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TEXT: Joshua 3 and 4
TOPIC: THE CROSSING
BIBLE SURVIVORS SERIES, Message 19
Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Icard,
January 20, 2002
SLIDE 1
George Washington's Christmas Eve crossing of the Delaware River was a catalyst for unity and solidarity - some believe the hand of God was involved.
It was intended as a surprise attack against the Hessian mercenaries on the other side.
However it was just as hard to keep secrets then as it is now.
From their spies the Hessians knew the approximate time of the attack and their forces waited.
Historians speculate that had the Hessian soldiers remained, Washington's fledgling army would have been slaughtered and the revolutionary war would have met a premature end.
But a mysterious occurrence took place at just this time.
About a dozen farmers rushed out of the woods on the Hessian side of the river and fired their muskets at point blank range, killing six of the German mercenaries.
They then turned around and disappeared back into the woods.
They were never heard from again, and no one ever stepped forward to take credit for the attack.
When the Hessian general heard this news he concluded that Washington's army had landed and done their worst.
He recalled his troops to spend Christmas Eve in the warmth and comfort of their tents or the houses in which they were quartered in town.
Two hours later Washington's army landed and surprised the Hessians and the rest is history.
This morning we’re going to see another river crossing that had the effect, if not the express purpose, of unifying and solidifying a commander and his fledgling army - the crossing of the Jordan River.
Unity is important to the church.
In order for there to be broad-based unity there must be congregational unity.
In our disciplemaking philosophy we understand unity is displayed best when we come together in our Sunday morning Celebrations.
We either capture our sense of purpose, vision and unity in Celebration or we lack direction and commitment.
It is to our advantage then to learn from Joshua the factors that contribute to unity in a church.
What we are really going to see this morning are five contributions to unity from Joshua's crossing of the Jordan River.
SLIDE 2
I. UNITY OF DIRECTION VS. 1-4
Joshua cautioned the congregation of Israel, "You have never been this way before."
Their new land was unfamiliar.
Their enemies were ominous and threatening.
The Israelites were to be preceded by the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark of the Covenant was an ornate, golden chest.
If you ever saw the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, then you saw someone's idea of what the Ark of the Covenant may have looked like.
I think the movie was remarkably faithful to the Bible's description of the Ark in Exodus.
Within the Ark of the Covenant were two stone tablets with the ten commandments written on them.
The ark of the covenant represented the presence of God.
The significance here is that God gave direction to the congregation of Israel and they were united by His direction.
Churches are united by God's direction.
Joshua's caution to Israel applies to each new generation of the church "You have never been this way before."
Our church, if you have not recognized it, is a church in transition.
This is a new century, and our transformation is designed to reach the generations of the 21st Century.
Change can be threatening to church unity.
Our enemy is ominous and threatening.
I Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Our tactics are unconventional.
Because of the changes in our world, and the opposition of our enemy, the church must be flexible enough to change some things as well.
QUOTE: Roger Von Oech writes in his book A Whack on the Side of the Head: "Why be creative?
Why challenge the rules?
Why run the risk of failing?
Because of change.
When things change and new information comes into existence, it is no longer possible to solve today's problems with yesterday's solutions.
Over and over again, people are finding out that what worked two years ago, won't work now.
This gives them a choice.
They can either bemoan the fact that things aren't as easy as they used to be, or they can use their creative abilities to find new answers, new solutions and new ideas."
That's why God's direction is so critical to church unity.
A changing culture, threatening enemy and unconventional tactics could set the stage for division unless we're guided by that which is eternal - God.
There is an old saying: "Methods are many, principles are few.
Methods often change, principles never do."
The Ark of the Covenant contained the ten commandments.
That was the covenant, testament, or agreement between God and the Israelites.
We Christians have a new covenant with God - the New Testament.
It is the Bible that goes before the church to give us direction.
God's Word keeps a church headed in the right direction.
No matter what else changes, certain Biblical principles remain constant:
SLIDE 3, Masks 1-5
* The Message of the Church: Salvation by grace through faith.
* The Mission of the Church: To make disciples.
* The Mandate of the Church: To worship and glorify God.
* The Morality of the Church: Holiness and purity
* The Ministry of the church: Service to others.
These things do not and must not change.
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
SLIDE 4
II.
UNITY OF EXPECTATION 3:5, 9-13
Joshua told the congregation to get ready because "The Lord will do amazing things among you."
What was the Lord going to do?
He was going to part the waters of the Jordan river.
A wave of excitement must have washed over the people as they anticipated this event.
They had all heard from their parents the account of the parting of the Red Sea as the Israelites had fled from Egypt forty years before.
The parting of the Red Sea was the keynote miracle of their history.
Now this new generation was united in expectation of God's demonstration of power.'
The church enjoys a unity of expectation.
Every member of FBI should have a spirit of expectation because of the promise to Joshua "The Lord will do amazing things among you."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Add to that God's intervention on our behalf in response to prayer.
ILLUSTRATION: I heard about a church that had spent weeks discussing whether their ancient church should be repaired or if they should build a new one.
The arguments were strong on both sides until finally at one meeting of the entire congregation the wealthiest member of the church stood up to speak in favor of repairing rather than rebuilding.
The generous church member said, "I will give $100 towards the repair of this wonderful old church."
Suddenly, a large lumber truck rumbled down the road in front of the church, shaking loose some plaster from the ceiling which fell on the wealthy man's head.
Shaking off the effects, the man said, "I had no idea how bad this place was in need of repair.
I'll raise my offer to $1000."
At that moment a freight train roared through town knocking even more plaster on to the man's head.
Again said the wealthy donor, "It's much worse than I thought, I'll give $10,000 to fix up this church."
At that point the minister stood up, looked heavenward and shouted "Come on Lord, hit him again!"
God gets involved.
He did not set this world spinning like a top and then step back to watch it run down.
He is actively involved with His creation.
He interacts and intervenes every day.
In response to prayer God heals, protects, provides, sustains, delivers, opens doors and multiplies workers - according to the need.
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