CROSSING OVER

Subtitle: From Belief to Obedience

Last Sunday… we celebrated THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

We celebrated that the tomb is empty.

That death is defeated.

That Jesus is alive.

HONESTLY.....EVERY SUNDAY IS RESURRECTION SUNDAY

But today is different.

Today is not JUST about what Jesus did.

Today is about what you’re going to do with IT.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH WHAT HE DID?

Because there is a difference between:

believing something is true… and....ACTUALLY stepping into it.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY....

I SAID.....

You can believe Jesus is alive…

and still stand on the edge of the life He died to give you.

TRANSITION

There’s a moment in Scripture that I think perfectly captures this tension.

It’s not the cross.

It’s not the resurrection.

It’s a river.

Joshua 3 NIV

1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 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. 4 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.” 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ”

Joshua 3 NIV

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

SO....PICTURE THIS

The people of Israel have been delivered from Egypt.

They’re no longer slaves.

They’re no longer in bondage.

But they’re also not in the promise yet.

They’re standing at the edge of the Jordan River.

On the other side is everything God promised:

freedom

identity

inheritance

But there’s one problem:

They haven’t crossed yet.

WHICH TELLS US SOMETHING THAT IS TRUE.....

1. YOU CAN BE OUT… BUT NOT IN

Let me say it like this:

Israel was out of Egypt…

but Egypt wasn’t fully out of them.

They were free…

but not living free.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY....

Some of you are in that exact place.

YOU’RE NOT WHO YOU USED TO BE...

You’ve encountered God

You believe in Jesus

But you’re not fully walking in the life He has for you.

You’re out…

but you’re not in.

ILLUSTRATION (PRODIGAL SON – LUKE 15)

The prodigal son comes home.

The father restores him: GIVES HIM A.....

robe

ring

identity

But imagine if the son stood outside the house and said:

“I believe my father loves me…

BUT I just don’t want to go all the way in.”

That would make no sense.

And yet—that’s where some people are..... spiritually.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS TODAY...

“You can stand at the edge of the promise…

and still never experience it.”

OH MY LORD....HELP US

TRANSITION

So here they are—standing at the river.

And the river is not calm.

2. THE WATER WASN’T EASY

Joshua 3:15 NIV

15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,

This wasn’t ankle-deep water.

This was overwhelming.

Unpredictable.

AND Risky.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY...

SOMETIMES TRUSTING GOD

SURRENDERING OURSELVES

AND WALKING AWAY FROM OUR OLD LIFE

CAN FEEL, OVERWHELMING, UPREDICTIBLE, AND RISKY IN OUR EYES

HERE’S THE THING....

God DOESN’T ALWAYS remove the obstacle.

OH COME ON....

HE DIDN’T JUST REMOVE THEIR OBSTACLE IMMEDIATELY

He led them straight to it.

IT WASN’T UNTIL THEY TOOK A STEP OF FAITH

THAT GOD BEGIN TO DRY UP THE WATER

IT WASN’T UNTIL THEIR FEET HIT THE WATER

THAT GOD SHOWED UP

CHURCH....

this is where it connects to us:

Baptism is your Jordan River moment.

It’s the place where:

WHAT WE BELIEVE becomes action

IT’S THE PLACE WHERE faith becomes obedience

IT’S WHERE intention becomes surrender

🔥 ILLUSTRATION (NAAMAN – 2 KINGS 5)

Naaman had leprosy.

The prophet ELISHA told him:

“Go dip in the Jordan River seven times.”

And Naaman got offended AND ANGRY.

Why?

Because it didn’t look impressive.

It didn’t feel necessary.

BUT WATCH THIS...

his healing was on the other side of obedience.

OH MY LORD....SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HERE THIS....

“Sometimes the miracle you want

is waiting on the step you’re avoiding.”

TRANSITION

Now here’s where it gets even more intense.

Because God didn’t split the JORDAN river right away.

WRITE THIS DOWN.....

3. THEY HAD TO STEP IN FIRST

Joshua 3:13 NIV

13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

The water didn’t part until the priests stepped into it.

OH COME ON......

🔥 PREACH THIS MOMENT

CHURCH.....

God DID NOT say:

“I’ll part it first—then you go.”

He said:

“Step in… and I’ll move.”

Some of you are waiting for:

clarity

confidence

AND perfection Before you obey God.

But God is saying:

YOUR breakthrough is in the step.”

OH COME ON....I SAID...

YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS IN YOUR OBEDIENCE TO STEP INTO IT

STEP INTO WHAT PASTOR CHRIS...

THE RESURRECTION, BEING CLOTHED IN CHRIST,

TRUSTING IN HIM FOR DIRECTION

SURRENDERING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....I SAID...

SOME OF YOU ARE STANDING AT THE EDGE

AND GOD IS SAYING......

COME ON IN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER

TASTE AND SEE THAT I AM GOOD

BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES REFUGE IN ME

🔥 ILLUSTRATION (PETER WALKING ON WATER – MATTHEW 14)

Peter says,

“Jesus, if it’s you—call me.”

Jesus says,

“Come.”

And Peter had a moment:

WHAT DO I DO????OH MAN I’M FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW....WHAT IF IT AINT HIM

WHAT IF IT JUST A GHOST

I’M GONNA DROWN.....OH MAN, HERE I GO

OH COME ON......SOME OF YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT

IF I STAY IN THE Boat = safety

BUT IF I STEP OUT ON THE Water = OH LORD....THAT IS RISKY

PETER didn’t walk on water because he understood it…

He walked on water because he stepped out.

HE STEPPED INTO IT

UNDERSTAND THIS....

“You don’t experience the power of God..... standing in the boat.”

THIS IS WHAT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT....

this is exactly what baptism is.

It’s stepping out of the boat.

It’s stepping into the water.

4. BAPTISM IS YOUR STEP

Let’s make this clear:

Baptism is not just a church tradition.

It’s not just a symbol.

It’s a step of obedience that marks a crossing.

🔥 TEACHING MOMENT (CLEAR + SIMPLE)

In baptism:

You go under the water → old life buried

You come out → new life begins

But let me say it differently today:

Baptism is where you stop standing on the edge—

BAPTISM IS WHERE.....you step in.

IT’S GOING PUBLIC WITH YOUR FAITH

IT’S SHOUTING FROM THE ROOF TOP

JESUS IS NOW LORD OF MY LIFE

🔥 ILLUSTRATION (ISRAEL RED SEA – EXODUS 14)

THIS WAS INTERESTING TO ME....

At the Red Sea,

God split the waters first.

But at the Jordan…

They had to step first.

Why?

Because there’s a difference between:

God delivering you

and you LEARNING to trust Him

OH COME ON.....

“God got you out of Egypt—

but now He’s asking you to step into the promise.”

......WORSHIP TEAM JOIN ME.....

5. CROSSING CHANGES YOUR IDENTITY

When Israel crossed:

They were no longer wanderers.

They became people of the promise.

LISTEN TO ME....

Baptism is not just something you do.

It’s where you step into.... who you are.

Not your past

Not your mistakes

Not your labels

But who God says you are.

🔥 ILLUSTRATION (JESUS’ BAPTISM – MATTHEW 3)

When Jesus was baptized:

The heavens opened.

And the Father said:

“This is my Son, whom I love. With Him, I am well pleased.”

UNDERSTAND THIS....

“Before Jesus did anything public—

His identity was declared.”

Baptism is a moment where identity is anchored.

6. YOU NEED A MOMENT TO POINT BACK TO

Joshua 4 — They set up stones. 12 OF THEM REPRESENTING THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL

IT WAS A memorial.

So they could say:

“That’s where we crossed.”

You need moments in your life where you can say:

“That’s when everything changed.”

Not a feeling.

Not a slow drift.

A moment.

“Baptism is your line in the sand.”

FINAL BUILD

I WANNA talk to you plainly FOR A SECOND.

Some of you:

Believe in Jesus

Love God

YOU EVEN Feel His presence

But you’re still standing at the edge.

Watching.

Thinking.

Waiting.

You’ve been close..... long enough.

You’ve been near...... long enough.

You’ve been almost there...... long enough.

Today is not about thinking.

Today is about stepping.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GROUPS HERE TODAY.....

GROUP 1: BELIEVE BUT HAVEN’T CROSSED

You know who you are.

God has already spoken to you about this.

And today He’s saying:

“Step in.”

GROUP 2: NEED TO SURRENDER TO JESUS

LISTEN TO ME....THIS IS TRUTH

You can’t cross into new life

without giving Him your old one.

Today, you can surrender fully.

FINAL DECLARATION

I want to say this over you:

You don’t drift into the promise.

You have to step into it.

You don’t accidentally follow Jesus.

You have to choose it.

And today…

We cross over.

Today we step in.

Today we leave the edge.

Today we stop watching…

and we start walking.

“The water is not what’s stopping you… Hesitation is.”

And today—

we’re done hesitating. 🔥

TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY SAID YES TO BAPTISM….

THEY ARE READY TO STEP IN AND BE BAPTIZED......

SO....

WHAT I WANT TO DO AT THIS TIME IS INVITE ALL THOSE BEING BAPTIZED

TO COME AND PREPARE FOR BAPTISM

MEN TO THE LEFT

WOMEN TO THE RIGHT

WHEN YOUR DONE CHANGING, ILL CALL YOU OUT

PLEASE COME BACK OUT AND LINE UP ON THE RAMP

I WANNA DO SOMETHING I’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE...

I’M NOT SURE HOW IT WILL GO...OR IF ANYONE WILL RESPOND

BUT I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO BE BAPTIZED....

if not today …..we will have another baptism soon

THIS REQUIRES TWO THINGS.....

COMPLETE SURRENDER TO JESUS CHRIST

AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT BAPTISM IS NOT WHAT SAVES YOU

HOWEVER, IT IS OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMAND TO BE BAPTIZED

AND IT IS THE NEXT STEP AFTER SALVATION.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

CAN WE GIVE GOD SOME PRAISE FOR WHAT HE IS DOING IN THEIR LIVES TODAY....

AS WE PREPARE........LET’S STAND AND WORSHIP THE LORD