SERMON NOTES: October 4th 2020

Speaker: Apostle Chris Baird Title: Moving with God Bible Text: Joshua 3:1-4

3 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”

We have never been this way before in this uncertain world. There is such fear following Covid, the same in the time of Joshua the Israelites had enemies all around them BUT God.

But there must be a preparation, Joshua had to serve Moses faithfully.

God wants faithfulness, obedience and loyalty. To God and to our leaders.

Leaders need loyalty and commitment to get things done. The centurion that came to Jesus knew his authority he had servants that obeyed his command.

When Moses was old God told him he would not go over into the promised land but his servant Joshua would lead the people. Why because he never let Moses down and he would not let God down. God demands faithfulness.

We need God’s help to be faithful and consistent. As we yield to God He will establish this gift of the Spirit.

God does not make useless individuals He has a plan and purpose for our lives. He will see you through and bring you out.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” - Psalm 30:5.

God will make it happen.

Joshua 3: 5-8
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

Now is the time to move. Get ready. Even though the river was at high tide, God called for blind faith, move forward.

Joshua 3:9-13
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

God did it for them and He will part the Jordan for you as well but you have to step into the water. He is the master of the storm and He can calm the storm in your life. He will push the seas away, He is able and He loves you.

God is able to take the clay and mound it into a beautiful vessel.

Joshua 3: 14-17
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

It was time to move but you must move with God. When you do you will face conflict and opposition but you will overcome it. Because there is not a mountain that God cannot move there is not a river He cannot dry up.

Your moment of victory is just around the corner. When God fights for you , your battle is won. We cannot fight in your own strength but if you give it to God He will fight for you and you will win the battle.

Imagine the celebrations when Israel got over the other side.