How To Get Past Your Jordan

HOW TO GET PAST YOUR JORDAN

JOSHUA 3:1-6 & 14-17

Because of their unbelief, Israel was sentenced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years

-----However, before they can enter Canaan, they must first get past one final, major obstacle----the Jordan River

Now normally, this would not have presented much of a problem, since Jordan was only 100 feet wide at Gilgal where they crossed

-----However, it seems that God always does things in such a way that no man can boast of having done them on their own

Notice 3:15

Those who have been there during the harvest time tell us that the Jordan swells to an impassable width of over 1 mile-------over 50 times wider than it normally would have been when Israel arrived

--------there was no way they could cross this river on their own

-------------they needed supernatural help

We each have Jordans that we face from time to time----and when we cross we are able to enter our spiritual Canaan and enjoy the abundant life that Jesus promised His followers

Praise God that we serve a God who specializes in overcoming the overwhelming and in leading His children to victory

Allow me to show you from chapters 3 & 4 of Joshua how to get pass your Jordan

-----there are 3 steps that we must take to guarantee that we will be able to get past that obstacle that blocks our way and enter our Canaan

I)—We need to examine a Message—3:1-13

A)—It involved a Challenge—v. 3-4

In the words they heard, they were challenged to do three very important things

-----these are the same things that we need to hear this morning that will help us to follow the Lord better as well

1)—Watch God

Notice that the Ark of the covenant is mentioned some 7 times in Chapter 3-----The Ark, you may remember was that special piece of Tabernacle furniture that symbolized the presence and power of God

When God moved, they were to move-----When God stopped they were to do the same

When we face times of crisis, or when we need direction in life----we need to learn to be sensitive to the movement of the Lord in and around us

2)—Follow God

When they saw the Ark of the Covenant move, they were to “set out from their place, and go after it”

------Not only were they to watch God, they were to move when He did

-----------“Experiencing God”----by Henry Blackaby -----states—“we need to see what God is up to around us and then get involved”

This may require us to leave our comfort zone-----Israel was about to follow the Ark through a river that was over 1 mile wide

If you ever expect to get past your obstacles and enter your Canaan, you must learn to follow God

3)—Honor God

Notice that the Israelites are told to stay at least 3000 feet behind the Ark

----This was so that they could easily see the Ark

B)—It involved a Command—v. 5

The people were told to “consecrate yourselves”-----this referred to being sure they were clean and holy as possible --------they were to put away anything that was displeasing to the Lord—and get ready for the Lord to do something great for them

We must be clean if we are expecting God to do great things in and through and around us

If you and I ever expect to get past the Jordan’s that arise in our lives, we are going to have to learn that one of the first things we must do is examine our lives to make sure they are as clean as possible

I John 1:9

B)—It involved a Commitment—v. 9-13

This message to the Israelites reminded them that getting across the Jordan did not rest on their shoulders, but on the Lord’s

It was His plan to get them over and it was His problem

------He makes them a promise and tells them that He will bring them through in a powerful fashion-----------God commits Himself

------all that was required of Israel was that they trust God and be obedient to Hiim

Worry and doubt marks the lives of the people of God to often

1)—We worry over tomorrow, yet the Lord has said in Matthew 6:34—“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

2)—We worry over material things, yet the Lord has promised in Philippians 4:19—“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus”

3)—We worry about facing various things in life, yet the Lord has promised in Hebrew 13:5—“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you”

4)—We worry over so many things, yet the Lord tells us that all of our worry is sin and that our duty is to trust Him