Key Points from Spirit & Truth’s Guest Teaching at Christ Methodist
What can the Israelites’ journey crossing the flooded Jordan River (Joshua 3) teach us about our faith walk? We’re reminded that God's primary desire is relationship with us, not just physical blessings. It's a call to step out in faith, trusting that just as Jesus made a way for us through His sacrifice, He will make a way through our current challenges.
Sermon by Dr. Matt Reynolds, Founder/President Spirit & Truth Conference
Key Points:
Consecration is necessary to make room for God's presence and purposes.
Trust in God's plan is essential, even when it doesn't align with our own ideas.
Obedience requires taking action, not just knowing about past miracles.
God leads His people into situations where they must rely on Him.
Jesus' sacrifice is the ultimate example of trustworthiness and making a way for us.
How to Prepare for God to Move In Your Life
Have you ever stood at the edge of something new, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation? Perhaps it was a new job, a move to a different city, or a significant life change. These threshold moments, as we might call them, are pivotal points in our journey where we can see what has been but are also faced with the unknown ahead.
The story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 3) provides a powerful metaphor for these moments in our lives. It's a tale of leaving behind the familiar wilderness and stepping into God's promises – a journey that requires faith, obedience, and trust.
As we prepare our hearts for God to move, we discover three key principles that are just as relevant today as they were for the Israelites: consecration, trust, and obedience.
1) Consecration: Making Room for God
Before the Israelites could cross the Jordan, they were instructed to consecrate themselves. In biblical terms, consecration means being set apart for a purpose. It's about making room in our lives for God to move and work.
In our modern context, consecration might not involve ceremonial washings, but it does require us to prioritize our relationship with God. It's a call to set aside anything that hinders us from fully experiencing God's presence and purpose for our lives.
Consecration is not a punitive act but rather an invitation from God. It's as if He's saying, "Will you let me take the things that are leading you into death and instead give you the fullness of life?" It's about creating space in our hearts and lives for God to do whatever He wants to do.
This principle reminds us that God's primary desire is not just to move us physically to a new place or situation but to draw us spiritually closer to Him. He's more interested in our hearts than our geographical location.
2) Trust: Following God's Presence
The Israelites were instructed to follow the Ark of the Covenant—the symbol of God's presence, truth, and power. They were told to follow it because they had "never been this way before” (Joshua 3:4).
How often in life do we face situations where we've "never been this way before"? It's in these moments that we're called to trust God's guidance over our own intuition or plans.
But here's the challenging part: God's instructions often don't make sense from our human perspective. The priests carrying the Ark were told to step into the flooded Jordan River before the waters would part. It would have been much more comfortable to wait on the banks until God made a dry path. But God often calls us to take steps of faith before we see the full picture.
This principle teaches us that God's primary purpose is relationship. He wants us to lean in and get to know His character as the God who delivers. He's constantly leading His people into places where they have to trust Him for something they cannot manufacture on their own.
3) Obedience: Taking the First Step
The story of crossing the Jordan is powerful, but it required actual priests to get their feet wet. They had to take that first step of obedience before they saw the miracle.
This reminds us that there's no substitute for fresh obedience. We can't live on the power of past miracles or on stories of what God has done for others. At some point, we have to step out in faith ourselves.
Obedience often feels risky. It might seem crazy to those around us. But we can trust Jesus when He invites us to take these steps because He took the riskiest step first. Just as the priests carrying God's presence stepped into the river to make a way for the people, Jesus, our great high priest, stepped into the raging torrent of our sin to make a way for us to cross from death to life.
Principles In Application
So, how do these principles apply to our lives today? Whether you're facing a personal crossroads or your church community is in a season of transition, these truths remain relevant:
Consecration: Are there areas of your life that need to be set apart for God's purposes? What might you need to let go of to make more room for His presence?
Trust: Where is God calling you to trust Him in ways that don't make sense from a human perspective? Are you willing to follow His presence into unfamiliar territory?
Obedience: What step of obedience is God asking you to take? Remember, you can't experience the miracle until you're willing to get your feet wet.
As we reflect on these principles, we're reminded that God has more for each of us—more of His presence, more clarity of calling, more boldness to share His love with others. But experiencing God's fullness requires our participation. It starts with a decision to consecrate ourselves before the Lord, a willingness to trust Him even when it doesn't make sense, and the courage to take steps of obedience when He calls.
Remember, there is no safer place to be than taking a step closer to the Savior. Whatever threshold you're standing at today, whatever river God is calling you to cross, you can trust Him. He's already made the way. The question is, will you take that step?
May we be people who don't just stand at a safe distance, waiting for God to make everything easy? Instead, may we be willing to step out in faith, trusting that the God who parted the waters for the Israelites is the same God who is with us today, ready to do the miraculous in our lives and communities.
Discussion Questions
In what ways have you experienced God leading you into unfamiliar territory, and how did you respond to His call?
What 'threshold moments' are you currently facing in your life or faith journey, and how might God be preparing you for them?
How can we actively practice consecration in our daily lives, and what might we need to 'set apart' to make more room for God's presence?
How can we cultivate a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's guidance in our everyday interactions and decisions?
In what ways might God be calling our church to step out in faith collectively, and what could be holding us back from fully trusting His leading?