Joshua Pt 2. Crossing over

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Recap first 2 chapters

If you haven’t been with us, a few weeks ago we talked about Joshua taking over for Moses. Moses saw the promised land but would not be able to enter it. Instead Joshua was handed the baton to take the children of Israel into it.

I know that the promised land was a physical place but sometimes I think that the promised land was the name of a place. But what if we reframed it and said that it was the land that God promised them.

I believe that God’s word is filled with promises.

What are you believing for? (Get a few people to talk about what they are believing for)

In all, Everet R. Storms tallied 8,810 promises. It took a year and a half for Storms to compile his lists, including promises by God to man (7,487), one man to another (991), God the Father to God the Son (two), man to God (290) and several other combinations, including nine made by Satan.

Today we are going to pick up Joshua in chapter 3 and the title of today’s message is crossing over.

What are you trying to cross over?

As christians its death to life, bondage to freedom but I want you to be able to identify some areas that you need to cross over before the end of today’s service.

The Prep before the crossover

The end of Chapter 2 we see that Joshua sent over 2 spies to the nearest city which was Jericho. This was were the 2 spies were hidden by Rahab who was a prostitute. Repaying her kindness all she had to do was hang a scarlet rope out of the window and when the Israelites come in and take the city, her and her family would be safe.

We pick up chapter 3 and Joshua and all the Israelites come to the banks of the Jordan.

Joshua 3:5 NLT

5 Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”

Joshua is told to purify himself and the people

After the purification, there would be a miracle.

How to position yourself for a miracle (do you deserve a miracle?)

Salvation is a continual process.

Justification, Sanctification and Glorification

sanctification isn’t a striving for a position with God or trying to gain favor. It’s a drawing near to God

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Joshua 3:7 ESV

7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

You are a miracle

Last week I challenged you to think of some miracles in your life? Anyone want to share your miracle?

The carrying of the ark and it’s importance (the presence and resting place of God) You have confidence when you carry His presence. Scriptures on God with you giving you strength

Joshua 3:8–11 (ESV)

8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.’

In Matt 1:23 Emmanuel - God is with us. God is in your situation with you.

Let’s pick up in vs 13 Joshua 3:13

Joshua 3:13 ESV

13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

The unveiling of God’s plan in your life not knowing how it’s going to work out. (It takes obedience) Scriptures on obedience.

If you know the story, the banks are overflowing. Some scholars believe that the banks of the jordan at the time of this crossing was 2 miles wide.

The bible records that the water was heaped in the town of Adam, which would have been 20 miles away.

Do you know how long it would take for a fast river to move? A fast river moves at 3-5 miles per hour.

Crossing over is more than going from point A to point B

Talk about crossing over for myself this last week

Have worship team come up

The remember when’s of life

Joshua 4:1–7 ESV

1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’ ” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”