Getting out, crossing over and getting in
Joshua faced the impossible. He was the new leader of four million griping, immature, complaining Jews. Moses had led them out of Egypt and now God has raised up Joshua to take them into the Promised Land. However, the flooded Jordan blocked their entrance. Just as the Red Sea had challenged Moses, now the swirling, threatening swift flood waters of the Jordan challenged Joshua. The melting snows on Mount Herman has transformed the gentle stream of the Jordan River into a rushing, muddy, flooded torrent that was nearly a mile wide in some places. Everything about the situation Joshua faced screamed “IMPOSSIBLE!!”
Israel could not see the land of promise from looking at the flooded Jordan. They were on the “wrong side” of God’s Promise and were ready to retreat into the desert. If this is where you are, this message is for you!!
Notice:
1. Joshua rose early in the morning. (1)
Seek God first and seek Him early. Get your priorities in order. Don’t give the devil time to play with your brain… first thing in the morning get before God and seek His face.
2. Face your Jordan… don’t retreat from it!! (1)
“…they came to Jordan…and lodged there before they passed over.” Whatever your Jordan is… face it. Stay with it. Don’t move from it. Lodge with it until it is convinced that you mean business!!
3. When God moves… go with Him!! (3)
The Ark of the Covenant represented the very presence of God. When the Ark moved, the people were commanded to move. When the priests, the Levites (the spiritual leaders of Israel) moved, the people were commanded to move with them. Not against them. Not away from them. But WITH THEM. Israel was commanded to Go After God… do not let Him leave without you!!
4. This is a New Place in God (4)
“You have not passed this way before…” God is taking us into new areas. We are moving into places we have not been before. This is Fresh Revelation, and this is Rhema Word. We are going into places we have not been before, and we will do things we have not done before!! This is the End-Time move and End-Time Purpose of God. It is a New Place, and we must stay close to the Ark (close to God) if we are to know the Way!!
5. Today’s Sanctification brings Tomorrow’s Miracle. (5)
“Separate yourselves for special holy purposes…” Miracles will not unless we deal with sin. “Come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord…” “Touch not the unclean thing…” “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace…” Cleansing is necessary for Spiritual Growth! If you continue in sin, you will not get over your flooded Jordan. If you do not deal with your spiritual shortcomings, you will waste away on the wrong side of the river. Your inheritance will be wasted, and your victory will never come. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and if you defile the temple, you will languish in weakness and be subject to death. The works of the flesh are “…adultery (unscriptural sexual relations), fornication, uncleanness (impurity), lasciviousness (all other types of unlawful sex relations…incest, lesbianism, homosexuality, etc.), idolatry extravagant admirations of the heart), witchcraft, hatred, variance (discord, fussing), emulations (jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (stirring up strife), heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (carousing, obscene music), and such like…” (Gal 5:19-21). The only successful way of dealing with sin is to stop it and refuse to do it anymore. You can if you want to. There is no such thing as “I can’t help it…” You can help it if you want to badly enough!! Don’t let your little personal private sin prevent you from crossing over into the Promises of God!! What God has is MUCH better than the sin that keeps you on the wrong side of Jordan!!
6. Promotion comes from God. (7)
God said: “I will begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel…” If we are to be promoted and exalted, God will do it. He is the One who “raises up and puts down…” Promotion never comes without obedience. Promotion never comes without humility. Promotion never comes without sacrifice. Promotion never comes without total commitment to the Calling God has on your life. The reward for work well done is more work. If you want to be exalted, then humble yourself. If you want to be great, be willing to be small, first. If you aspire to be a leader, you must first be a servant. If you want a crown, then expect a cross. If you really live, you must die first. If you want to have a lot, then give all you have. Promotion comes from God, and it comes God’s way. His way is not our way or the world’s way. His “ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts…” (Isa 55:9).
7. Hear what God Says!! (9)
Know that He is among you!! Know that He will not fail you!! Know that He will drive out all your enemies before you!! Know that the Battle is His and not yours!! Hear the Word of the Lord!! Hear means to hear!! It means to listen to what He is saying. It means to pay attention to. It means to be aware of. It means to Hear His voice above the voices of the world system. It means to hear His voice above the voices of your emotions and your feelings and your reasonings. Hear what God is saying!! Hear it NOW!! “He that hath ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church…”
What is on the other side?
How do we cross over?
“Enter in…”
How did we get here?
Folks, you had better hear what God is saying because nothing else matters!! The world is rushing full speed down a dead-end street. There is a great reckoning time just ahead. We must be tuned in to the Voice of God and we must be ready to move at His command!!
God is going to settle all the scores!! He is going to balance all the books!! Justice will come and Righteousness will prevail!! Hallelujah!!
The people “removed from their tents…” They moved from where they had “settled down…” Moving with God is exactly that… moving!! If you don’t move with God, you tend to get left behind!! Nine times out of 10 Faith is not comfortable!! It requires risk and it involves discomfort. To move with God, we must resist the temptation to build nests. Israel dwelt in tents because God moved so fast. The problem with the modern church is that we tend to “settle down” and get comfortable. If we are to go over flooded Jordan, we will have to get out of our comfort zone.
8. Take the Impossible Step (15)
God has made His move, now it is your move. The waters will never part unless you STEP in them. They will not part when you look at them. They will not part when you wish they would. They will not part when you “pray about it…” They will only part when you step in your impossible flood
Joshua 3:1-17
Note: The Jordan is not “death,” and the Promised Land is not “heaven”. No offence to the song writers and preachers of times past!!
The water will only part when you step in the flood!!
dickbraswell 
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