This morning I would like to speak to you about taking steps of faith. One of the more difficult aspects of the Christian life can be those times of taking steps of faith. It is important to note, however, that many of God’s greatest blessings accompany great steps of faith.
Today we are going to be looking at the 3rd chapter of Joshua to dissect a great step of faith.
Joshua 3:1-4 (NLT)
Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. Three days later, the Israelite leaders went through the camp giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before; they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
The first point that comes to mind from this passage is the need to Follow The Leader. It is important to remember that God has the course of your life mapped out – Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
“…For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope…”
Because God has mapped out your life, He knows the lay of the land. He knows the hills, valleys, twists and turns. In fact He sees what you don’t.
In my earlier days I worked as a Police Officer in metropolitan Fort Worth, Texas. It was not uncommon to have suspects try to flee from us. As you can imagine, a high speed pursuit in a crowded city can be a very dangerous proposition. To help make things safer for everyone, the city of Fort Worth utilized a helicopter patrol. One of the functions of this patrol was to become the eyes for the cars on the ground. If a chase initiated, the helicopter would take over the calling of the chase. The helicopter would warn of turns, intersections, pedestrians and other potential hazards that could not be seen from the ground. Because the helicopter could see more, we learned to trust the instructions given by its crew.
Just as with the Ark of the covenant being in front of the people of Israel, God leads the way for us – Hebrews 12:2a
Hebrews 12:2a (CEV)
We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete…
If Jesus is in the lead, then he is blazing the trail we are taking. Never are we wandering aimlessly.
Joshua 3:5 (NLT)
Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”
Let’s talk about the Importance of Purity. When it comes to purity we need to be Dealing with sin…not just recognizing it – Psalm 32:3-5
Psalm 32:3-5 (NLT)
When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Sin is a barrier to clear communication. We cannot clearly communicate with God if sin is in the way. We also cannot expect the fullness of God’s glory to be made known to us, if we cloud the picture with sin.
Do you expect the miraculous? Does your life have a pattern of God’s miraculous provisions tied to it? When we live a life of purity, we come to see God work in marvelous ways. The pure expect the miraculous – James 5:16b
James 5:16b (NLT)
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results
Joshua 3:8 (NLT)
Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.’
God is in the business of giving clear Instruction. His will is not a guessing game. God wants you to know what He expects of you.
God gives clear direction – Psalm 19:8; Proverbs 8:9
Psalm 19:8 (NLT)
The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life.
Proverbs 8:9 (NLT)
My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who want to learn.
With clear directoin comes an expectation of obedience – Exodus 12:24
Exodus 12:24 (NLT)
Remember, these instructions are permanent and must be observed by you and your descendants forever.
Joshua 3:13 (NLT)
The priests will be carrying the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap.
Those are some God Sized Promises aren’t they? When God directs steps of faith, you can be sure they will be of God sized proportions. God’s ways are much Bigger than the plans of men – Isaiah 55:8-9
Isaiah 55:8 -9 (NLT)
“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Taking steps of faith Always require trust – Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Joshua 3:15a (NLT)
Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks.
I will tell you this...faith rarely comes easy. I have rarely found that God asks me to take "simple" steps of faith. In fact sometimes it seems like there is a fine line between faith and stupidity.
Our faith must be based on the realities of God’s promises, not our perceptions of reality – Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
If our steps of faith are dictated by what we see or feel, we will never take those steps. Faith requires us to trust and move beyond our own strength and understanding.
Joshua 3:15b-17
But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho. Meanwhile the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by them. They waited there until everyone had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
All Things Are Possible. When you walk by faith you will watch as time and time again, the impossible becomes reality. Mountains move, seas part, sickness flees.
But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Luke 18:27 (NKJV)
How is your walk of faith today? Are you standing at the river watching the flood waters go by, or have you taken that step of faith?
