It’s not about what you can see
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
**Specsavers Ad**
Sometimes following God - Feel like needing to go to specsavers.
Sometimes, feel like saying - Lord, show me what you doing - Where am i going - What is the purpose for this.
However, Being obedient people of God means we can’t see much.
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Another sense we need other than sight - Hearing.
Hearing, through God’s Word;
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Title; It’s about what you’ve seen.
*prayer*
Sermon Series;
Small Step for Man, Giant leap for Kingdom.
Sermon Series rooted in truth that our one step of obedience has massive kingdom ramifications.
However, rarely do we have whole picture | Rarely if ever, God shows us whole plan, when asks us to step.
Even Worse, Sometimes, Feels like the battle, mountain, path, not part of the plan, until on the other side.
Where are we?
Joshua 3 | Pivotal point in Isreal’s Histry | Looking at river Jordan | God asks them to cross | Sometimes, that’s all we get to see.
*Uncover picture*
These Guys are staring at Jordan River | You may be Staring at a battle | Let’s see what we can learn.
and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
3 things I want to unpack today;
The Lord goes before you
Concecrate yourself
The Lord will do Wonders among you
Jesus aint looking for anyone to Lead Him | Jesus is looking for Followers | To Peter | Follow and I will MAKE YOU.
Difference between OT and NT.
OT = Distance | NT = Get Close.
In fact:
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Closer you are to Jesus | Easier it is to follow | Not because of Where you’re going | But because of WHO HE IS.
Listen - Not hearing from God | Gives way to hear from someone else.
You know what Enemy wants to do | Make picture bigger | Worse | Create fear.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Flaming Darts = thoughts
When these flaming darts come - Lift eyes just past the battle, and look to the cross.
Need to stop looking at what is in front of you and start looking at WHO is in front of you.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
The Lord goes before you
2nd thing Joshua said = Consecrate yourselves (Sanctify yourselves)
It means to cleanse yourself.
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
Listen | Justified by His Blood | God looks at you He sees JESUS |
Sanctification is process of chipping away your flesh, to reveal more of His Spirit in you.
Michaelangelo picture
Michaelangelo - Saw the person and chipped away the rest. Jesus see’s who you are in Christ and wants to chip away.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Yes I see the battle Lord | See the thing in front of me | but I know Who GOES before ME | and I know what I’m CALLED TO DO
Search my heart O God, Find Any grevious away - Chip away at me Lord | Help me to look more like you.
Lord goes before you
consecrate yourselves
Then third thing;
The Lord will do Wonders among you!
Some of us need to believe that Lord will do wonders among you for HIS PURPOSE.
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
The Lord Goes before you
Consencrate yourself
The Lord will do wonders among you
So these people given 3 instructions - They looking at river - battle;
And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.”
God was using Joshua | Joshua knows they aren’t His words | God told them to STEP IN and Sea will STOP RUSHING - First gotta step;
Joshua 3:15–16 (ESV)
and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away…
Priests stood on dry ground | All Isreal passed over.
Then Joshua told to get 12 stones as memorial - to Remember
It’s not about what you can see - It’s about what you have seen.
Have you seen the cross?
What do we need to know today | If we are going to see battle | But see Cross and step into God’s calling
1. Put God First
If God going to Lead | We have to Follow
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2. No turning back
Have an attitude of “No turning back” | Massive turning point for Isreal;
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
3. It’s not about the what it’s about the who
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
4. There is always a bigger picture
Soccer | Teaching 8 year olds | They have a role | Part of bigger plan | They don’t get it.
I believe every event in my life | Lead me to Christ and here.
Isreal wasn’t just corssing River Jorden | Stepping by faith and obedience into promises of God.
There was something bigger going on.
Might not see it until Eternity | Might only see this;
(Small Picture)
but it’s always part of a bigger picture
(show bigger picture)
and no matter what you’re battling | Facing | Going to end in Fathers Arms.
Church - We have a mission;
To further His Kingdom, right here | We are stepping into River Jordan | folling God | Want to see Revival here.
For you, it’s right where you are | Families | Work etc.
So please know;
1. The Lord Goes before you,
2. So concecrate yourself, cleanse yourself, lean in
3. The Lord will do Wonders through you.