The Cross-Over.
Joshua 3:14-17NKJV
Before you can physically crossover an obstacle, or possibly a barrier, you have to be willing to leave familiar. For if the familiar is holding you down, it’s time to crossover.
You've heard it said, “People who live in the mountains, wish they lived near the ocean; People who live on the ocean, wish they lived in the mountains.
Where you live becomes familiar (relevant); however, where your heart resides means everything.
Matthew 5:8NKJV Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
In ancient times the people of God were called Hebrews.
Do you know what the word Hebrew means? So I’m asking, “What does Hebrew mean in Hebrew?”
Hebrew comes from the root word, ‘avar’ and ‘avar’ means to crossover!
The plural is, ‘Ivrim’, The Hebrews, are those who cross-over.
The first generation of Israelites who walked out of Egypt, freed from slavery, paid a grave price because they refused to take a risk when confronted with the enemies of God. They refused faith!
Forty years later their offspring faced a similar challenge. They stood poised on the edge of the Promised Land. To get there, though, they, too, had to cross over a body of water: the Jordan River.
In order to leave the land of Egypt, Israel had to cross over the Red Sea.
In order to enter the promised land, these Hebrews had to cross over the Jordan River.
They are the cross over people, those who leave one land, and enter another, those who end one life, and begin a new one.
I want to look at 4 verses from, Joshua 3:14-17.
Let’s take them verse by verse:
Joshua 3:14NKJV So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
This evening, I want you to receive three takeaways from God’s word:
1. Be willing to go up front.
With the priest leading, I think the Hebrews odds of success just went up!
Did you know that you’re called Priest unto God?
1 Peter 2:9-10NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Again, as His royal priesthood, Be willing to go up front; Be willing to get wet.
Hear me this evening, if you call yourself a believer, you are His Royal priesthood!
God's word went before them, and so it goes before you!
1 John 4:4NKJV You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Again, 1. You can go upfront because you have the greater One!
Joshua 3:15NKJV and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),
2. Be willing to step out on faith. Sometimes having faith is hard, scary, and alone. Say, “Cross Over!”
Can you imagine the anticipation? These priests might have imagined, “The Jordon is out of its banks, and we are to pray while carrying God’s Ark across this flooded river.?!”
This evening, “What bank, or barrier do you need to cross over?”
The Lord just reminded me, “Throughout history of the Bible, men and women whom loved God prospered as they lived close to the Ark.’ The Ark of Jesus.” P.H
Joshua 3:16NKJV that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
These Hebrews crossed over. God instructed Joshua to place the Priest upfront, and allow their feet to touch the flooded river.
This surely was an act of faith. Priest, as they carried the Ark, God’s Ark, walk straight into the banks of the River Jordon!
I believe Joshua, and his Hebrew followers heard God’s call unto them:
Joshua 1:1-3NKJV After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
In Joshua chapter 1 alone, God states 3 times, “Have I not commanded you be strong and of good courage...Be strong and of good courage...Be strong and of good courage..!”
The people of God followed their priest, or you could say, “they followed Gods word!”
Remember this, Where you live becomes relevant; however where your heart resides means everything.
The word of God speaks of another people joined to Israel… The followers of Messiah.
We are the Hebrews of spirit. So to be saved, you must be a spiritual Hebrew. You must be an Ivri!
So in order to be a Hebrew, an, ‘Ivri’ you have to crossover.
Joshua 3:17NKJV Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.
3. Will you stand firm, so others can cross?
Others are watching, and before you know it, your life becomes two, after that everything exponentially doubles.
You have to pass through a barrier. You have to leave one land enter another. One Life to enter a new one.
So who are these Hebrews? Who is the Ivri?
The one who has known two lands, two realms, two lives!
Romans 8:5-8NKJV For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
So who are the Hebrews? Those who are born again. Those who please God!
The Ivri, (Hebrew), The one who has crossed over, who has left an old life, and entered the new, who has pass through the barrier, through Messiah, from darkness to light.
John 3:3NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
So hear this word, Messiah, Jesus Christ, is the king of the Ivri, And king over the Hebrews.
He’s my King; He’s your King!
Jesus is king over the Hebrews, because He was the first one to, ‘Cross Over’ the ultimate barrier, from death to life.
So Jesus is the ultimate, Ivri, The king of the Hebrews.
Yes the Messiah, ‘Ivri’, meaning Hebrew, in Whom is the power to cross-over any barrier, to leave any darkness, and to enter every promised land. P.H
Before I close this evening, I want you to Identify any barriers that are hindering you and the will of God in your life? Identify them. Name them.
2 Corinthians 5:17NKJV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Then, by the power of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ begin crossing your Jordan. P.H
Hear me, You are a Hebrew. Jesus is your Hebrew King. He crossed over, so you can too! Remember this, “You were born again to crossover!”
Here’s the best part. Eventually, As we pass from this natural life, into our spiritual life, Jesus will be our ‘Ivri’, our King Hebrew. He will be once again, our crossover!
All Hebrews have a one way ticket to heaven!
Benediction.
