Taking Control of Your Spiritual Life

Joshua 22:1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 2And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: 3Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. 4And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
Joshua 22:8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren. 9And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 10And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. 11And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
Rueben, Gad, and 1/2 tribe of Mannaseh wanted to raise their cattle on the east side and let the rest of the tribes go battle for the Promised Land.
Moses agreed to let them settle there if they'd go to battle with the other tribes. Then he said, Be sure your sins will find you out.
If you say you'll do something then don't do it, it's a sin.
1) It's a sin not to get into the battle.
They built an altar on their side in case the other tribes fell away. Everyone has to have their own altar. You can't hang yourself from someone else's coat tails.
How much time have you spent...
in the Bible.
in prayer.
in deeper study of God's Word.
in meditation on the truth.
2) Everyone needs three altars
a) church altar
b) home altar (aka family altar)
c) personal altar
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
a) the strength of the church altar depends on the home altar
b) the strength of the family altar depends on the personal altar
c) the goal is for every child of God to have a personal walk with God
d) God's judgment starts first at the house of God Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
e) We need a higher standard at the house of God to make it work.
You need to be becoming mature/complete.

Ye Must Be Born Again

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

You cannot "unborn" anything.
Whether you're a bad Christian or a good Christian, you're still a Child of God.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (notice there is no spirit mentioned here)
I Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Spirit is mentioned here)
wholly - entirely, fully - whole body & soul& spirit
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened , who were dead in trespasses and sins;
A person not born again has a dead spirit (spirit of disobedience). The Holy Spirit kicks out the spirit of disobedience at salvation.
The spirit of man communicates with God.
The soul speaks to other humans ("she's got soul").
The body communicates for needs.
You are either whole because you are saved or you are not whole.
You can know you are saved:
I John 5:13 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.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Never Compromise

Nehemiah 7:1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 3And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them : and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. 4Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
Three men caused Israel to be a mighty nation: Saul, David, Solomon
David (40 yrs) was faithful, had military might.
Saul eventually compromised.
Solomon compromised -> tribes split
If you want God's blessing you can't compromise.
You cannot have a strong church without a strong leader/preacher.
II Chronicles 36; Psalm 137:4
The southern 2 tribes called Judah, other 10 tribes called Israel
3 things destroyed by Babylon
1) The house of God
2) The wall around the city
3) The homes inside the wall
3 groups returned to Jerusalem after the Medes and Persians overthrew Babylon
The were led by Zerububel, Ezra, and Nehemiah
Many people stayed in Babylon (the world)
Ezra- rebuilt the house of God
Nehemiah- rebuilt the wall, then homes inside the wall were rebuilt
Remnant- small group keeping with godly principles
Song of Solomon 1:6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
I Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Haggai 1:1-11 more people were concerned about rebuilding homes than the house of God.
I Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
You need to be more than just faithful a keeping your regular pew warm, do the work of the Lord!