CROSSING THE JORDAN (3)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Crossing the Jordan
(Text: Joshua 3:1-17)
1. What is the text all about?
a) As the Israelites prepared to enter the land and divide up the territory, Joshua reminded them that God is Lord of the whole earth, not just one part of it. Understanding this truth delivers us from thinking of our church, our nation, our family, or ourselves as the central figures on God's stage. We are not central; God is. Although we are infinitely valuable in God's sight, we must realize that he is weaving a grand design much larger than our personal interest and limited perspective. God doesn't exist to grant us personal success in all we do. We exist to serve him and fulfill his desires.
b) The Israelites were eager to enter the Promised Land, conquer nations, and live peacefully. But first they had to cross the flood-level waters of the Jordan River. God gave them specific instructions in order to cross, the priests had to step into the water. What if these priests had been afraid to take the first step? Often God provides no solution to our problems, until we trust in him and move ahead with what we know we should do. What are the rivers, or obstacles, in your life? In obedience to God, take the first step into the water.
c) God had parted the waters of the Red Sea to let the people out of Egypt (see Exodus 14), and here he parted the Jordan River to let them enter Canaan. These miracles showed Israel that God keeps his promises. God's presence among his people and his faithfulness to them made the entire journey from Egypt to the Promised Land possible. He was with them at the end of the wandering just as he was with them in the beginning.
d) The Israelites crossed the Jordan River in the spring when it was overflowing its banks. God chose the time when the river was at its highest to demonstrate his power - parting the waters so that the entire nation could cross on dry ground. Some say that God used a natural occurrence (such as a landslide) to stop the waters of the Jordan; others say he did it by a direct miracle. In either case, God showed his great power by working a miracle of timing and location to allow his people to cross the river on dry ground. This testimony of God's supernatural power served to build the Israelites' hope in God and to give them a great reputation with their enemies, who greatly outnumbered them.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we would experience God's supernatural miracle of healing and restoration in our relationship with one another.
The End ...
0. Introduction a) Crossing the Jordan
(Text: Joshua 3:1-17)
1. What is the text all about?
a) As the Israelites prepared to enter the land and divide up the territory, Joshua reminded them that God is Lord of the whole earth, not just one part of it. Understanding this truth delivers us from thinking of our church, our nation, our family, or ourselves as the central figures on God's stage. We are not central; God is. Although we are infinitely valuable in God's sight, we must realize that he is weaving a grand design much larger than our personal interest and limited perspective. God doesn't exist to grant us personal success in all we do. We exist to serve him and fulfill his desires.
b) The Israelites were eager to enter the Promised Land, conquer nations, and live peacefully. But first they had to cross the flood-level waters of the Jordan River. God gave them specific instructions in order to cross, the priests had to step into the water. What if these priests had been afraid to take the first step? Often God provides no solution to our problems, until we trust in him and move ahead with what we know we should do. What are the rivers, or obstacles, in your life? In obedience to God, take the first step into the water.
c) God had parted the waters of the Red Sea to let the people out of Egypt (see Exodus 14), and here he parted the Jordan River to let them enter Canaan. These miracles showed Israel that God keeps his promises. God's presence among his people and his faithfulness to them made the entire journey from Egypt to the Promised Land possible. He was with them at the end of the wandering just as he was with them in the beginning.
d) The Israelites crossed the Jordan River in the spring when it was overflowing its banks. God chose the time when the river was at its highest to demonstrate his power - parting the waters so that the entire nation could cross on dry ground. Some say that God used a natural occurrence (such as a landslide) to stop the waters of the Jordan; others say he did it by a direct miracle. In either case, God showed his great power by working a miracle of timing and location to allow his people to cross the river on dry ground. This testimony of God's supernatural power served to build the Israelites' hope in God and to give them a great reputation with their enemies, who greatly outnumbered them.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we would experience God's supernatural miracle of healing and restoration in our relationship with one another.
Comments
Post a Comment