Those Who Carry Arks

Opening Comments

I first have to give honor to the fatherly figure of our church

We love him, he has been that example for us

Taught us, corrected us when we needed it, we love and appreciate him.

I said this on mothers day, Mothers Day and Fathers Day can be some pretty tough days for some.

It could be because of the absence of a mother or a father

It could be for the loss of a mother or a father

It could be because of the hurt memory of a mother or father

There can be a number of reasons why these two days of the year is hard, a difficult day, a day that brings to the forefront unpleasant memories of the past or even current.

But today I am speaking to the men, the fathers, those that have taken on that extremely important role in someones life.

And I’ll tell, my heart is truly heavy this morning for our fathers and truly the men of our society.

There is a spirit, and let me tell you there is a spiritual fight against our men and our fathers in this world.

The purpose of the fight, is to diminish, relegate, confuse, and distort the role of men and fathers in our society.

And can I tell you, that the enemy is winning.

Data from the United States Census Bureau shows that nearly 18.5 million children grow up without their fathers, which has in return led to the United States owning the title of the world’s leader in fatherlessness.

Furthermore, research indicates that children without fathers at home are nine times more likely to drop out of school and represent 90% of all homeless and runaway children.

And my whole purpose this morning, is not to beat up anyone, in fact, I have no more stats or anything of the kind, but my mission is to implore, to encourage, and to strengthen our men this morning, to strengthen our fathers this morning, and tell you that I don’t care what society may say, I don’t care what the media may say, I don’t care what the enemy may be whispering in your ear, men and fathers you are the linchpin in our world, you are the critical piece in the development of the next generation, and you play a vital role in this church!

Opening Verse

Joshua 3:15–17“15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And 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 crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

Title: Those Who Carry Arks

BEARING ARKS

In Joshua 3:15 we are told that the Jordan was overflowing its banks at the time of the harvest.

This challenge that now lays in front of them, the crossing of the Jordan.

But this was just another challenge in the face of the children of Israel, there up to this point had been quiet a few obstacles or challenges laid in front of the children of Israel, all of which God had seen them through

But we the priests, were to carry, literally and figuratively the brunt of the challenge on this day though, one that is elaborated on in this chapter and the next one.

But its important to point out that the Jordan is at flood stage, a dilemma in itself.

Being at flood stage was very dangerous.

Unpredictable currents, whipping waters from side to side. Dealing with the Jordan at this state was no easy task.

I’m reminded of when I lived down in the lower desert and the Whitewater River ran through pretty much the middle of the Coachella Valley, but until they built the bridges over the river, there was just big storm drain pipes that the water would go through, but during the winter when the heavy rains would come, they would overpower the pipes and start to run over the road, and people would try to cross even with the water several feet high on the road. It was kind of funny because the local news would then bring breaking reports of cars floating down the river because they got swept away.

It was also funny because people would try to go tubing down the river…

This is the picture of the Jordan.

The banks were overflowing.

Then to consider that these priests stepped down into the edges of this frothing and boiling water is almost beyond belief.

Just to do this was a test of their faith and of their obedience.

And we read but you really gotta put yourself in their shoes and wonder what was going through the minds of the priests

“I know the Lord said for us to do this, but…did He really say to do it now?”

“Has Joshua seen the waters, they are at flood stage, shouldn’t we wait for calmer days”

But whatever questions went through the minds of the priests, their actions did not reflect them.

And with the ark in hand, they followed the word of the Lord.

Upon the priest stepping foot in the Jordan, the power of God went into overdrive.

The waters that were rushing from up the river were dammed up.

Downriver it was if someone had turned off the faucet.

The huge volume of water on the north side formed a large wall and stood in a heap.

Open a way for the children of Israel to cross on dry ground…

Can I tell someone this morning, your obedience is what God is looking for…

Your willingness to follow, “thus sayeth the Lord”, is what gets the attention of God.

When you step out in faith, when you test out the Word of God, thats what gets Him excited.

Oh Bro so and so is trying me out, I’m going to start pouring out a blessing, or I’m going to start damming up the rush river river that is between them and their promise.

I think God gets excited when we truly take Him at His word.

If God said it, I’m going to do it, if God directed it, I’m going to follow.

The Weight of the Ark

The faith of the priests…but lets also take a look at the weight of the ark or the responsibility of the priests…

They were bearing the Ark of the Covenant while all the people of Israel passed over to the other side.

They could not move or let the Ark down even for a rest, they had to shoulder their responsibility.

The Ark of the Covenant being about 3 ½ feet by 2 feet and it was covered with gold on the inside and the outside.

Taking into account the density of the acacia wood, the gold overlay, the ark could have weighed up to 1,900 lbs.

That means that each priest was responsible for a significant amount of weight to bare and carry

Men, the responsibilities we bear as the priests of our homes are substantial, and we cannot afford to neglect our duties.

We have to be spiritual men first and foremost and if we can do that, everything else has a tendency to take care of itself.

There are always going to be rivers at flood-stage that stand between us and the grapes in the Promised Land.

But we have to cross them, we can’t go around them, we can’t build a bridge over them, we just have to stand on the Word of God, and go through them.

God has always made everything worth having difficult to get to.

He puts oil thousands of feet below the floor of the ocean.

He puts gold down in places that they have to be mined out.

He places pearls in the sea and we have to dive down and dig them out.

He places the potential in the seed that only comes alive through the work of farming.

If this is the case for material, earthly things, there has to be the same understanding that it will apply toward spiritual things also.

Spiritual character only takes place when men are willing to cross spiritual Jordans.

No man just happens to fall into greatness, much less spiritual greatness.

He knows much about the Scriptures because while others were living it up, he was wrestling with the Word.

He grasps the powerful principles of Scripture because while others were sleeping he was working in the Word.

He wrestled with himself; he fought down his carnal appetites and replaced them with spiritual feasts.

He toiled and pushed in prayer until the breaking of the day until he was marked by the Spirit.

He ran the disciplined Christian life and it turned him into a marathoner in the Spirit.

He looked at material possessions as ways to invest into the Kingdom of God rather than to flash around to impress his peers.

Fathers/Men we have to be willing to invest in the things of the spirit

We have got to be willing to develop the spiritual disciplines, not only for ourselves, but also for those that follow us.

We have got to be willing to set aside our own desires, our own hurts and heartaches, our own carnal appetites, and follow after the things of God.

And when we do, God is going to give us the strength to cross those Jordan Rivers that get in our way, He is going to give us the strength to carry the weight of the Ark, while are family and followers cross into the Promise Land.

It can be wearying and discouraging but there will come a day when we understand the power of what has been done through our devotion to God.

There were come a day when we partake of the promise land with our loved ones at our side, and realize that it was through our obedience that God made a way when there didn’t seem to be a way.

Fathers/Men I want to encourage you this morning, I know the weight of responsibility is heavy, but there is a God that bring you through.

Don’t give up, don’t let the ark down, don’t give in to the pressure, don’t subject yourself to the enemy’s lies.

You are making a difference, you are able to see reach the other side with your loved ones.

The Strength of the Priests

But if there is a heavy weight of bearing the Ark. . . there is also the strength of the priests to match the challenge.

Joshua 3:17 “17 And 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 crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

This verse indicates to us that there was a strength that bore the weight and responsibility of their burden.

There was a solid foundation that they were standing on.

They did not rely on their own abilities or their own understanding

It was not a confidence in the laws of nature that the waters were held back.

They simply had a confidence in God that He was going to help them to overcome.

And their faith came from the fact that there were some victories in their past where they had witnessed the powerful hand of God in operation.

They referred to the parting of the Red Sea.

They referred to the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

They referred to their past, and those past demonstrations of God’s miracle working power, gave them the strength to carry the ark, and stand in the middle of the Jordan.

And there are some folks, under the sound of my voice, that you need to look in your past, to gain some strength, so you can stand!

You’ve got to look back to the times when God healed you, if He did it then, He could do it again.

You’ve got to look back to the times when God delivered you, if He did it then, He could do it again.

You’ve got to look back to the times when times were tough but you adhered to His word in your first fruits, and God supplied your every need, if He did it then, He could do it again.

I want to encourage some men and some fathers, if God has done it once before, He can do it again.

if God brought you through one trial, He can bring you through another trial.

There is strength in your past, there is the ability to stand when you look at all the things that God has done for you.

Despite the fact that the job they were attending to was very challenging, God empowered them to accomplish the task.

And so our task in this life is to fulfill the Great Commission.

And Fulfilling that Great Commission starts with our families, wife, children, loved ones, those that are in our immediate circle of influence.

Hey I love all you, I care about you, I want to see everyone make it to heaven, but my priority along the way is to see my family saved.

I want to see them cross the Jordan, as I am holding up the ark and make it to the Promise Land.

I have to see them, walk by me as I hold up the ark, and walk into the Promise Land.

Men, Fathers, the way we accomplish such a feat is to simply STAND!

We may have the weigh of the world on our shoulders.

I never thought I would have to make some of the decisions I have had to make…

I would have never thought I would have to fight some of the battles that we have had to fight…

I would have never though I would have to combat some of the ideology that is in our schools and the world we live in…

I’ll tell you what, parenting is tough in this day and age…

But I’m convinced that if we would just stand, stand for what’s right, stand for truth, stand for worship, stand for holiness, stand for Godliness, stand for love and compassion, God will give us the strength to cary the load that we bare.

If we would simply step out in obedience and STAND!!!!

The priests stood in the Jordan until all the children of Israel passed through the parted river.

They occupied a place of honor and danger (most see only the honor and never the danger).

They had to endure the test of courage and of patience.

They had to overcome their own weariness and discomfort as they held up the Ark. (Few realize the cost that is involved in the anointing that they get to walk by on the way to the Promised Land.)

The presence of the priests held back the tide of the Jordan which was at a flood stage.

dThe presence of the priests blessed others.sd

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I wonder…

What if they would have given in to weariness?

What if one or two or three of the priests would have left their responsibility?

What if they would have lost their courage when they looked at the walls of water?

What if they would have given into the laziness of the day?

You ought to thank God from the depth of your soul if you have a father in your life that is unwavering in his commitment to hold the anointing of God!

The duty of the priests held back the water, kept the ground dry, and provided a safe passage.

I doubt anyone came by and told them to keep their heads up.

I am certain that those passing by were more worried about getting across than they burden they were bearing.

I have a feeling that the priests probably felt unappreciated and ignored throughout the whole process.

I am certain that the children of Israel were probably more intent on looking at the massive wall of water behind the priests than paying attention to them.

But despite all of these things, they understood there was a deeper thing to attending to their duties.

They realized that safe passage to the next place depended on them.

I am encouraging every man, father and grandfather to never give in to compromise, never give in to the weariness, and to laziness.

I am encouraging you to be courageous and to patiently endure until all of your family and loved ones make it safely across this treacherous Jordan.

Men, when you stand, people are saved

Don’t Underestimate Your Strength and Influence

Fathers. . . take your stand on the crucial and important things of life!

There must be someone to stand in our generation.

When all sorts of people, preachers, and churches are waffling about on things that we have always believed, we have to stand!

Don’t get confused about what is taking place it is the threshing and winnowing of the Church at the hand of God.

Don’t be surprised at who is backsliding . . . just let it take you closer to the Lord!

Get a grip on the Truth!

Stand for the power of the Scriptures.

Stand for the necessity of Holiness.

Stand for the values of separation from the world.

Stand for the tenets of Apostolic doctrine.

Stand for the Truth.

Don’t be afraid to try the spirits of men by the Word of God.

A father who is bearing an Ark will love the old paths.

He will be hungry for preaching that defines what holiness is all about.

Somewhere, somebody has to take a stand and it may as well be a father.

Those priests who bear the Ark need to find a translation to our times and become men who are willing to bear the Ark.

We ought to honor every godly father who is doing his best in our times!

I know a lot of fathers that are doing their best to get you out of the riverbed and into the Promised Land!

You ought to do everything you can to help that father who is also a servant of the Lord!

We must give our obedience to God and let Him take care of the outcome.

I encourage every man to keep your feet in a firm place, to keep your hand on the handle of the Ark, and keep your head up.

So much depends on what you are doing in this generation.

CONCLUSION—TAKING OWNERSHIP

Going to ask all of our men, fathers, grandfathers, especially come, but certainly all the men.

Ladies, I appreciate you so much but our men need to be strengthened today.

Men, I want you to link up with another man.

You are those who carry arks!

You are the ones who carry truth, you are the ones who carry the presence of God in your homes and your surroundings.

You are the ones who carry the example of Godliness, and blessings, and the statutes of God.

You are the ones who hold off the raging waters of the Jordan, to allow the people of cross on dry ground.

You are the ones…no one else.

And I know that this world says that you’re not required, you’re not needed, you’re masculinity is toxic and destructive, but that is the enemy working because he knows that if the priests lay down the ark, if the priests take a back seat, if the men, the fathers, the grandfathers, give in to the pressure, there is an entire civilization that won’t reach the Promise Land.