Crossing over… (4 things)

• 1^st – Following the Ark…vs. 1-7 Read: Joshua 3:1-7
  • Joshua and all of Israel broke camp – and came to the edge of the Jordan River…
    • The nation of Israel had been camped on the east side of the Jordan for many months…
      • They had been waiting for the Lord to give the command to go…
      • I am sure there were plenty of days when they wondered if they would ever go…
    • Waiting for the Lord to fulfill His promises can often leave us impatient…
      • We think that since the Lord has not done anything yet – He never will…
      • We quickly forget that God’s timing is not our timing…
      • We think that waiting on the Lord means a couple of hours – maybe days…
      • II Peter 3:8-9 – “But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”
      • Following Jesus means being patient – willing to wait on the Lord for His timing…
      • Psalm 27:14 – “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”
  • For three days the leaders went through the camp giving 3 instructions to the people…
    • 1^st – Following the leaders…
      • The Priests would carry the Ark before the people leading the way…
      • They would guide the people into the Promised Land – so follow them…
      • Notice they did not just tell the people where to go – they showed them by example!

• A leader should not just be telling others what to do – but show them as well…
• A good leader does not tell you to serve – he serves as an example…
• A good leader does not tell you to give – he gives as an example – a Godly example!
• I Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow me as I follow Christ…”

• We all follow someone’s example – they lead us either towards or away from God…
• We need to surround ourselves with godly men who encourage our walk in the Lord…

• 2^nd – Follow the Ark of God – to a new place…
  • They were to follow the Ark – they were going to a place they had never been…
  • Israel had been walking around in the wilderness for 40 years…
  • At some point I am sure it had become a routine – it was very familiar…
  • But now God was taking them someplace new – and they needed to look to Jesus!
  • The first time a taught a Bible study – I was so scared I was bathed in sweat…
  • But after enough time – it was not longer scary – it had become familiar…
  • When things become familiar to us – they no longer take faith…
  • So God will often ask us to step out and do things we have never done before…
  • Then we have no choice but to look and cling to Jesus!
• 3^rd – Do not get ahead of God…
  • Israel was not to get too close – they were to stay about 1km behind the Ark…
  • The concern was they would get excited – they were finally going into the Land…
  • They might run ahead of the Ark – and then would not know where to go…
  • Often in life when God begins to lead and direct us – we can get a head of God…
  • But God sometime takes unexpected turns – and if we are not watching closely…
  • We can assume we know where God is leading us – and end up getting lost…
  • Never get so far behind of the Lord you loose sight of where He is leading…
  • But also never get ahead of Him – thinking you know where He is taking you…
  • Instead step out in faith always keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus!
  • Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
    

Leading – being and example – to others of how to follow Jesus!

2^nd – Parting the Jordan…vs. 8-17 Read: Joshua 3:7-13

Making Joshua great in the eyes of the people…

It was inevitable for Israel to compare Joshua to Moses – and be critical…

It is easy for us to get our eyes on a man – and forget he is just a vessel God is using…

I love such and such a persons teaching – but that other guy – not so much…

It is the same God / Spirit – at work – no matter who the person is…

The danger in men looking to a person/pastor – is that they will fail…

And if we have put our faith in a flawed man – rather than in a perfect Lord…

When the man stumbles – makes a mistake – we will fall with him!

God told Joshua to have the priest take a ‘few steps’ into the Jordan River…

Joshua knew exactly what God was planning – parting the Jordan!

The greatest miracle God ever did through Moses – the parting of the Red Sea…

God would perform a similar miracle with Joshua…

It might not seem as impressive – Moses parted an ocean / this was just a river…

But we are told it was during the rainy season – and the river was flooded…

If God parted the Calasa River – not very impressive – you could walk across…

But God parted the river at a high flood – bridge overflowed – impressive!

What God can do in one man – He can do through any man…

We might read the stories about Joshua / Moses – and think that could never be us…

We might read about Peter preaching and thousands receiving Jesus…

Or we might read about Paul healing the sick – and think – only they could do that…

There are no special people – God is just as able to use us – as Joshua / Peter / Paul…

If we step out in faith we can part oceans / preach to thousands / raise the dead!

If we have the faith of a mustard seed – nothing is impossible – Matthew 17:20

Does that mean we go down to the river while everyone is doing laundry – part it…

It means if God asks us to do anything – then by His grace it can be done!

That might mean praying for someone who is sick – believing God can provide…

It might mean sharing Jesus with a friend – or teaching a Bible Study…

When God is the one who leading and directing us – nothing is impossible!

The moment the feet of the Priests touched the water…

The Jordan river backed up near the city of Adam – about 30 miles from the crossing…

The result was the river dried up – so that no water flowed into the Dead Sea…

Once the priests stood in the middle of the river – all of Israel passed by…

Once the river had stopped – it would have been easy to step out…

But I imagine the priests had a lot of reservation taking that first step…

One of the hardest things to do in life – is to be the first to take a step of faith…

We often hesitate because – we think we might fail – we might not be able to do it…

Or we hesitate because – what if we are wrong and this is not what God wants…

But with God nothing is impossible – it is not about our ability…

And we will never go wrong if we take a step of faith – God will direct our steps!

3^rd – 12 Stones…vs. 1-9, 20-24 Read: Joshua 4:1-9

God commanded Joshua to have 12 men – one from each tribe – gather 12 stones…

After all the people had safely passed over into the Promised Land…

They were to take the stones and set them up as a memorial on the other side…

Joshua also built another memorial in the middle of the river…

It was to be a reminder for the nation – of what God had done…

Not that Israel needed to be reminded on that day – but they would forget…

When God does something ‘AMAZING’ – it is easy for us to be excited about the Lord…

But how long does that last – we tend to quickly forget about what God did…

When we have no money – and cry out to the Lord to provide – and He does…

The next time we have no money – are we confident in the Lord – or do we panic…

The next time a difficulty arises – we need to remember what God has done for us…

Keep a record  – a stone of remembrance – so we do not forget…

When God does something amazing in your life – when He answers a prayer…

Write it down – take a picture – pick up a stone – anything to help you remember…

So the next time you are faced with a challenge – a raging river in front of you…

You will have the confidence God parted it once before – He can do it again!

The memorial was also for their children…

Inevitably in the future kids would see a huge pile of rocks and be curious…

It gave the opportunity for the parents to teach their children about God…

That nothing was impossible for Him – He is the God who can part oceans!

It is incredibly important to take our kids to church – Bible studies…

Let them be Baptized / partake of Communion if they want to…

Not for the sake of the ‘tradition’ – but so they can ask why – why do we do it…

It give the opportunity for us to teach our kids about God …

Communion – teaching how we were saved from sin/death – by the sacrifice of Jesus!

Baptist – teaching how we’re no longer sinners – but new creations in Christ!

Going to church – not because we have to – but to learn about our Lord!

4^th – The Promised Land…vs. 10-19 Read: Joshua 4:15-19

When all the people had crossed – the priests came out of the river…

Immediately the river flooded back and overflowed the banks…

I imagine when Israel first came to the flooded Jordan River…

Many might have doubted how they would be able to get the nation across…

It was not just soldiers – it was women / children / elderly / animals – everyone!

Many of them might have thought it would be impossible…

Too often we get caught up in our problems – and we forget the power of our God…

No circumstance is too difficult – no enemy to powerful – nothing is impossible…

The creator of heaven and earth – God almighty – can handle any problems we have!

But some remembered the Red Sea…

No one over 20 years who came out of Egypt was still alive – wilderness wandering

But there were some who had been children and saw God part an ocean…

They might have looked and thought – easy this is just a big stream!

The longer we walk with the Lord – the more we see Him do in our lives…

Our confidence in God grows as we see Him provide – heal – do the impossible…

If you saw God part an ocean – would you worry about food for tomorrow…

If you saw God raise the dead – would you worry if you caught a cold…

And we can encourage others who are not as confident…

Have them follow us as we have learned to step out in faith and follow Jesus!

The nation of Israel crossed into the Promised Land on the 10^th day of the 1^st month…

It was four days before the Passover celebration – the day the Lamb was chosen…

God set Israel free from the bondage of Egypt through the Passover…

Now 40 years later He brought them into the Promised Land on that same day…

God saved us from the world for a reason – He wants us to come to the Promised Land

He wants us to learn to step out in faith – realizing nothing with Him is impossible…

Remembering when we face challenges – our God does not change…

He has always taken care of us / delivered us – and He always will…