The Entry

Introduction

Leadership camp in D.C.

Spending a lot of time in workshops and listening to speakers.

Etiquette training and dances. Touring Mount Vernon.

But, also, they let us roam around Washington D.C.

Crazy!! Here’s how to use the metro subway system and be back by 4:30 PM.

One memorable night where we went on a bus tour.

Vietnam Memorial. Lincoln Memorial. Washington Memorial. Iwo Jima.

As you drive around the circle drive it gives the illusion of the flag being hoisted.

A reminder of the sacrifices made to shape what America is and who America is.

The Israelites were crossing into the Jordan but they also needed to make a concerted effort to remember what and who they were.

They were to be a nation of Faith.

Personal Faith

vv. 1-7

Chit Chat cards.

Grab 12 stones from the river. Unique stones that they would set at their camp.

This would create a unique formation! River stones are unlike other rocks.

It would stand out as a reminder and as proof of what the LORD had done!

But, also as a conversation starter with their children.

Joshua 4:6 ESV

that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’

But, notice the personalization of the question? “…to you?”

This faith that the Lord is calling them into is a personal faith.

Legacy would only get them so far. As they looked back a generation, one that failed. The next generation could look back, at the one that succeeded.

But, they, as the next generation, would need to look at themselves as a generation of faith as well.

This is like what Jesus asked his followers.

Mark 8:29 ESV

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Well, what about you?

Legacy only carries your faith so far.

But never far enough! Regardless of how faithful your parents were…

Following Jesus is a personal decision.

Visible Faith

vv. 8-10a

Two stacks of stones.

One would be placed in Gilgal, close to where they crossed over.

The second Joshua placed.

Joshua 4:9 ESV

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.

When the Jordan River would be in the drought season, basically the other nine months, the top of these rocks would be visible.

Marked the very spot where the priests stood allowing the people to cross.

Families making the trip out there to see the evidence of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s faith.

What about your faith? Can others see the evidence of it?

David Otis Fuller, who passed away in 1988, had written a question in one of his books, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Billy Graham would often incorporate that question into his sermons:

Just imagine for a moment that you are going to court on the charge, “This person is a Christian.” Of course, to convict, the charge would have to be proven.

Now, among the evidence that would not be accepted in court would be items like jewelry, or clothing, or bumper stickers.

No, the only evidence that would count to convict you would be the way you live.

Would your ministry activities in your church be such that it could be evidence?

What if the authorities searched your vehicle or your house: would they find anything incriminating?

What would they find if your bank statements were brought before the court?

Any evidence of following Christ there?

If the people who know you best were called to testify under oath, what would they offer up as evidence? After interviewing your boss and your co-workers, your neighbors and your family, would the court convict you of being a Christian.

Or would they acquit? Would the judge’s gavel come down with a bang as he said, “Case dismissed for lack of evidence”?

Faith in Jesus will make an observable difference in your life.

What does your life tell others about Jesus? The Bible? Church? Your eternity?

Does your faith influence towards or away from Jesus?

Ready Faith

vv. 10b-14

I love how that part begins, “The people passed over in haste.”

They knew the danger! What if the waters suddenly broke free?

Yet, God was not going to allow that to happen! Not to His children!

But, another image that we see here is the vanguard tribes.

Joshua 4:12–13 ESV

The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho.

They were not going expecting everything to be done for them, but were going over expecting to see action, to be a part of what God was going to do.

Growing up, didn’t enjoy farm work in the moment. But, there was a satisfying sense of accomplishment at the end. Building fence…then being able to look back and see what you had accomplished.

It is cause to celebrate when we see service days in the community, but how much more satisfying when we have done it ourselves.

Is it great to hear the report of a missions team, but how much more satisfying when you were the one involved in going and doing the work?

It is a reason to praise when someone accepts Jesus Christ, but how much more satisfying is it when you were the one who shared the Gospel with them?

Christianity is not a spectator faith.

God chooses to involve us in His work, may we be ready!

Fulfilled Faith

vv. 15-18

He's still working on me To make me what I need (oughta) to be It took him just a week to make the moon and stars The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient He must be 'Cause He's still workin' on me

The underlying truth of that children’s song is a deep truth.

He’s still working and He will continue working until He is done.

He continued watching over the Israelites as all of them crossed over and as the twelve men picked out their stones and as Joshua built his memorial. Only then, once the priests left the dry river bed (v. 18b) did God allow the water to return. Again, twenty miles away!

God is still building up your faith.

Sanctification. It’s a process. Takes time. Can be frustrating as we wait for others to grow more and, if we are honest, as we grow more.

God has promised to perfect your faith.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Continue moving forward knowing that God is there with you, guiding and strengthening you.

Expanding Faith

vv. 19-24

Gilgal. Serves as a holy site for the early days in Canaan, until Shiloh is established and eventually Jerusalem after that. Samuel announces and anoints Saul. Base for Elijah and Elisha. Hosea and Amos speak of it as a place for pilgrimages and sacrifices. It served as a base of operations for Israel during the conquest.

And each time the tribes would return from expanding their territory, they could see the memorial of 12 stones.

Expansion grows from a single location to a global impact.

Joshua 4:24 ESV

so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

This is the same calling on the local church.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We grow from here at Eastwood, throughout the metropolitan area, across the state and our nation and even to the ends of the earth.

This expansion requires a strong starting point. An initial point of connection to serve as a reminder.

You need to be connected to the local church.

The rickety bridge of on-line church or virtual services. We understand why we’ve been doing it. But, we all look forward to February 14th.

There is also an emphasis on having strong families to build up that community of faith. Part of why these memorials were constructed was so their children could ask questions about the faith of their parents and here their stories of why they trust God.

Conclusion

This last summer, we rented an RV and drove and drove and drove. We were just a few miles south of the Canadian border. Three National Parks: Grand Teton, Glacier, and Yellowstone. Six different states and we liked to make a note of when we entered a new state. But, regardless of what border we crossed, it didn’t change our identity.

When the Israelites crossed that border, it changed their identity. Now they were the people who were fulfilling the Covenant that God had made with their forefather, Abraham. When they crossed the border it represented them leaving behind their old ways and entering into a new life with a new identity.

When we become followers of Jesus, it changes us. Even more than the Israelites were changed. Who we are is changed. What we desire changes. How we treat others. We leave behind selfishness and a desire for sin and strive for righteousness and loving our neighbors.

Jesus changes us.

And I invite you to experience that change of identity. Discover your purpose in Jesus Christ.