Joshua 3:1–5 KJV 1900

And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

JOSH. 3

SANCTIFY YOURSELVES

SANCTIFY YOURSELVES

TEXT: “And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” ().

INTRODUCTION: The key to victory is “Sanctify yourselves.”

We have the promise, “The Lord will do wonders.”

I. Consider the setting.

A. For forty years Israel had the “pillar of fire” by night and the “pillar of cloud” by day.

B. Now they are to follow the “ark of the covenant” across the Jordan River (see ).

Joshua 3:15–17 KJV 1900

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, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

But they have the promise

Joshua 3:10 KJV 1900

And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

II. Consider the command: “Sanctify yourselves.”

A. They were to cleanse and purify themselves. This was within their ability. They could and must put away uncleanness.

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

B. They were to dedicate themselves to God’s purpose and instructions.

III. Consider the promise: “Tomorrow the Lord will work wonders among you.”

A. God could not work through unsanctified hearts.

B. The Lord will ask them to do things that would paralyze with fear unsanctified hearts. He commanded the priests to step into the waters of an overflowing river. And wonders did follow.

C. A few days later God commanded them to march around Jericho. Unsanctified hearts would have laughed at God’s commands, promises, and methods. But wonders did follow.

D. There were dangers and perils ahead for unsanctified hearts. We need only think of Achan (read ).

Joshua 7:1 KJV 1900

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

josh. 7

APPLICATION:

“Sanctify yourselves.” This is also spoken to us.

“The Lord will work wonders among you.” This promise is also to us.

issues the same call to God’s children.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

, likewise sounds the command and the promises.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 KJV 1900

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Cor. 6:14-