Step Into The Water
2-3-02
Joshua 3:1 - 4:11
Pray
Intro
Often we find ourselves at some sort of transition point in life.
· What new things we need to buy,
· Career decisions
· Child development
· Education
· Etc
Often times, we lean on our own understanding, or the wisdom of the world to see us through.
But the Lord has another plan already in place for our lives.
I. Getting to the point of crossing.
a. Moses was led by the Lord as he led Israel on their journey out of Egypt.
b. The Lord had made a promise of deliverance if only they would obey.
c. Time and again, the Israelites stumbled, even Moses himself.
d. They wandered, died from judgment, and wandered some more.
e. But finally they reached the appointed time and place to begin again.
i. Moses had died.
ii. Joshua took over.
iii. He waited on the Lord.
iv. He moved only on direction from the Lord.
f. Our lives are the same.
i. Try to follow God, a role model, parent, etc.
ii. Have a promise of deliverance if we obey.
iii. We Stumble
iv. We wander
v. We finally reach our point of crossing.
II. Crossing the river.
a. Process of a move of God: Joshua’s story
i. When you see God vv.3:3
ii. Keep your distance vv.3:4
iii. Listen to the instructions vv.3:8,13
iv. Get your feet wet vv.3:15
v. Watch the miracle vv.3:16,17
vi. remember and give God glory. Vv.4:6,7
b. Our story.
i. The river of life. Crossing the river-symbolic
1. The river is life
2. The journey is our time spent here
3. The river keeps going after we are gone.
4. When we are willing to get our feet wet in the river, God will make a way for us to pass through, not smooth, but dry.
5. Build an altar of remembrance.
6. Follow God through the flood (3:15)
7. Walk in obedience, fearless, and full of faith that God will do all that He said He would.
ii. Step in and see the wonders of the Lord
iii. Get your feet wet, the water will part
III. The journey
a. We think in terms of each decision being an obstacle to be crossed or overcome.
b. We need to realize that God already has all the details worked out.
c. What we need to cross is the river of life. That’s the only river that truly stands in our path.
i. What do I mean? Lots of other decisions and obstacles in the way?
ii. We have 2 purposes
1. Personal relationship with Jesus Christ, salvation.
2. ministering, spreading the gospel to all the world.
iii. Once we meet Christ in the first purpose, we merely have to listen and obey for the second.
iv. All other decisions, obstacles, life challenges are secondary.
IV. Understanding the call to salvation
a. Steps of salvation
i. Rom. 3: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
ii. Rom. 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
iii. 1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
iv. John 3:16,17 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
b. You must be saved to enter into the kingdom of heaven. The only way across the river is Jesus.
c. Call to repentance
