Wielding the Weapon to Winning, Joshua 8:30-35

Mount Ebal was about twenty-five miles, north of their base camp at Gilgal. It was a full day’s journey just to get there, maybe more with all the livestock, women and children.

But they went. No complaint is registered.

They went because God, through Moses, told them, when, they entered the Promise Land, they were to go to the place God chose, and there, worship in the way He described. Deuteronomy 27:1-8.

After they obeyed, and worshipped, when, and where and the way, God described, Joshua and crew, never lost another battle.

God’s divine plan and pattern for them, holds True for us, today.

When, we enter the Promise Land, by making the quality decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD. (NOTE: This involves more than just saying a prayer, or being baptized, or going through some religious ritual. It’s an all-in commitment to love, Him, above all else—like a marriage vow.  Jesus says it like this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38).

After we obey His command of love, then, we are called to a winning lifestyle of worship.

 

Where

God told them very clearly where they were to go; (Deuteronomy 11:29, 12:5, 11, 14, 18, 26) and even where they were to stand, Deuteronomy 27:12-13. 

They went to a place called Shechem. Today it’s called Nablus, located in the West Bank of Israel, between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim, with a population of about 126,000.

Shechem, has a HIStory.

It’s the first place Abraham built an altar to the Lord, after receiving the Promise Land, promise, Genesis 12:6-7. Where Abe’s grandson, Jacob, also built an altar to the Lord, Genesis 33:18-20. Joseph’s bones were carried from Egypt, and buried at Shechem, Joshua 24:32. And here, at Shechem, Joshua makes his final address to the people, and says his most memorable words. Choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15.

God is intentional. He chose the place for them to worship. He does the same for us today.

It is no accident that Jesus intentionally chooses to be seen standing in the midst of the Churches; Revelation 1:12-13, 20.

I used to say, choosing a Church is like choosing a restaurant; some want seafood, others want steak. It doesn’t make one better than the other, as long as they serve good food; (teach the uncompromised, Word of God).

However, the other day, the Lord convicted me, that I was wrong.

Choosing a restaurant is to fill a desire of the flesh. I’m hungry for seafood. I’m hungry for steak. Church isn’t a restaurant to get what you want and go; but a family to belong to, and stay.

Right now, there’s a Church family, you’re called to. Not because you like the style of music, type of Bible, preacher’s jokes, comfortable chair, or child care. But because, you’re called there. You don’t get to choose your family. You’re born into it. That is God’s choice.

Oh, what peace comes, when we know we’re home.

There’s more.

About 1,400 years after Joshua and crew worshipped at Shechem, Jesus shows up, and chooses this place, as the place, to teach more about the when, where and way, of worship. It is here, a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, asks him plainly, where should we worship. He responds by saying:

 “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24.

 

Jesus reveals there’s more than finding the when, and the where, but ultimately about finding the way.

In Joshua’s day, they were told the way to build the altar; with uncut stones, for offerings and sacrifices. They were told the way to set up large stones, whitewash them with lime, and write on them the words of the law; the blessings and cursings, to be read to all the people. Deuteronomy 27:4-8

All of that, was a foreshadow for us, pointing the way to Jesus, the uncut, unblemished, sinless, Cornerstone, offering Himself, as the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God; so our sins of scarlet, could be washed white as snow. Isaiah 1:18.  

Jesus puts it like this:

I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me. John 14:6.

It’s true, after this worship service, Joshua and crew went undefeated, but they still had to fight. The giants were still in the land, and they didn’t get any smaller.

We too can walk in victory; undefeated. But we’ll still have to fight. The giants will still come.

You see, walking a life of winning worship, doesn’t make the problems smaller…it makes you bigger. Well, actually, it makes Jesus, in you, bigger.

Jesus sums it up like this:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  John16:33.

 

How do we wield the winning weapon of worship?

Tell Him now, you want to.

Invite Him now, to invade your life, and clean out anything He doesn’t like.

Keep Him in the forefront of your thoughts.

Keep this prayer on the tip of your lip:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength, my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14.