What Is Your Definition of Church???

What is the Church?

Have you ever thought about this question?

In your mind, and heart of hearts, what is your definition of the Church?

1)   Who or what is the Church?

2)   Is the Church a Community or Culture apart from the local community?

3)   Is the Church the Building?

4)   Is the Church the Denominational Affiliation?

5)   Is the Church the People?

6)   Is the Church the Leadership?

7)   Who is in charge in the Church?

8)   Is the Church all about Religion?

9)   Is the Church only about the Bible?

10) Does the Church have rules, standards & governance?

11) Does the Church have a specific function or service to provide?

12) Who reviews the relevancy commitments of the local Church?

13) Are there requirements of the leadership?

14) Are there requirements of the attendees?

15) Are there Theological requirements of the teaching staff?

16) Are there social requirements of the Church?

17) Are there guidelines for the experience?

18) Where would one find what the Church experience is to be?

19) Does the Church provide proper and adequate instruction?

20) How does the Church benefit the attendees?

21) How does the Church benefit the local community at large?

22) When & how do you know when the Church is successful?

23) When & how do you know when the Church is unsuccessful?

24) Does the Church have authority in the lives of those that attend?

25) What are the marks of a Healthy Church?

26) In its present configuration, does the Church have staying power?

Starting in with the 1st week in December, for three weeks we will answer the previously listed questions and much more. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we will attempt to show you that the Church is not a man made invention, but a Devine institution.

Have you ever listened to people in the community talk about Church? You sometimes get the impression that the Church is nothing more than a human society that owes its origin and establishment to some kind of volunteer agreement among its attendees. At times, among congregations you get the same sense, the older the church the more emphasis on its origins and “charter members”. Is this part of our definition of what the Church is?

In some Churches in this country if you attended on any given Sunday Morning, you may very well come away with the sense that you just attended a “Rotary Meeting” or have just experienced some form of entertainment. Is this part of our definition of what the Church is?

In other Churches around this country, when you walk in, you are instantly evaluated by length of hair, the clothes that you wear, and your body language. If you don’t measure up, you are ostracized to the point of leaving because you don’t fit the mold. Is this part of our definition of what the Church is?

Yet in other Churches, if you have not received the 1st and 2nd Blessing of the Spirit, you have not yet arrived. You may be treated as a second class Christian because you are “not of the Spirit yet”. The teachings reflect that there is a man measured process on the road to sanctification, and until you have achieved all the steps in that process your salvation is in question. Is this part of our definition of what the Church is?

One final example of what some folks think Church is. This Church infers that every single soul that walks through that door has spoken authority to talk about their religious experience. The teachings are that God is a God of Love, and that all you have to do is believe. That there are no oracles of the Church, there are no moral principles of the scriptures, and there is no absolute truth, just Live and let Live. Truth is based on the situation, and is relative to the situation of the day and event. Is this part of our definition of what the Church is?

I want to close this introduction with this final comment. God created the earth, for a place to put His prize creation, man…. As we have looked at before in this group, in Genesis, we see where God came in the cool of the evening to Walk and Talk with Adam and Eve. Where they had fellowship and communed in the evenings…. With God, Adam and Eve at the beginning of earth’s time, it was All About The Relationship!!!!!

We were created for His pleasure, and to identify with Him out of the Love of our Hearts and to Share Eternity with Him; bringing Him Honor, Glory and Praise. Today’s Church has lost that core understanding and belief of our purpose. So is it any wonder that Church has so many manmade definitions and purposes? We as a people have made God and His Church into our own image, instead of the other way around.

Starting in January we will finish the final 14 chapters of Joshua in a bit of a faster pace than we have these last 19 weeks. Then we will open a new Study.  But for the first three or four weeks in December, we are going to look at “What is the Church”?

Can You See GOD? - Are You Looking?

The Expository Book Study of Joshua

Joshua 10: Verses 28 - 43        XVII) Can You See GOD?

                                                            Are you looking?

Week # 18 10 Nov 2010            Week # 42 of this Teaching Ministry

Joshua 10 (King James Version)

28And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. 29Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: 30And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho. 31And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it: 32And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah. 33Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining. 34And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it: 35And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. 36And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it: 37And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein. 38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it: 39And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king. 40So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. 42And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

Let’s take a moment and pray. Dear Father, thank You for the privilege and opportunity to come here and open YOUR WORD. The forever settled in Heaven Words of the Almighty God. Let us calm our hearts and minds from the days events and look at this passage and draw both meaning and direction from it Father, and we will give you all the Honor, Glory and Praise. In Christ’s name we pray – Amen.

So, what did you see in this passage we just read?

I saw the encounter and destruction of:

Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, Kadeshbarnea, Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, all the way back to Gibeon

Joshua and all of Israel did this as the LORD God of Israel commanded. This is some of the bloodiest, fiercest and most debated text of the Bible. Joshua has been called everything from a Masterful War Time Leader to a Bloody Opportunist.

However; our text tonight sows up the proper analogy of Joshua with one word – OBEDIENT! All these battles, all these Kings and all these people were Destroyed at the Command of God, by the hand of Joshua and all of Israel.

Without God’s involvement – it could easily be argued that Joshua would have remained at Gilgal or at best no further than Gibeon. We can’t stop here at the reading of this text without tracing the hand of God and what great feat He accomplished, by HIS WILL – He made it so.

The old stories flowing thru all of Canaan, were of the power and might of the God of Israel and how HE opened up dry land in the midst of the Red Sea. How the this God kept the water separated for all of Israel to pass, and closed the walls of water entombing the Egyptians.

The new stories of how this God of Israel dried stopped the waters flowing in the Jordon River for His people to cross into Canann. How this God destroyed the fortress walls of Jericho. They knew of how this God did battle for the Israelites.

They had opportunity to hear the Word of the Lord God and the miracle that He performed. Yet they chose to remain in their heathenistic ways, and resist the God of Israel. Thus at God’s command – Israel destroyed them all.

In all of these events – HE – the Great I AM, revealed himself to man, through His Power and Might. YET THEY CHOSE THEIR OWN WAY!!!

All the way back to Egypt, all the plaques, locust, blood in the water and the death of the 1st born were all of Supernatural cause – but did these people, these men in leadership heed the warning – NO! A Resounding, earth shattering NO that was heard throughout the world through the ages of time.

GOD  REVEALED  HIMSELF  TO  ISRAEL!!!!

He showed His Majesty, His Might,  His Power, His Justice,  His Compassion and His Love 

These people and kings of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, Kadeshbarnea, Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, all the way back to Gibeon – they heard of and knew of the God of Israel!!! The Word had traveled far and wide through all of Canaan.

They chose to go the other way, and war against GOD! Brother and Sister in Christ, warring with God can only have one conclusion – and that is total destruction. Of all the people of Canaan, only one people got on their faces and chose to follow the God of Israel and that was the people of Gibeon. Joshua through God’s direction and Blessing spared the lives of the people of Gibeon.

Showing us of the current generation that God’s tender heart will spare those out of the bowels of Sin, washing them in the Blood of His son. Sins of the past, present and future. God already had the knowledge of His Son’s Sacrifice some 1,430 years in the future – and spared the lives physically and spiritually of the people of Gibeon that followed God by FAITH.

They saw the awesome power of the Great I AM. Yet today, in the 21st Century we let the business of life, the complexities of life, the pleasures of life and the world’s influence – blind us to God’s presence. To our shame, we the older “Church Saints” have even stopped looking.

We have lived many years under the Blessings of Almighty GOD, but when you look around, does this community reflect the GODLY presence of this Bible believing Church?

Are we truly looking for GOD? Does our life, our homes, our language, our conversations, our testimony reflect a people truly Seeking the Face of God?

IF THE ANSWER IS YES – then Praise His HOLY and RIGHTEOUS NAME!!!!! How then, do we convert this wonderful testimony into a relationship with this community that we can reach the hearts of men, women and children in a way that will both convict and encourage? Does our Church Testimony reflect the very presence of GOD!?!?!

IF – THE ANSWER TO OUR QUSETION IS NO – then the real work is before us. We must get on our faces, just as GIBEON did and confess our sins, and seek the lowly position of servant to Christ. We must underpin all the wonderful teaching we have sat under for 30 years with the FOUNDATION OF TRUE FAITH. A faith that is not just lip service to those around us, but a faith that like Gibeon, leads to Sacrifice and Service.

Service and Works do not bring salvation, my dear loved ones, Salvation brings forth a heart of Service and Works from within. I am here to tell you there is no RETIREMENT in God’s economy. WE WILL PRAISE HIS NAME FOR ETERNITY!!!

SO just because you are over 50, over 60, over 70 or over 80 doesn’t mean you get a pass. The disciples worked out their faith until martyred or death. Retirement is a modern world concept that was not practiced in the days of Joshua, Christ or Paul.

Are you seeking God’s face day in and day out? As Charles Spurgeon once said, do you trace the hand of God? I want to challenge your hearts tonight.

If you were among those that said yes, if you are among those that are looking for God and your life, home and testimony validates your claim. What have you done to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ today?

Have you shared a Godly Righteous Story of How HE Worked in your life this week with a friend, neighbor or stranger? Have you offered forgiveness to one that has offended you? Have you showed the Love of Christ to someone less fortunate than yourself? Have you consoled a friend or person that needed a spiritual lift?

See – the YES is in what we do…. The YES is in what we share…. The YES is in the Spirit of Christ that lives in our Heart and is screaming to come out. The YES is yielding and submitting our Hearts to HIS, and then sharing the Gifts and Blessings HE has so Graciously bestowed on HIS Servants.

The YES isn’t what we say it is – it is that which HE says it is and works within us to bring GLORY, PRAISE & HONOR to Him. And that dear friends is for the LONG HAUL, for eternity.

Yes, there are many mansions, and we will be joint Aires with Him, walking with Him and fellowshipping with Him and the Angels. But, we will be serving the FATHER for eternity – the people of Gibeon had it right. We will serve you in any way, just spare us, just let us in and we will serve forever.

As the LORD God of Israel commanded, destroy or remove all the sinful people in Canaan. We must destroy or remove anything in our lives that would get in the way of our service to God! For me this week, it was pulling my name off the Flight Rotation Roster. Flying was getting bigger and bigger for me, feeding my pride and it was getting in the way of doing God’s work. So, I had to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and yield yet another piece of the old me, to give HIM room to build the new me. Dying to self is sometimes very painful.

Dear Father, thank YOU for giving us the Holy Spirit, to lead us onto the paths of Righteousness. Help us SEE YOU Dear God. Help us Father be ever mindful of YOUR Spirit, yield to your will and then share your Good News with all around us that would hear. Be with these wonderful folks tonight, give them safe journey home, and bring them back safely this Sunday. And as always Father, we will give You the Honor and Glory for all things in our lives. In Your strong Son’s Name We Pray, in Christ – Amen.

References for this week:

King James – Holy Scriptures

Managing Our Spiritual Enemies

The Expository Book Study of Joshua

Joshua 10: Verses 16 - 27                 XVI) Managing Our Spiritual Enemies

Week # 17 03 November 2010         Week # 41 of this Teaching Ministry

Joshua 10 (King James Version)

16But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. 18And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them: 19And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand. 20And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities. 21And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. 22Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave. 23And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

25And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. 26And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. 27And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

Let’s take a moment and ask the Lord’s Blessing and Wisdom after the reading of His word….

Dear Father, we are here to Worship YOU, giving You Praise and Glory for all that You do in our lives. Before we study Your Word tonight Father, forgive us our trespasses, any unknown or un-confessed sin in our hearts Father. Then calm our Hearts and Minds and teach us Your ways Lord. In all things we say and do, let us always give you the Glory and Praise, in Christ name we Pray, Amen.

In brief review of our study thus far, we see the mark of God’s hand in Three Significant Miracles paving the way for Joshua and Israel to take the land of Canaan. Does anyone want to list those 3 miracle for us???

1) The Jordon River Divided

2) Jericho’s Fall

3) The Staying of the Sun & Moon

All three were inconceivable by man, all three have the very hand of God upon them, and all three undoubtedly Miraculous and Supernatural in nature. While we believe them as fact, to this day they are debated and thought to have been debunked by the leading secular scientists.

We have seen so far in Joshua 10 and the first 15 verses, that the meanest and most feeble, who have just begun to trust the Lord, are as much entitled to be protected as those who have long and faithfully been his servants. It is our duty to defend the afflicted, who, like the Gibeonites, are brought into trouble on our account, or for the sake of the gospel. Joshua would not forsake his new servants. How much less shall our true Joshua fail those who trust in Him! We may be wanting in our trust, but our trust never can want success.

Yet God's promises are not to slacken and do away, but to quicken and encourage our endeavors. Notice the great faith of Joshua, and the power of God answering it by the miraculous staying of the sun, that the day of Israel's victories might be made longer. Joshua acted on this occasion by impulse on his mind from the Spirit of God. Unlike the time he followed his gut at Ai, without consulting God. It was not necessary that Joshua should speak, or the miracle be recorded, according to the modern terms of astronomy.

The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they appeared to be stopped on their course for one whole day. Is anything too hard for the Lord? This event forms a sufficient answer to ten thousand difficulties, which objectors have in every age started against the truth of God as revealed in his written word. Proclamation was hereby made to the neighboring nations, Behold the works of the Lord, and say, What nation is there so great as Israel, who has God so nigh unto them?

God used the events leading to the siege on the 5 kings at Makkedah to call attention to His Glory by all men, present time (past tense) and today. For men to marvel at His awesome power and yield to that power in fear and trembling. Today’s world – well let’s just say, today’s culture sees it another way. But, as we grow in Spirit, our life should reflect Christ’s to the world, proclaiming His Glory and Righteousness. The battle continues today, and we must take both encouragement and instruction from Joshua.

In verse 16, tonight we pick the story back up where Joshua has given chase to the five kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. So tell me, what do you do when you have just witnessed the God of the Hebrews actually lengthening the day so his people could thoroughly trounce your people? Answer: Hide in a cave? Maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all, but that's what these five Canaanite kings do. They chose to hide from Joshua and the army of Israel in a cave outside Mekkedah.

I read in Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on Joshua 10 verse 16 that these kings considered the cave to be both safe and secret… BUT, there was no escaping the eye or hand of God. In Makkedah, not in the city, for the city was not yet taken, but in the surrounding territory of Makkedah, Joshua besieged the 5 kings in this cave. While Joshua had guards watching the cave, in Verse 19, we see the details of the order of God passed on by Joshua to “enter the cities”; whereby they will recover their strength, and renew or refresh for war, to do battle again. GOD Hath delivered them unto you – Your work will be easy, God hath already done the work to your hands… Close quotes from Mr. Wesley.

Then as we move on, we see that Joshua simply has the cave sealed up until the battle is won; he uses these cowardly kings for an object lesson concerning the Power of God in verses 24-25. Verse 24 specifically show us that Joshua ordered the soldiers to “Put your feet on their necks” This he did not from pride and contempt; but as a punishment of their immoral rebellion against their Sovereign Lord; in pursuance of that curse of servitude due to all this people, and as a token to assure his captains, that God would subdue the proudest of them under their feet. Then they are hanged in public and placed back into the cave to rot. I guess you could say, that's what they get for leaving their troops to fight while they hide.

As a symbol of disgrace, hanging a dead body on a tree was to make a point - POINT MADE! As a matter of fact, that's why the cross (hang on a tree) was necessary for the death of Jesus rather than stoning. The Jews had tried to stone Jesus to death on numerous occasions leading up to the crucifixion, but they failed each time. Jesus had to go to the cross. No other form of death would do. He prophesied that he would go to the cross in John 3:14 (see notes) and again in John 12:33 (see notes). Paul makes this point regarding hanging on a tree in Galatians 3:13 (see notes) when he says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Just as these five kings were cursed on a tree, so was Jesus at his crucifixion on the cross.

In looking at this again, maybe closer from a different angle we see that Israel camped at Makkedah, where the five kings had hidden in the cave. So the impending doom surely was sensed by the Kings in that cave. Israel arrived there safely, and set up an encampment in the field of battle. Their enemies had been so defeated and scattered that no one attacked Israel or at-tempted to hinder their movement.

At Makkedah the people went to the cave where the kings were hiding and brought them out. Joshua then called the leaders of the Israelite army to place their feet on the necks of these kings. This represented the complete defeat of these kings and their subjugation to Israel. Joshua said that the Israelites should be strong and courageous in the continued battles ahead, because God would give them victory over all their other enemies, just as he had with these five kings.

The five kings were then hung on five trees. Their bodies were left there till sundown, then they were removed and thrown back in the cave. The opening to the cave was then covered again with rocks. The rocks and cave remained there even when this book was written. Clearly this would be another memorial to Israel’s great victory.

Now let me read Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage in Joshua:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Joshua 10:15-27

None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. This shows their perfect safety. The kings were called to an account, as rebels against the Israel of God. Refuges of lies will but secure for God's judgment. God punished the abominable wickedness of these kings, the measure of whose iniquity was now full. And by this public act of justice, done upon these ringleaders of the Canaanites in sin, he would possess his people with the greater dread and detestation of the sins of the nations that God cast out from before them. Here is a type and figure of Christ's victories over the powers of darkness, and of believers' victories through him. In our spiritual conflicts we must not be satisfied with obtaining some important victory. We must pursue our scattered enemies, searching out the remains of sin as they rise up in our hearts, and thus pursue the conquest. In so doing, the Lord will afford light until the warfare be accomplished.

Let me sum up tonight’s study with some questions for each of us to answer alone and on our own.

1) Do we consult God before doing battle with the enemy?

2) Do we manage our battle with the enemies of God and His word, or do we wing it on our own – fretting over the outcome?

3) Do we segregate the evil temptations of this world and hold them at bay?

4) Do we put our feet on the neck of those issues that we find ourselves weak in, and turn them over to God?

5) Do we “believe” that the victory is already one, claiming God’s promise while living IN and WITH His precious Spirit?

6) Have we correctly dealt with those things that we have chased into a cove in our life time?

7) Is Christ our First thought each day, or is He an after thought, after we are bruised and tired from the battle?

Harry Ironside summed up tonight’s passage with this perspective. Joshua 10, verses 15 through 27 reminds us of Romans 16:20

“The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” This victory was followed by attacks upon city after city and the deformation and utter destruction of their defenders. After each new victory the triumphant Israelites returned to base camp to give thanks to God, who had thus given deliverance, as he had promised.

Thus tonight folks we take encouragement from Joshua 10 of God’s fulfilled promises to overcome evil and temptation in our lives.

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for the Truth, thank you for fulfilled promises and thank you for the Victory over Satan in our lives. Be with us as we travel home tonight, bring us back safely Sunday Morning. May we forever sing Your Praises and Glorify Your name, in Christ’s name we pray – Amen.

References for this week’s study:

1) New Commentary on the Whole Bible: Old Testament Volume

a. **(as per Quick Verse 2007 – Version 11.0.0)**

2) Halley’s Pocket Bible Handbook

3) Lange’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures; Volume II

4) David E. Pratte’s Notes on Joshua 10; December 22, 2005

5) Matthew Henry’s Commentary

6) Addresses on the Book of Joshua

    By: Harry A. Ironside

    1876 – 1951