Sermon Central
-
Crossing The Jordan Series
Contributed by Brady Boyd on Mar 31, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Life mostly consists of ordinary days. But, there are days and times that are epic and unforgettable! After 40 years in the desert, Israel was about to have a memorable day. They were about to arrive in the promised land!
Faith in the Wilderness
Crossing the Jordan
April 5, 2020
Life mostly consists of ordinary days.
But, there are days and times that are epic and unforgettable!
Weddings, the birth of a baby, funerals, promotions at work, moving into new home or to a new town. LSU beating Alabama!
Some days are forever etched into our memories.
I suspect none of us will forget the Coronavirus and how it has changed our lives.
After 40 years in the desert, Israel was about to have a memorable day. They were about to arrive in the promised land!
Joshua 3:2-5 NIV
After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the
covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
When we find ourselves in unfamiliar places, we should look for God’s familiar presence.
Uncertain times is when we trust in a certain God.
v.4a you have never been this way before.
We win tomorrow by what we do today.
v. 5 “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
Consecration was both an external and internal preparation.
It’s setting aside our lives for God’s exclusive use.
Joshua 3:14-17 NIV
So, when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So, the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
This is the second time waters parted for Israel and the second time they walked across on dry ground.
The Jordan was at flood stage. These were not perfect conditions.
Someone had to put their feet in the water.
God’s able to take care of us even in imperfect conditions.
This group of people were not present at the Red Sea. They had heard the stories, but this was their moment.
Each generation must overcome their own challenges.
Two world wars. The Great Depression. Civil Rights. Floods, Fires, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes
Everyone crossed over.
This is a time we make sure everyone thrives. Let’s make sure everyone crosses over!
