The Distinction of God.

Steve Gentry

[0:09] We’ll go ahead and have a seat. Welcome to Village Church. If this is your first time here, [0:13] my name is Steve, one of the pastors here at Village Church. And as always, I’m thankful and [0:16] grateful to see each and every one of you. If you have a Bible, go ahead and open it to [0:21] Joshua chapter 5. We’re going to be starting in verse 13 this morning, probably the shortest [0:27] section of verses that we’re going to cover throughout the book of Joshua series. We’re [0:31] only going to be covering three verses today. You’ll understand why by the end, I hope.

[0:36] But last Sunday, Joshua 5 started with the narrative of God commanding his people to [0:42] reconsecrate themselves through the act of circumcision. And through this, God is showing [0:48] the distinction of his people. This physical mark would show that they were a people set apart for [0:54] purposes of God. And it kind of reveals to us that God desires his people to be distinct from [1:00] the world around them. This has been clear throughout the history of the world. This is, [1:05] of course, clear through the narratives that we see in scripture that God does desire for

[1:10] his people to be distinct. God does desire for his people to live in distinct ways among [1:15] those who are unbelievers. And it’s spread through scripture enough that we should really [1:21] pick up the theme on that. That if you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, you are not going [1:25] to live a life that resembles everyone around you. You are going to stick out for one reason [1:31] or another because of the commands that God makes clear in his word. And this is an avenue, of course, [1:37] through which God displays his holiness through our lives. And he still does this through the

[1:43] church of Jesus Christ. We should find joy and glory in the distinctions that God has called us [1:49] to. And so when we seek to kind of shed those distinctions, when we seek to synergize with the [1:55] world around us, when we seek not to have the distinctions that God makes clear in the word [1:59] that we are meant to have, we need to understand that we should be weary of doing that because [2:05] that’s rebellion against God. And we are not meant in all things to be like everyone else. We are [2:11] meant to live lives that are set apart for the purposes of God. But the world will constantly

[2:18] pressure you not to be distinct in the way that God calls you to. The world will [2:23] constantly pressure you to question the commands of God, to question whether or not God actually [2:28] desires us to live by the design that’s shown in scripture. But when we rebel and disobey and [2:35] live against the very design of God, we need to understand that regardless of the purpose, [2:40] we’re going to face judgment under his wrath. Because there really are only two choices. [2:45] You will either pursue holiness in your life or you will fall under the judgment of God in

[2:51] eternity. And in verses 13 through 15, God himself reveals in a way that’s unique in the [2:58] entirety of scripture. And I want you to understand that when the Bible offers a narrative [3:03] that’s not just unique in the history of the world, that’s unique even in scripture, [3:10] then that’s probably a narrative that you need to pay attention to. That’s probably a narrative [3:13] you need to study and understand what are the purposes behind it, but also what are the [3:18] ramifications behind it for my life. And so understand that the way that God is going to

[3:23] reveal himself to Joshua in this passage is not normative. God does not, with all of the heroes [3:30] of the faith that we have throughout the Bible, God does not reveal himself in this way really [3:35] to anyone else throughout the rest of scripture. Moses saw a burning bush. Paul was stricken off [3:42] his horse who was spoken to from glory by the voice of Jesus Christ. But this is actually a [3:49] way in which God manifests himself in a unique way in front of Joshua right before they enter [3:55] into Jericho to defeat it, right before they begin their conquest in the promised land.

[4:00] And because of that, it necessitates kind of a deeper view where this narrative is going [4:06] to stand apart as being really impactful, I hope, in your lives because in it we see the [4:13] peculiar glory that God demands of his people, but we also see the holiness of God on display, [4:20] but also his commitment to his holiness. And because of that, we should not be surprised [4:27] when God demands that level of holiness from our own lives. And I want to begin reading in verse 13. [4:34] It says, when Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, a man was

[4:41] standing before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, [4:46] are you for us or are you for our adversaries? And I want you to understand that [4:51] the question that Joshua asks should reveal to you the sinfulness of mankind [4:57] because he’s confronted by the presence of God. And what’s the first question that he asks? [5:01] Not about God, but about himself. And this is a very telling question for the condition of the [5:10] human heart. And I would tell you it’s even a very telling question for the condition of your heart

[5:15] if you understand the context that we’re talking about. Verse 14, God said no.

[5:22] This or that? No. That’s God’s response. Imagine how scared Joshua must have been. [5:31] He says, but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come. And Joshua fell on his [5:37] face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, what does my Lord say to his servant? [5:44] And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, take off your sandals from your feet [5:49] for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so. Number one, this morning, [5:55] I want you to understand that God demands distinction because he is distinct.

[5:59] God demands distinction because he is distinct. Now understand the context that we’re in. There’s [6:06] kind of a bookend to this is on the other side of this narrative, we have the circumcision [6:12] of the next generation of Israel that’s going to enter into the promised land that’s going to [6:16] begin the conquest over Canaan. But then on the other side, on Joshua six, next week, we’re going [6:21] to talk about the fall of Jericho. Going to talk about Israel’s first victory as they pursue the [6:28] conquest that God has called them towards and then sandwiched in between those two narratives.

[6:34] Is this distinct, unusual, really extraordinary narrative about Joshua coming into the presence [6:42] of a being that at first he doesn’t really understand and he wants to say, are you for us, [6:46] are you against us? And then it is revealed through the response of God. No, that’s not the way this [6:51] is going to work. This isn’t about God getting on Joshua’s side. This is about Joshua getting on [6:56] God’s side. And I’ll tell you, if you can apply the reality that this narrative presents for us [7:03] to your life, it is altering of any worldview, but it is also going to alter the very life that you

[7:11] live. There is no way to view this narrative in the proper context as a follower of Jesus Christ [7:17] and not have it reorient the entire mission of your life. Because if you miss this, if you don’t [7:24] reorient your life to the application of what this narrative is going to tell us, then quite [7:28] frankly, you cannot be a follower of Jesus Christ because you won’t be able to follow him. You’ll [7:32] be about your own mission rather than God’s mission, nor will you even understand why God [7:37] has the mission that he has. Really, the first thing that it tells us is that there is a purpose

[7:42] behind God’s commands, even if it is simply distinction. It’s an interesting thing that God [7:50] required of them at the beginning of Joshua 5. I don’t know if you know this, but most people [7:55] don’t remember their circumcision. And that’s by God’s grace. All right. You want to talk about [8:01] trauma? Oh boy, I could only imagine. All right. When God gives you a command that you don’t [8:08] understand, the default mode that humanity is going to have is why. And God doesn’t owe you a why. [8:14] He never does. He doesn’t owe you a reason. If God only has a reason of the reason why is because

[8:23] I want you to. That is a sufficient status. That is a sufficient reason because he is God. [8:31] Children are fascinating because you’ll have one child that the room is always immaculate. You [8:36] never have to tell them to clean it. They just naturally love to live in a clean room. But then [8:41] you’ll have another child who really, it seems like they have a life goal of turning the room [8:45] into a homeless shelter. You know, you’re like, you are one step away from tarps. It’s like, [8:53] what was happening in this room? I don’t quite understand what your goal is, what you’re

[8:57] accomplishing. I got a hazmat suit that’s necessary for some of the things I’m finding. [9:02] All right. But when you tell that child, clean your room, if the child looks at you and says, [9:09] why? I don’t know what you do as a parent, but I don’t personally have a therapy session [9:16] every time my child doesn’t understand my commands. If you do in 10 years, you’re in trouble. I just [9:21] want you to know that. If you have a therapy session with a four year old so they understand [9:26] the moves that you’re making, when they’re 14, it’s going to be a miserable existence. All right.

[9:31] Why? Because I said so. That’s the greatest phrase I’ve ever said in my life. [9:37] Because I’ve executed the mandate of Steve’s worldview in Steve’s house for Steve’s times. [9:44] We’re living under the purposes of Steve in this house. There’s no other reason you need. [9:49] All right. But I can only imagine that you’re an adult male Israelite. You’re from the next [9:54] generation and somebody, the leader of your tribe comes to your abode. And he says, hey, [10:02] God’s given us a mandate. Everyone must be circumcised. And we got a couple of guys out

[10:07] there with Flint knives. Pardon. I’ve received a word from the Lord that seems to be a bit different.

[10:20] You imagine that there are some questions. I can’t imagine that out of the tens of thousands of men [10:26] at that point, everybody’s like, sounds great. Be out in a minute. Just got a strip. [10:31] All right. I’m sure some people were like, what is God doing? I don’t know. Because we have this [10:39] default mode where we want to put our priorities above God’s priorities. And so our questions take [10:44] precedence over God’s commands. And what we don’t understand is that when we demand of God a [10:50] perfectly reasonable explanation and reason, by the way, is defined by me at that moment.

[10:55] What we’re doing is we’re saying, no, no, no, I am God. You must bend the knee to my purpose. [11:00] If you can’t help me understand, then I am not going to obey you. When you do that, [11:06] you find yourself in rebellion against God. That if the only reason that God had for that command [11:13] was, I want you to be a distinct people, that is a sufficient reason and we must submit or we will [11:21] be found in sin. I’ll tell you that the reason for that, that if you can catch a vision as to why, [11:31] narratives like this exist in scripture, why they are vital to you understanding, not just God,

[11:38] but understanding yourself, then it will very necessarily change the way that you live and it [11:44] will change the way that you understand yourself and the world around you. Because God is looking [11:49] to Joshua in verses 13 through 15, and he is explaining the mandate of earlier in Joshua [11:55] chapter 5. He’s explaining the mandate under the realm of I am God and you are not. [12:03] Friends, I will tell you these three brief verses. If you can catch the world view of this passage, [12:09] then it will put you in opposition to what almost every person in the world

[12:13] understands life to be about. This text really is a catalyst to understanding God for who he is [12:21] and his mission for what it is. When we talk about the mission of God, [12:26] I want you to understand that God’s mission does not begin with you. [12:32] God’s mission begins with God. He is the definer. He is the purpose and that includes submitting to [12:42] him, that includes obeying him, that includes seeking him and on and on and on. So you should [12:49] expect in your life that there will be times when you do not understand the purpose behind

[12:54] the calling of God for you. You should very much expect there will be times in your life when you [12:59] do not understand the commands of God for you. Yet, even in light of the fact that you won’t [13:06] understand them all, because of your trust in him and your comprehension of who he is, [13:14] it will lead you to obedience every single time, even if you don’t understand. [13:19] Even if the only purpose is to show distinction in this world. Even if the only purpose for that [13:25] command or that calling that God gives you is to set you apart from unbelievers, to make you distinct,

[13:30] which will necessarily lead you to a place where you will incur ridicule. It will necessarily put [13:36] you into a place where you are totally set apart in your neighborhood, where it totally puts you [13:42] in a place where everyone looks and says, that is the extremist that lives by the commands of an [13:48] ancient book. If that is the only purpose why God will do that to your life, that is a sufficient [13:54] purpose and it is one that you must joyfully submit to or you will never understand the calling of [14:00] God at all in your life. You will only find yourself in opposition to God with the rest of

[14:06] the world. Friends, God always has a purpose. The scripture tells us that, but here’s the key.

[14:14] Even if I don’t understand it, I can say he has a purpose. I don’t understand everything that God [14:18] calls me to do. I don’t understand everything that God commands me to do. I don’t understand [14:23] everything that God brings into my life and I certainly don’t understand that everything God [14:27] takes out of my life. And so there are times when you will come to me and you will say, why has God [14:32] done this or why has God not done this? Quite frankly, the only explanation I have is I don’t [14:38] know, but I know he has a purpose and that purpose will bring him glory. Outside of that, I’m as

[14:44] limited as you are. I am finite. He is infinite. I am limited. He is unlimited. Therefore, there’s [14:52] no guarantee that I will understand everything that he lays at my doorstep, but regardless of [14:59] what it is, he has called me that in light of everything, I must pursue his purpose. I must [15:06] pursue his glory. I must obey his commands because he is holy, because he is God. [15:17] Why is God holy? I think holiness is one of the most misunderstood things where God is concerned. [15:29] God himself is distinct. Now, there’s no God like him. Now, as a follower of Jesus, someone that

[15:37] believes the scriptures, I know and many of you know that there is no other God. He’s it. He’s [15:44] the only God, but sinful man since the Garden of Eden has been manufacturing other gods in all of [15:54] history. John Calvin called the human heart a perpetual idol factory. We kill one idol, [16:00] another one’s made. And so unbelievers are always creating other gods. This is Pride Month. [16:09] You should have known we wouldn’t make it one sermon in Pride Month without me bringing it up. [16:14] You see the world’s religion all around you right now. God is distinct among the perverse gods of

[16:20] this world. Understand that the world, with the pressure that it puts on you to bend the knee to [16:27] perversion, it is revealing to you that there is no neutrality where the existence of God is [16:33] concerned. There is no true, unreligious person. We believe that there is irreligious people in [16:39] this world. There aren’t. Everyone is religious, and the world has just created a new religion [16:43] out of sexual perversion. And they flaunted it in front of us. We know it’s a religion because [16:49] there’s no other explanation as to why multi-billion dollar corporations would be willing to sacrifice

[16:54] billions and billions of dollars was when the world says no, and they say we will keep doing [17:01] it even if we lose money. That’s a religion, folks. Those are the high places. Those are the [17:08] Asherah poles. That is Baal. That is Moloch. And the only god that an irreligious pagan can make [17:16] is a god that they’ve always made. All of them have some connection to sexuality [17:22] because we’re obsessed with perversion. They can’t think outside of their own genitals, [17:27] but that also brings the consideration, why do you think circumcision took place in the way that it did?

[17:34] Because God was looking at all the patriarchy and saying,

[17:39] that belongs to me, and so do all of the offspring to the next generation and on and on and on, [17:45] to which the world says no, it belongs to us, and we will do with it whatever we want. We will even [17:50] create Frankenstein’s monster to create fake ones. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m quite a [17:59] biologist myself. Smarter than most. I figured some things out when I was a kid. Most people [18:09] haven’t figured out in adulthood somehow. I can’t figure it out. Demons is what it is. [18:15] But man plus man does not equal child. Woman plus woman does not equal child. Man plus woman equals

[18:21] child. And that was clear to God, and God was making it clear to the nation of Israel in this passage. [18:30] And when the world around you puts pressure on you to throw off the distinctions, [18:35] we must ask, what are they meaning about God? Here’s what is happening in Joshua’s life. [18:40] When he, even if it’s subconsciously, and he doesn’t immediately understand that this is God, [18:45] I think Joshua understands that something magnificent is going on because he’s only [18:48] encountering one man with one drawn sword. And the greatest question that he has is,

[18:53] I’m trying to draft you to my team because whoever’s team you’re on is going to win. [18:58] And so are you for us? Are you for our adversary? And God responds by saying, [19:03] and that’s a loaded no, because if God had said, I’m for you, what God would have been doing is [19:09] making himself unholy because God is for God. And to be anything else would be to be unholy [19:17] because being holy does not mean purity. Purity is an aspect of holiness, but it is not a [19:26] definition of holiness. Being holy does not mean being perfect. Perfection is an aspect of

[19:32] it is not holiness. Holiness literally means being set apart for the purposes of God.

[19:41] And so for God to look at Joshua and say, Joshua, I am for you, [19:45] God would be saying, Joshua, I am set apart for your purposes. God can’t say that. It’ll make [19:50] him unholy. To be holy is to be set apart for the purposes of God. And that is what an unbelieving [19:56] world is constantly going to pressure you away from because the world, once you set apart for [20:01] purposes of Satan, not God. In first Kings eight verses 60 and 61, God reveals to Israel that he [20:09] works so that the world may know that he is God and there isn’t another one and that their

[20:14] obedience exists in order to show that distinction so that all of the peoples of the earth may know [20:20] that the Lord is God. There is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to Yahweh our Lord [20:27] walking in his statutes, keeping his commandments as to this day. That is what it means to be holy.

[20:35] It means that you are set apart for God’s purposes so that through you they will see him. [20:41] Verse 16 and 61 flow from the same mindset of first Kings eight four. It says, and they brought [20:48] up the ark of the Lord. Now we’ve already talked about the ark of the Lord in this series. The [20:56] priests and the Levites brought them up. Now that phrase holy vessels, the Hebrew there can also [21:03] be translated utensils. The holy utensils. What are utensils? Forks, knives, tools. And so you [21:13] may ask yourself, how can a fork be holy? Now in my house I like fancy things. My wife doesn’t.

[21:21] Oh I think she does. She just lives realistically and my head’s in the clouds. All right. And so I [21:28] only like expensive forks and knives. I can’t even explain it. I like some cheap stuff. But when I [21:33] got a fork in my hand, I don’t know if you know what a micasa is, but oh man there’s no better [21:37] fork. The weight on that bad boy. Oh yeah. I’m a fat man and I love to eat with the right utensils. [21:42] I want the holy vessels. All right. My wife likes to go to yard sales and a little bit of rustle [21:48] all right. She doesn’t mind at all. She’s not even sure it’s real metal. Might have been

[21:52] plastic at some point. I don’t know. They just spray painted a little gold on it. All right.

[22:00] Forgot she was in here. Oh got chilly. But

[22:06] what could make a fork holy? You got to ask that question. The reason that those forks were holy [22:11] is not because of anything in the way it was made necessarily. It was the purpose for which [22:18] it was set apart. That if those utensils were used for anything outside of the worship of God in the [22:26] tabernacle or the temple, then they would become unholy. They would not be good enough to be used [22:32] for the purpose of God because the only thing useful for the purpose of God is something that [22:37] is completely set apart for his purpose. And you might be asking why would we be talking about

[22:41] holy utensils? Because that’s the only way to understand the calling for which God has for [22:46] Joshua. God’s looking at Joshua and he says no. I am the commander of the Lord’s army. [22:55] And Joshua immediately understands and what does he do? He falls on his face in worship.

[23:02] God is looking at Joshua and he’s saying I’m not for you but buddy you better make sure you’re [23:06] for me. And Joshua in that moment gets a picture of holiness that you desperately need to understand [23:15] in your life because number two this morning, understand God is for himself before he is for you. [23:21] And that’s good news. God is for himself before he is for you and that is good news. [23:29] I cannot say this enough. God is not primarily about us. God is about God or he would cease to [23:44] be God. And this is the greatest stumbling block that so many in our day have with their lives.

[23:52] Yes, I believe that this is a moment that is called a theophany. That’s why it’s so unique [23:57] in all of scripture. This is a visible manifestation of God. More specifically, [24:02] I believe this to be a Christophany. I believe this to be a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus [24:08] Christ. Why? Because angels don’t accept worship. Demons and Satan will but angels don’t. When John [24:18] in the book of Revelation kneels before an angel, what does the angel do? He says don’t worship me. [24:22] You worship him. But this worship is fully accepted. Why? Because it’s Jesus Christ.

[24:29] The one who spread his arms and died on the cross for you is the one standing there with a sword [24:34] about to help Israel take Jericho. And when Joshua asks this important question, are you for us? Are [24:42] you for your adversaries? Understand this is the ultimate question of sinful man that has gone [24:49] unchanged since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. We want to believe that God is on our side. [24:56] And you think about it, that’s not foolish necessarily. I mean, I don’t want him on the [25:01] other team. I do want him on my side. But here’s the problem with human beings is we use that as

[25:09] a way to elevate our priorities above God’s. The chief way that I see people do this is when you [25:17] believe that God understanding you is more important than you understanding God, whatever [25:22] your personality type, whatever your love language, whatever your hang ups, hang ons, chips on your [25:27] shoulder, you want God to empathize with you. You want God to get into the muck with you. And if [25:32] God won’t get into the muck with you, then God doesn’t love you. Last year, a controversial [25:38] campaign started and it was entitled, He Gets Us. Millions upon millions of dollars were spent by a

[25:47] in hopes of putting out an evangelistic message about how Jesus understands us exactly how we are. [25:54] Statements like, you know, Jesus was a rebel. So if you’re a rebel, he gets you. [25:58] Jesus practiced self care. And so if you, I don’t even know what that means. I’m of the age now [26:03] where you guys are creating therapies that I don’t understand. Jesus practiced self care. So he gets [26:08] you. Jesus knew how to have fun. So he gets you. And some of them are outright blasphemous, quite [26:15] frankly, because he doesn’t get sin. He’s holy. And some of them are just stupid. But here’s the

[26:23] deal. All of them are belittling to the name of God. Because what it is, it’s not man understanding [26:32] his unholiness that leads him to kneel at the cross, to turn from his sin, to accept the grace [26:38] of God through faith and follow Jesus Christ with his life. It is man saying, God, if you want me [26:45] in your life, you must stoop to my level. Accept me where I am. Leave me with my struggles. Let me [26:53] have the life that I’m living because God must empathize with you. God is not going to get into [26:59] sin with you. The gospel redeems you out of sin and gives you the life of God. He who knew no sin

[27:07] became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. Humanity’s greatest [27:15] struggle, and I don’t just think it’s our day. I think it’s no matter how you define it, it’s [27:19] the struggle of sin throughout all of the history of the world, is that we believe that our primary [27:25] mission in life is happiness. We believe that our happiness is our ultimate purpose. And we believe [27:31] that there can’t be a God that’s not as consumed and absorbed with my happiness as I am. [27:36] That’s a lie from hell. God is not primarily concerned with your happiness. And you might

[27:43] say, God would never call anyone to an unhappy life. Have you read the Bible?

[27:48] See the stuff some of these guys went through?

[27:53] Apostle Paul had to be so clear. He says, I have found wherewith whatever state I am in [27:56] to be content. In other words, I’m not happy about it, but I’m gonna glorify God through it. [28:02] Friends, I’ve seen people abandon marriages for happiness. I’ve seen people abandon children [28:11] for happiness. I’ve seen people wreck not just their family, but other families for happiness.

[28:21] Friends, God’s primary goal is to get glory out of your life, regardless of what it’s taking.

[28:34] In Psalm 23, one through three, we are tempted to think that these texts teach us that we are at [28:38] the center of God’s affection. I mean, in verse one, it says, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not [28:44] want. That sounds pretty me centered, doesn’t it? It’s like, oh yeah, God wants me to be happy. [28:49] In verse two, he then moves forward and he says, he makes me to lie down in green pastures. He [28:55] leads me beside still waters. It’s like, oh, this is a nice day off, man. This feels really good. [29:00] You’re like, oh, God’s chief concern is for me to feel good. No. Verse three, he makes a statement.

[29:10] Why is he doing this? For his namesake. Yeah, you’re going to get the joy of the Lord out of it, [29:16] but that’s not God’s mission. God’s mission is to show how great he is. It is for his namesake. [29:23] Psalm 106 speaks to God saving Israel from the Egyptians. Why did he do it? For his namesake, [29:28] so that he might make known his power. In Ezekiel chapter 20, verses 13 and 14, it shows that God [29:36] redeemed and even forgave Israel of sin, but I acted for the sake of my name.

[29:46] Those are just a few examples. I could have given you 50, but I know you guys don’t want to stay [29:52] here that long. It’s the point. Point is that the priorities of God must come before your own or [30:01] you will never understand the holiness of God. Some of you are making foolish decisions to make [30:09] yourself unholy because you don’t want to be called an extremist. You don’t want to be called a Bible [30:15] bumper. God is for himself before he is for you. That doesn’t mean though that God is not for you. [30:24] That just means that God knows what’s better for you than you do. He is so long as you turn from

[30:31] your sin for you because sin is always against him. God always wants you to seek his glory. Friend, [30:39] understand you cannot turn to the gospel without turning your life towards the glory of God. [30:46] It doesn’t work the other way. God was clear to Joshua that the only way Israel would experience [30:52] the benefits of God’s glory was if they lived their lives for God’s glory. His priorities [31:00] are above my priorities. That’s the order it’s supposed to happen. This is not different than [31:07] gospel by the way. God did not have a lobotomy between Malachi and Matthew. This has always been

[31:14] the priority of God. God redeems us through the work of Jesus Christ so that we can be turned to [31:20] his priorities. Look at Romans 3 and verse 25 and 26 it says, God put Jesus forward as a propitiation [31:29] by his blood. Propitiation simply means from God’s wrath to God’s favor and the way to get there is [31:35] Jesus Christ to be received by faith. This was to show what? Your worth? Your value to God? [31:44] How precious you are? No, this was to show his righteousness because in his divine forbearance [31:53] he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he

[31:58] might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. If God was chiefly [32:06] for anything or anyone else above himself then that would become God. [32:15] You want to be the most precious thing in God’s sight? That means you want God to worship you. [32:21] You want your priorities to matter above God’s priorities? That means you want God to submit to [32:26] you. You refuse to obey his commands when you don’t understand what they’re about? That means [32:32] you want God to obey you and that means you want to be God. The only way any of this works, the

[32:42] only way the gospel works is if God is for God because he not only wanted to show that he is [32:48] just but he wanted to show himself as the justifier, the one who could redeem people from [32:55] their sin. The only way then friend that you are going to live a properly ordered life is for you [33:03] to put his priorities above all else. Now I want you to understand something. Not a lot of people [33:08] will tell you this but I will because I love you. God wants you to live a properly ordered life. [33:13] Some of you refuse to believe that. You don’t want to admit it but you glory in your dysfunction.

[33:22] Your narcissism is a type of narcissism by which you think you can’t get attention from anyone [33:28] unless you’ve got problems, unless you’ve got disorder, unless you’re not healing from the [33:34] problems that you’ve had in your life, unless you’ve got a chip in your shoulder. That is what you [33:39] use to blackmail people into paying attention to you. I’ve seen it in marriage. I’ve seen wives do [33:45] it. I’ve seen husbands do it. You are such an emotional basket case that you won’t get out of [33:51] bed without someone giving you attention. It’s called blackmail. By the way it’s sinful. The

[33:58] gospel has a way by which you can go from absolute dysfunctional mess to properly ordered affections [34:09] in life. And here’s the key. Do you want to know how it happens? Do you want to know the main source [34:15] of your dysfunction? And I know some of you, the room this full, I will tell you there are [34:20] thousands of dysfunctions in this room and I get it. Some of you have 32 of them. It’s like the [34:27] demon. We are legion for we are many. And I don’t understand most of them and I’ll admit to you that [34:32] I don’t understand some of them. But that’s not the point. Do you want to foundationally

[34:39] understand where every single one of them come from? Every single one of those dysfunctions [34:47] has come from a foundation of you putting your priorities above God’s priorities. [34:53] Do you want to know why you can’t end the dysfunction? Because you won’t put God’s [34:58] priorities above your own. Do you want to know why you can’t find joy? Because you won’t put [35:03] God’s priorities above your own. Do you want to know why your life just frankly isn’t right? [35:09] It’s because you are putting your priorities above God’s and we do that to the detriment

[35:16] of our souls. I’m not belittling it because hell hangs in the balance here. [35:23] You are so desperate for attention that you crave chaos. You won’t admit it but you do. [35:31] So you never get over anything. You never get through anything because it’s how you get [35:36] attention. Well here’s the deal. You’re living for your own glory and you can’t do that and [35:42] follow Jesus Christ at the same time. Jesus wants to give you his life and his life is not [35:51] dysfunctional. So what do you do? God’s message here was for Joshua to take God’s priorities

[36:00] and put them above Joshua’s priorities. God wasn’t for Israel. God was for God. [36:06] Therefore, if I have any priority in my life that does not align with God’s priority, [36:15] then I must sacrifice that at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ and get my life on track [36:24] by walking away from it. Some of you desperately need to sacrifice so many of your priorities [36:32] at the foot of the cross because they are not God’s priorities. What is standing between you [36:38] and God’s glory? Kill it because number three, God’s primary commitment is to his holiness.

[36:47] His primary commitment is to his holiness. You cannot know God apart from his holiness. [36:52] God will not allow his holiness to be corrupted. First note, the commander’s reaction to worship, [36:57] he accepts it. It’s the only proper reaction in the presence of God is to fall on your face [37:03] in worship because you’re being confronted by the presence of God and so many of you have not. [37:09] And I see it because you’re not undone by your sin. You’re not overwhelmed by the glory of God to [37:15] the point where your sin is a disgusting diseased reality. It’s gangrenous.

[37:22] And Isaiah chapter six, the prophet is confronted with the presence of God and the immediate effect [37:29] is amazing. The prophet writes and he says, in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord [37:35] sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple. Again, [37:39] an extraordinary moment even in light of scripture. Above him stood the seraphim, each had six wings [37:46] with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet and with two he flew. And one called to [37:52] another and said, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.

[37:59] And note the level of volume here, the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who [38:07] called and the house was filled with smoke. Now pause there. Many of you don’t know this, [38:13] but there is no other attribute of God that has triple magnification in scripture. [38:22] But many of us live as though holiness takes a back seat to the grace of God. Now I love the [38:29] grace of God, but scripture never anywhere says gracious, gracious, gracious is the Lord. [38:37] Because we want it to, why? Because we want it to be, because grace is about me.

[38:43] Grace makes much of me. I get all of the benefit. Well friends, without the holiness of God, [38:51] grace is worthless. It’s moot.

[38:58] Scripture says, holy, holy, holy. He’s totally set apart.

[39:06] Look at Isaiah’s reaction in verse five. And I said, woe is me. I am lost. I am a man of unclean [39:16] lips. I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. My eyes have seen the king, Yahweh of hosts.

[39:24] Joshua falls on his face in worship when he’s confronted with the presence of God. [39:28] Isaiah doesn’t know what to do with himself.

[39:35] Woe means I’m condemned. He’s not placing a sentence on himself. He’s describing the [39:40] reality of what it feels like to be confronted with the absolute raw holiness of God. And so [39:48] my question is, how do you react to the holiness of God? My fear is you just give it a thumbs up.

[39:57] That’s great. He’s holy. Totally set apart. Good stuff.

[40:08] Have you realized the holiness of God? Have you been confronted? Have you ever [40:13] despaired of your life because of how sinful you are in light of how unsinful, how completely holy, [40:20] how completely set apart? Have you ever wept over the sheer audacity that such a God would [40:27] love you? Have you ever been undone in worship just in a moment because you realize this holy [40:35] God whom I have rebelled against still loves me to the extent where he kills his own eternal son [40:45] to pay the penalty for my sin? Or do you look in the mirror and say,

[40:52] I’m glad he’s holy, but I’m still great?

[41:01] Joshua 315 presents a fascinating statement. I know I’ve said a lot of words. I got to hurry up. [41:07] It’s the same thing that Moses is told at the burning bush. God says, [41:11] take off your sandals because you’re on holy ground. And that’s fascinating to me. [41:15] His cleaning feet in antiquity was a big deal. And here’s why. There were sandals. I don’t know [41:21] if you know this or not, but sandals aren’t like boots. All right. They’re open-toed. Your foot [41:25] is uncovered. In antiquity, they didn’t have paved paths. They had dirt streets. And if it

[41:31] wasn’t just dirt, it was mud. All right. And so your feet would get gross. You ever been in the [41:36] backyard and you’d even done the pooper scooper, but Fido left you a gift you didn’t find? [41:40] And you stepped in it and you’re like, oh, well, imagine the piles three times the size. And [41:45] that’s all over the streets in antiquity because they didn’t have Chevy’s. All right. They had [41:49] animals everywhere. And so you’re walking through it and you’re going to be stepping in the muck [41:53] every single day of your life. And Joshua’s before the presence of a holy God. And he says,

[41:59] take off your sandals. And my question is who cleaned the feet of Joshua? Because even though [42:04] the sandals would have been disgusting, so would his feet have been. And there was nobody there [42:09] because only servants cleaned feet. That’s why Jesus cleaning the feet of the disciples was such [42:13] a big deal. But nobody was there to clean Moses’s feet. Nobody was there to clean Joshua’s feet. [42:20] Who cleaned them? Isaiah 6 says that the answer to Isaiah’s problem in the presence of God was an [42:27] angel flew over with a burning coal and purged the sin from his lips and a word picture. I’ll

[42:38] This is an amazing picture of redemption. Jesus Christ, even in the future, paid the penalty for [42:44] Joshua’s sin so that he could tread on holy ground. This is a statement of redemption in light of [42:50] holiness. In Ephesians one, starting in verse four, the apostle Paul writes, even as he chose us in [42:56] him before the foundation of the world, that we should be what? Holy and blameless. Are you holy? [43:07] No. You’re the opposite. Are you blameless? I know I’m not. I get blamed for a lot and I deserve some of it.

[43:20] So that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption to [43:29] himself as sons through Jesus Christ according to what? And I love this. [43:35] Because I’m so valuable. Because I’m so great. Because I’m so worthy. No, because he gets the [43:42] glory. Because he is holy. Therefore, he can pronounce me as holy. And he is so just that he [43:49] found before the foundations of the world, the most amazing way to bring himself the utmost [43:58] glory, that he would send the commander of the army of the Lord with not a sword, but with nails

[44:06] piercing his arms and his feet. And he would give his life so that he could also be the justifier [44:15] for my sin. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

[44:27] A few application points this morning. Obey God even when you don’t understand it. [44:34] Because a lot of times you won’t. A lot of times it seems like sin will give you great [44:40] advantage in this world. It never will. That is a lie from the pits of hell. Second, determined [44:45] to be set apart for God’s purposes. And it will take in our culture an incredible amount of [44:50] determination. Because there will always be pressure from the wicked for you to bend the [44:56] knee to unholiness. Refuse to do it. People will look at you and they will tell you,

[45:02] you’re not going to make it in this world like that. I always respond, that’s fine because I’m [45:08] trying to make it in the next one. The kingdom of heaven. And I’m winning there. Thirdly, put God’s [45:16] priorities above everything. Everything. Everything. Nothing in this world is worth [45:26] rebelling against God. Nothing. And it takes faith to trust that. Finally, worship God by seeking [45:34] his holiness. I love singing praises to the Lord. I love praise music. But you know what [45:40] ultimate worship is? Ultimate worship is waking up every day and determining, I will be set apart

[45:51] for his purposes. Because he is worthy.