(adapted from a message by Bill Burnett)
TEXT: JOSHUA 3:1-17
TITLE: “STEP INTO THE WATER…”
OPEN: A. Several families went to spend an afternoon at the river. Some of the adults decided to walk out
to an island in the middle of the river. A five-year-old girl decided she wanted to go, too. Her
father returned to shore and took her hand. She stepped into the water but held on tightly to a
branch on the shore. She was afraid of the river but wanted to go where her father was going.
He told her, “You have to let go of the branch if you want to come with me.” She said, “I’m
afraid that I’ll sink” Her father replied, “I’ve got your hand so you won’t sink. If you do, I’ll lift
you up.” Fearfully, she let go of the branch.
Her father knew the water wasn’t very deep at this point of the river and he guided her feet to
each rock along the way. When she started, she wasn’t very confident. But as her father guided
her feet to each rock, she gained confidence with each step. She was eventually eager to reach for
each stone and it didn’t take long until they were at the island in the middle of the river.
1. That’s how God deal with each of us
--He tells us what He wants us to do and then guides each step. Eventually, we gain confidence
in God’s leadership
2. Ps. 37:24-25 – If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble,
he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
B. Following the forty years of wandering in the wilderness and the death of Moses, the children of
Israel have a new leader
1. His name is Joshua and he’s a mighty man of God
2. God has informed Joshua that the Israelites will soon be crossing the Jordan River to claim the
inheritance that God had promised hundreds of years before.
3. Joshua sends two spies into Jericho.
a. The ruler of the city is hunting for them and a prostitute named Rahab takes the spies into her
house and hides them
b. After she convinces the king’s messenger that the spies have already left, she allows them to
spend the night and gets them safely out of the city
c. When they leave, she tells them that everyone in Jericho is frightened of them because of the
might of their God
d. They return and report to Joshua
4. We pick up the story this morning in Joshua Chapt. 3
--The Israelites were either going to cross the river or stay stuck on the other side just short of
God’s promised blessings
C. Today we stand at the juncture of our own Jordan River
1. The Jordan is a symbol
--It’s the place where you either cross over or settle for being just short of where God wants you
to be
2. We stand poised today to make a choice
a. Following the message, you’re going to hear a presentation from the board concerning the
process of funding a youth minister
b. As you sit and listen to how we can cross our Jordan, be asking God what you can personally
do to help in this important task
--first thing to do before crossing:
I. FOCUS YOUR EYES ON GOD
--Josh. 3:1-3 – 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.”
A. Notice the Israelites had to wait at Shittim for three extra days
1. Sometimes we have to wait on God
a. We think things are ready to move but we’ve figured things according to our timing and not God’s
b. God is the Creator of time
1). He doesn’t measure time the way we do
2). In fact, time is not a limiting factor to God
--2 Pet. 3:8 – But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a
thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
2. The promise to Abraham concerning the Promised Land had been made over 500 years before this
point in time
a. The Israelites had marching around in the wilderness for 40 years
--what was three more days?
b. However, the key is when God says it’s time, it’s time
--no excuse is good enough
B. The key to understanding the time is focusing on God
--notice that the command was “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.”
1. The ark of the covenant was the symbol of God’s presence among His people
--Ex. 25:17-22 – “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a
half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub
on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the
two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them.
The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and
put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two
cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands
for the Israelites.”
2. We have to keep our eyes focused on God.
--When God moves, we’re supposed to move
3. Henry Blackaby, Experiencing God: “We need to see what God is up to around us and then get
involved.”
C. What would have happened if the Israelites would have said, “That’s okay, God. We’ll just stay where
we are”?
--Instead God says here’s the challenge but here’s how you’ll get through it
1. The “Jordan River” – is not a wide river.
a. Normally, it was about 40 feet wide at the widest point.
b. However, in the springtime – the normally narrow river flooded its banks.
--In places it could be around 150 feet deep and as much as a mile wide.
2. God says, “If you want to get across the obstacle, keep your eyes focused on Me.”
II. PREPARE YOUR HEARTS
--Josh. 3:5-7 – Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing
things among you.” 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.”
A. Joshua delivered God’s message to the people
--But the first instruction was that they should prepare their hearts – to consecrate themselves
1. The KJV word is “sanctify yourselves”
--it means to “set apart for service to God”
2. It’s the same word that’s used to refer to the implement and vessels of worship in the Tabernacle and
later in the Temple
--these items were set apart and were to be used solely in service to God
3. To the Israelites it meant they would go through a process of sanctification
--they would wash their clothes, married couples would abstain from sexual relations for a given time,
the people would fast and seek God’s face
B. How many times have we missed God’s blessings because we have failed to prepare our hearts
1. We just say to God: “Here I am. Unclean caused by the pollution of the world. Take me as I am or
forget about me.”
2. When God wants to use us, when He wants to move us, He wants us prepared
--having taken the time to set ourselves apart from the world and preparing ourselves for service to Him
III. LISTEN TO GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS
A. God tells us how He wants things done
1. Sometimes His way seems weird or strange
--Josh. 3:8; 12-13 – “8Tell 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.’” 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of
Israel, one from each tribe. 13And 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.”
2. But that’s because His ways are not our ways
--Is. 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the
LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts.
3. However, His way is always best
--Jer. 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
B. God expects us to do things His way
1. He has a plan and a purpose
2. He always provides a way
--whether it be a way out, a way in, a way over, or a way through
IV. REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
--Josh. 3:9-11 – 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.”
A. God has always gone out in front
1. He led them through the wilderness with a specific manifestation of His presence in front
--Ex. 13:21-22 – By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their
way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
2. He promises us that He will always lead us
a. Dt. 31:6 – God says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for
the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
b. Heb. 13:5 repeats that same promise
c. Jesus, Mt. 28:20 – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
B. God has never failed to do what He said He would do
1. Lam. 3:22-23 – Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never
fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
2. In fact, God is able to do much more than our finite minds could ever hope to see
--Eph. 3:20-21 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
V. WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL
--Josh. 3:12-17 – 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.” 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.
A. God expects obedience
1. Jn. 14:15, 21 – “15If you love me, you will obey what I command.” “21Whoever has my commands
and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too
will love him and show myself to him."
--Lk. 6:46 – Jesus asks, “Why do you call me, ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
2. James 1:22 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
B. God punishes disobedience
1. Disobedience is sin
--James 4:17 – Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
2. Unrepentant sin brings judgment
--Rom. 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death...”
C. God rewards obedience
1. Heb. 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
2. Obedience is simply faith that is put into practice
a. James 2:14, 17 – 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?
Can such faith save him? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is
dead.
b. The word “faith” is used 220 times in the New Testament
1). almost every time it’s used as a verb – a word of action
2). Faith is simply our positive response to what God asks us to do
3, When the Israelites showed their obedience, God did what He said He would do
--But it wasn’t until they acted upon their faith that God did what He said He would do
CLOSE: A. What has God called us to do as a church?
--We’re called to:
1. Exalt God – through worship
2. Express His love to others – through ministry
3. Evangelize the lost – through outreach
4. Edify the saved – through fellowship
5. Equip the saints for ministry – through discipleship
--How well are we responding in those areas?
B. What is God calling me to do as an individual?
1. Is He calling you to a certain form of service in His kingdom?
2. Is He calling you to help someone in need?
3. Perhaps He’s calling you to relationship?
4. How are you going to respond?
