Fueled by Faith

Welcome

Welcome to Tylertown Church!

My name is Cody Clark

Thank you for worshipping with us this morning.

I just wanted to let you know that Pastor Irvin is doing well and is looking forward to being back in the saddle next Sunday to continue our series of Joshua.

Tylertown faithful and everyone that gave, I would like to just give a quick update on our Stimulate Hope Challenge:

As you know, we exceeded our goal of 60 thousand, and we are sitting just over 63 thousand.

We are currently waiting to find out the family that we will get to help and the location that we will get to build.

We are planning on starting that process this summer, we will keep you updated as we get details.

Intro

We are in week 3 of our Courageous series. We have talked about:

Joshua’s calling to deliver God’s people in to the promised land.

The story of Rehab, the prostitute that turned prophetess

Then today, we will get to dive in to Joshua 3.

Read

Joshua 3 ESV

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 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. 4 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.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. 7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” 14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 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), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Teach

1. Word of Faith (vv.1-13)

I wonder what the Israelite people were thinking as they sat before the Jordan river, overflowing it’s banks, with the city of Jericho in the distance. I mean, there was no way that a million people could get across this flooded river. (1 mile wide btw) I wonder if they were filled with hope or hopelessness. There are some situations in our lives when we encounter a big issue or circumstance where we must make a decision. We must ask ourselves, is the juice worth the squeeze? (Left up to us, the big rivers in our lives are usually enough to keep us from crossing. It’s great news for us that when God gets involved, there ain’t no river wide enough)

The thing is, much like Joshua and the Israelites in this passage, we may have doubt with in our own abilities, but we can have faith in the power of God.

While thinking of faith, I am reminded of the HALL OF FAITH in Hebrews 11 where people trusted God to do what he is always faithful to do, work on behalf of his people:

By faith, Abraham believed God, left Ur, and headed for Canaan because he had a Word from God.

By faith, Moses believed God, went to Egypt, made a fool out of the Egyptian gods, and saved God’s people; because he had a Word from God

By faith, Gideon believed God, took a small group of Jews, and put a whooping on a massive Midianite army; All because he had a Word from God

What’s the point: Before there is a work of faith, there is a word of faith

We see 5 different messages given in faith:

1. The officers message to the people (vv.2-4)

The Israelites recieved their marching orders. To leave the camp and march the 10 miles to the edge of the Jordan river.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

They were also commanded to keep a distance between their self and the Ark of the Covenant. They were told to stay back 3000 feet from the Ark of the Covenant. Why? Because it was the presence of God it it was meant to be treated with reverence.

We have community with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus, but may we never lose our reverence for Him.

Psalm 96:9 ESV

9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

The Ark would of been an encouragement to the people because it was the place where His presence rested. This was also a military move because the Israelites were now in view of Jericho, the place they would attempt to conquer. Picture this: you see 1 million people emerge from the tree lines and stop at your front door. Scary or nah?

2. Joshua’s message to the people (v.5)

This message was both an order and a promise, but the promise was contingent upon the order.

Some of God’s promises are unconditional, and all we have to do is believe them. While others require us to meet certain conditions. It’s not that we are earning God’s grace, but it makes sure that our hearts are ready for the blessing.

It’s like the eternal battle of the dinner table when you have children. If you eat your dinner, then you can have that pudding, or donut.

3. Joshua’s message to the priests (v.6)

The priests had arguably the most important job, they were the first in the water. It was the priests who had to get their feet wet before God would open the waters and they had to remain their until the last person had crossed.

The best part about this story is that we don’t have to depend on someone else to carry the presence of God for us.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

The power that the priests put on display in this passage is the same power we have access to everyday, but we just sleep in it like it isn’t a big deal.

4. The Lord’s message to Joshua (vv.7-8)

When Moses led the nation through the Red Sea, it established him as leader. He promised to establish Joshua in the same way as through the Jordan.

Moses and Joshua had recieved their authority from the Lord, and it gave them stature before the people.

It takes authority and stature to be able to lead people.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

5. Joshua’s final message to the people (vv9-13)

Joshua spend most of this time encouraging the people, but it wasn’t a “pep talk”, it was encouragement that came directly from God. Joshua understood very early that true leadership focused more on God and less on the man.

Joshua understood the nature of God and exactly who he is.

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

He is the Living God, the Lord of all the Earth. The real question today, is do we know Him for who he is?

2. Walk of Faith (vv.14-17)

I love these 3 verses because of not only the context, but because it is a challenge in my life.

You see, typically the Jordan River was around 100 feet wide, but at this time of the year, scholars say it could reach up to a mile wide.

I’m am not sure about you, but I am not the best swimmer. I can get from (a) to (b), but I better not have to stop somewhere in between.

I remember when my wife and I had only been dating for a month or two. Right after we had started dating she left to go on a 10 week mission trip in Orlando, Florida. (Torture right?) So about 5 weeks in, I go to visit her and we go to clear water beach. Well I am Mr. Smooth with everything, I’m putting my moves on her, everything is going great, and I see a sandbar about 40-50 yards off the beach.

It did not go well. I swallowed way too much water, ended up puking, and feeling terrible. Not smooth at all.

What’s the point: The Israelites didn’t have to worry about if they could swim or not. Their faith in God just had to be stronger than their inability to swim.

Sure enough, as soon as the priest’s feet touch the water, the water’s parted, and every single person marched across the Jordan River on dry land.

God is not in the habit of failing his people, hopefully that is our testimony back to God.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Respond

What is your Jordan today?

What has God called you through, but you are struggling to be obedient and step out in faith?

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.