Crossing Jordan (Part B)

This is one of the great differences of living in the wilderness are now entering into the promised land. Now it's meaningful before it was survival. Now this is meaningful. This is my land, the sole of my foot takes this is my cornfield being field or whatever is God's given it to me. I have given along with this gift I have these responsibilities that I have to pursue so it says here this day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick with his continuing study called crossing Jordan in Joshua chapter 3 duty does not send you feel like standing watch tonight. Are you in the mood for guard duty. If you ever pull guard duty. You know it's a hateful thing just walking around waiting to shoot somebody. Maybe most of time.

It's not that way at all, but that is not something we should tremble in the face of will get through it. God will use us. Nonetheless, in fact, while we go through these moods and these things then we get around people unbeknownst often to us. Those moods were shaping us to be the people that we are where God needs us to be 10 times in this chapter the ark is mentioned the presence of God, we will believe Christ is our understanding. His presence is with us all the time, which is confusing were not feeling so good about things. What is God supposedly know open the heavens and peeked down thanks where is okay when he said that in his word. We have to be trained function. Nonetheless, verse three. Speaking of the presence of God. He says, and they commanded the people, saying, when you see the Ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priest Levites bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it 10 times the ark is mentioned in this chapter alone the ark of the covenant emphasizing the continued presence of God. Yes, they have the Shekinah early that's going to stop now. Along with the manna the ark is going to lead them in their being weaned off of visual contact with the presence of God learn to live by faith. Now this Arctic of the covenant was, not something for their eyes, but this is may have been the most somewhat of an exception, the sacred chest that the priest were carrying on this occasion and in the chest. We know what was the other three items. The two tablets of the law. One table dealing with God and man. The first table. The second table dealing with man and man in the presence of God then will there was the rod of Aaron that dead stick that actually bought it almonds miraculous authority of God's anointing on his chosen ones.

There was a pot of manna that God promises his provisions as the rule of God the guidance of God and the provisions of God. All symbolize anymore in that chest because the lids spoke of the miraculous sovereignty of God in mercy is called the mercy seat. Everything was under the mercy seat cherubim. They the emblems of the created emblems, living emblems, because our God is a living God and so are his created beings of these fitting symbols that they were walking with the Arkin that God had gone mobile before them and in another way, representing the say that is this is his mobility. Now their other gets it doesn't stay that the types do not type sort of are like a shooting star state. They go across. You got it you enjoyed it but they don't stay in go back and forth and going to make figure eights like sky writers types of the same way they make their point. But you cannot keep keep them sustained them and to make 2030 other points with her some point drops off this are being carried by the priest that is unique numbers chapter 4 we read this when the cam prepares to journey Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the testimony with it.

So when the ark of the covenant that the tent to the tabernacle of the dwelling place of God was in operation at this point it's probably being on this third day, it's being broken down as you would take a tent down and being prepared to carry over Jordan and the ark would be up in front but the holy of holies that veil that separated the holy place, from the holy of holy place the priest would take it down and they would cover the ark so no one could see it. Which means that it was likely covered as the carrying I could've been an exception but would be out of line when the does not mention that way and of course it speaks of other things to us to because for so many people, the unseen is unreal. They just can't take it by faith that beneath the covering. There is the chest with its contents. Even if you can't see it by faith. You accept that Moses wasn't lying to us. Joshua was not lying to us. The priest lying to us.

We take their word for it as godly men well when we come to Christ we take his word for it because he has his way of making us understand that faith is not just believing something for the sake of believing that there are reasons why we believe what we believe.

For me it was the voice, the voice of the Lord spoke to me just I just knew that this was a present. I knew I was guilty in the presence of his word, and I knew he was ready to forgive me out on me with forgiveness and he did just that there are laws and rules and there are other laws and rules. There are ways to perceive and know that go beyond site.

That is what faith is all about.

Spurgeon says this about seeing God's is when a man gets a clear view of the holiness of God.

It is all over with all claim of personal excellence.

From that day, he abhors himself in the dust and ashes, he that looked into the face of the sun is blinded by its light to all other light and and Spurgeon of course you can be a little flowery.

Of course, why not. Nothing wrong with it if it makes sense and is not too long. If the Myers and he could be very flowery for those of you with be my wrist but still makes sense. Spurgeon says what you're seeing God everything changes you see yourself. What used to see yourself. This is miraculous because nothing else doesn't like this and this like looking into the sun you blinded by that light nor the light you can you now see what a waste of seeing that sunlight says here in verse four and the priest Levites bearing it that double insistence with the priest were Levites.

They just were not co-half-light so that part of the of the Levitical clan who were entrusted with transporting the ark after the priest cover the priest covered the call have ice would come in and they would carted away will in this occasion is the priest will see this again in Joshua six is them go around Jericho and then we'll see it again will while in first kings. Of course, when the ark is taken to the temple. There are other occasions is what I want to say says in verse bottom of her streets, then you shall set out from your place and go after it is follow the ark because the Shekinah again is not going to be there that pillar that giant cloud and data fire by night.

No longer use a different method of guidance now and also as I mentioned, the manner would stop get to that in chapter 5 verse four now.

Yet, there shall be a space between you and it about a 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. Well, about a little over a mile a half-mile little over half a mile distance number 2 million people, and they were to keep this little more than half a mile interval great lessons in all of this. Give God space to lead. That's one of the first lessons you get. Give him space to lead in between that in that interval between here and there.

There is the long-suffering, often times there is doubt. Sometimes this just full-blown faith and trust his confidence God taking the space to maneuver because that's what it calls for. So what if you are in a rush to wait three days to go into the legacy lands while researching them, simplifying but again it goes back to God sees other things he saw Rahab for example, for he rained down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.

He saw lot and we learn these lessons and then we go out to live them so that the Bible never becomes to us just this Bible story that's interesting and fascinating but it's real when life's not too interesting or fascinating, but can be quite difficult says do not come near it. She may know the way by which you must go. So again, this interval enable them to see the ark from a distance.

As a practical reason here. You can follow the leader. If you crowd the leader Psalm 23 he makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside the still waters.

He leads me and then he goes on in verse three. That's verse two and verse three of Psalm 23 he restores my soul he leads me in the past of righteousness.

He leads me he leads me as many as are led by the spirit of God. Paul wrote to the Romans. These are the children of God, and we have to watch that were not led so much. We are always to be righteous but were not to be led by righteousness all the time there. Sometimes we to wait for the Lord is another word. Sometimes something seems right to do, but it's not for us to do in case.

Case in point with Paul wanting to go into Bithynia and the Holy Spirit said no and he led them ultimately to your Parker said the righteous thing to do is reach those lost souls up there. Holy Spirit said that's not your concern.

That's my concern your concerns. Do what I tell you and and of course they followed the Lord and that was not the only time and when is it helpful to know this because many many churches they they get together and they plan on what's the right thing to do, never listen to the spirit and the just go ahead with programs and functions in them.

The Holy Spirit is not part of them scratch our heads.

Many times go anywhere to beat up one of the church really can write resources.

We anyway, for you have not passed this way before. That is for many pastors for centuries like a New Year's eve text with not gone this way before the year is upon us were starting fresh, which really know this because the were confined by time, God isn't. But it is a beautiful passage of Scripture is not passed this way before. God says this is true. Every day we get up. That's is follow me. You've not not gone this way. So we follow him into whatever is unknown to us, and that does not signal to us that we should be explorers and not that we shouldn't can be trailblazers or pioneers are invaders.

In this case, the emphasis is not on those things. Nothing wrong in those things, and other cells in the right circumstances. We are a flock or a flock of follows a shepherd. All of us the difference between the sheep and the go, God makes that distinction and we just look at the two animals. You know, goats eat anything sheep do not why I'm a picky leader personally learned that lesson from the sheep. There are human beings that can pretty much eat anything and if you've seen it you know it's not right. It's something God's going to get them for that. So my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. Can you really miss that coming to such a passage when the priests go by with the ark, you will follow them because the presence of the Lord, the mercy seat of God is there and under that mercy seat lessons abound that I'm supposed to actually do something with. When faced with difficult things in verse five Joshua said to the people, sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you of the sanctification of the tabernacle again in operation. If there were some uncleanliness that they had to be dealt with according to the law than now. Is there chance to do it did not want to go into the promised land with a guilty conscience that you did not dealt with something the right way and so the ceremonial cleansing processes were available to them. This book of Joshua of course emphasizes holiness as it should and serving God on the move.

That's part of this lesson plans yourselves get provisions because we are about to move and then following the Lord, and being led by him. We are not to neglect our duties.

We are to be ready as best we can. I tried but I fell. That's where the mercy seat comes in holiness as an act of obedience and service to the Lord and Israel here is obeying God and serving him at this time as his instruments of judgment and a little bit they were. That's what they will be upon the inhabitants of the land can't lose sight of that Joshua was to engage in to destroy those hostile sinners. Of course, ultimately this was to make of the land, the Jews in the land being a vehicle for messiahs work Peter spoke about saving out of the world lost souls not destroying them is Joshua's mission is here under the law, that period of time were now under in the period of grace the age of the church. First Peter three verse 15 we just finished first Peter so let's talk about this together, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asked your reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and respect similar mission identical with the exception of the physical slaughter that accompanied Joshua the sword of the Spirit, not the sort of the blacksmith. So again these lessons they abound.

These books should be very much alive, to a New Testament reader will come of the Old Testament says that literature is just a historical account of what they went through. It is living and powerful. It is the Bible that Jesus used and is the Bible that we use and we have even more because of Jesus.

Verse six.

Then Joshua spoke to the priest saying take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people, so they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. This take up that's that's one of the words that jump out at least at me. Maybe you reading it and something else. Maybe. Maybe you just got through in your devotions, you read that you belong to a royal priesthood, and you come to this verse is a Joshua spoke to the priest is a Jesus spoke to the priest because the name Joshua course means.

Jesus knew that would be fair for the moment. How would I paint a picture of this take up the ark and New Testament language. Take up your armor and take up your cross.

That's the New Testament teaching on taking things up that are really big Mark chapter 16 Jesus speaking if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. We spend our Christian life trying to get to the trying to deny ourselves hateful refrigerators deny yourself is a big thing ice cream and then this bay is simple, eat it, then you were about to transfer my strategy so I can get fat, you be happy that I forgot some people find nothing funny about that. Well, here's another take up just move along word safe. Ephesians chapter 6 therefore Paul said, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand, stand, he emphasizes that that section of Scripture. So there you are outside of church and life hits you with whatever it hits us with again could be no critical major you know thing going on just the routine of life. Time to so time to reap again. That's what's meant by the one when Solomon wrote that he wasn't trying to write some beautiful language postal wall on the coffee mug he was saying there are routines in life that make it stupid that's what he means is Manatee. It's all just vanity burst out with this and the other concluded all except in the light of God and you say Solomon then why did you mess up so much. I had some you try being you try what I have sent you to just flash. Well, we take up the whole armor because that's what it's going to take deny ourselves the effort of doing that is very helpful. Some have overdone it.

Trying to deny themselves to the point of ruin. Look for that graceful balance he Sicily took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people the importance of being led again is stressed here in God has designed the system. He appointed the priests of someone from the tribe of Asher or her or gado Naphtali they could not say why can I get to carry the ark today could you not call you not assigned that you have other things that you do.

This is for them. And of course many defy this in the church and they take it upon themselves to go against the system can clear teachings were verse seven. Then Yahweh said to Joshua this day, I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you all of this is initiated by God through the people ready to trust in on and abided that's important. If the other generation couldn't do this. God had to wait.

He had to wait 38 years after the sentence you not going in 40 in the wilderness. Of course, rounding up with doing the math anyway don't work this. Of times out of Egypt to the promised land, 40 years. But God now had a people he could work with what I want to be one of those people so I could be very nice fruit for us to preach Christ and be nice for me to come up in the pulpit make all the points I wanted to make, but I still gotta go outside these walls and live it so it's not just a gig. You know you just go play your instrument and the people clapping and everybody goes home. When the music leaders Coppin we worship the Lord. It's not a gig it's not something we do is very meaningful and this is one of the great differences of living in the wilderness and now entering into the promised land. Now it's meaningful before it was survival. Now this is meaningful. This is my land, the sole of my foot takes this is my Cornfield are being field, whatever is God's given it to me and I have little given along with this gift I have these responsibilities that I have to pursue so it says here this day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel is talking directly to Josh saying to him, you're the leader and the Christian leadership is not supposed to be platform for self-promotion. It is a place of appointment to do God's will.

Joshua again born a slave in Egypt and now here he is king in Israel. I know I use the term loosely, but he is the leader and his God appointed leader and he did not exalt himself. He never said to Moses. Of these, we have no record of it because it didn't exist Moses you know when your dad can I have your guy take this position from yummy nobody else is falling around doing what I do.

Matthew 23 and whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted anybody here on a snarky and arrogant and short. The other people who you think you're smarter and better than procedure somehow have it. I mean Afro Saturn lined it with Martindale. You were born, so you now the smart little cookie goddesses at home who chapter 1 Mary speaking has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly West Barrow hears his Joshua the slave God certainly has exalted.

It is hard to not see ourselves as being number one in some area. We think we should be the best the best dad best mom the best husband will when I got sick of the guys would take notes later on the job anyway. Continuing, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will you evidently this was a concern.

Joshua had looked up. See 2 million people who have million people. I never seem to have million people at one time. You can even see that many from space. I mean, this is too far out really good pair of binoculars. I mean he had to look at the same slave and here I am now on. This is something must've wrestled with this is why God said don't be afraid. Joshua must've been something Joshua was struggling with is a person the matter how high you go.

You're still a human being still struggle with things.

Thanks for tuning into cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio in iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

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