GOT ANY RIVERS?
Restoration
Fellowship
November 5, 2017
CONNECT My experience
with rivers have not been good… Losing wedding band… Falling into Little Brown
River…
TENSION We all have rivers
we encounter that threaten to halt our progress or kill us altogether. This is
true individually and corporately.
Israel
was camped on the banks of the Jordan River, and it was at flood stage from the
winter snow melt and the spring rains. It stood between them and their
inheritance.
What
is standing before you right now that you have to conquer to have all God has
for you? This is your Jordan. It must be
confronted, crossed, and defeated.
SOLUTION We can use God’s
keys that were in the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ to cross raging rivers: God’s Word;
God’s Provision; God’s Authority.
INSTRUCTION
TEXT Joshua 3:1-5 (NLT) Early the next morning Joshua and all the
Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River,
where they camped before crossing. Three days later the Israelite officers went
through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the
Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.
Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you… Then
Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great
wonders among you.”
Joshua
3:6 (NLT) In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across
the river.” And so, they started out and went ahead of the people.
The
priests lead the way…
Joshua
3:8 (NLT) Give this command to the priests who carry
the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of
the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.”
This
is the test of leadership: being able to
step right into the middle of the fight! Then staying right there until those
around you get victory!
Gary
– battle friend; faithful warrior; mighty
spearman…
Joshua
3:9-11
(NLT) So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and
listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will
know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the
Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites
ahead of you. Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which
belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!”
Joshua
3:14-17
(NLT) So the people left their camp to cross the
Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of
them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was
overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were
carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that
point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is
near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near
the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the
Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people
passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of
Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
The
obstacle was conquered and all the people had entered in! The Ark made the difference!
What
was the Ark? "Raiders of the Lost Ark"…
Hebrews
9:2–5 (NKJV) For
a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the
table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3and behind
the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,
4which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on
all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s
rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5and above it were
the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot
now speak in detail.
One
of the seven prices of furniture in the Tabernacle and the Temple…
A
wooden box covered in gold, carried by poles...
On
the top was "The Mercy Seat" where God's Glory met with His people...
Held
three items: the tablets of the Law; a pot of manna; Aaron’s rod that budded…
These three things are symbolic of God’s keys to overcoming the fights in your
life.
APPLICATIONS
1.
God’s
Word
2.
God’s
Provision
3.
God’s
Authority
What
is the river that threatens your very life? Where is the enemy coming in like a
flood?
Isaiah
59:19 (NKJV) So
shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the
rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a
flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
Let's
say your river is sickness and disease.
What does God's Word say about your disease? What are some testimonies you have
experienced or heard about God's healing power?
(The Jordan was no biggie; they had crossed the Red Sea!) What
authorities can you bring into your situation?
What
about an area of bondage of addiction?
What does God's Word Say? What
testimonies do you have? What
authorities can help you?
What
about financial problems? Word? Testimony?
Authorities?
You
can go on and on... Does this pattern sound familiar?
Revelation
12:10–11 (NKJV) Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our
God day and night, has been cast down. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
INSPIRATION
The
Ark represents two amazing things that we must not lose sight of…
1.
God’s
Presence
2.
God’s
Covenant
God's
Presence with always go with us...
Exodus
33:14 (NKJV) And
He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Joshua
1:5 (NKJV) No
man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with
Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Matthew
28:20 (NKJV) and
lo, I am with you always...”
God's
Covenant is everlasting...
Jeremiah
32:38–41 (NKJV) They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39then
I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the
good of them and their children after them. 40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I
will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts
so that they will not depart from Me. 41Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly
plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’
We
are in Covenant with God! What does that mean? All He has is ours; all we have
is His. He is faithful (hesed)!
HASHTAG #gotanyrivers
Oscar
C Eliason wrote this hymn after God healed him from tuberculosis!
GOT ANY RIVERS?
"Be of good
courage," God spake unto Joshua,
When o'er the
river God pointed the way;
Jordan
uncrossable! things seemed impossible,
Waters divide as
they march and obey.
CHORUS
Got any rivers you
think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains
you can't tunnel through?
God specializes in
things thought impossible
He does the things
others cannot do.
Battle to win!
they would meet with their obstacles,
Jericho's walls,
too, must fall to the ground.
God never failed;
He stood back of His promises,
Walls had to
crumble as they marched around.
God is the same
and His Word is dependable,
He'll make a way
through the waters for you;
Life's situations
by Him are amendable,
Mountains and
hills, He will part for you too.
