Sermon – Remove From Your Place and Go After it!
Scripture: Joshua 3:1-11 “And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.”
Introduction: This text is about charting a new course and embracing a new way. Joshua must give new direction for a maturing people to decide and submit to leadership to receive the Promised blessing. God led Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Moses served the nation well for 80 years. Now his faithful servant, the son of Nunn was selected to be his successor. Joshua and Caleb were the surviving member of a generation born as slave in Egypt. For forty years he has served as Moses’ great military general, providing safety and protection for the people. Joshua was a loyal and devoted friend of Moses. Although his call may not have been as profound as the call of others, He was God’s choice to lead Israel into the Promised Land.
His first major task was to lead Israel across the Jordan River. The crossing of the Jordan is a type of leaving the old life behind and moving in a new direction. It requires a full commitment to God. To cross a Jordan River, out of its bank, They will need supernatural intervention. This is another Red Sea situation, only the presence of God and His anointing can open a way. God has given Joshua a word of assurance. In that word, Joshua received 4 commands (1) Cross over this Jordan, this is your task (2) Be strong and very courageous, this is your attitude (3) Divide unto this people their inheritance, this is your destiny (4) Obey God’s Commands completely, this is your challenge. Joshua also received 3 Promises (1) No one will be able to stand before you. (2) As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee and (3) I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. We cannot be successful in the new year without embracing the task at hand, developing a proper attitude, embracing your destiny and the courage to accept the challenge. This is our time.
Joshua chapter 3 is Israel’s valley of decision. Up to this point on their journey, they had simply relied on Moses. They complained as they followed the voice of Moses, followed a cloud and all their needs were met. They lived as children without responsibility. Moses had gently led them, prayed for them, wept over them, and carried them on his heart. Joshua is a different leader, moving them in a new direction. The days of passivity are over, if Israel is to possess the land, they must be aggressive and deliberate. They must take the initiative and attack when commanded. As we respond to the call of God, all of us must pass through the valley of decision. After watching the raging waters of the Jordan three days, some were probably gripped by fear. They still must decide for themselves if they are going across.
Many people choose to live in the valley of indecision. Deciding not to choose, is still a decision. Unless you are willing to cross over Jordan, we cannot become who God is calling us to be and nor can we possess what God desires for us. God’s offer of salvation and forgiveness is open to any who would make Jesus their choice. Ignoring God’s offer is still a choice. The nation of Israel made the decision that any who were not willing to follow Joshua’s leadership, would be cut off from among them.
Joshua 1:16-18 “And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.”
Choosing to live in the valley of indecision is not an option for the believer. We must go in and possess the Land. This text teaches us that Joshua was in a state of readiness. He rose early in the morning. Since we are called to go in a new direction, the journey will require a new awareness of our surroundings and a new attitude about the part we must play. The ark of the Covenant represented the visible presence of God in the Old Testament. It was the anointing of God among them.
1. Follow the Anointing – Verses 3 and 4 “And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”
For years the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire was above them. Every person could easily see it. Now every person must keep their eyes on the ark. They have never been this way before. Each person must take responsibility for themselves. The instructions were clear, don’t try to crowd the ark or monopolize the Ark, don’t lag or you may lose your way. Follow the anointing! Jesus Christ is the Anointed One. The application for the believer is follow Jesus the Christ. Following Jesus is the only way to become like Him. That is the Promised Land for every believer. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. Leaders may disappoint, religion may disappoint, Churches may disappoint, Jesus is the Way, the truth and the Life.
2. Sanctify Yourselves - 5 ‘And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
The people were to make themselves clean to be in God’s holy presence. Clean your clothes and your minds. Come to the Jordan with an attitude of expectancy and God will do wonders among you. God always does wonders among a sanctified people. Our sins may put a restraint upon him, but we are not limited in him. We are on a journey, moving in a direction we have never been, let sanctify ourselves: and tomorrow expect the LORD to do wonders among us.
3. Allow God to Magnify You. 7 “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.’
In a day when many are trying to magnify themselves on social media, the number of followers, the number of likes, with slick promotions, we must remember only God can magnify us. Many stop short of the Promised Land. Some choose to live beneath the privileges God has provided. Others refused to move because they don’t know exactly how God will do it. A few become cynical or critical. God knows the way and will take care of the how. We are called to believe. Believe enough to keep on walking. When the first generation of Israelites faced the Red Sea, God sent an east wind that blew all night until the water parted and congealed in the sea. Now at the Jordan, this new generation must believe enough to keep on believing, obeying, and walking. That same God will do wonders among them. The water may not move until your feet reach the brink. Keep on walking and the Lord will do wonders.
For God to do wonders among us, every person must be involved. Joshua must have the courage to give the command; the priests must have the courage to pick up the Ark and move forward and the people must have the courage to follow. How can people believe today if the leadership is afraid? If the officers and staff don’t believe enough to pray, to tithe, to give offerings, to fast, how can the people follow? Faith and fear are contagious. Joshua’s bold faith was contagious, and the people followed. The Israelites were committed to keep moving forward. They could have never imagined all that God would do. Who could have believed that walls of Jericho could fall flat before them or they would find and eat enough parched corn to sustain them? Who have imagined they would live in houses they did not build or eat from vineyards they had not planted? This new direction, this new journey was only possible because they were willing to follow the anointing; to sanctify themselves; and allow God in his time and his way to magnify them. God will magnify us that we might glorify Him. God can do wonders. Wonders denote marvelous things, wonderful things, surpassing things, extraordinary things, things that will distinguish us and separate us. God will do things beyond our own power or strength.
If we would live holy and faithful lives, I believe God will do wonders among us. For Joshua it meant walls would fall, the sun would stand still, and God would make him successful in everything he did and everywhere he went. Since we have never went this way before, we need that same God to do wonders among us. Wonders in politics, immigration, in the economy, in the pandemic and all over the world. May the Lord, do wonders among us today. First Peter 3:8-10 reminds us of how to be successful in the New Year, “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”
If we dare to follow the anointing, sanctify our hearts, minds and words, God will magnify and the world know we are on the Lord’s side and that the Lord is on our side. It's all about what we as Christians refuse to do and what we insist on doing. First, we refuse to allow ourselves to speak evil or to be deceitful with our words. We insist on walking, working, and speaking in the same direction. Things may become frightening but keep on going. The manna may cease but keep on working. The temptation to complain may seem overwhelming but keep on praising. In 2024 the Lord will magnify you. You will overcome every challenge, climb up from every fall and receive everything God has prepared for you.
