Introduction

Welcome, beloved family of God, to this gathering of hearts and minds in the spirit of worship and discipleship. We are here today, not by accident, but by divine appointment. The Lord has ordained this moment for us to come together, to learn, to grow, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

In the words of the esteemed Charles Spurgeon, "Visit many good books, but live in the Bible." Today, we live in the Bible, in the book of Joshua, chapter 3, verses 1 to 5:

"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 Levitical priests 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 two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.' Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.'"

In this passage, we find three main points of focus: Determination for Divine Direction, Dedication to Devotion, and Discernment in Daily Decisions. These are not just words, but a call to action, a call to a deeper relationship with our Creator, and a call to live a life of purpose and meaning.

How often do we seek divine direction in our lives? How often do we dedicate ourselves to devotion? And how often do we exercise discernment in our daily decisions? These are the questions that we will ponder today, and these are the questions that will guide us in our walk with Christ.

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and open minds, ready to receive your Word. We thank you for this opportunity to gather together in your name, to learn from your Word, and to grow in our faith. We ask that you guide us in our understanding, and that you open our eyes to see the truth of your Word. We pray that you would fill us with your Spirit, and that through this sermon, we would be drawn closer to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

So, let's turn our attention to the first point: Determination for Divine Direction.

Determination for Divine Direction

In the early morning, Joshua and the Israelites set out. He made a determined stride towards the Jordan on a mission, a divine mission, guided by the Lord Himself. They were moving forward, not by their own strength or wisdom, but by the divine direction of God.

They didn’t have a stubborn resolve to do things our way, but a humble submission to God's way. It's not about being headstrong, but about being God-led to achieve His purpose.

When the people saw the ark of the covenant, they were to move out from their positions and follow it. They were acknowledging a divine presence. They were not just following a physical object, they were pursuing a spiritual reality. They were not just moving out of their comfort zones, they were stepping into God's promise.

This is the kind of faith we need in our lives. Not a superficial belief, but a deep-rooted trust. It's not about our sight, but about His vision. He is the one who establishes our steps as He leads us by His Spirit.

Finally, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves, for the Lord was going to do amazing things among them. They were preparing for both a religious ritual and they were anticipating a divine revelation. They were looking forward to a miracle while preparing for a transformation.

Hebrew word study. The term "consecrate" in the original Hebrew text is "qadash", which means to sanctify, to make holy, to set apart. It's used in various other passages in the Old Testament, such as in Exodus 19:10, where the LORD tells Moses to consecrate the people, to prepare them to meet with God. In Leviticus 20:7, the LORD commands the Israelites to consecrate themselves and to be holy, for He is holy. In these passages, we see the same call to dedication, to devotion, to a life set apart for God.

In a similar manner, we need to be having this kind of expectation. It's not about our timing, but about His timing. It's not about our expectations but about His promises.

Transition. In all these aspects, we see the importance of determination for divine direction. It's not about our will, but about His will. It's not about our way, but about His way. It's not about our life, but about His life in us.