Download... October 23, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: NUMBERS 34: 1-8, 13-15
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying ,
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying , This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:
15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
Continuing from your own bible, (in verses 9-12), you can observe the complete "map" of boundaries God had directed here. This is the word of the Lord, as He spoke it to Moses in the above scriptural descriptions, for the tribes given of the inheritance, that the children of God were to possess. God’s command for this area was to be fully occupied, by the Israelites, without any “omissions”.
Still today, God’s requirements are always for 100% ..of how He directs us, ..and never “partway.” God ...then, (and still today) had “drawn a map” of where His command to conquer and occupy was to take place, from every boundary, and within, that He had set. The Israelites were commanded to drive out All the “ites” from the inherited land. We find from study of these scriptures, that “ites” were found in each part of the names of the enemies found then in the land. Hence “ites,” becomes a well remembered label for those needing to be eradicated. Today, we also have a spiritual land to occupy, and we are also to drive all the "ites” completely out. God doesn’t leave us to confusion with His spiritual guidance of the “markers,” and boundaries we are to occupy, ...to conquer from within that His word clearly describes. It is important to “note” that this wasn’t just a “literal” land for Israel to overtake, but also a spiritual one.
Bro Goble shared an revelant interview he had listened to from several decades ago, as an analogy. It was between a journalist and the current president of Egypt. They were standing at the north side of the Suez canal, “a desert” of very rocky soil, where essentially nothing was growing. The president was asked by the journalist "why were they so interested in also occupying such a barren patch of dirt? So interested, that you cannot negotiate over it?" That one then replied, “How would it be if a foreign government were to take over the Mojave desert from your country? It’s just a patch of barren dirt.” The point the president was making was, we must keep in mind, that sometimes “the land” is more than “just dirt.” Some parts were productive, and some parts not. God didn’t just tell His people to only occupy the “green” parts, but to fill All of the land, not leaving any “ites.”
Today, the spiritual land is still designed to be completely occupied. We cannot decide which parts “I” want to occupy. God has designed All of it, to be completely drive out the “ites” still present within those boundaries. Not..the “ites” of your way, or my way. God, then wants it filled completely with His people, ways, designs, and Spirit. The “ites” represented all that was in rejection to God’s holy ways, so could not be allowed to stay in the land. Today, the “land” spiritually, is still designed to be completely occupied, without any enemies or hindrances to God’s holiness. We cannot decide which parts “I want” to occupy. God controls the design for All of it. Those boundaries are to be filled up completely without “ites” still present, and with God’s people and ways only!
Joshua 1:1-7 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister , saying , 2 Moses my servant is dead ; now therefore arise , go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon , that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 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. 6 Be strong and of a good courage : for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest .
Again here, God recorded where the “markers” and boundaries were. God opened the way, giving to them all, ..the land they were to occupy.
Joshua 13:1-6 1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years and there remaineth yet ver much land to be possessed. 2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all t he borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri. 3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt,even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: fiver lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites; 4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah, that is beside the sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: 5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. 6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrepothmaim, and all the sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
Then some years later, God again told Joshua how he wanted the additional lands, to be divided. There were still many “ites” left occupying the land. Today we’re not trying to divide the land literally, but spiritually. The inheritance God has of people and land today, are not a literal kingdom, “race” or geographic location, but one of a spiritual people and place, much bigger and more powerful than the literal ones. If people would spend their time trying to figure out God’s spiritual specifications, they would come closer to occupying ALL the land God has spiritually promised. He also is faithful, to point out all those “ites” that need to be destroyed from your life.
Judges 2:1-3 1 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. Verse 2 Make no league with these “ites,” but throw down their altars. But you have not obeyed! Why have you not done this? Verse 3 The people here are well aware of the dangers of the land, yet they did not obey and instead made allegiances with their pagan enemies. These enemies ignorantly thought it was their gods made with hands, and that of those, the “strongest” god won. When the Israelites made allegiances with them, they did not want to take hard actions against the evil, for they were becoming like them, themselves. God of course knows how people think. Ask yourself...If Israel is not faithful, (don’t they stop being God’s people?)...would we then yet be here?
Thankfully, we have always had a remnant of God’s people, ...somebody knew they had to be faithful, and was! Thank God many times throughout bible times, God always had someone to be faithful to His commandments. In faithfulness, someone prophesied throughout the ages! Someone always carried the torch of truth down through the ages, for all mankind to be united with God! Noah, Moses, Samuel, Daniel, are only some from the old testament times. In new testament times, a couple were, Simeon who had the revelation from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord Christ, the promised consolation of Israel. Anna also, a prophetess of great age, spoke of the Lord coming for the redemption of Jerusalem. Both Simeon and Anna were blessed for their faithfulness, to actually see the baby Christ before they died. The curse though, instead of blessings, would and will be, on all those, who don’t choose or are negligent, to follow this Son of God who died, to become the Savior to all who believe on Him in truth.
To follow or obey God, is to drive out all the “ites.” He saves us (justification...healing from and out of sin). And because we have many habits and memories from our sinful past, God then God sanctifies souls to keep the “ites” driven out of lives of the redeemed. Yet there may still be some “ites” in the “land,” ..because it’s not just in the “wilderness.” “Canaan” is a type of our sanctification, spiritually, where there humanly will be still more “ites” to be destroyed. We are to move from that place of justification (made eligible for the land), and go on to Sanctification to contiune to conquer the remaining fleshly enemies (“ites”) to be driven out. For, ..a person can rightfully claim the Holy Ghost, ...yet still have “ites” (i.e. habits, thinking, routines,etc.) that need to be “driven out.” At Joshua’s death, God was faithful to continue to cleanse the “ites” from the land. It might be an idea, behavior, etc., that needs to be still driven out. God, has promised to be with us to the victory over all the enemies of our soul, present in our flesh, (humanity).
The failure to choose to follow and lean on God, brings grave consequences spiritually. In Joshua the 7th chapter, we find that one within the camp of Israel, had disobeyed through covetousness, bringing death to his entire family, and defeat in that battle for Israel. Achan instead of “driving out” by destroying all, ..in disobedience kept some of the “spoils” for himself in “secret.” We cannot have victory and drive out the “ites” while still tolerating (holding onto) some of the hindrances of the flesh, ...knowingly. It must be through God’s power and wisdom that we fully lean on, ..and obey.
We need to acknowledge the need for a spirit filled life in God, to have victory over fleshly hindrances (“ites”). This is to see what we ‘yet’ need to “cast out” through a spiritual God given life inheritance. If those (“ites”) are still held onto, we will lose out from that inheritance from God. We cannot remain truly a Christian, when we do not cast out all that God has revealed to us.
You cannot make an alliegiance to that which God has revealed needs to be cast out, and still have possession of an inheritance from Him. If you desire and determine through God’s direction to inherit and fill the land, He will bless. Otherwise you will lose the identity of God upon your life. When we lose the identity from, and of God, ..we no longer occupy the borders, of and from His inheritance. Here in Judges, we see Israel had ceased from controlling it’s borders, in driving the enemy out. The enemies were allowed to come and take over their boundaries and laws, so that they became more and more like them, and not anymore of God’s inheritance. For the God given laws were no longer carried out. The identity of the nation changed (as today they still will) in unforseen ways. The structure of the nation is no longer then of any effect as here, in these circumstances. It isn’t just about superficial, or outward changes, but a change to core values of that "nation." In a literal nation, the commerce is no longer successful, buildings of business become empty, and dramatic things happen and change. Individually if you lose control of your life, dramatic things happen also, ..you lose your spiritual inheritance or soul.
II Kings 15:29,30 29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. 30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. The borders of Israel were taken over to being held captive, ..to Assyria, as illustrated in these two verses. In present day individual lives, some might hold personal convictions as if they were a doctrine and perhaps then becomes a “stumbling block” to other souls. This is especially true if they were held by “authoritave figures” in the church. The church individually, and collectively, need to be careful not to press on people, their fleshly derived understandings (“ites”).
Be careful not to be selective of only what “you want,” (like a spiritual smorgasbord). "This conflicts with my desires, I like this, but not taking that,” etc. Your personal choices are essentially like a tray of “ites” as your "spiritual" food. When you are your own authority(and not God) ..that is an “ite.” An “ite” is anything that questions spiritual prosperity or hinders it. Any particular“Ites” also have “cousins”, ..the enemies to our soul spiritually, are without number,..destructive as a “trojan horse”, ...at league with the enemy. If these spiritual “cities” are not destroyed, it will take you. With this thought, you should realize it to be a blessing when God mercifully warns you of whatever He wants you to sever yourself from. It is so you can be assured graciously the ability to possess God’s inheritance.
The greatest growth in the Church came when the “ites” of the men were driven out. Peter had told God “no” to eating of the four footed beasts presented him in a vision.(Acts 10th chapter). God though, ...through the reprimand of his answer, caused Peter to overcome spiritually to which would be the catalyst to a greater growth (explosion) within the Church. It had been necessary though, for Peter to “discard (or drive out) the “ites” of his own opinions. Paul also another example, was as the former “Saul” was struck down on the road to Damacus, (Acts 9th chapter)which also was the beginning of he being aware of his need to “drive out the ites of his personal convictions” to in truth minister, to the advancement for God’s kingdom. We can allow God to help us drive out ALL the “ites”(enmies to our soul) ..can’t we? It is important to realize that the “ites” are not only someONE, but also some THINGS.
Ephesians 6:12 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. Spiritual dark powers are found in “high places,” (the mind, heart, or soul). It is not people of mutual desires that would become a great nation, as it would a great melting pot, of one spirit and governed by one head, to leave out all the diverse “ites” of humanity. “Ites” are not “everybody” (inpersonal) but US..very personal! The danger for it to be otherwise, ..is extinction of our spirituality.
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. He didn’t say here, to teach only those in agreement, with, or without real problems, but teach ALL nations. Some erroneously think “ites” are only what we choose and make it. Therefore the boundaries are manmade, based on the confusion of where God’s boundaries are. That error of thought only leads to destruction because, only God has victory through destroying the ways, ideas, doctrines, and etc., of men. It is the will of God that your are freed from sin through Salvation bought by Christ blood. Not even allowning a “little” of sin (“ites”), for that will cause one to make an alliegiance with it. Thank God, He will show (if allowed) ALL that needs to be “driven out,” or all that would defeat spiritual prosperity in God.
Are you of Spiritual Israel, possessing Spiritual Canaan? We need to make the right decisions while we still can!
