THAT YE MAY KNOW (Part 2)

1 John 5:9-13 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ¹⁰ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. ¹¹ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The writing of 1 John: Skepticism had begun to influence the lives of many.  It is believed that the first epistle of John was written as an introduction for the Gospel of John, which was written in response to the heretical teaching of a false teacher named Cerinthius.

The Apostle John addresses many false beliefs in his first epistle.

If we are to be effective for Christ there are some things we must know.

God does not want us to be in the dark. 1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Last week we saw God wants us to know…

1.       Our Sin Debt Has Been Paid. 1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was mani-fested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

2.       We Have Passed From Death Unto Life. 1 John 3:14a We know that we have passed from death unto life,..

3.       We Are Of The Truth. 1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

God Wants Us To Know…

4.       HE IS IN US: 1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the agent of God in regeneration. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The Holy Spirit’s presence is evidence of Salvation. Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Holy Spirit is our reminder that we belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The Holy Spirit is our provider of necessary tools for change & ministry. Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

God Wants Us To Know…

5.       WE ARE IN HIM – 1 John 5:20b and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.  Notice…

The Crucial Connection (Man is incomplete without God). John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

The Ministry (Bearing fruit). John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

The Purpose (To conform us to the image of Christ). John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The Life (A new and better life). 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  Also 1 John 2:6

The Impartation. Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

THE CANAAN LIFE - A life of Woship

TEXT: Joshua 5:13-15

Joshua and the nation are in the land. They have taken a tremendous step of faith.  They have observed the ritual of Circumcision, the observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread.  They have been in the land for about two weeks (one week for healing, another for Passover & Feast). 

The city of Jericho is an ominous city with great walls and a trained army.  Joshua had sent spies out just weeks before who were detected and who were almost captured.  They brought an informed report back to Joshua that gave many details about who and what they were up against.

The enemy is well aware of Israel’s presence in the land. Our enemy is aware of our presence as well!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

In our text, we see Joshua walking alone, wondering about what lies ahead.  He is, no doubt concerned, perhaps even worried.

 

Israel is, from a military standpoint, in an exposed position.

I can see Joshua standing on a hillside viewing Jericho. As he does suddenly there is an appearance of a man standing before him with a drawn sword.

Joshua’s response was…

·         Immediate – he sought the identity of the man.

·         Appropriate – he responded with WORSHIP. 

The Canaan Life is a Life of Worship (v 13-15).

Joshua worshiped with…

1.       AN UPWARD GAZE (v 13). “It came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand:”

A man with his sword drawn. This is not a mere vision, but an actual appearance of the pre-incarnate Son of God himself called a theophany.

·         Genesis 18:33 – Abraham asking for mercy for the redeemed of Sodom.

·         Genesis 32:24-30 – Jacob wrestled with the Lord.

·         Exodus 3:2-6 – Moses and the burning bush.

The LORD appeared in the nature most adept to the circumstance of his people: to Joshua he appeared as Israel's Commander leading His army with sword drawn, ready to judge Canaan.

Jesus is my… King, Comforter, Keeper, Counselor, Saviour, Shield, Healer, Teacher, Friend, Master…

We should worship God because He keeps His promise.

Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” [3:7] And the LORD said unto Joshua, “This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”

Joshua worshiped with…

2.       A HUMBLE REVERENCE (v 14).   “He said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship.”

The Lord manifested his presence with Israel not as an ally but as their leader. It was “His” war.

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The Israelites were only one division of God’s great army. There are also His angelic host and the Forces of nature.

Joshua immediately acknowledged he was the Captain's Servant. The account of the conquest (Josh 6-11) will make it clear that Joshua's military strategy was divinely directed.  Only by God’s hand did the nation experience victory.

Joshua worshiped with…

3.       A FORWARD LOOK (v 14). “He said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?”

God’s Plan, Power & Purpose is best for our life.

Joshua worshiped with…

4.       AN OBEDIENT RESPONSE (v 15).  “The captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

Taking off your shoes was an act of submission and respect.

When do we experience the presence of God? ALWAYS!  He is always with us.  We should therefore always reverence Him.

CONCLUSION:  Psalm 139:1-14  O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. ² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. ³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. ⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. ⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; ¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. ¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. ¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. ¹³ For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

THAT YE MAY KNOW (#1)

1 John 5:9-13 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ¹⁰ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  ¹¹ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

By the time of the writing of 1 John, skepticism had already begun to influence the lives of many. It is believed that the first epistle of John was written as an introduction for the Gospel of John which was written in response to the heretical teaching of a false teacher named Cerinthius.

The apostle John addresses many false beliefs in this First Epistle by defending the Truth. If we are to be effective for Christ there are some things we must know.

“ye may know” [ Gk eido (i'-do)]; a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses. Meaning = be aware, behold, consider, have knowledge, look on, to perceive, to see, be sure of, to understand.

“ye may believe” [Gk pisteuo (pist-yoo'-o)]; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ): believe , commit, put in trust with.

God does not want us to live in the dark.

1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

God wants us to know…

1.      OUR SIN DEBT HAS BEEN PAID (3:5). And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1 John 1:7-2:2 If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. [2:1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:… [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;… [5:12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,…

2.      WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE (3:14a). We know that we have passed from death unto life,..

1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.

3.      WE ARE OF THE TRUTH (3:19). And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [3:14] We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

It is possible for others to know we are of the truth.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. ⁹ For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ¹⁰ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.