Timeless Truths #2. Facing the Future in Faith - Part 2. Joshua 3.
2. Facing the Future in Faith - Part 2. Joshua 3.
January 14, 2016
To review: Joshua and the Hebrews are ready to enter the Promised Land. The journey has been long and arduous. Scripture provides three principles for how we can face the future in faith.
Principle #1: Acknowledge the Adequacy of God’s Leadership.
Principle #2: Add Personal Preparation to God’s Adequacy.
5. Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5 (NIV)
Personal preparation is mandatory it you want to get God’s resources that are necessary for the miracle into your life.
A tension exists between what man can do versus what God can do.
It is critical for us to be personally prepared so God can work in and through us.
Good news! What we consecrate to Him, God sanctifies—increasing the value of our offering beyond our comprehension.
Principle #3: Advance in the Power of God’s Full Presence
God still works to fulfill His will in our lives. His will is good and perfect. When we are doing God’s will, we are a blessing to those around us.
God still seeks to establish Himself in the center of our lives and circumstances. To advance as God desires, we must relinquish control of our lives to God.
God still works to make a way for his people. That is a timeless truth, no matter what comes along in our path!
An example of following these three principles is found in Joshua 3:15-17a (NIV)
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 (the Salt 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 stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan
At flood stage, the drop off from the back to the river bottom would have been several feet. The priest carrying the front of the Ark had to have GREAT faith because stepping off the back into a flooded river is not the most sensible scenario.
In 2016, we must have faith to step where “common sense” does not recommend.
Thanks to Rev. John Denny for the teachings from 2003 used in Facing the Future in Faith blogs.
Next Thursday's Timeless Truths Series: Jesus in the Book of John-Part 1
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