“The Crossing”
August 21, 2005
Intro: Life is filled with definable moments. Moments when we must make harsh choices, brave overwhelming obstacles, and conquer new horizons. They are the major “crossings” of life.
Today we are going to look at spiritual crossing. We have for the last two weeks been looking at our core values and what we are all about as a church. Today, we want to look at the next step processes of where we go from here.
To do so, we are going to look at one of the most significant event in the life of the nation of Israel, crossing into the Promised Land. Joshua is the new leader of Israel. Moses has died and now it is up to Joshua to lead the people into the land God has given to them.
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.’” Joshua 3:1-4 (NIV)
There are a few things you must realize before we continue on with this passage.
It has taken the nation of Israel forty years to get to this point.
Because of their sin and grumbling, God had caused them to wander in the desert until all of the generation that had left Egypt had died off. Only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the land God had given to them.
The principle to understand is that God allows us to experience the journey of life in order to prepare us for what lies ahead.
God took Israel on an incredible journey to show them that He alone was God and He alone would provide for their needs.
How did he do it? He gave them manna and quail to eat. He caused their sandals to last for forty years. He gave them victory over their enemies even though they were nomads.
So, now it is time for them to cross over. God gave them very specific things to do in this process.
I. Consecrate Yourselves
“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’" Joshua 3:5 (NIV)
The term consecrate literally means “separated to” or “belonging to God.”
It was vitally important that those who were preparing to enter the Promised Land that God had for them lay behind anything that would interfere in their being distinctly Gods’.
God is holy. Anything that is to be set apart for Him or to his honor must be holy.
"Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2 (New Living Translation)
The idea of holiness is simply to be spiritually pure.
Before the people could enter the Promised Land, they had to make sure they were spiritually pure.
What does this mean for us?
God calls us as His followers today to be spiritually pure. He calls us to a life free from the entrapments of the world and the sinful lifestyle of those around us.
“God knows who belongs to him, spurn evil, all you who name god as God.” 2 Timothy 2:19 (The Message)
The first step in us being the people of God that he has called us to be is to leave behind the sin of the world and strive for purity and holiness.
To be the people that God desires and the church God uses, we must make sure we are pursuing God more than we are pursuing sin.
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)
Unfortunately what most people want is a nice little God to pull out in a crisis, but not a real and honest God to pour out your life on. We try to hide out hearts and hope that god will just let us get by.
Mike Yaconelli, in one of his last books before he died wrote this about our nice little view of God:
“The nice, nonthreatening God needs to be replaced by the God whose very presence smashes our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within.”
Mike Yaconelli, Dangerous Wonder
The point is, if we want to be what God has called us to be and designed us to be, we must set ourselves apart to his honor and to his glory.
Do you desire holiness before God? Is your life set apart to be used for his honor and glory?
If not, today is a day where you can become consecrated for God.
II. Step Into the Water
“Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ’When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ "Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord--the Lord of all the earth--set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." Joshua 3:6-13 (NIV)
Not only is there a river between them and the Promised Land, but it is the rainy season. The river is at flood stage. It is a rushing torrent without a bridge. And there are people on the other side waiting to kill the Israelites when they cross.
God has promised to stop the flow of water in the river once they step into it.
I don’t know about you, but I would like him to stop it before I step into it.
Some interesting points to note:
1) Gods doesn’t eliminate the obstacle; he takes the people through it.
We often want God to simply get rid of the difficulties and the obstacles of our lives. But God wants us to trust him enough to walk through them even when we don’t want to.
We can trust that the water will stop because God said it would.
God is ultimate truth. He never lies nor deceives. When he says it, you can count on it happening.
“Truth exists because God is trustworthy.”
Erwin McManus, Unstoppable Force
What is the raging river in your life? Do you trust god enough to push back the water to allow you across?
2) God is the Living God.
God is not some far away, impersonal, deity. He is the alive, intimate God of all the creation.
David recognized the difference between the living God of Israel and the idol gods of other nations.
“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;they have hands, but cannot feel feet, but they cannot walk;nor can they utter a sound with their throats.”
Psalm 115: 3-7 (NIV)
We often put things into our lives that become gods for us. Position, power, influence, work, finances, possessions all lobby for our affections.
The bottom line is that God alone is God. Anything else that we try to fill our lives with to take his place is a cheap imitation.
Are you willing to step into the water of life with God? What fear is holding you back from following God? What is it that keeps you tied to the bank instead of standing in the middle of the river?
III. Cross on Dry Ground
“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. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 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.” Joshua 3:14-17 (NIV)
When the priest and the people were obedient to God, God was faithful.
The river stopped flowing upstream from the ark. The city of Adam was a city known to have landslides that would cause the river to stop.
Now, the question must be asked, was this an incredible coincidence or a divine act of God? God did exactly what he promised when the people did what he required of them.
Some practical lessons:
1) God’s desire for his people is obedience to his command.
The river only stopped flowing when the people set foot in the torrent.
“The great thing about obedience is seeing what God had in mind.” Brother Andrew
2) God’s desire is to free us from the mire of life.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2 (NIV)
God doesn’t want you bogged down by life. He wants you on solid ground.
Conclusion:
Where are you at today? Are you ready to cross over from the life that you have been living to the life God intended you to live?
1) Have you set yourself apart to live for Christ?
If you have never begun a relationship with Jesus, today you can choose to be set apart by God to live for him.
“So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and let your hearts be filled with God alone to make them pure and true to him.”
James 4:7-8 (Living Bible)
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (NIV)
2) Are you willing to be obedient to God?
Gods call is for us to be obedient even when we don’t understand. Are you sitting on the river bank waiting for the water to recede or are you trusting God and stepping into territory you don’t understand?
“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” Isaiah 1:19 (NIV)
God best for us shows itself when we are obedient.
3) Are you standing on solid ground?
Life is filled with things that mire us down. God wants us to live beyond the junk to experience his best in our lives.
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
God’s desire is for you to live holy for him and not mired down in the distractions of life and the schemes of the devil.
Today, what is it that you need God to do for you? How do you need to set yourself apart for him? How do you need to be obedient to what he has called you to do? What areas do you need to be free of the mire so you can stand on the solid rock of Jesus?
Dear Lord,
I ask you today to help me to be set apart for you. I renounce the sins of this world and the hold of the enemy on my life. I choose today to live in obedience to you and to stand on the solid ground that is Christ Jesus. Today I call on your holy name and I ask you to help me to live for you as I walk in the life of this earth. Amen.
