. How He can open their heart and mind to the wonders of creation, place peace in their soul in times of hard trials, soften our heart to love and forgive, heal broken relationships, supply needs when there seems no hope….. It is easy to forget what God has done, what God is doing, and what God has promised for the future when we do not speak of them. Speak often of God and never forget His awesome power, love, grace and mercy.