Entering the Land, by Dr. Patrick Ramsey

Dr. Ramsey’s sermon is about Israel’s struggle of entering into the Promised Land. He related that to our own struggle to enter into the New Heaven and earth.

He titled his sermon, Miscellanies, after a group of random observations made by Jonathan Edwards, that were later given that name.

Highlights for Pastor Ramsey’s sermon on Deuteronomy 3:12-29:

  • Reading of the sermon text
  • Sermon points may seem to be random and unrelated, but in concluding, their connectedness will be apparent: they are all relevant to being a Christian and to living the Christian life in this present age
  • Unity of the church: all the tribes were a family serving God, seeking salvation
  • The church today is a family too: one body, one Spirit; one Lord; one Father; one baptism; one God and Father; all members of one body united together in Christ Jesus
  • We are to stand together to help one another; weep, rejoice, admonish, love, encourage, bear the burdens, do good, pray for…one another
  • [All the scriptures listed below were referenced in part in his sermon and will enhance your understanding of the sermon]
  • Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel
  • Php 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, Php 2:2  complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Php 2:3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Php 2:4  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
  • That is, even if my life is rolling along smoothly, I should look for opportunities to help my brethren who are in pain, crisis, illness…
  • Follow God by following ordained leadership: In Deuteronomy, there would be a transition in leadership from Moses to Joshua
  • Strive to enter God’s rest: even though the 2 ½ tribes were given their land on the other side of the Jordan, they were required to enter into the promised land and fight with their brethren, helping them also secure their inheritance, under the command of Joshua  [I think the pastor was indicating that we must help our brethren enter into the new heaven and earth too, by helping them grow in grace; helping them in their “striving”]
  • Moses equated rest with peace and occupation of the “land”
  • This points to the rest that we will experience most fully in Christ Jesus in the new heaven and earth
  • Even though this rest is a gift from God, we must strive to enter into it
  • Heb 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
  • Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
  • 1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
  • Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Php 3:14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
  • God sometimes says “NO” to our prayers: e.g., Moses was denied entrance into the promised land even though he desperately wanted to enter and prayed for entrance
  • Paul had a thorn in the flesh that God would not remove, but said that His grace was sufficient for Paul to endure it
  • God’s anger at Moses carefully explained
  • God’s providential dealings amid a body of believers are very complex, such that many matters are being accomplished by God simultaneously; therefore, my suffering may be used for my growth in grace as well as for other’s growth at the same time…
  • [Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.]
  • Summary: help one another; listen to our leaders; strive to enter God’s rest; and submit to God’s “No” when it occurs
  • God enables us to do these things by answering our prayers [therefore, abide in His means of grace: prayer, reading His word, taking the Lord’s supper, hearing of preaching, and fellowship around the word as in Bible study and prayer meetings]

 

 

STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS:

To hear other sermons by Dr. Ramsey in this blog, see: Archives:

  • July 8, 2020 — The Christian’s Most Important Question, part 2
  • July 7, 2020 — The Christian’s Most Important Question, part 1
  • June 9, 2020 The Holy Spirit
  • June 7, 2020, Ascension of Christ
  • May 24, 2020, Faith is NOT
  • May 3, 2020 – Dealing with Fear;
  • April 26, 2020 – Godly Instruction for Dealing with Sin and Guilt;
  • October 2019: The Lord’s Supper; and
  • July 8, 2019, Saving Faith.

Dr. Ramsey can be heard at sermonaudio by clicking the following link:

https://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=nashuaopc