Crossing Jordan

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7

This is it! In Joshua 3:6, the Israelites are finally ready to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. They have learned the lessons of the wilderness. They are prepared and purified. Not satisfied to wander any longer, they are ready to follow God into new territory. Are you ready to let God take you where you've never been before? Are you ready to trust and follow Him fully? For He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

It is worth noting that Jesus Himself was baptized in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:16 says, "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." When Jesus entered public ministry, He first submitted to the act of water baptism. At that same time, God demonstrated His anointing by sending the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The name "Jordan" means "descending one". In the Jordan, the Spirit descended on Jesus and empowered Him for ministry. This is the same Spirit that lives in us! God told Joshua in 3:7 that "this day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." Joshua is a picture of Jesus, anointed by God to lead the people into the Promised Land.

Joshua then spoke to the priests and told them to carry the ark of the covenant and go before the people. When they came to the edge of the Jordan, they were to "stand still" in it. In those days the Jordan river was typically 100 feet wide, but fall floods could cause it to be one mile wide and overflowing its banks. Crossing this river in the fall would be no easy task! But Joshua told the people that the crossing of the ark signified that God was with them and would drive out the "ites"of the land (Joshua 3:10). He wanted them to be courageous and have FAITH in their awesome God.

The priests and representatives of the tribes were instructed to put their feet in the river and then the water would divide (Joshua 3:12-13). Jon Courson points out that "forty years previously when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, the water parted before they stepped in. But not this time. When it comes to issues of the Spirit, we're to step in by faith. But what if hands are laid upon me and I seek the Lord's power aggressively, yet nothing happens? I'll feel like a big drip, " we say. So we stay on the bank where it's safe and dry - real dry, dusty dry, wilderness dry. Why doesn't God part the water first? I'm convinced it's because the language of eternity is faith. God uses every opportunity to teach us to see and hear with the eyes and ears of faith. "Step out. Step in. Step up in faith," He says. "And watch and see what I'll do."

So the priests stepped in and "...the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho." Joshua 3:15b-16. For the waters to part at the exact time and point where the Israelites were crossing, God stopped the flow 19 miles upstream! Joshua and the people obviously couldn't see that far. God was working beyond their sight. In fact, He had already been working before their feet touched the water, they just couldn't see it until they stepped in. This is what it means to "walk by faith" - listening to God and stepping out in confidence that He is already at work. When the priests stepped in they "stood firm" until all three million people had crossed over. They stood until the work was completed, on behalf of themselves and the rest of the people.

Jon Courson shares the story of D.L. Moody...
"Evangelist D.L. Moody locked himself in a hotel room in New York City for three and a half days, saying, "I'm not coming out until I know the power of the Spirit has come upon me." On the fourth day, God overwhelmed and overpowered Him to such a degree that he knew without a doubt that he was empowered to do the work God had called him to do."

As he reads the book of Joshua, Courson says, "Lord, I don't want to miss out on anything You have ordained for me." Has there been a moment, a time when you stepped in and stood firm until you knew the Holy Spirit had come upon you? If you're not sure, don't miss chapter 4."

Final Preparations

In Joshua chapter 3, we find the Israelites poised on the edge of the Jordan, ready to cross. How exciting it must have been to finally reach that point after years of wandering in the wilderness and three days of preparation on the banks of the river. That day, Joshua had two final commands for them.

First, "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." Joshua 3:3b

The ark signified the presence of God. When they saw the ark begin to move, they were to go after it. Likewise, when our God is on the move, we need to be quick to follow. Question: are we ready to "set out from our place" - our comfort zone - to follow Him? Or do we find it easier to just stay put? Can we sense when He's on the move or are we too caught up in our own lives to pay attention? God won't force or coerce us to make the right choices (something I'm learning about as a parent). He will communicate His desire and set off in that direction hoping we will follow. It's up to us to listen and obey. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get too far behind the presence of God.

After the Israelites were commanded to follow, Joshua issues a strange instruction. "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." Joshua 3:4

The Israelites were to follow the ark at a distance of approximately 1/2 mile. Jon Courson notes, "It's as if God was saying, "Follow Me, but don't push Me." In past studies, we've been looking at the biblical foundation for being filled with the Spirit. It's not about seeking an experience or getting caught up in emotion. It's about receiving His power for witnessing and living the true Christian life. There are many examples of Spirit-filled believers in Scripture and in our lives today. While it is good to learn from example, it doesn't mean God is going to do exactly the same thing in our lives. He is far more creative than that. Courson puts it well, "People say, "I'm going to have the same experience that he or she or they had." God however, wants to take us where we've never been before. Therefore, it's the wise man or woman who says, "Lord, I want Your anointing. And I'm going to give You space to work it out any way You choose."

The second command Joshua gives the people is to "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." Joshua 3:5

The word "sanctify" in Hebrew means to "set-apart" or "to prepare" for holy use. The people were to purify themselves so they would be prepared to enter the new land. Courson says, "The same thing is true spiritually. A lot of people are trying to be filled with the Spirit when in reality they need to be emptied of sin. They need to say, "Search my heart, Lord. Show me the things that are restricting the flow of Your Spirit." How true this is. We need to keep short accounts with God and ask these questions on a daily basis. The "restrictions" may not even be sinful things, but anything that takes priority over God is an idol. When we pray like this, He is faithful to show us what is getting in the way and restore the flow of intimacy with Him.

Let's not forget that the people were to sanctify themselves in expectation of the "wonders" the Lord would do among them. Purification doesn't have to be a drag. It is exciting to realize what God can do in us and through us when the Spirit is flowing freely. It's worth the effort to let God deal with our "selves". He has amazing things in store.

Questions: Ask the Lord if you are ready to move into fullness of life in His Spirit or if there is anything that still needs to be worked out in your heart. If there is sin, confess it and receive his forgiveness. Ask Him how HE sees you and receive His power to follow while giving Him space to lead.

You Shall Be Witnesses

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

In Joshua Chapter 2, before leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, Joshua sent two men to spy out the land. They thought their job was to spy, but really it was to witness. Upon entering Jericho, they hid in the house of a harlot named Rahab - an unlikely sanctuary. But Rahab's heart was ready for God. She told them that the inhabitants of the land were "fainthearted" after hearing about the victories of the Israelites thus far. She confessed her belief and begged for her household to be saved. So they agreed to spare her family if she would let down a scarlet cord from her window as a sign. Since harlots usually painted their windowsills red, the cord would have formed a cross. What a beautiful picture of witnessing and salvation. Rahab is honored in James 2 and Hebrews 11 as an example of faith. Not only that - she is in the lineage of Jesus. God works in such unexpected ways.

The first act of Israelites in the Promised Land was not one of war, but of witnessing. Yes, they would have to fight and conquer sin in the land, but God was revealing His heart for the people there. He knew who was open and ready to receive His truth. It wasn't by chance that the spies came to Rahab's house. It was God's design. So too, we have to understand that the primary purpose of the Holy Spirit's power in our lives is for witnessing. We will be blessed with greater joy and intimacy with God, but there is a bigger picture.

Jon Courson says it well..."The power of the Holy Spirit is like electricity. It won't enter something from which it can't exit. We want the power of the Holy Spirit. The question is, will there be a place for it to go? When we witness, the power of the Spirit surges through us. There is unbelievable joy in sharing the gospel. A lot of believers go from meeting to meeting looking for some "Holy Ghost high" because they're not witnessing. They go to this convention and that seminar - and the high lasts for a week or two. But after that, they're back in the wilderness because the Holy Ghost was given for the sole purpose of empowering us to share with the Rahabs around us the Good News of the gospel. When we say, "Lord, I'm tired of wandering in the wilderness," He baptizes us in the Jordan and empowers us to be His witnesses. When we say, "I want to share the plan of salvation with my secretary. Empower me," or "I want to talk to my buddy about You, Lord. Make me bold," we'll be empowered in ways we could never have imagined. How long has it been since you've shared the gospel, the plan of salvation, the scarlet cord with someone who's not a believer? By faith, receive the power to be a witness. Awaiting you is a land of milk and honey, fruit and abundance. And you get there by going in as a witness. It's time to cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land of the Spirit-filled life. Come join us on our journey."

Personally, I am very challenged by this lesson. Witnessing has never been my strong suit. But it's not about my strength; that's why I need the power of God's Spirit upon me. God's heart is not to condemn us for our failures, but to convict, empower and release us for His name's sake. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed trying to figure out how to witness to people. But if I'm waiting on the Lord and walking with Him throughout the day, it won't be something I have to figure out. I just need to be prayerful and responsive to the opportunities He provides.

I'm reminded of a song lyric which says something to the effect of "I could live for God's kingdom if I weren't wrapped up in mine." That seems to fit here. When I'm wrapped up in "my kingdom" - my desires, agendas, problems, etc., I'm not receiving God's power and aware of what He's doing around me. Lord, purify my heart and give me a single-minded focus on Your kingdom.