COURAGEOUS LIVING P.4
Getting Ready
Joshua 3
INTRODUCTION
For every challenge that God gives us there will always be a corresponding obstacle to challenge our faith.
As followers of Jesus it is imperative to identify the challenge, then make a choice. Will we move forward in faith and overcome the challenge, or will we choose to sit back and simply stay where we are where it is more comfortable and safe.
For Joshua and the Isrealites, the obstacle that flowed between them and the promised land of blessing was the Jordan River. They could begin to fight the enemy, and take possession of the land until this major hurdle was crossed.
The stakes were high. There was no turning back. Behind them was the vast wasteland of the desert and barren mountains. They endured 40 painful years of God’s discipline and now it was time to move on.
This is just as a significant time as when they stood on the banks of the Red Sea Standing at the Red Sea was going to end 430 years of slavery, standing on the banks of the Jordan river, 40 years of wilderness existence was ending.
a. The end of 40 years of walking in a circle going nowhere fast;
b. The end of striving and never arriving;
c. The end of walking by sight
d. The end of Independent living
e. The end of never being assured of victory over the enemy
f. The end of being constantly reminded of past failures
g. The end of fear
h. The end of self centered existence where life was all about them;
This moment of transition would change Israel from a wandering nation to a settled nation, from a people living in hope of a promise to a people living in possession of the promise!
But before the land could be conquered, there was this impossible river to be crossed. It was a barrier that could not be wished away, named away or claimed away. It remained a foreboding impasse.
Normally the Jordan was a small, winding tributary about 30 feet wide and six feet deep at its maximum pint. But in the spring, when the snows from Mt.Hermon melted, the river would transform into a surging wall of water, up to a mile wide and 30 feet deep at its maximum point.
It has been said, ‘that a journay of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And that step is usually the most fearful, especially if it means stepping into a deep river whose swift current could sweep you away in an instant.’( Erwin Lutzer)
When I was younger, I heard it preached, ‘In the Christian life you are either an overcomer or you are overcome, a victor or a victim.’ ( w.wiersbe)
The difference is the choice you make whether you will move forward in faith and overcome the obstacle that stands between you and God’s plan, promise and provision for your life. Or will you choose to listen to the voice of fear that says, “go back to where it is more comfortable and safe.’
What does the Jordan river represent for you and me? It is not crossing death into heaven as some old hymns sentimentally suggest.
I think it is best summarized in this statement, ‘If Egypt represents the world, and the long excursion in the desert represents the discipline every one of us experiences, then the Jordan River represents the FULL SURRENDAR of our lives to the call to be fully devoted followrs of Jesus.’
IN short it is dying to self. it is dying to our agendas, fleshly desires and ego’s. It opens the door to a new life of intimacy with God. We must die to ourselves in order to have victory over sin and live for Christ.
The Bible says, that our testimony should be ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ( Galatians 2:20)
Once the ISrealites stepped into the Jordan there would be no turning back to the wanderings of the wilderness. They were moving on towards the land of promise, and provision in God’s purpose. But it meant full surrender of their wills, adnlives into God’s hands, no matter what.
Each of us comes to our own Jordan at some point in our lives.
What did Joshua command ISreal to do as they were about to set foot into the Jordan and move into their promise? What must we do as we move forward into God’s plan for our lives?
1. PREPARE YOUR HEART
The Bible says that Joshua rose early in the morning, and with the nation set up camp at the edge of the Jordan where they spent three days PREPARING for a miracle.
The people were given instructions as to how they were to spiritually prepare themselves for the next act of faith.
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.’
If the ISrealites expect the Lord to fight for them, they needed to put away greed, pride and ‘the sin that would hold them back’ But probably the greatest sin ;lurking in their hearts was FEAR, the feeling that Joshua may have misunderstood Gods directions or that God woulds allow them to go through more grief than they were able to handle.
Another word that is used for surrender or sanctification ois CONSECRATION. This also involves RECEIVING GOD’S PROMISES. That is, they HAD TO ACCEPT WHAT GOD HAS SAID AT FACE VALUE.
Joshua reminded the people, ‘This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.
The living God would prove that He was among them, but they needed to be ready.
One of the misbeliefs that hold Christians back, is the idea that we have to be perfect before we attempt anything for God. God does not call us to be perfect, today! He does call us to surrendar each part of our lives as he reveals those areas and sins that would hold us back.
In other words, wives if you are waiting for your husbands to change over night into super Christian man, barring a miracle it won’t happen that way.
One of the last things Moses said to Isreal was that they would conquer the land bit by bit, so as not to be discouraged or over run by wild animals.
The Christian life is like that. We are experiencing change, day by day, month by month, year by year.
The Bible puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
As the light of God’s word works in our hearts, we become more and more aware of what needs to change so that we are more like Jesus. Much like the Sun that shines on an iceberg that melts away what is on the outside so that what is beneath shines through. That is how god transforms you and I.
The first step in the PROCESS is preparing your heart by surrendering your life and will to God’s.
2. FOCUS YOUR EYES
Joshua gives specific instructions to the leaders of Isreal. They were follow the ark of the covenant that would be carried by the priests through the riverbed. The people were to be careful to maintain a distance of about half a mile from the ark, so that AS MANY AS POSSIBLE COULD SEE IT.
The ark was more than an expensive piece of furniture that should be kept safely behind security glass so that it would not be damaged or stolen. No it was so much more.
The ark was more than just a religious relic containing the dusty tablets of the ten commandments and a rod that Aaron used, And some moldy bread. To Isreal it was so much more.
It was more than a reminder of the good old days, when Moses was in charge, and God provided Manna and water in the desert. No, it was so much more.
It was more than a reminder that if Isreal hadn’t sinned 40 years earlier they would have been in the land earlier than this. No it was so much more.
The ark was the physical representation of God’s presence. When they followed the ark, they were in essence following God.
As Isreal followed the Ark they were following God. To focus on God isa always necessary, but now especially so, for they nation was embarking on a new adventure.
The instructions to the people were, ‘ “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them.4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you.’
No ISrealite was expected to forge their own path. They were to only go where God was leading them.
Similar to ISreal, the Bible says as followers of Jesus we are called to run the race of faith. Our race is not a 100 yard sprint, it is a lifetime marathon. At times we get tired and discouraged. We are tempted to give in and give up. The Bible gives us this encouragement,
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
“LOOKING UNTO JESUS.” They are words of salvation. They are words of encouragement. They are words of direction. They are words for daily living. So let me ask you, “Who are YOU looking to?”
Everyone is looking to someone or something. Who or what are you looking to? It may be that you are looking to some individual who seems to have all the answers. Or maybe you are looking to yourself. Maybe you are holding onto things: bank accounts, houses, careers, your marriage, things.
Chuck Swindoll tells of a mountain man from West Virginia who had never seen a city, or bright lights and modern inventions. He married a girl of the hills and they spent all their married years in the backwoods.
Their one son, creatively named “Junior,” reached his sixteenth birthday, [and] his dad began to realize it wouldn’t be too many years before their son would become a man and would strike out on his own. It troubled him that his boy could reach manhood and wind up getting a job in the city, not prepared to face the real world. He felt responsible and decided to do something about it.
He and his wife started saving for a trip the three of them would take to the city. About three years later the big day arrived. They tossed their be-longings in the ol’ pickup and started the long journey over winding, rough roads to the city.
Their plan was to spend several days at a swanky hotel and take in all the sights. As they approached the outskirts of the metropolis, Papa began to get a little jumpy: “Mama, when we pull up at th’ hotel, you stay in th’ truck while Junior an’ I go in an’ look around. We’ll come back and git ya, okay?” She agreed.
Flashing neon lights and uniformed doormen greeted them as they pulled up. Mama stayed put as Papa and Junior walked wide-eyed toward the lobby. Neither could believe his eyes! When they stepped on a mat, the doors opened automatically. Inside, they stood like statues, staring at the first chandelier either of them had ever seen. It hung from a ceiling three stories high. Off to the left was an enormous waterfall, rippling over inlaid stones and rocks. “Junior, look!” Papa was pointing toward a long mall where busy shoppers were going in and out of beautiful stores. “Papa, looka there!” Down below was an ice-skating rink — inside.
While both stood silent watching one breathtaking sight after another, they kept hearing a clicking sound behind them. Finally, Papa turned around and saw this amazing little room with doors that slid open from the center. “What in the world?” People would walk up, push a button and wait. Lights would flicker above the doors and then, “click,” the doors would slide open from the middle. Some people would walk out of the little room and others would walk inside and turn around as, “click,” the doors slid shut.
By now, dad and son stood totally transfixed. At that moment a wrinkled old lady shuffled up to the doors all by herself. She pushed the button and waited only a few seconds. “Click,” the doors opened with a swish and she hobbled into the little room. No one else stepped in with her, so “click,” the doors slid shut. Not more than twenty seconds later the doors opened again — and there stood this fabulously attractive blonde, a young woman in her twenties — high heels, shapely body, beautiful face — a real knockout! As she stepped out, smiled, and turned to walk away, Papa nudged his boy and mumbled, “Hey, Junior …go git Mama!
Here is the point, you may feel afraid because you have never gone in this direction before. It is all strange and new. There are so many lights, sounds and distractions to tempt you off course. You wonder should you even try. Does God know what HE is doing?
God never sends His people anywhere but that He arrives there ahead of them to prepare the way.
Christ would never expect us to cross a river that He himself has not already successfully crossed. It is like what Erwin Lutzer writes,
‘Everything He asks us to do is based on what He has already done; it is following a path that already has His footprints.’
There is no river that God expects you to cross but that God has already crossed it. We begin with Jesus on the journey and He stays a step ahead of us to the end. Our greatest challenge is to keep our eyes focused on Him.
And with our eyes squarely focused on Jesus, we can take the next step which is to
3. WALK WITH YOUR FEET
The priests were commanded to come to the river edge and wait for God’s instruction.
Josh 3:8 "You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ’When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’"
They had to have faith to put the soles of their feet in the water. The waters would not stop flowing UNTIL THEY GOT WET.
Joshua 3:12-13: Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will carry the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”
So it was, when the priests who carried the ark stepped into the fast flowing waters, God intervened.
Joshua 3:16- the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea[c] until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.
Nothing will happen until you step off the riverbank of your life. It is a step of faith. Like ISreal, we all walk a path we have never been before. Each day is a new expereince. No matter what circumstance you are facing, you are not walking alone.
Sometimes we fear surrender, thinking God will make impossible demands of us. But whatever God commands us to do, He will always give the grace to do it.
The impossible becomes possible when we choose to obey regardless of our fears.
Have you ever thought how thorough God’s commands are< They did not need to wipe their feet because they walked on dry ground.
CONCLUSION
So, have you identified the obstacle that is obstructing your path? Are you willing to reach beyond yourself to see God’s plan and purposes come to pass in your life?
What fear is paralyzing your from moving forward in Gods will?
The Jordan River represents a turning point. It is at our Jordan we die to our own plans and ambitions. Here we make a choice to face the enemies of our souls and take what God has promised us.
Have you made that choice? Will you risk moving into the promise that God is calling you to possess?
Soren Kierkegard, the 19th century Danish religious philosopher, tells a story about a town where only ducks live.
Every Sunday the ducks would waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main Street to their church. They waddled into the sanctuary and sat in their proper pews.
The duck choir waddles in and takes its place, and then the duck minister comes forward and opens the duck Bible.
He reads to them…“Ducks! God has given you wings! With wings you can fly! With wings you can mount up and soar like eagles. No walls can confine you! No fence can hold you! You have wings. God has given you wings and you can fly like birds.”
All the ducks shouted “AMEN!” and they all waddled home.
God has offered us all we need today. But are we complacent?
God called you to something great. He has predestined you to reach for your dreams. He has called you to fly. But do you choose to waddle?
When looking at the challenge, you might feel like you cannot go any further. God is expecting too much of me. Listen to the promise God gives His people,
"When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end-- Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you..." Isaiah 43:2-3, The Message
So, what is the great lesson we learn from Isreal?
‘no river is too crooked, no river is too deep, no river is too swift, but that God is able to get us through it.’
Here is the secret. SURRENDER!. A yielded heart will take us through the river that leads to the Promised Land.
