Crossing Over: Embracing Faith and God's Promises
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Liberty family! Today, we celebrate Father's Day and reflect on the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. We delve into Joshua chapter 3, where Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This momentous event teaches us about faith, obedience, and God's miraculous power. Joshua, who succeeded Moses, exemplifies leadership and trust in God's promises. The Israelites' journey reminds us not to be swayed by negativity and unbelief, as their ancestors were when they failed to enter the Promised Land due to listening to bad reports.
The crossing of the Jordan River symbolizes moving from the known to the unknown, trusting God to guide us. We learn five keys necessary for a new generation to cross over and settle in God's promises: Presence, Promises, Power, Parenting, and Purpose. The Ark of the Covenant, representing God's presence, led the way, teaching us to follow God's presence in our lives. Consecration and preparation are essential to experiencing God's wonders. The power of God is evident as He parts the Jordan River, reminding us that with God, all things are possible.
Parenting plays a crucial role in passing down faith to the next generation. The stones of remembrance set up at Gilgal serve as a testimony to God's faithfulness, encouraging us to share our faith stories with our children. Finally, our purpose is to make God's name known to all the earth, fulfilling the Great Commission. We are called to gather people, reach out to our communities, and share the gospel, ensuring that more people come to know God and experience His love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Overcomes Negativity: The Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land initially was due to listening to negative reports. We must guard against negativity and unbelief, as they can hinder us from receiving God's promises. Instead, we should cultivate faith, trusting in God's word and His plans for us. [42:31]
2. Follow God's Presence: The Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, led the Israelites across the Jordan. We must prioritize God's presence in our lives, seeking His guidance daily. Just as the Israelites followed the Ark, we should follow Jesus, the embodiment of God's glory and presence. [46:56]
3. Consecration Precedes Miracles: Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves before witnessing God's wonders. Holiness and preparation are vital for experiencing God's miraculous power. Setting ourselves apart for God's purposes allows Him to work mightily in our lives. [53:00]
4. Parenting and Legacy: The stones of remembrance at Gilgal were a testimony for future generations. As parents and mentors, we have a responsibility to share our faith stories and God's faithfulness with our children, ensuring that they understand and embrace their spiritual heritage. [04:56]
5. Purpose and Mission: Our ultimate purpose is to make God's name known to all the earth. We are called to gather people, reach out to our communities, and share the gospel. This mission requires dedication and a willingness to step out in faith, trusting God to guide and empower us. [13:50]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[42:31] - Introduction to Joshua and the Promised Land
[43:58] - Importance of Faith and Avoiding Negativity
[45:25] - Rahab's Redemption and God's Plan
[46:56] - Following God's Presence
[48:37] - The Ark of the Covenant and Jesus
[53:00] - Consecration and God's Promises
[54:28] - Standing on God's Promises
[55:50] - Power of God in the Jordan Crossing
[57:13] - God's Miraculous Power
[59:15] - God's Presence Before, Beside, and Behind Us
[01:00:02] - God's Miracles and Natural Laws
[01:01:09] - Personal Testimony and God's Faithfulness
[01:02:02] - Stepping Out in Faith
[01:03:24] - Challenges and Opportunities
[01:04:10] - Baptism and New Life
[01:04:33] - Parenting and Spiritual Heritage
[01:05:19] - Stones of Remembrance
[01:06:05] - Encouraging Statistics on Youth Engagement
[01:08:29] - Importance of Church Involvement
[01:09:16] - Worship and Service
[01:10:15] - Call to Action for Parents
[01:12:02] - Ebenezer: Stone of Remembrance
[01:13:50] - Purpose and Mission
[01:17:06] - Testimony of Transformation
[01:19:29] - Crossing Over and God's Faithfulness
[01:20:30] - Prayer and Commitment
[01:21:25] - Call to Serve and Get Involved
[01:22:31] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Joshua 3:1-17 (Crossing the Jordan River)
- Joshua 4:1-7 (Stones of Remembrance)
### Observation Questions
1. What did Joshua instruct the Israelites to do before crossing the Jordan River? ([53:00])
2. How did the Ark of the Covenant play a role in the crossing of the Jordan River? ([46:56])
3. What was the significance of the twelve stones set up at Gilgal? ([04:56])
4. How did the Israelites' crossing of the Jordan River demonstrate God's power? ([57:13])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to consecrate oneself before witnessing God's wonders, as Joshua instructed the Israelites? ([53:00])
2. How does the Ark of the Covenant symbolize God's presence, and why is following God's presence crucial for believers today? ([46:56])
3. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' experience of crossing the Jordan River about facing seemingly impossible challenges with faith? ([57:13])
4. How does the act of setting up stones of remembrance at Gilgal serve as a testimony for future generations? ([04:56])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced negativity or unbelief. How did it affect your ability to trust in God's promises? What steps can you take to cultivate faith over negativity in your daily life? ([43:58])
2. How can you prioritize seeking God's presence in your daily routine? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are following God's guidance? ([46:56])
3. In what ways can you consecrate yourself and prepare for God's miraculous work in your life? Are there specific areas where you need to set yourself apart for God's purposes? ([53:00])
4. As a parent or mentor, how can you share your faith stories and God's faithfulness with the next generation? What are some practical ways to create "stones of remembrance" in your family or community? ([04:56])
5. What is your understanding of your purpose and mission as a believer? How can you actively participate in making God's name known in your community and beyond? ([13:50])
6. Think about a specific challenge or "Jordan River" you are currently facing. How can you step out in faith and trust God to guide and empower you through it? ([57:13])
7. How can you get involved in your church or community to help gather people and share the gospel? Identify one specific action you can take this week to contribute to this mission. ([13:50])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Overcomes Negativity
Negativity and unbelief can hinder us from receiving God's promises. The Israelites' initial failure to enter the Promised Land was due to their focus on negative reports rather than trusting in God's word. This teaches us the importance of guarding our hearts and minds against negativity. We must cultivate faith, believing in God's promises and His plans for us. When we focus on God's faithfulness and His word, we can overcome the obstacles that negativity and unbelief present. Let us choose faith over fear and trust in God's goodness and power. [42:31]
Numbers 13:30-31 (ESV): "But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.' Then the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.'"
Reflection: Think of a situation where you have been influenced by negativity. How can you shift your focus to God's promises and cultivate faith in that area today?
Day 2: Follow God's Presence
The Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, led the Israelites across the Jordan River. This act teaches us the importance of prioritizing God's presence in our lives. Just as the Israelites followed the Ark, we are called to follow Jesus, who embodies God's glory and presence. Seeking God's guidance daily and prioritizing His presence in our decisions and actions is crucial. When we follow God's presence, we can navigate the unknown with confidence, knowing that He is leading us. Let us commit to seeking and following God's presence in every aspect of our lives. [46:56]
Exodus 33:14 (ESV): "And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize seeking God's presence in your daily routine? How can you ensure that you are following His guidance in your decisions?
Day 3: Consecration Precedes Miracles
Joshua instructed the Israelites to consecrate themselves before witnessing God's wonders. This highlights the importance of holiness and preparation in experiencing God's miraculous power. Setting ourselves apart for God's purposes allows Him to work mightily in our lives. Consecration involves dedicating ourselves to God, seeking purity, and aligning our lives with His will. When we consecrate ourselves, we create an environment where God's power can manifest. Let us take time to consecrate ourselves, preparing our hearts and minds to experience God's wonders. [53:00]
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Reflection: What areas of your life need consecration and dedication to God? How can you set yourself apart for His purposes today?
Day 4: Parenting and Legacy
The stones of remembrance at Gilgal served as a testimony for future generations. As parents and mentors, we have a responsibility to share our faith stories and God's faithfulness with our children. This ensures that they understand and embrace their spiritual heritage. Passing down our faith involves intentional teaching, sharing personal testimonies, and living out our beliefs. By doing so, we create a legacy of faith that impacts future generations. Let us commit to being intentional in sharing our faith and God's faithfulness with the next generation. [04:56]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: How can you intentionally share your faith and God's faithfulness with the next generation? What practical steps can you take to create a legacy of faith in your family?
Day 5: Purpose and Mission
Our ultimate purpose is to make God's name known to all the earth. We are called to gather people, reach out to our communities, and share the gospel. This mission requires dedication and a willingness to step out in faith, trusting God to guide and empower us. Fulfilling the Great Commission involves being proactive in sharing our faith, serving others, and living out the gospel. Let us embrace our purpose and mission, committing to making God's name known and bringing others into a relationship with Him. [13:50]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to share the gospel with someone in your community? How can you actively participate in fulfilling the Great Commission in your daily life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "It doesn't matter where you've been or what you've done. I want you to know Jesus is the friend of sinners. Hallelujah. And I want you to know that, listen, he's got a good plan for your life. His plan is good and not evil. Plans to give you a future and a hope." (14 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You make wrong choices when you listen to wrong voices. Stay away from it. Then they were filled with unbelief. Everybody say faith. I tell you, it's so important that we remember the words of D.L. Moody when it comes to faith. A little faith will take your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul." (21 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is a miracle working God. He not only parted the Jordan, He dried it up so that the carts and the animals could go across. Now God is a miracle working God. But listen, He doesn't do miracles all the time. If that were the case, it wouldn't be called miracles. It'd be called routines." (22 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "All God wants is a step of faith. You leave the rest to him. And when you take that step of faith, it doesn't mean that there's not going to be opposition. There were challenges. There's a river to cross. There are giants in the land. There are battles to fight. There are difficulties. Difficulty is not a sign that you're out of the will of God or missed the will of God. It's confirmation. When God's at work, the devil is too." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You want to have a great marriage? You're going to need the help of God. You want to have kids to grow up and love God and serve God and stay in church, use their life for his glory? It's going to take the grace of God. You need the Lord's help." (14 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "You don't get presence without preparation. You got to consecrate yourself. You want the presence of God. He says, I'm holy. And so the word consecrate just means to set apart. Now, you know what it means to set something apart. You brushed your teeth this morning with a brush that you have set apart. You don't clean your tennis shoes with that brush. You combed your hair with a brush that you have set apart for you, not your pet. You don't comb your pet's hair with that. And every one of us, we've got pillows and we've got towels that we use. And we got looking at pillows and looking at towels and they're special. You don't use them. That's what it means to set apart." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If a new generation is going to cross over and settle down and receive their spiritual inheritance, it's going to take some parenting. Look at chapter 4, verse 20. It's about the stones of remembrance. Then Joshua set up at Gilgal twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. And he said to the Israelites, in the future, when your children ask their fathers, what is the meaning of these stones? You should tell your children Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us until we had crossed over." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You have to believe, listen, that this is the inerrant word of the living God. You have to believe the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection, and God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. And any church that doesn't believe in those things, those doctrines, this doesn't matter. It doesn't apply to them. You with me? It can't be generalized to small churches that may not even have a youth minister or a youth ministry full time." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I need on this Father's Day for some people to say, you know what, we're going to be all in. If you want them to be engaged disciples, you've got to be an engaged disciple. You want them to be all in, you've got to be all in. In fact, I need some today, maybe you're not even married, maybe you don't even have children, but you can still reach and touch the next generation by serving in kids' ministry, serving in student ministry." (27 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Life is short. I just told you my dad, he's been in glory 20 years. He died at 72. Life's short. One out of one dies. And as long as heaven and hell are realities, growing, reaching people, taking the gospel to 1.8 million people in Hampton Roads and to the ends of the earth, it's not an option. That's what God's called us to do. That's our purpose." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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