When The Jordan Stands Before You Series

WHEN THE JORDAN STANDS BEFORE YOU

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Joshua 3:14-17

Key Verse:

“And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water... that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap.” (Joshua 3:14-16 KJV)

Supporting Texts: Isaiah 43:1-3; Exodus 14:13-16; Psalm 114:3-7; Hebrews 11:29

INTRODUCTION:

Life’s journey is filled with various rivers and obstacles that seem impossible to cross. These represent the “Jordans” that stand between us and our promised destinies. For Israel, the Jordan River stood as a final barrier before they could enter the land of promise. Likewise, every believer will face seasons when progress seems impossible, and hope seems distant.

The Jordan symbolises anything that blocks your advancement: a stubborn problem, a financial limitation, a health crisis, or a spiritual challenge. But the God who led Israel through the Red Sea and the Jordan River remains the same today. He is still in the business of parting waters and clearing impossible paths.

When the Jordan stands before you, fear not. The God of breakthrough is still at work. He uses obstacles as opportunities, commands His presence to go before His people, and performs wonders that silence every opposition. When you trust Him completely, your Jordan will surely part before you.

1. GOD USES OBSTACLES TO DISPLAY HIS POWER

God often allows His children to face impossible situations so that His power can be revealed. What appears as a dead end is actually a divine stage for God’s glory to manifest.

a) Obstacles are platforms for divine glory (John 11:4)

When Lazarus was sick, Jesus declared that the sickness was not unto death but for the glory of God. Many times, our problems are not punishments but divine setups for God’s power to be seen.

b) God turns impossibilities into testimonies (Exodus 14:21-22)

When Israel faced the Red Sea, God did not remove the sea, He divided it. In the same way, God does not always eliminate problems; He makes a supernatural way through them.

c) Obstacles build faith and endurance (Romans 5:3–5)

Trials are spiritual training grounds that refine believers and strengthen their trust in God. Without obstacles, faith remains weak and untested.

d) What is impossible with man is possible with God (Jeremiah 32:27)

No river is too deep, no mountain too high, and no situation too hard for God to handle. His power knows no limits.

Biblical Example:

When the Israelites stood before the Red Sea, God turned their obstacle into a testimony of deliverance (Exodus 14:21-31). What was meant to drown them became the grave of their enemies.

2. DIVINE PRESENCE MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

The difference between defeat and victory lies in the presence of God. The Ark of the Covenant symbolised God’s presence with Israel, and when it went before them, the Jordan could not resist.

a) The presence of God precedes breakthrough (Joshua 3:11-13)

The priests bearing the Ark stepped into the water before the people. Wherever God leads, the impossible must bow. His presence clears every obstacle ahead.

b) Without God’s presence, there can be no success (Exodus 33:14-15)

Moses understood that divine presence is the true mark of distinction. No man can cross his Jordan without God’s abiding presence.

c) Nature bows before the presence of the Lord (Psalm 114:3-7)

The sea saw God and fled; the Jordan was driven back. Mountains skipped like rams before the presence of the Almighty. When God shows up, creation responds.

d) God’s presence gives courage in the face of fear (Psalm 16:8)

When we keep the Lord always before us, fear loses its grip, and faith rises to the challenge.

Biblical Example:

David faced Goliath not with physical might but with divine presence (1 Samuel 17:45-47). The awareness of God’s presence gave him confidence and victory over a seemingly impossible battle.

3. OBEDIENCE ACTIVATES DIVINE INTERVENTION

The pathway to divine miracles often lies in complete obedience. The moment the priests obeyed and stepped into the Jordan, the miracle was triggered.

a) Obedience unlocks the miraculous (Joshua 3:15-16)

The water did not part until the priests’ feet touched it. Faith without obedience is powerless; it is obedience that activates divine action.

b) Simple obedience leads to supernatural results (John 2:5)

When Jesus instructed the servants at Cana to fill the pots with water, their obedience brought about an extraordinary miracle. Small acts of obedience can yield great manifestations.

c) Partial obedience delays divine manifestation (1 Samuel 15:22)

Saul lost his throne because he obeyed halfway. God desires complete obedience, not convenient obedience.