Many of us have many camp stories
Camping does a body good…unless you’re a friend of Bobby...listen to his letter he sent home from camp.
Illustration: Bobby’s Letter From Camp:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Our Scoutmaster told us to write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and are worried. We are okay.
Only one of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Adam when it happened.
Oh yeah, please call Adam’s mom and tell her he’s okay. He can’t write because of the cast.
I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps. It was neat. We never would have found Adam in the dark if it hadn’t been for the lightning.
Scoutmaster Keith got mad at Adam for going on a hike alone without telling anyone.
Adam said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn’t hear him.
Did you know that if you put gas on a fire the gas will blow up?
The wet wood didn’t burn, but one of our tents did, and also some of our clothes. Matthew is going to look weird until his hair grows back.
We will be home Saturday if Scoutmaster Keith gets the bus fixed. It wasn’t his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked okay when we left.
Scoutmaster Keith said that with a bus that old you have to expect something to break down. That’s probably why he can’t get insurance.
We think it’s a neat bus, and he doesn’t care if we get it dirty. It gets pretty hot with 43 kids in the bus, so, if it gets too hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the fenders.
He used to let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrol man stopped and talked to him.
Scoutmaster Keith is a neat guy. Don’t worry, he’s a good driver.
He’s even teaching Jessie how to drive on the mountain roads where there’s no traffic. All we ever see up there are logging trucks.
This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake.
I couldn’t go in because I can’t swim, and Adam was afraid he would sink because of the cast, so Scoutmaster Keith let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great.
You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood. Scoutmaster Keith isn’t crabby like some scout masters.
He didn’t even get mad about us not wearing our life jackets.
He has to spend a lot of time working on the bus, so we are trying not to cause him any trouble.
Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges.
When Andrew dived into the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works.
Steven and I threw up, but Scoutmaster Keith said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken.
He said he got that way with food when he was in prison. I’m so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster.
He said he sure figured out how to get things done better while he was serving his time.
By the way, do you know what a pedal file is?
I have to go now. We are going to town to mail our letters and buy some more beer.
Don’t worry about anything. We are fine. - Love, Bobby
Can you imagine the parents of Bobby, what they were thinking and if the wife was strongly encouraging the husband to get in the car and get Bobby home!
Since this is the beginning of the year, God has inspired a message for me to give to you about moving from camping out, to Crossing over…
Many times, our message we have as beloved children of God sound much like that camp letter from Bobby.
Our testimony that we give or our prayers we say to God indicate things happening in our life that seem natural to us…much like the things at camp seemed natural to Bobby in his letter.
Can you imagine what God is thinking when he hears our prayers that possibly contain phrases like…
I was flooded with depression when you saw me the other day, don’t worry though, the doctor prescribed me some medicine that will get me through this stage.
Don’t worry about Adam, I prayed for him because of his broken spirit, he should get better once he pulls out of it.
Did you know that if YOU give someone advice on how you would have done something different when they are in the midst of a bad situation --- that their temper blows up? I don’t understand why people avoid me.
Our “Camp Letters” to God are very similar to Bobby’s…
Many times, we “Camp Out” in a place in our lives because we’re afraid to either try and find a way across the river – where God wants us to be -- to higher ground.
Higher ground being that place where God desires to bring us for a more majestic view of what He desires to show you of what lies ahead.
So often, we become comfortable where we are at in our lives regarding our relationship with God…and we never experience that majestic view.
Today, I would like to take you to a place in God’s Word where a young man is faced a new journey—a new level that God wanted to take him and his people.
He accomplished something even greater than his historic mentor before him did He crossed over to a new level.
And maybe, through this message, perhaps God can encourage you --- to cross over to a new level in your relationship with Him this year
7 Stepping Stones To The Next Level – Read Joshua 3 – 4:15
In our text, God lovingly calls Israel to “cross over” to a new level.
Hebrew word is “abar”, which means to “cross over” or “pass over” (pronounced aw-bar). It emphasizes the decisive nature of this moment in the life of the Hebrew people.
We all have those "crossing over" moments in our lives – those significant moments of decision:
- Decisions about career, marriage, college, money.
- Crises that arise in our lives due to sickness, financial troubles, divorce, family difficulties.
- All of these are “crossing over” times.
As this new year is upon us, I would encourage you to begin new --- forget last years troubles in the wilderness and cross over to God’s fresh path ahead…beginning with…
1. Examine The Path Before You - Joshua 3 - 4:15 - (vs. 3-4)
The children of Israel were camped out along the Jordan River right on the edge of the Promised Land.
- They didn’t have any luxuries as we do today when they were camping
- They faced hard times...over a million people by the shore!
And now they stand on the threshold of the Land that God had promised to them.
The Israelites had a lot of memories, both good and bad. They had times of great experiences and disappointments and their 2 great leaders who, Moses and Aaron, led them out of a dreadful situation, are now dead and gone.
Now, suddenly a young man, Joshua, who is untried and untested, has now been put in charge of leading them into the unknown.
And looming in the distance like a distant thundercloud, they face a fortress-city called Jericho that has massive walls around it.
Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea was a picture of the believer’s being delivered from the bondage of sin
Israel’s crossing over of the Jordan River now pictures the believer’s claiming the inheritance in Jesus Christ.
And sad, but true, many believers never make it to the Jordan River…many have settled in their faith of just “being delivered” or just “being saved”
But few believers choose to continue on to their next path—and claiming their inheritance…what we call “living the abundant life”
The Israelites waited three days to cross – they didn’t rush into crossing, so neither should you
Look at the path before you…determine what lies ahead for you.
Be careful not to rush into something for fear of being left behind.
So many times we get caught up in trying to live the abundant life because we see others who have.
What we don’t see, is the path that they have walked on has been trodden with faithfulness. Remember Peter?
Remember how he saw Jesus and jumped out of the boat walking toward Jesus...and then he looked down and realized the path he was walking on was water? And he started to sink?
He didn’t realize that through faithfulness in Christ and keeping your eyes on him was the only way to walk on the water. And he started to sink.
But Jesus was only a call away from lifting him up again.
We don’t “Examine The Path” many times because we lack the faithfulness or do not have the belief that goes into the faith in which we believe.
Avoid Christian band-wagons that say you’ve got to do this in order to receive this…speak, raise hands, walk like this.
All the while not knowing really why you’re raising your hands, you just may be doing it to be accepted among the fellowship. Many just go through the motions because they believe "it’s the right thing to do".
Wait until God is calling YOU to come across --- and He will lift you up. He will clear the path for you in crossing over.
Understand what you believe in Christ and why, before crossing any new paths that come before you. Jesus continually told his disciples and others that wished to follow Him to "count the cost..."
2. Prepare Your Heart For Your Journey-count the cost (vs. 5)
What will be required of you…what will you leave behind that you’ve acquired in your campground?
What habits will you need to trash? What friends will you have to face? What things will fall by the wayside?
When children of Israel were in the wilderness, they followed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
But now, these two guidance systems have been removed and is now replaced by the ark of the covenant.
The ark has fascinated people for thousands of years--even inspired the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
No record of whereabouts of ark after the Babylonians destroyed the temple in 586 BC. Orthodox Jews are still searching for it.
The Ark was approx. 4 ft. long, 2-½ ft. wide by 2-½ ft. high. Made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.
It had 4 rings on the corners so that poles made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, could be slipped through to carry the ark.
Inside ark were the tablets with the 10 Commandments and also had a gold jar of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded.
The ark symbolized the presence of the Lord with His people.
When the ark moved, that was a sign that God was moving and the people needed to follow.
In that same manner, if we are to be a crossover-type of people, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Prepare Your Heart For Your Journey – count the cost
Like the cloud and the pillar of fire --- what things do you depend on for guidance?
He has removed religion in order to turn your eyes upon Jesus. "What? Religion? Don’t mess with my beliefs I grew up with!"
He has removed Tradition – "We’ve always done it this way."
Has he removed the dogmatism about your Doctrine?
So you don’t think your way is the only true way to experience God?
Remove it! Set yourself aside of those things and turn your eyes upon Jesus – just as the Israelites did the ark.
Joshua urged the Israelites to “consecrate” themselves.
Consecrate means to set a thing or a person apart to the worship or service of God.
Because when you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you WILL be consecrated because it will change the way you view things.
Everybody wants a Saviour, but no one wants the Lord. Everybody wants to be saved and go to heaven, but no one want to give Jesus lordship over their lives.
Prepare your heart for the journey by dumping your religious righteousness in the trash --- because…
Jeremiah 2:22 reads: “Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
No amount of good stuff, or even godly stuff can make you right---without setting apart your heart for GOD to use.
And just because we’re washed by the blood of Jesus once, doesn’t mean it’s the only time we need washed and cleansed.
We are to be a clean vessel, according to 2 Timothy, ready to use and prepared for every good work --- so that He doesn’t need to stop and clean first before each time He needs to use you
One of the chores that I enjoy doing is washing my car. I like to see that dirt disappear.
I like to see the shine of a freshly washed car -- shine up the tires, and make that chrome sparkle
After I finish washing it and park in front of house. I stand off at a distance and admire the finished product.
But it doesn’t stay that way. I drive it. Dust gets on it.
It never fails, the day after I polish it, on my way to the parking garage, they choose to turn on the sprinklers that day.
I try to dodge them without hitting other cars, but I end up driving through muddy puddles filled with street grime.
Fingerprints and cat prints show back up on my hood. Road grime gets back on it --- and soon it needs a fresh washing again.
We are like that. We drive our lives through the streets of life and the dust of sin settles on us.
We go through the puddles of temptation instead of going around them.
The road-tar of disobedience sticks to us--- and soon -- we need a fresh washing again.
We need to confess. We need to be washed. We need to receive a new and clean heart in order to cross over to that deeper walk
We need to be “willing and obedient.” Not just forgiven.
Not to go on living any way we want to live after we’ve received Christ in our life– that’s not obedience.
Prepare Your Heart…
Get an accountability partner, someone who will ask you the tough questions about your life, someone you can pray with.
Get serious about living a life that is sold out to the Lord Jesus Christ!
Practice killing that old self that tries to rise from the grave.
Get serious about being set apart from the world and dedicate yourself and don’t get mad when someone challenges you to!
So many Christians get mad when you try to hold them accountable to their commitment of what they said they would do.
3. Listen To God Through His Word (vs. 9)
Many times God wants to speak to us, but we do not want to listen or hear what He has to say, because we’ve already decided in our mind how we’re going to do it.
Sometimes that can get you into trouble…
------------Illustration: The Arrest:
A police officer in a small town stopped a motorist who was speeding down Main Street. “But officer,” the man began, “I can explain...”
“Just be quiet,” snapped the officer. “I’m going to let you cool your heels in jail until the chief gets back.”
“But, officer, I just wanted to say...,”
“And I said to keep quiet! You’re going to jail!”
A few hours later the officer looked in on his prisoner and said, “Lucky for you that the chief’s at his daughter’s wedding.
He’ll be in a good mood when he gets back.”
“Don’t count on it,” answered the fellow in the cell. “I’m the groom.”
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Listen To God Through His Word and you’ll avoid eating your own word or words.
He will tell you something from a verse you’ve grown accustomed to reading before to remind you or a new application in your life
Before reading, I recommend you voice the words as young Samuel from the old testament did and say, “Speak O Lord, for your servant is listening”.
It may be several chapters until you happen upon that one verse that He wants you to find to hear Him.
He may just enjoy your presence of being close to Him while you’re reading His word.
---------------Illustration: The Whisper
A young man once lost his job, and growing somewhat desperate about his plight, went to see an old preacher that he knew.
As he poured out his heart to the preacher he angrily declared “I’ve begged and begged God to say something to help me, preacher. Why doesn’t God answer?”
The old preacher, who was sitting across the room, spoke a reply so quiet the young man was unable to make it out.
The young man stepped across the room. “What did you say?” he asked.
The preacher repeated himself, again in a soft tone. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher’s chair.
“Sorry,” he said. “I still didn’t hear you.”
With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. “God sometimes whispers,” he said, “So we will move closer to hear him.”
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God just doesn’t want to speak to you…He cherishes your fellowship…He loves you so much, that He made you in His image.
Nothing pleases God greater as to when we repeat something He has said to us through His word
Just as it thrills us to hear somebody repeat words of wisdom we have imparted, it thrills God just the same.
But you have to not only read, but LISTEN after you read.
4. Be Open To New Ways From God’s Guidance (vs. 11)
I remember the first time our youth pastor and I took our teens to the Sterling House Retirement Center, and we were able to recruit our teens who had never done anything like that before.
Going behind those big old doors that were only opened when a buzzer was rung, and then shut and locked behind them
And with genuine fear and trepidation, did these teens make their way into the living area.
One played the guitar and the other played piano, while the others sang and soon after visited with the residents there.
They came out different because they had trusted God and stepped into an arena where they felt they knew God was leading.
He went with them. Their faith was stretched; they knew God a little differently…
And they returned to their normal lives a little more willing to risk something for God.
Be open to new ways from God’s Guidance…it’s not the same way each time or day…sometimes it comes in the form of an inconvenience.
Imagine if we lived an adventure like that where God has placed us.
What lies beyond the door He will open in my life today, or in yours? What an exciting adventure!
What would happen if on my way to work, we would ask, “God, please use me as your vessel today in any way that you choose.”
What might God do if we took a step of faith like that?
What might God do in our heart if we listened to His guidance and took on a responsibility at our church in teaching children or hosting a cell group study in your home, or visiting a nursing home or someplace where I’ve not been before?
God says, "I’ll go with you there." "I’ll be with you there." "I will use you there." "I will bless you there." "I’ll work through you there."
What might happen in our lives if we made those phone calls, extended that forgiveness, made that apology?
Started that conversation with somebody whom you’ve been waiting for THEM to call you first?
What would happen at work if they knew I was a Christian and I actually sought to share my faith when I see a coworker who is hurting, or in need of a prayer? What might God do?
Get over the ways you’ve become familiar with God preparing your path and learn to hear His direction for a new one.
Be Open to new ways of God’s Guidance – you can hear Him, if He becomes common enough in your life…
---------------Illustration: The Cricket
A Native American and his friend were walking near Times Square, New York.
The streets were filled with people, across multiple lanes cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, and sirens were wailing.
Suddenly, the Native American stops and says, “I hear a cricket.”
His friend is astounded, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!
“No, I’m sure of it,” the Native American said, “I heard a cricket.”
“That’s crazy,” said the friend.
The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to where some shrubs were growing.
He looked into the bushes and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.
“That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have super-human ears!”
“No,” said the Native American. “My ears are no different from yours.”
“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”
“Yes, you could,” came the reply. “Here, let me show you.”
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and dropped them on the sidewalk.
And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed that every head, within 5 yards of them, turned and looked to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.
“See what I mean?” asked the Native American. “It all depends on what’s important to you, on what you’re listening for”
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It’s important that you become familiar with the things of God, so that you will recognize His guidance when He drops things around you to guide you to lead the way
Give up your coins and learn to listen for crickets
5. Follow The Signs Of Godly Leaders (vs. 17)
Put yourself in the place of the priests. The first word they heard was, “Walk into the river.”
Then they heard Joshua tell the people, “You follow the priests into the river and watch them standing in the water.”
This was a raging river, so the suspense was building.
Joshua was not an innovator, bringing a new word from the Lord, nor did he give the people a religious pep talk to get them aroused emotionally to follow him and the priests.
Joshua just reminded the people of the promises of God, and he encouraged them to trust and obey.
The psalmist reflects that in Psalm 97:5: “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine....”
Sometimes instead of finding a church that will entertain you with something you’ve never heard before --- that you think will deepen your walk with God --- that will heighten your “spirituality”
Is an indication that you need to just, obey, and keep “God’s covenant”, in order for God to be able to give you the riches of His knowledge and wisdom that you desire.
Although the Jordan River was only about a hundred feet wide most of the year, during the spring flood season it overflowed its banks and became up to a mile wide.
But as soon as the Levites carrying the ark put their feet into the water, the river immediately stopped flowing and stood up like a wall about twenty miles upstream near the city of Adam.
Can you imagine some of the comments those two million Israelites would have made as they walked across that river?
“I’m not too sure we should be doing this….”
“I feel a little exposed in doing this.”
“I don’t feel very secure doing this.”
“It’s what God said to do, so I guess we’d better keep walking.”
“Did we get to vote on this”
“Who decided that this was a good idea anyway?”
“I hope this won’t take long to get through”
The same thing you hear among our churches today when God calls you to a new level or to cross over to a new discipline…
It was not the obedient arm of a leader that brought about the miracle, but the obedient feet of the people
Follow The Signs Of Godly Leaders
If you don’t respect the person who God has placed over you, then at least respect His position that God has given him.
If your personality doesn’t match his or hers, yet they are Godly in their ways, then do not hinder him or her. If you do, it will be accounted a curse unto you.
The apostle Paul, in defending his leadership, says in 1 Corinthians 9:9, “do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain”.
He or she, will be accountable for where they lead you (or don’t lead you).
Our task is to be obedient – for God desires obedience over sacrifice.
People church hop so many times in today’s culture because they’re looking for that preacher, that pastor that will lead or challenge them to the next level in their life
But it’s the obedient feet of the people that will bring about that change, that new level, that new land that God has for you.
Godly leaders remind you of what God has already spoken to you. Not to amaze you with something you’ve never heard before.
And, unless we’re willing to step out by faith and obey his word, God can never open the way for you.
6. Remember Where You Came From (Chap 4. vs. 9)
Being grateful requires that you appreciate where you are from what you were.
Let your story be someones source of stamina.
Make an impression in someones life (don’t keep your experiences to yourself ---ashamed ---you messed up----you’re proud of)
Most of us have had long wilderness experiences to which we have become accustomed and learned from.
Wisdom is acquired from the things you have learned and learned from that enables you to succeed further in life.
But just experiencing situations doesn’t necessarily make you wiser in life.
-------------Illustration: The Promotion
Two teachers were once applying for the same Vice-Principal position at a local high school.
One had been teaching a total of 8 years and the other a total of 20 years.
Everyone expected the teacher with the greater experience to get the job, but when a decision was made it was the person with 8 years teaching who was chosen.
The teacher who was overlooked for the job complained bitterly – “I’ve got 20 years teaching to her 8” he shouted. “I’m way more qualified.”
The School Board’s reply went like this: “Yes sir, you do have 20 years teaching to her 8, but where she has 8 years experience you have 1 years experience repeated 20 times.”
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Simply experiencing the passage of time doesn’t mean we have grown or learned from those things we experience during that time.
Has God been trying to teach you a spiritual lesson, the same thing, for 20 years or how many years you’ve been a believer?
There are moments for us when we stand shuddering at the edge of the Jordan, knowing that before us are rushing waters, a fortress city like Jericho, chariots of iron, perhaps giants in the land.
And when someone is there to encourage you in helping you in crossing over with their experience and wisdom, it makes it so much easier and comforting
Just like when someone takes that first jump into the pool and tells you the waters cold at first, but it gets better -- Remember Where You Came From.
------------Illustration: The Scar
There is an ancient fable of an Indian healer who cured a man of leprosy.
He took away all the disfiguring marks of the disease, but left the man with one small scar.
What was the scar for?
The healer answered, “So he will always remember.”
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Jesus heals us of many things, but we also have small scars or some mark to let us know what we have been through.
That’s the purpose of us trying to start up the cell groups --- so you can share your experiences, your victories, your life lessons.
Someplace to show your scars and to prepare you for the final stepping stone…
7. Be Alert for Challenges and Victories (Chap 4. vs. 12-13)
Prepare yourself for more levels (spiritual armor, handle accurately the sword)
The land that they were passing into, Canaan, represented the struggle of faith, the reality of spiritual warfare as well as the promise of victory.
It wasn’t heaven on earth – but neither is the future that we walk into -- as joint heirs with Christ.
Most of us don’t tend to be risk-takers; we are comfortable people who enjoy consistency and predictability in serving the Lord.
I like my jug of Red Diamond Tea in the refrigerator so much, that I could find it with my eyes closed.
We enjoy finding something where it’s supposed to be.
My wife is always blaming me for throwing things away when she needs them six months later.
That’s because we are a consistent folk and predictable.
We like it where we have the mindset that “If I do this, then this will happen, or if I do this according to God’s Word then this will happen.”
And many times, we expect things to happen quickly when we obey God’s Word. Because we live in a “now” culture in our society.
If we have to wait more than five minutes for a hamburger, beads of sweat start to form on our foreheads, and we feel the rise of a raging flame coming from within us…
But, this Bible story promises us that the LORD will be with us...just as He was with Joshua and the nation of Israel, through even the most difficult experiences of entering uncharted territory.
Even when the odds seem against you, God will enable you to overcome them. Because we are overcomers through Christ.
The secret is to never give up, never give in….
---------------Illustration: The Pitcher
A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water;
But when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it.
He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair.
Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.
And so the crow kept dropping pebbles into the pitcher
At last, at last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.
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So it is with our growth of our spiritual lives, whether it be developing virtues we desire to have in our lives,
Or overcoming a sin that still tries to hold us captive, or achieving a new goal that you feel led to see accomplished for God
Little by little, pebble by pebble, one step at a time.
We are able to soon overcome the obstacle, the river, that lies before us into next phase in our quest for God’s accomplishment of our lives
To cross over and receive the blessing God has before us, you must first let your thirst and hunger overcome your fear of the obstacles before you.
Just as Joshua desired to become a leader as great as Moses, you too, can achieve the victory in your life
You too, can overcome the obstacle “the river” that lies before you by “crossing over”.
Closing:
We all have situations that require crossing over.
And in taking those first steps, transition isn’t something that comes that easy.
Teenagers have many transition issues – anywhere from becoming introduced to a new culture that overwhelms them with choices they get to make.
To the big choice of what will I do with my life now that high school is over.
Some of you have known people close to you who have had crossing-over experiences in relationships --- such as divorce or separation — some of you may even be face at that rivers edge even now.
And God wants you to know, that He’s with you at the edge of the river, as you step in boldly to continue your journey, with our without your life partner.
I have good friends who have gone through financial failure.
Fear of the unknown is a reality dealing with financial crises in your family.
Tossing and turning at night as you anticipate how you will pay for bills that you have --- as well as the ones you know is coming.
Hoping and praying that nothing breaks down in your house that will require the call of a repairman…
Wondering if you can cross over the raging river of debt before you
I’ve been there, and am still crossing over streams and puddles my own life.
At this moment I have friends who are struggling with physical suffering. Pain is the crossing over place in their life toward healing.
One young teen who is the son of a pastor in a neighborhood church is struggling with overcoming cancer right now.
Illness for him is frightening and inconvenient in crossing over that threshold of healing
The last time I saw him was in a restaurant eating out with his family. He is on his way to healing, and is now able to attend school
Some of you may have a family member who is close to meeting the Saviour…for some, the final crossing over… is death itself
Because the reality is that Christ has promised us that He has taken the sting out of death. That victory is His.
Christ walks through that Jordan river with each of us., just as the Ark separated the waters to walk safely through in crossing over.
--------------Illustration: Daddy’s chair…
A man’s daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.
When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.
An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.
“I guess you were expecting me”, he said.
“No, who are you?” said the father.
The minister told him his name and then remarked, “I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,”
“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bedridden man.
“Would you mind closing the door?”
Puzzled, the minister shut the door. “I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But all of my life I have never known how to pray.”
“At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” the old man continued,
“until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, ‘Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest.’”
Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in Front of you, and in faith, see Jesus on the chair.
It’s not spooky because he promised, ‘I will be with you always’. (Matthew 28:20)
Then just speak to him in the same way you’re Doing with me right now.”
“So, I tried it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.
“Did he die in peace?” he asked.
“Yes” she said, “When I left the house about two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside – he told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.”
“When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.”
“But there was something strange about his death.”
“Apparently, just before daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?”
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, “I wish we could all go like that.”
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Remember -- as we stand at the bank of the Jordan River from our campground, and are challenged with frightening but also thrilling terms of opportunity that face us…
We’ll discover that these crossing-over times -- even though they may be cloaked with difficulty –
Only give God greater opportunity to demonstrate His power, His care, His concern, and His activity in our lives.
Your time to cross that river in your life begins today.
That first step you take from your chair --- up to the altar --- are your first steps of faith in crossing over.
Where you go from there, is up to you.
Maybe today is your day of examining that path that lies ahead of you. You feel God tugging at your heart because He wants a better life for you.
Maybe today, you’re tired of camping in the same old place---and are ready for something new, and you need to prepare your heart for the journey by reconciliation with God, or someone you know.
If you go on a trip, you don’t pack dirty clothes in your suitcase, you pack clean ones…
Maybe God has revealed to you today that you need to start packing up, throwing away the things that hinder your walk with Him.
Things that will only weigh you down as you cross over and keep you from reaching your promise that God has for you.
And it’s time to clean up your camp. Throw it away. Today.
Could be, that you have noticed God has placed inside of an incredible hunger or desire for His Word.
And you desire to seek His wisdom in crossing your river before you by seeking God’s word daily
Some of you have already crossed over into a new level of your commitment with Christ…and you are experiencing the blessings He has promised to you
Maybe God is teaching you to follow His guidance in a new way --- something that you’ve never expected – that will be a surprise blessing to you.
Maybe you’ve crossed over your river and realized today, that you need a leader in your life.
Someone who will hold you accountable and not let you drift away downstream.
Someone who lives a life committed to Christ – and you need to be obedient in respecting their words to you.
And some of you are here today because God has shown you how to help others who are still scared at the rivers edge.
They like their campground. They feel safe there. They have a campfire, a covering for when then sleep. A place to set when they are tired.
Someone needs help in crossing over and God has revealed to you who you need to go to, that needs help in crossing.
Where does your first step begin?
·Salvation
·Lord of Your Life - Rededication
·Baptism
·Church membership
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