Summary: This is part 3 of 3 in the 2nd of a 5-sermon series describing God’s provision for the people of Israel as it applies to His Church today. This sermon deals with God’s provision for His people’s autonomy or self-governance.

Your Physical Provision-II —Joshua 15:1--19:51

Terriotrial/Jurisdiction/Atmosphere for Glory

God-given autonomy provides us with an atmosphere for God’s glory.

God provided Israel with physical/territorial autonomy.

God’s Provision for the territorial autonomy of His people produces an atmosphere in which God is glorified.

What is produced in God’s provision for His people’s autonomy?

God’s provision for His people’s autonomy produces an atmosphere for...

1. Diversity

2. Community

3. Achievement

4. Involvement

5. Example

6. Unity/Cooperation

7. Honor

8. Blessing

9—Godly autonomy produces

AN ATMOSPHERE FOR FAILURE(15:63; 16:10; 17:11-13)

Explanation:(15:63; 16:10; 17:11-13)

FREEDOM allows FAILURE

15:63—“Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day.”

16:10—“But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, & they became forced laborers.”

17:11-13—“And in Issachar & in Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean & its towns & Ibleam & its towns, & the inhabitants of Dor & its towns, & the inhabitants of En-dor & its towns, & the inhabitants of Taanach & its towns, & the inhabitants of Megiddo & its towns, the third is Napheth.

But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.

And it came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.”

Failures listed only within Judah, Ephraim & Mannasseh—Most influential tribes.

Canaanites=worldly influence

Argumentation:

Heb. 4:6—“Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, & those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

Rom. 11:12—“Now if their transgression be riches for the world & their failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!”

Isa. 65:2-5—““I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens & burning incense on bricks; Who sit among graves, & spend the night in secret places; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots. “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.”

Acts 7:51—“You men who are stiff-necked & uncircumcised in heart & ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.”

Illustration:

TV under your submission but still allows influences

Application:

?Do Canaanites still influence your land?

?You been a good steward of God’s Atmosphere for Failure?

?You been a good steward of God-given Autonomy?

10—Godly autonomy produces

AN ATMOSHPERE FOR CLARITY(17:3-6; 19:9)

Explanation:(17:3-6; 19:9)

17:3-6—“However, Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters; & these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah & Noah, Hoglah, Milcah & Tirzah. And they came near before Eleazar the priest & before Joshua the son of Nun & before the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers. Thus there fell ten portions to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead & Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan, because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons. And the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.”

:4—“And they came near before Eleazar the priest & before Joshua the son of Nun & before the leaders”

19:9—“The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was taken from the portion of the sons of Judah, for the share of the sons of Judah was too large for them; so the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of Judah’s inheritance.”

Practical application of general principles/Involves much more than concept

Argumentation:

1Jn. 5:20—“And we know that the Son of God has come, & has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, & we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God & eternal life.”

2Cor. 8:13-15—“For this is not for the ease of others & for your affliction, but by way of equality-- at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality; as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

Eph. 4:17-18—“This I say therefore, & affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;”

Illustration:

Daily clean clothes/Requires daily Regimen-Location dedicated to the clothes-Cleaning supplies-Time-Means of drying

Application:

?You been a good steward of God’s Atmosphere for Clarity?

?Of Clarity regarding...

God’s will/ Lifestyle/Purpose/Right & wrong/Issues(Abortion, Gambling, Euthanasia, Cloning, Science, Literature, Music, History, Govt....)?

?You been a good steward of God-given Autonomy?

11—Godly autonomy produces

AN ATMOSHPERE FOR SACRIFICE(16:9;18:5;19:1, 9)

Explanation:(16:9; 18:5; 19:1, 9)

16:9—“...This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families, together with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.”

18:5—“And they shall divide it into seven portions; Judah shall stay in its territory on the south, & the house of Joseph shall stay in their territory on the north.”

19:1, 9—“Then the second lot fell to Simeon, to the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families, & their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Judah....The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was taken from the portion of the sons of Judah, for the share of the sons of Judah was too large for them; so the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of Judah’s inheritance.”

Argumentation:

Acts 20:35—“In everything I[Paul] showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak & remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Illustration:

Matthew steals ellinor’s seat/Matthew & Ellinor arguing/Atmosphere for Sacrifice

Application:

?You been a good steward of God’s Atmosphere for Sacrifice?

?You been a good steward of God-given Autonomy?

12—Godly autonomy produces

AN ATMOSHPERE FOR RECONCILIATION(17:14)

Explanation:(17:14-18)Squabbles

:14—“Then the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot & one portion for an inheritance, since I am a numerous people whom the LORD has thus far blessed?”

:15—“And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest & clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites & of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”

:16—“And the sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, & all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean & its towns, & those who are in the valley of Jezreel.”

:17—“And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim & Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people & have great power; you shall not have one lot only,

:18—“but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, & to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron & though they are strong.”

Argumentation:

2Cor. 5:18-20—“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, & gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, & He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Illustration:

Application:

?You been a good steward of God’s Atmosphere for Reconciliation?

?You been a good steward of God-given Autonomy?

Conclusion

?You a good steward of God-given Autonomy?

Action:

God’s provision for His people’s autonomy produces an atmosphere for...

FAILURE

CLARITY

SACRIFICE

RECONCILIATION

Diversity

Community

Achievement

Involvement

Example

Unity/Cooperation

Honor

Blessing

Presented 03/11/01pm to:

Providence Baptist Chruch

975 Providence Road

Whigham, GA 31797

We all have common provisions in order to give us life & opportunities for faith. But once we enter the realm of saving faith God supplies special provision

Sermons in this series:

Your Faith Provision

Your Physical/Territorial Provision

Your Spiritual Provision

Your Follow-thru Provision

Your Moral Provision