Is it Flooding in Your Life?
Joshua 3
INTRODUCTION
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, deserted island. He prayed for God to rescue him, and every day scanned the horizon to see if help was on the way. He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements.
One day, after sitting on the beach and staring out into the ocean, which stood between him and civilization, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. It was just more than he could take. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me?” But the next day, he woke to the sound of a ship approaching the island.
Upon being rescued he asked in wonder, “How did you know I was here?” “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
We will not always understand, but we can always trust that God is in control. With what seemed like a devastating blow to someone who certainly didn’t need more bad things in his life, God rescued this man from his island prison.
Open you bibles to Joshua.
• Moses has died and God comes to Joshua
• “Get ready to cross the Jordan into the land I am about to give to you.”
• “I will give you every place you set your feet as I promised.”
• Joshua and the Israelites get ready to cross the Jordan to receive their inheritance.
• They had been wandering the desert for 40 years
• Waiting for God to allow them entrance into the promised land.
• Joshua gave instructions as to how they were to cross.
• Follow the Ark (God) 3:3
• Consecrate (Sanctify) Yourselves 3:5a
• Prepare for Amazing things 3:5b
• The time came for Israel to take the promised land.
• After 40 years of wandering the desert it was finally time.
• Just cross the Jordan and “everywhere you set your feet will be yours.”
Joshua 3:14–15a
“So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest.”
• Can you imagine how the Israelites must have felt?
• As much grumbling as they had done while in the wilderness don’t you think the thought had crossed at least one of their minds, “You would think that after 40 years God could have picked a better time for us to cross the Jordan other than when its flooding.”
• Have you ever been at flood stage in your life?
• A time when it seemed that just when everything was finally going your way and things were going to work out, BOOM here comes the flood and there seems to be no way to get through it?
• There are spiritual obstacles as well, things that hinder us and stand in our way of receiving God’s Inheritance for us.
• These obstacles stand between where we are in our walk with God and where we would like to and should be.
• If we are not as close to the Lord as we need to be then the question to ask is “Why Not?”
• Maybe a secret sin that we are holding on to, may be a question of whether or not you can live up to God’s standards, or maybe it is indifference, we’ve grown cold in the work of the Lord.
• We know we need to be doing more for God, but we find these obstacles in the way. Satan is the master at placing obstacles in our way.
• When things get tough in your life, that’s the time to take a look at what God did for Joshua and Israel.
MAIN BODY
I. Follow God vs. 3
A. In preparation crossing a flooded Jordan river, Joshua told the Israelites to Follow the Ark, which is where God was.
1. The Ark represented the presence of God.
2. God wasn’t asking them to go alone. He was going ahead of them to make a path through their obstacle.
B. When times get tough in your life, it is not the time to quit on God it is time to Follow God!
1. Isa. 57:15 “For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
2. God is active and at work in the world, although he is in heaven he is also with those who follow after him.
C. God is still active today, helping those who will follow after him.
1. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who, have been called according to his purpose.”
2. Follow after God and He will help you overcome your obstacle.
II. Consecrate Yourself vs. 5a
A. God cannot have evil in his presence.
1. If we are to follow God we must first do as the Israelites did and Consecrate or Purify ourselves.
2. James 4:8–10 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
a. Be pure before God.
b. He will lift you up!
B. Romans 12:1–2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
1. God’s blessings and mercy are abundant. Therefore, we are to offer ourselves to God.
2. The way we live should be an all out effort to please God.
C. I Cor. 6:20 “you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
1. You were bought at a price.
2. Honor God.
III. Prepare for Amazing Things vs. 5b
A. Joshua 3:11 “See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.”
1. The Lord promised to bring great things to the Israelites if they would follow after him.
2. God’s presence would go out before them. God’s presence is already going out before you into your obstacles.
3. Will you follow after him?
B. Why do you think God waited for the Jordan to be at flood stage before he sent Israel across?
1. Was it because he wanted to show them his power or perform a miracle for them?
2. Remember what verse 15 says: “Jordan is at flood stage all during the harvest”
a. God was sending Israel in to take their inheritance at harvest time.
b. God was providing food for them even though they had not planted any crops.
c. God was preparing for them to receive their inheritance in abundance!
IV. Is your life at flood stage?
A. Don’t give up.
B. Follow God who has gone ahead of you into your obstacle.
C. Consecrate yourself.
D. Prepare for Amazing Things.
1. The flood in your life is just a sign of the great harvest that is on the other side!
2. Joshua 3:17 “The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.”
a. They completed the crossing.
b. They had faith, followed God and received their inheritance.
3. Heb. 12:7,11 “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
a. Hold firmly to faith in your afflictions.
b. Follow God and cross over to your harvest.
