Moving Forward
Text: Joshua 3:1-17
Introduction
1. Illustration: QUESTION: What do an airplane, bicycle and a church have in common?
ANSWER: If either stops moving forward, you’re in trouble!
2. Anyone that has driven up a snowy or icy hill knows that you are all right as long as you keep moving forward, but once you stop you are in trouble.
3. Likewise, the church must keep moving forward. It does so by:
a. Following the Lord
b. Following in Faith
c. Following in Obedience
d. Expecting the Miraculous
4. Read Joshua 3:1-17
Proposition: As long as the church follows the God’s leading it will be successful.
Transition: The first thing we must do is...
I. Follow the Lord (1-4)
A. The Ark of the Covenant
1. From the very first verse of this chapter, we see the heart of Joshua.
a. Joshua had a heart that was passionate in following the Lord.
b. When God told Joshua to move he did.
2. Verse one tells us "Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over."
a. This verse shows that Joshua acted immediately upon the return of the spies.
b. When God opened the opportunity, Joshua acted (Butler, Word Biblical Commentary: Joshua, 44).
c. Some people, when God tells them to do something, respond by saying "Well...I guess I’ll have to pray about it."
d. If God has spoken to your heart the praying has already been done.
e. When God tells you to move, you don’t ask questions, you just do it.
3. Another thing that we should notice about verse one is the phrase "crossing over."
a. Some variation of the word appears 4 times in this chapter.
b. In this case it is a reference to the Israelites making the crossing possible (Butler, 44).
c. In order for God to get them across the Jordan they had to go to the edge of the river.
d. If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat!
4. However, we see something even more important in verse 3, where it says: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it."
a. The ark was precious to the Israelites for two reasons. First because it contained the two tables of the law —International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
b. More importantly, it represented to them the presence of Yahweh Himself.
c. In essence, following the ark was the same as following God.
d. How many would agree that it is easier to move if you know God is leading the way?
5. This is indicated in the next verse, where it says "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before."
a. We are not always sure which way to go, but with God leading the way we can move with confidence.
b. Because we know that God has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
B. Following God
1. Illustration: The Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures--the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail.
Those who truly choose to follow Jesus become like the emu and kangaroo, moving only forward, never back.
2. When God tells us to move we have a choice.
a. We can move forward and be blessed, or
b. We can stay where we are and become stagnant.
3. Our response when God tells us to move ought to be:
a. Yes, Lord
b. Lead the way Lord
c. Where ever you lead I will follow
4. We must follow:
a. Without hesitation
b. Without reservation
c. Without question
5. If He tells us to:
a. Move we must go
b. Jump we must ask how high?
c. Run we must ask how far?
Transition: We can do this if we...
II. Follow In Faith (5-8)
A. Go and Stand in the River
1. Before the people could move forward with God they had to "consecrate" themselves.
a. The people were to be holy because God is holy, the ark was holy, and the event itself was holy. - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
b. If we are going to move forward with God we must be as He is - holy.
c. 1 Pet. 1:16 "Be holy, because I am holy."
d. "Consecrate" refers to the state of that which belongs to the sphere of the sacred. —Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
e. If they were going to follow God then they had to make themselves compatible with God who cannot tolerate the presence of sin.
2. The reason for the consecrating themselves was because "tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
a. God was going to do things that would absolutely amaze them.
b. If we step out in faith, God will do things that are beyond our imagination.
c. Eph. 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
d. Our God has the power over all things, and He is able to immeasurably more than we can even imagine.
e. But we must be willing to step out in faith to see it.
3. Then Joshua tells the priests to "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people."
a. This was a tremendous step of faith on their part.
b. Although they were used to carrying the ark, this is the first time that it was leading the way. Up until now they ark was in the midst of the people, but now it was at the head of the line.
c. Notice also that they did it with hesitation or question.
4. However, the real step of faith is what they are asked to do next. Joshua is to tell them that "’When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’"
a. In verse 15 it tells us that the river was at flood stage and its banks would have been over flown.
b. So what’s the big deal about that?
c. The word Jordan means, "to descend," and many believe the reason for the name is because its banks were anywhere from twelve to fourteen feet high (Calvin’s Commentaries, online).
d. So for them to step into the water was literally a step of faith.
e. In order to see the power of God they had to step off the bank and into the water.
B. Stepping Out in Faith
1. Illustration: Charles Swindoll in his book “Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back” tells the story of a farmer who wanted to impress his hunting buddies. To impress them, he bought the smartest, most expensive hunting dog he could find. He trained this dog to do things no other dog on earth could do---impossible feats that would surely amaze anyone. Then he invited the neighbors to go duck hunting with him. After a long patient wait in the boat a group of ducks flew over and the hunters were able to make a few hits. Several ducks fell in the water. "Go get ‘em!" shouted the proud owner to his magnificent dog. The dog leaped out of the boat, walked on the water, and picked up a bird and returned to the boat. As soon as he dropped the duck in the boat he trotted off across the water again and grabbed another duck and brought it back to the boat. The owner beamed with pride as his wonderful dog walked across the water and retrieved each of the birds one by one. Unable to resist the opportunity to brag a bit he asked his fellow hunters, "Do you notice anything unusual about my dog?” One of them rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes," he finally said. "Come to think of it, I do! That silly dog doesn’t know how to swim does he??"
2. One thing we know for sure, if we are going to follow God it is going to take faith.
a. God is going to ask us to do things that to us seem difficult if not impossible.
b. God is going to ask us to go where we cannot see.
c. God is going to take us places we have never been.
d. God is going to ask us do things we do not know how to do.
3. Unless we are willing to step out in faith we will never:
a. Accomplish what God wants us to do.
b. God where God wants us to go.
c. See what God wants us to see.
4. If we step out in faith we are going to see:
a. The improbable become do-able
b. The impractical become possible
c. The impossible become reality
Transition: If we step out in faith we will see the power of God. However, to step out in faith we must...
III. Follow In Obedience (9-13)
A. As Soon As
1. Joshua tells the Israelites "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God."
a. He wants to make clear to them that what he is about to tell them are not his words or commands, but they are God’s.
b. He wanted to make sure that they knew that this was not his plan but God’s.
c. I’ve found that it is hard to argue with "thus says the Lord!"
2. He goes on to tell them that "This is how you will know that the living God is among you..."
a. I am sure that there must have been some apprehension in their minds about how do-able this was going to be.
b. Whenever God asks us to step out in faith we can be assured that He will be there with us every step along the way.
c. It doesn’t matter who opposes us as long as God is leading the way.
d. Rom. 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
3. He says "See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you."
a. If God is in it, we cannot lose.
b. If God is in it, we cannot fail.
c. If God is in it, we will succeed.
4. As a sign that they believed God they are to "choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD--the Lord of all the earth--set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."
a. The significance of this is that it is a reference to covenant promise to Abraham and his descendants.
b. God is going to keep His promise completely.
c. No tribe of Israel is going to be left out.
d. God’s promises in Him are "yes," and "amen."
e. But in order to realize His promise we have to obey.
B. Better Than Sacrifice
1. Illustration: Charles Finney noted this about obedience and sacrifice, “Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God!”
2. 1 Sam. 15:22 To obey is better than sacrifice
3. Someone once said "God said it; I believe it; that settles it." Well I think we need to change it to "God said it; that settles it.
4. If we want to walk in God’s blessings and provision then we have to walk in obedience to His word.
5. If we want to see His power manifested in our lives we have to be willing to do what He tells us, when He tells us.
Transition: If we follow Him in faith and obedience then...
IV. We Can Expect the Miraculous (14-17)
A. In the Middle of the Jordan
1. Look what happens when God’s people step out in faith and obedience.
2. The text says "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, the water from upstream stopped flowing."
a. We have already noted that the Jordan was at flood stage.
b. Yet as soon as the priests feet touched the water, the water upstream just stopped!
c. Now where we live in Arkansas, there are a lot of streams and creeks. Now most of the year they are just big holes in the ground with a bunch of dirt and rocks. Except in the fall and spring when we have had a lot of rain; then they just flow.
d. But this is at a time of the year when all of the snows have melted and the Jordan is flooded, and the water just stops.
e. Coincidence? No miraculous!
3. Not only did the water stop, but it says "The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan..."
a. Now I don’t know about you, but after a river has been at flood stage and the water just stops flowing, I would expect the river bed to be a mud pit.
b. But here it says it was dry!
c. I don’t know why it was dry; I don’t know how God did it; I just know that it was dry.
d. When God does the miraculous nothing is forgotten.
e. He not only stopped the water, but He dried up the river bed so the people could cross.
B. Expectant Faith
1. Illustration: Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” — George Mueller
2. When we do what God says, and follow Him without question we can expect the miraculous.
3. Last week when LeBron James scored 48 points against the Pistons, they asked him if he was surprised. He said, "Why should I be surprised?"
4. If we step out in faith and obedience, why should we be surprised when God does miracles?
5. Step out in expectant faith and our God will deliver!
Transition: We have a big God; expect big things!
Conclusion
1. The church must:
a. Follow the Lord
b. Follow in Faith
c. Follow in Obedience
d. Expect the Miraculous
2. Oh, come on preacher, God doesn’t do miracles any more does He? Yes He does!
3. How about you?
a. Do you want to move forward with God?
b. Do you want to see the miraculous?
c. Are you willing to step out in faith and obedience?
4. What swollen river is God calling you to cross?
