1 00:00:00,010 --> 00:00:01,750 Good to be with the Saints here again 2 00:00:01,750 --> 00:00:02,530 in Garnavillo. 3 00:00:03,310 --> 00:00:05,110 Thanks for the privilege to come and be 4 00:00:05,110 --> 00:00:07,070 with you for the weekend and to labor 5 00:00:07,070 --> 00:00:09,490 with our brothers Stephen and Brody, and it 6 00:00:09,490 --> 00:00:12,990 has been our exercise and our prayer for 7 00:00:12,990 --> 00:00:16,270 many months that this conference would be a 8 00:00:16,270 --> 00:00:18,650 conference that would change me. 9 00:00:19,750 --> 00:00:21,490 I can't pray for you, I do pray 10 00:00:21,490 --> 00:00:23,850 for you, but if we come to this 11 00:00:23,850 --> 00:00:25,850 conference looking for help for the other guy, 12 00:00:26,410 --> 00:00:29,030 we might go away disappointed. 13 00:00:29,770 --> 00:00:32,590 But if we come listening to what God 14 00:00:32,590 --> 00:00:34,990 would have to say to us, we will 15 00:00:34,990 --> 00:00:37,530 go away with something from the Lord. 16 00:00:37,710 --> 00:00:38,590 So we're glad you're here. 17 00:00:38,670 --> 00:00:39,970 We're going to read in the book of 18 00:00:39,970 --> 00:00:42,630 Joshua in chapter 3. 19 00:00:46,830 --> 00:00:49,470 For this conference to take place, there must 20 00:00:49,470 --> 00:00:53,150 be very much preparation, and having been with 21 00:00:53,150 --> 00:00:54,910 the Saints here in Garnavillo, I can only 22 00:00:54,910 --> 00:00:56,890 assume that as soon as the conference ended 23 00:00:56,890 --> 00:00:59,490 last year, you began to prepare for this 24 00:00:59,490 --> 00:00:59,750 year. 25 00:01:00,550 --> 00:01:02,070 I can imagine there was notes that were 26 00:01:02,070 --> 00:01:04,190 taken, and any changes that might have needed 27 00:01:04,190 --> 00:01:07,670 to be addressed would be addressed, and everything 28 00:01:07,670 --> 00:01:09,790 is because you are organizers here. 29 00:01:10,270 --> 00:01:11,090 You get it done. 30 00:01:11,530 --> 00:01:12,230 You do it well. 31 00:01:13,310 --> 00:01:16,250 But when it comes to the conference and 32 00:01:16,250 --> 00:01:20,530 the preparation for the accommodations of the conference, 33 00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:22,750 there are many things that needed to take 34 00:01:22,750 --> 00:01:23,050 place. 35 00:01:23,170 --> 00:01:25,110 There needed to be the security of this 36 00:01:25,110 --> 00:01:25,490 building. 37 00:01:26,130 --> 00:01:28,010 There needed to be the cleaning of the 38 00:01:28,010 --> 00:01:28,370 building. 39 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:30,950 There needed to be an audio system set 40 00:01:30,950 --> 00:01:31,150 up. 41 00:01:31,310 --> 00:01:33,910 There needed to be chairs set in order, 42 00:01:34,130 --> 00:01:36,210 and all these things are all part of 43 00:01:36,210 --> 00:01:36,910 preparation. 44 00:01:37,930 --> 00:01:39,470 But what I'd like to begin this conference 45 00:01:39,470 --> 00:01:42,250 with is spiritual preparation. 46 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:46,870 How much effort went into my studies and 47 00:01:46,870 --> 00:01:51,030 my brethren's studies for preparation, but more than 48 00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:53,710 that, how much preparation have you put in 49 00:01:53,710 --> 00:01:56,130 to this conference spiritually? 50 00:01:57,270 --> 00:01:59,230 I'm not talking about the expense of it 51 00:01:59,230 --> 00:02:00,590 and the organization of it. 52 00:02:00,830 --> 00:02:05,230 I'm talking about the heart's desire to be 53 00:02:05,230 --> 00:02:08,389 ready for this conference spiritually. 54 00:02:09,729 --> 00:02:12,730 There is preparation that is needed. 55 00:02:12,850 --> 00:02:15,190 I've been reading through Joshua this slowly here 56 00:02:15,190 --> 00:02:16,050 the last couple weeks. 57 00:02:16,150 --> 00:02:17,890 I'd like to take two readings from this 58 00:02:17,890 --> 00:02:19,990 book in chapter 3, and we're going to 59 00:02:19,990 --> 00:02:21,310 read again in chapter 7. 60 00:02:23,370 --> 00:02:30,080 Joshua, excuse me, chapter 3, and we're going 61 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,120 to break in at verse number 5. 62 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,280 Now the children of Israel are about to 63 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,060 cross the river Jordan, and Joshua says unto 64 00:02:39,060 --> 00:02:44,100 the people, sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord 65 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:46,680 will do wonders among you. 66 00:02:46,900 --> 00:02:49,580 And Joshua spake unto the priest saying, take 67 00:02:49,580 --> 00:02:51,280 up the ark of the covenant and pass 68 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:52,440 over before the people. 69 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,620 And they took up the ark of the 70 00:02:54,620 --> 00:02:56,300 covenant and went before the people. 71 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,000 And the Lord said unto Joshua, this day 72 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,120 will I begin to magnify thee in the 73 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,860 sight of all Israel, that they may know 74 00:03:04,860 --> 00:03:07,840 that as I was with Moses, so I 75 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:08,800 will be with thee. 76 00:03:09,380 --> 00:03:11,200 And thou shalt command the priests that bear 77 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,300 the ark of the covenant saying, when ye 78 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:15,740 are come to the brink of the water 79 00:03:15,740 --> 00:03:19,440 Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 80 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,080 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, 81 00:03:22,420 --> 00:03:24,840 come hither and hear the words of the 82 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:25,720 Lord your king. 83 00:03:26,180 --> 00:03:29,360 And Joshua said, hereby ye shall know that 84 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,740 the living God is among you, and that 85 00:03:31,740 --> 00:03:35,300 he will without fail drive out from before 86 00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:37,360 you the Canaanite and the Hittite and the 87 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,440 Hivite and the Perizzite and the Girgashite and 88 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:42,020 the Amorite and the Jebusite. 89 00:03:42,900 --> 00:03:44,800 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the 90 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,480 Lord of all the earth passes over before 91 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,220 you into Jordan. 92 00:03:49,660 --> 00:03:51,620 Now therefore take you twelve men out of 93 00:03:51,620 --> 00:03:53,720 the tribes of Israel, out of every man 94 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,140 a tribe, and it shall come to pass 95 00:03:56,140 --> 00:03:59,060 as soon as the souls of the feet 96 00:03:59,060 --> 00:04:00,520 of the priests that bear the ark of 97 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,300 the covenant of the Lord, that the Lord 98 00:04:02,300 --> 00:04:04,420 of all the earth shall rest in the 99 00:04:04,420 --> 00:04:07,360 waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan 100 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,280 shall be cut off from waters that come 101 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,300 down from above, and they shall stand upon 102 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:14,000 and heap. 103 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:15,579 And it came to pass when the people 104 00:04:15,579 --> 00:04:17,839 were removed from their tents to pass over 105 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:19,560 Jordan, that the priests bearing the ark of 106 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,120 the covenant before the people, and as they 107 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,020 that bear the ark were come unto Jordan, 108 00:04:24,340 --> 00:04:26,060 and the feet of the priests that bear 109 00:04:26,060 --> 00:04:27,760 the ark were dipped in the brim of 110 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:28,120 the water. 111 00:04:28,580 --> 00:04:31,580 For Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the 112 00:04:31,580 --> 00:04:34,380 time of harvest, that the waters which came 113 00:04:34,380 --> 00:04:37,740 down from above stood and rose up upon 114 00:04:37,740 --> 00:04:41,200 a heap very far from the city Adam 115 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,440 that is beside Zarethan. 116 00:04:44,420 --> 00:04:45,620 Chapter seven, please. 117 00:04:49,390 --> 00:04:56,970 Chapter seven, verse one. 118 00:05:01,460 --> 00:05:04,420 Joshua chapter seven, verse number one. 119 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,120 And but the children of Israel committed a 120 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,360 trespass in the accursed thing. 121 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:13,200 For Achan the son of Carmi, the son 122 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,840 of Zabdai, the son of Zerah of the 123 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:18,000 tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, 124 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,280 and the anger of the Lord was kindled 125 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,680 against the children of Israel. 126 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:25,200 And you know the story how they went 127 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,780 to Ai and they lost to the small 128 00:05:27,780 --> 00:05:29,360 army of Ai, verse six. 129 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,340 And Joshua rent his clothes and fell to 130 00:05:32,340 --> 00:05:34,440 the earth upon his face before the ark 131 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,640 of the Lord until the even tide. 132 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,100 He and the elders of Israel and put 133 00:05:39,100 --> 00:05:40,220 dust upon their heads. 134 00:05:40,580 --> 00:05:45,040 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore 135 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,580 hast thou at all brought this people over 136 00:05:47,580 --> 00:05:50,160 Jordan to deliver us into the hand of 137 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,840 the Amorites to destroy us? 138 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,300 Would to God we had been content and 139 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:55,960 dwelt on the other side, Jordan. 140 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,020 O Lord, what shall I say when Israel 141 00:05:59,020 --> 00:06:01,600 turneth their backs before their enemies? 142 00:06:01,980 --> 00:06:04,120 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of 143 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,600 the land shall hear of it and shall 144 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,320 environ us round and cut off our name 145 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:09,900 from the earth. 146 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:13,020 And what wilt thou do unto thy great 147 00:06:13,020 --> 00:06:13,320 name? 148 00:06:14,060 --> 00:06:16,040 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee 149 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:16,300 up. 150 00:06:17,020 --> 00:06:19,980 Wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 151 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:23,200 Israel hath sinned and they have also transgressed 152 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,460 my covenant, which I commanded them. 153 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:27,880 For they have even taken of the accursed 154 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,500 thing and have also stolen and dissembled also, 155 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,540 and they have put it even among their 156 00:06:32,540 --> 00:06:33,160 own stuff. 157 00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:36,580 Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand 158 00:06:36,580 --> 00:06:40,260 before their enemies, but turned their backs before 159 00:06:40,260 --> 00:06:40,820 their enemies. 160 00:06:40,940 --> 00:06:44,240 Because they were accursed, neither will I be 161 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,400 with you anymore, except to destroy the accursed 162 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,160 from among you up. 163 00:06:50,380 --> 00:06:54,580 Sanctify the people and say, Sanctify yourselves against 164 00:06:54,580 --> 00:06:55,060 tomorrow. 165 00:06:55,860 --> 00:06:57,720 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 166 00:06:58,380 --> 00:06:59,960 There is an accursed thing in the midst 167 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:02,740 of thee, O Israel, thou canst not stand 168 00:07:02,740 --> 00:07:05,540 before thy enemies until you take away the 169 00:07:05,540 --> 00:07:08,220 accursed thing from you. 170 00:07:08,380 --> 00:07:10,820 And you know the story, how that they 171 00:07:10,820 --> 00:07:12,840 were brought by tribe and by family and 172 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,200 so on, and it was found out. 173 00:07:15,780 --> 00:07:18,540 Lord have blessed to us the reading of 174 00:07:18,540 --> 00:07:19,780 his precious word. 175 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:21,980 Preparation. 176 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,820 Would have been a marvelous day for Joshua 177 00:07:26,820 --> 00:07:30,600 and Caleb especially, having lingered and wandered in 178 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,540 the wilderness for 40 years until their companions 179 00:07:33,540 --> 00:07:37,320 of opposite mind, but of like age, perished 180 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:37,900 in the wilderness. 181 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,600 And those that came back with the evil 182 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:41,920 report, you remember. 183 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:44,840 And now the time has come when they're 184 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,280 about to go into the promised land. 185 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:49,980 If you were a young person in that 186 00:07:49,980 --> 00:07:52,840 day, under the age of 20, and you 187 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,380 had wandered in the wilderness, and you would 188 00:07:55,380 --> 00:07:57,200 have heard the older ones tell the great 189 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,760 story of the exodus out of Egypt, how 190 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,380 the redemption there in Exodus 12 and 13, 191 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,140 and how they would come out and they 192 00:08:05,140 --> 00:08:06,720 would be at the Red Sea, and you 193 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:07,500 would hear the story. 194 00:08:07,660 --> 00:08:09,220 If you were, if you were anything like 195 00:08:09,220 --> 00:08:10,100 me, I would be on the edge of 196 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:12,140 my seat, you know, waiting for grandpa or 197 00:08:12,140 --> 00:08:13,440 dad to tell me the story. 198 00:08:14,660 --> 00:08:15,880 Tell it to me again. 199 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,360 How the, how that Pharaoh was behind them, 200 00:08:18,380 --> 00:08:19,980 and the sea was in front of them, 201 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,360 and they come there, and the cloud protected 202 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,680 them, and the fire by night, and then 203 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,660 they went around, went across on dry ground. 204 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:31,840 Would have been thrilling to hear those stories. 205 00:08:33,159 --> 00:08:35,539 And by the way, brethren, you older ones 206 00:08:35,539 --> 00:08:38,900 especially, keep telling us the stories of God 207 00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:39,820 working in your life. 208 00:08:41,549 --> 00:08:42,470 They're thrilling. 209 00:08:43,870 --> 00:08:44,750 They're thrilling. 210 00:08:46,270 --> 00:08:48,070 Now tell us about the good old days. 211 00:08:49,430 --> 00:08:51,690 Tell us about the tent meetings where dozens 212 00:08:51,690 --> 00:08:52,270 were saved. 213 00:08:54,690 --> 00:09:00,680 Tell us about those things, because right, frankly, 214 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:07,260 our young people here today, they don't understand 215 00:09:07,260 --> 00:09:08,080 what normal is. 216 00:09:10,490 --> 00:09:12,250 Those that are under the age of 30, 217 00:09:12,850 --> 00:09:17,310 under the age of 20, tell us how 218 00:09:17,310 --> 00:09:20,750 God used to work, and those of us 219 00:09:20,750 --> 00:09:23,210 that labor and see the providence of God, 220 00:09:24,270 --> 00:09:30,680 let us tell God's people that God is 221 00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:32,840 still among his people. 222 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:36,120 Can you imagine? 223 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,640 The water parted, and now they come to 224 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:41,280 the point where they're about to cross Jordan, 225 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:44,200 and God tells Joshua to tell the people 226 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:45,180 to prepare. 227 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:47,160 Prepare. 228 00:09:47,860 --> 00:09:48,200 Prepare. 229 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:48,900 Why? 230 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,840 Because God's presence is going to be absolutely 231 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:52,500 real again. 232 00:09:52,620 --> 00:09:54,540 Oh, God was with them through the wilderness. 233 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,340 But he says this, when the soles of 234 00:09:58,340 --> 00:10:00,280 the feet of those preached priests touch the 235 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:01,920 water, the waters are going to part. 236 00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:04,180 I cannot help but put myself in this 237 00:10:04,180 --> 00:10:06,540 story, and there they go, and the soles 238 00:10:06,540 --> 00:10:08,600 of the feet of those priests touch the 239 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,340 water, and apart the water goes, just like 240 00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:12,080 the Red Sea. 241 00:10:15,140 --> 00:10:17,240 What is the new generation going to say? 242 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:19,940 This is God. 243 00:10:20,900 --> 00:10:22,960 The same God that they told us about. 244 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,740 The same God that did the miracle there 245 00:10:25,740 --> 00:10:27,760 at the Red Sea is the God that 246 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:28,620 is with us. 247 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:31,920 That would be thrilling. 248 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,240 It would be thrilling. 249 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:40,040 Joshua tells the people to prepare, because God 250 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,920 is going to work a wonder tomorrow. 251 00:10:43,300 --> 00:10:45,320 Now, don't be smart and say tomorrow never 252 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:45,760 comes. 253 00:10:48,060 --> 00:10:49,460 We say that in the gospel, don't we? 254 00:10:49,460 --> 00:10:51,620 Oh, don't wait until tomorrow, because tomorrow never 255 00:10:51,620 --> 00:10:52,080 comes. 256 00:10:53,380 --> 00:10:57,200 But Joshua was telling them the very next 257 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:02,080 day that they needed to be prepared. 258 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,640 He says, sanctify yourself. 259 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,080 And sanctify means to be clean. 260 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,360 It means to be purified. 261 00:11:10,620 --> 00:11:11,820 It means to be holy. 262 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:13,360 It means to be dedicated. 263 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,380 And God's message through Joshua was just simple. 264 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,680 Prepare for blessing. 265 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,280 Prepare for the wonders of God. 266 00:11:30,370 --> 00:11:32,950 Why was it that they must be clean? 267 00:11:34,030 --> 00:11:36,010 Why would it be that they must be 268 00:11:36,010 --> 00:11:37,630 purified and dedicated? 269 00:11:39,610 --> 00:11:42,210 Because it was of utmost importance to God 270 00:11:42,210 --> 00:11:45,670 that his people would be living in obedience, 271 00:11:46,410 --> 00:11:49,390 that his people would be relying entirely upon 272 00:11:49,390 --> 00:11:53,430 him, and that they would examine themselves and 273 00:11:53,430 --> 00:11:54,770 they would sanctify themselves. 274 00:11:55,110 --> 00:11:56,770 And if there was something in their thinking 275 00:11:56,770 --> 00:11:59,490 that it might be taken care of, if 276 00:11:59,490 --> 00:12:03,030 there was something in their life that it 277 00:12:03,030 --> 00:12:09,920 might be forsaken, because God takes his presence 278 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:11,720 among mankind very seriously. 279 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,980 Sometimes I'm afraid that we don't take it 280 00:12:15,980 --> 00:12:17,160 as serious as God does. 281 00:12:17,260 --> 00:12:18,260 I know we don't. 282 00:12:21,870 --> 00:12:29,180 When we come together in assembly capacity, the 283 00:12:29,180 --> 00:12:30,260 Lord is in our midst. 284 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:34,460 He is in our midst. 285 00:12:35,620 --> 00:12:39,740 And before we come and we come into 286 00:12:39,740 --> 00:12:42,040 the Lord's presence, do we not for blessing? 287 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:45,800 We come together around the Lord Jesus to 288 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,240 feel and to understand afresh and to really 289 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,460 experience the presence of the Lord among us. 290 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:53,360 And you know when the Lord is among 291 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:53,960 us, don't you? 292 00:12:55,060 --> 00:12:56,980 And you can sense when the Spirit of 293 00:12:56,980 --> 00:13:00,140 God is working in the worship meeting, and 294 00:13:00,140 --> 00:13:02,760 they're just absolutely wonderful, and he braids the 295 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:04,760 whole thing, and he orchestrates the whole thing, 296 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,860 and the worship just seems to crescendo until 297 00:13:07,860 --> 00:13:10,940 the breaking of bread seems to peak sometimes. 298 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,640 And you go away and you just say 299 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,520 to yourself, the Lord was in this place. 300 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,300 And then there's other times that we go, 301 00:13:25,460 --> 00:13:29,690 and it's flat, and it's dead. 302 00:13:33,790 --> 00:13:35,150 What makes the difference? 303 00:13:37,510 --> 00:13:38,490 Has God changed? 304 00:13:39,510 --> 00:13:40,950 No, God has not changed. 305 00:13:40,990 --> 00:13:41,490 You know that. 306 00:13:43,130 --> 00:13:45,830 Could it be that we haven't sanctified ourselves, 307 00:13:48,490 --> 00:13:51,050 and we're coming into the gathering in the 308 00:13:51,050 --> 00:13:55,150 presence of the Lord, and we're not prepared 309 00:13:55,150 --> 00:13:55,810 for a blessing? 310 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:01,420 As we preach the gospel, we try to 311 00:14:01,420 --> 00:14:05,740 preach the gospel from time to time, I 312 00:14:05,740 --> 00:14:11,370 often wonder, is my heart right? 313 00:14:12,730 --> 00:14:14,610 And I know that God saves and God 314 00:14:14,610 --> 00:14:16,530 works to spite men, and it's a good 315 00:14:16,530 --> 00:14:16,850 thing. 316 00:14:18,110 --> 00:14:19,130 It's a good thing. 317 00:14:21,940 --> 00:14:26,560 But as we approach this weekend, are we 318 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,980 prepared for a blessing? 319 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,440 They would have been expecting something wondrous from 320 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,720 God, because that's what Joshua said, that the 321 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,100 Lord is going to work wonders among you 322 00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:38,580 tomorrow. 323 00:14:41,290 --> 00:14:44,390 And I can see that they, almost as 324 00:14:44,390 --> 00:14:45,830 if I was standing there in the banks 325 00:14:45,830 --> 00:14:49,390 as a little boy, and the priest sets 326 00:14:49,390 --> 00:14:51,790 foot, and the sole of their feet touch 327 00:14:51,790 --> 00:14:52,230 the water. 328 00:14:53,170 --> 00:14:54,610 They had to move by faith, you know. 329 00:14:55,470 --> 00:14:56,630 They had to take the step. 330 00:14:58,540 --> 00:15:01,360 And then just like that, the waters abate, 331 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:03,460 the fountains from above are stopped. 332 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,540 What would that mean to you? 333 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:10,940 What would that mean to you? 334 00:15:14,110 --> 00:15:15,510 Would it be a scary thing? 335 00:15:16,870 --> 00:15:18,790 Would it be an intimidating thing? 336 00:15:19,730 --> 00:15:23,750 Oh, it would be intimidating to know and 337 00:15:23,750 --> 00:15:24,350 to see. 338 00:15:25,130 --> 00:15:28,970 It would be a humbling thing that God 339 00:15:28,970 --> 00:15:32,010 is among us again, that God is for 340 00:15:32,010 --> 00:15:34,570 us, and that God now is working, and 341 00:15:34,570 --> 00:15:38,430 he's fulfilling his promises, just as he said. 342 00:15:39,410 --> 00:15:41,910 Always remember that it is a faithfulness of 343 00:15:41,910 --> 00:15:44,030 God to himself. 344 00:15:45,710 --> 00:15:47,970 God is always faithful to his promise. 345 00:15:48,790 --> 00:15:50,910 He is always faithful to himself. 346 00:15:51,390 --> 00:15:53,690 And so they were preparing for a blessing. 347 00:15:54,250 --> 00:15:55,870 They were to make themselves clean. 348 00:15:58,650 --> 00:16:01,290 And how do we do that today? 349 00:16:02,510 --> 00:16:04,270 Well, we read that we're made clean by 350 00:16:04,270 --> 00:16:04,970 the word of God. 351 00:16:05,050 --> 00:16:06,950 The Lord Jesus said, sanctify them through thy 352 00:16:06,950 --> 00:16:07,270 truth. 353 00:16:07,290 --> 00:16:08,170 Thy word is truth. 354 00:16:08,790 --> 00:16:10,490 And we read in Ephesians chapter 5 that 355 00:16:10,490 --> 00:16:12,370 Christ also loved the church and gave himself 356 00:16:12,370 --> 00:16:15,190 for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse 357 00:16:15,190 --> 00:16:16,630 it with the washing of the water by 358 00:16:16,630 --> 00:16:17,130 the word. 359 00:16:17,470 --> 00:16:19,810 And so the word of God cleanses us. 360 00:16:20,670 --> 00:16:23,470 We pour it into ourselves, and God is 361 00:16:23,470 --> 00:16:25,490 faithful to speak to us and to show 362 00:16:25,490 --> 00:16:27,530 us if there's an issue in our life. 363 00:16:28,450 --> 00:16:31,590 And if you go through Samuel, there was 364 00:16:31,590 --> 00:16:33,190 the people there, and the Ark of the 365 00:16:33,190 --> 00:16:34,890 Covenant was gone for 20 years. 366 00:16:35,190 --> 00:16:36,890 And they started to lament the fact that 367 00:16:36,890 --> 00:16:37,810 the Ark was gone. 368 00:16:38,150 --> 00:16:40,650 And there was repentance in their heart. 369 00:16:41,370 --> 00:16:42,990 And there was a turning, and Samuel says, 370 00:16:43,070 --> 00:16:45,190 if you're serious, get rid of the idols. 371 00:16:47,150 --> 00:16:48,330 Clean the house of God. 372 00:16:48,590 --> 00:16:50,510 Get rid of the idols if you're serious. 373 00:16:53,660 --> 00:16:54,880 You know, do we from time to time, 374 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,000 we have to get rid of the idols, 375 00:16:56,140 --> 00:16:56,440 don't we? 376 00:16:59,130 --> 00:17:02,010 God will not share his glory with false 377 00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:02,630 gods. 378 00:17:03,069 --> 00:17:04,470 God gets all the glory. 379 00:17:05,589 --> 00:17:07,230 And from time to time, we search our 380 00:17:07,230 --> 00:17:08,950 hearts, and we have to rid our hearts 381 00:17:08,950 --> 00:17:11,290 of these idols, things that are taking up 382 00:17:11,290 --> 00:17:11,849 our time. 383 00:17:12,030 --> 00:17:13,290 They're taking up our thoughts. 384 00:17:13,410 --> 00:17:14,670 They're taking up our attention. 385 00:17:14,869 --> 00:17:16,290 They're taking up our energies. 386 00:17:16,430 --> 00:17:17,790 They're taking up our efforts. 387 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:20,089 And sometimes we have to say, that's gotta 388 00:17:20,089 --> 00:17:20,589 go. 389 00:17:22,410 --> 00:17:23,470 That's gotta go. 390 00:17:25,250 --> 00:17:28,910 And so I trust that as we approach 391 00:17:28,910 --> 00:17:33,010 this weekend, that we all are prepared to 392 00:17:33,010 --> 00:17:36,290 prepare for the blessing of God. 393 00:17:38,590 --> 00:17:41,010 Is there anything specific that you're looking for 394 00:17:41,010 --> 00:17:41,810 in this conference? 395 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,660 Did you come here to hear the voice 396 00:17:47,660 --> 00:17:48,180 of God? 397 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:53,260 That's a preparation of attitude. 398 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,480 And that's a preparation to listen to the 399 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:57,120 voice of God. 400 00:17:57,300 --> 00:18:00,020 This man that Iftikhar that we prayed for, 401 00:18:00,340 --> 00:18:02,180 he's been coming to Black River Falls for 402 00:18:02,180 --> 00:18:02,980 some years now. 403 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:06,440 He's a Muslim man, and he loves to 404 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:10,870 debate after the meeting, but he just won't 405 00:18:10,870 --> 00:18:11,210 listen. 406 00:18:13,230 --> 00:18:15,470 He doesn't come to hear something from God. 407 00:18:15,550 --> 00:18:17,670 He comes to get ammunition to try to 408 00:18:17,670 --> 00:18:18,090 debate. 409 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:23,840 I hope you didn't come here for ammunition. 410 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:28,420 I hope you come here for a word 411 00:18:28,420 --> 00:18:28,920 from God. 412 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,500 He will not let you down. 413 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:34,800 Then we come down to chapter 7, and 414 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:36,940 it's a different situation there. 415 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:39,520 Altogether different. 416 00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:43,880 They have now crossed the River Jordan, and 417 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,760 they have gone to Jericho, and they have 418 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:48,820 won a miraculous victory there by the power 419 00:18:48,820 --> 00:18:49,380 of God. 420 00:18:49,380 --> 00:18:55,500 But there was a problem, and the problem, 421 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,780 simply put, was disobedience. 422 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:00,780 God had told them not to take of 423 00:19:00,780 --> 00:19:02,640 the accursed thing, and not to take of 424 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,620 anything there for their spoil, and Achan did. 425 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:08,260 And Achan did. 426 00:19:10,140 --> 00:19:11,260 And he hid it. 427 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,760 And the reason he hid it is because 428 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:15,740 he knew it was wrong. 429 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:18,860 And he didn't want to be found out, 430 00:19:18,940 --> 00:19:21,120 and he wanted to keep this goodly Babylonish 431 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:23,140 garment, and his wedge of gold, and those 432 00:19:23,140 --> 00:19:25,060 things that he had hid under the floor 433 00:19:25,060 --> 00:19:25,720 of his tent. 434 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,000 And it seems obvious that when this is 435 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,860 starting to boil down, that he didn't come 436 00:19:31,860 --> 00:19:33,040 to confess right away. 437 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,280 Oh, the process has got to run its 438 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:36,680 course. 439 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,920 The tribe has to come, and the family 440 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:40,740 has to come, and it gets narrowed right 441 00:19:40,740 --> 00:19:41,240 down. 442 00:19:42,940 --> 00:19:44,040 And it's Achan. 443 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:46,500 It's Achan. 444 00:19:47,980 --> 00:19:51,220 And now God tells Joshua to tell the 445 00:19:51,220 --> 00:19:52,700 people to sanctify themselves. 446 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,600 There's going to be a wondrous work done, 447 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:00,820 but the lesson that the people are going 448 00:20:00,820 --> 00:20:05,020 to learn would be burned into their mind, 449 00:20:05,060 --> 00:20:05,440 wouldn't it? 450 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,960 They had experienced the blessing of God, the 451 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,720 power of God, and the presence of God. 452 00:20:16,140 --> 00:20:19,220 And now they've experienced what it was to 453 00:20:19,220 --> 00:20:21,260 go to fight the battle without the presence 454 00:20:21,260 --> 00:20:21,820 of God. 455 00:20:23,820 --> 00:20:25,720 And they knew what it was to be 456 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,040 absolutely, utterly helpless in the face of the 457 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:29,340 enemy. 458 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:31,840 And they knew what it was now to 459 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:32,860 flee and to run. 460 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,520 And that was never God's intention. 461 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:42,830 And now, what are they going to learn 462 00:20:42,830 --> 00:20:44,050 about the character of God? 463 00:20:48,620 --> 00:20:50,080 Again, put yourself there. 464 00:20:52,930 --> 00:20:54,550 You young people, you hide stuff in your 465 00:20:54,550 --> 00:20:55,690 room like I used to hide stuff in 466 00:20:55,690 --> 00:20:56,070 my room. 467 00:20:57,530 --> 00:21:00,530 I worked for an Amish, several Amish families, 468 00:21:00,650 --> 00:21:02,270 and there was this one young fellow, and 469 00:21:02,270 --> 00:21:04,230 you know, radios aren't allowed for those folks. 470 00:21:04,530 --> 00:21:06,410 And he had seven radios hidden in the 471 00:21:06,410 --> 00:21:06,810 sawmill. 472 00:21:07,530 --> 00:21:08,350 Seven of them. 473 00:21:09,630 --> 00:21:11,910 Seven accursed little walkmans were hiding in different 474 00:21:11,910 --> 00:21:13,810 places where he would go and sneak out 475 00:21:13,810 --> 00:21:15,290 and listen to them when his mom and 476 00:21:15,290 --> 00:21:16,170 dad were sleeping. 477 00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:18,550 He was found out. 478 00:21:19,570 --> 00:21:20,590 He was found out. 479 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:26,860 But what these people are going to learn 480 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,500 is that God means what he says. 481 00:21:33,990 --> 00:21:35,370 God means what he says. 482 00:21:37,620 --> 00:21:39,120 And what they're going to see that day, 483 00:21:40,020 --> 00:21:41,980 you would have thought they'd learned the lesson, 484 00:21:42,940 --> 00:21:45,520 wandering 40 years through the wilderness. 485 00:21:47,750 --> 00:21:50,970 Because what they did with the bad report, 486 00:21:51,610 --> 00:21:54,410 and what they did by not obeying God 487 00:21:54,410 --> 00:21:58,570 and going in and possessing the land, a 488 00:21:58,570 --> 00:22:01,450 disobedience is here. 489 00:22:06,430 --> 00:22:07,810 The family is called forth. 490 00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:14,760 God said, sanctify yourself. 491 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:20,500 He says, sanctify yourself. 492 00:22:23,970 --> 00:22:27,810 I wonder sometimes where these people that night, 493 00:22:27,910 --> 00:22:29,210 because again, it says tomorrow. 494 00:22:30,770 --> 00:22:37,710 What took place that night was the whole 495 00:22:37,710 --> 00:22:41,490 congregation on their knees, in their own tents. 496 00:22:44,570 --> 00:22:46,870 Were people, were parents talking to their children? 497 00:22:49,390 --> 00:22:50,710 Were the older ones there? 498 00:22:50,830 --> 00:22:55,770 Were they saying, you know, wonder what's going 499 00:22:55,770 --> 00:22:56,270 on? 500 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,960 The whole place would have been in a 501 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:03,820 fear of God. 502 00:23:06,990 --> 00:23:08,510 There would have been reverence. 503 00:23:10,780 --> 00:23:17,190 There would have been worry, because God is 504 00:23:17,190 --> 00:23:17,990 going to expose. 505 00:23:20,910 --> 00:23:22,510 And that's exactly what happens. 506 00:23:24,710 --> 00:23:26,690 And Akin's sin affected his whole family. 507 00:23:26,790 --> 00:23:27,650 They were all destroyed. 508 00:23:30,650 --> 00:23:31,890 But you see, they were to prepare. 509 00:23:34,390 --> 00:23:36,470 A spiritual preparation is a real thing. 510 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,900 If the heart's not right, and I'm only, 511 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:43,300 this is a confession. 512 00:23:44,060 --> 00:23:45,220 The heart's not right. 513 00:23:47,610 --> 00:23:48,910 Nothing can be right. 514 00:23:54,890 --> 00:23:55,550 Are we prepared? 515 00:23:57,430 --> 00:23:58,630 Are we prepared? 516 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:02,440 It says, sanctify the people. 517 00:24:03,460 --> 00:24:05,060 Tell them to sanctify yourselves. 518 00:24:07,330 --> 00:24:09,970 It says, thou canst not stand before thine 519 00:24:09,970 --> 00:24:12,230 enemies until you take away the accursed thing 520 00:24:12,230 --> 00:24:13,450 from among you. 521 00:24:13,570 --> 00:24:15,430 Spiritual preparation. 522 00:24:18,860 --> 00:24:20,640 The Lord wills tomorrow we might speak a 523 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,860 little of spiritual discernment and spiritual work. 524 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:29,920 And it all starts with spiritual preparation. 525 00:24:33,150 --> 00:24:35,150 You Sunday school teachers, to go teach the 526 00:24:35,150 --> 00:24:36,070 young ones, you prepare. 527 00:24:37,410 --> 00:24:40,030 And you prepare your lessons, and we prepare 528 00:24:40,030 --> 00:24:42,270 our gospel messages, and we prepare our ministry 529 00:24:42,270 --> 00:24:42,810 messages. 530 00:24:43,130 --> 00:24:44,990 But the question is this, is the heart 531 00:24:44,990 --> 00:24:45,290 right? 532 00:24:50,130 --> 00:24:51,670 And sometimes I'm afraid. 533 00:24:54,380 --> 00:24:56,720 And sometimes we're gifted men, but we're not 534 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:57,480 spiritual men. 535 00:25:02,340 --> 00:25:04,160 We come behind in no gift. 536 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:09,660 God has provided for local assemblies gift. 537 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:13,060 Tremendous gift. 538 00:25:13,860 --> 00:25:15,980 Some of you young men have tremendous gift. 539 00:25:19,410 --> 00:25:26,450 But if the heart's not right, if it's 540 00:25:26,450 --> 00:25:27,110 not prepared. 541 00:25:29,090 --> 00:25:30,890 I had an old neighbor, her name was 542 00:25:30,890 --> 00:25:31,150 Julie. 543 00:25:32,070 --> 00:25:33,850 She wasn't in the assembly, but I believe 544 00:25:33,850 --> 00:25:34,510 she was saved. 545 00:25:35,830 --> 00:25:38,090 And after we were in the Lord's work, 546 00:25:38,570 --> 00:25:39,610 we go out and see her from time 547 00:25:39,610 --> 00:25:42,070 to time, her and her husband, sweet people. 548 00:25:42,290 --> 00:25:43,910 He never said much, but she always had 549 00:25:43,910 --> 00:25:44,290 advice. 550 00:25:45,730 --> 00:25:48,190 And one day she said, Brandon, she always 551 00:25:48,190 --> 00:25:49,710 asked where we were preaching and how the 552 00:25:49,710 --> 00:25:50,390 Lord was working. 553 00:25:50,470 --> 00:25:52,570 And she said, Brandon, let me give you 554 00:25:52,570 --> 00:25:53,150 some advice. 555 00:25:55,090 --> 00:25:56,630 And I said, Julie, let me have it. 556 00:25:58,250 --> 00:26:00,250 She said, you keep your heart quiet. 557 00:26:02,210 --> 00:26:04,510 I said, okay, what do you mean? 558 00:26:05,590 --> 00:26:08,790 She said, you keep your heart quiet so 559 00:26:08,790 --> 00:26:10,550 you can hear the whisper of God. 560 00:26:12,030 --> 00:26:13,790 A two people can't talk at the same 561 00:26:13,790 --> 00:26:14,210 time. 562 00:26:16,290 --> 00:26:18,230 And I'll never forget that coming from her. 563 00:26:20,450 --> 00:26:21,650 What was she saying? 564 00:26:23,820 --> 00:26:26,700 She was saying, keep your heart right. 565 00:26:28,060 --> 00:26:29,220 Keep it quiet. 566 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:32,640 Listen more than you speak. 567 00:26:35,380 --> 00:26:36,600 That's what she was saying to me. 568 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:39,600 And so I just want to leave these 569 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:45,060 few simple thoughts to exercise my own heart. 570 00:26:48,460 --> 00:26:49,280 Am I prepared? 571 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:56,540 Because when we're prepared, the presence of God 572 00:26:56,540 --> 00:26:58,620 is remarkable. 573 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,240 You think of all the battles, even Gideon. 574 00:27:05,180 --> 00:27:06,740 What was God doing with Gideon? 575 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:07,820 He was preparing his heart. 576 00:27:09,460 --> 00:27:11,980 He was working on the man and the 577 00:27:11,980 --> 00:27:13,480 man needed to know that it wasn't about 578 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:13,800 him. 579 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:15,720 And he needed to know that it wasn't 580 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:16,940 about the size of the army. 581 00:27:17,260 --> 00:27:19,020 And he needed to know it wasn't even 582 00:27:19,020 --> 00:27:21,460 about his own frailty and his own weakness 583 00:27:21,460 --> 00:27:22,420 in his own eyes. 584 00:27:23,220 --> 00:27:25,760 But what God was preparing him for. 585 00:27:27,540 --> 00:27:29,620 And so that when God did the work, 586 00:27:31,870 --> 00:27:33,050 God would get the glory. 587 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:36,840 You see how it works. 588 00:27:38,580 --> 00:27:42,980 God humbles us that he might get the 589 00:27:42,980 --> 00:27:43,340 glory. 590 00:27:44,620 --> 00:27:47,820 God exposes our faults and the things that 591 00:27:47,820 --> 00:27:48,680 need to be cleansed. 592 00:27:48,780 --> 00:27:48,960 Why? 593 00:27:49,180 --> 00:27:50,380 That he might get the glory. 594 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:53,940 You see, Joshua was told that he was 595 00:27:53,940 --> 00:27:55,500 going to be as mighty as Moses. 596 00:27:56,540 --> 00:27:57,840 And if you follow that through the book, 597 00:27:57,900 --> 00:27:59,760 he never once tells the nation that. 598 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:02,420 He never once says that I'm going to 599 00:28:02,420 --> 00:28:03,020 be your leader. 600 00:28:03,100 --> 00:28:04,360 I'm going to be as great as Moses. 601 00:28:06,020 --> 00:28:06,780 Never once. 602 00:28:09,390 --> 00:28:11,070 He just leaves it all with God. 603 00:28:12,470 --> 00:28:13,910 And trust that the Lord will help us 604 00:28:13,910 --> 00:28:17,430 to prepare for a great weekend. 605 00:28:18,690 --> 00:28:20,350 And that we might go away from this 606 00:28:20,350 --> 00:28:26,330 place having experienced personally each one mighty presence.