Faith in Action: Remembering God's Faithfulness

 

Summary

In the midst of flood season, God instructed the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant and step into the Jordan River. This act of faith was crucial because God wanted to see action, not just words or feelings of faith. As the priests stepped into the river, God performed a miracle by stopping the flow of water and hardening the riverbed, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. This miraculous event was a testament to God's power and faithfulness, demonstrating that He can intervene supernaturally in our lives, even in the most challenging circumstances.

God then instructed Joshua to have representatives from each of the twelve tribes of Israel collect large stones from the riverbed to build a memorial. This memorial was to serve as a perpetual reminder of God's intervention and faithfulness. It was a call to remember that their current blessings and position were not due to their own strength or abilities but because of God's divine intervention. The memorial was a physical representation of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's role in their journey.

The importance of remembrance is emphasized throughout the scriptures, particularly in Deuteronomy, where God repeatedly warns the Israelites not to forget His commandments and the miracles He performed for them. Forgetting God and His works can lead to pride and a false sense of self-sufficiency. The message is clear: we must remain vigilant in remembering God's role in our lives, acknowledging that every blessing and success is a result of His grace and provision.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith in Action: God desires to see our faith in action, not just in words or feelings. The priests stepping into the Jordan River exemplifies the necessity of moving forward in faith, trusting that God will make a way even when circumstances seem impossible. [00:20]

- Miraculous Provision: God's intervention in stopping the Jordan River and providing dry land for crossing illustrates His ability to provide for us in miraculous ways. We must trust in His power to meet our needs, even in the most challenging situations. [00:54]

- Building Memorials: The stones from the Jordan River served as a memorial to remind the Israelites of God's faithfulness. We, too, should create reminders in our lives to remember God's past interventions and express gratitude for His ongoing presence. [02:05]

- The Danger of Forgetfulness: Forgetting God's role in our lives can lead to pride and self-reliance. We must remain vigilant in remembering His commandments and acknowledging His hand in our successes to avoid spiritual complacency. [05:21]

- Gratitude and Humility: Recognizing that our achievements and blessings are due to God's grace fosters a spirit of gratitude and humility. We must continually remind ourselves that without God's intervention, we would not be where we are today. [06:30]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Faith in Action
[00:42] - Miraculous Provision
[01:17] - Crossing on Dry Land
[01:37] - Building Memorials
[02:20] - Remembering God's Intervention
[03:07] - The Danger of Forgetfulness
[04:08] - Scriptural Reminders
[05:05] - Warnings Against Forgetting
[06:16] - The Consequences of Forgetfulness
[06:42] - Gratitude and Humility
[07:10] - Acknowledging God's Role
[07:37] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Joshua 3:14-17
2. Deuteronomy 4:9
3. Deuteronomy 6:10-12

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific action did God instruct the priests to take with the Ark of the Covenant, and what was the result of their obedience? [00:08]

2. How did God demonstrate His power and faithfulness when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River? [00:54]

3. What was the purpose of the memorial stones that Joshua was instructed to build, and how were they to serve the Israelites? [02:05]

4. According to the sermon, what are some consequences mentioned in Deuteronomy for forgetting God's commandments and His works? [05:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why do you think God required the priests to step into the Jordan River before He performed the miracle? What does this say about the relationship between faith and action? [00:20]

2. How does the act of building a memorial with stones from the Jordan River serve as a reminder of God's intervention? What might be the significance of using physical objects as reminders of spiritual truths? [02:05]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that forgetfulness can lead to pride and self-reliance? How does this relate to the warnings given in Deuteronomy? [05:21]

4. How does the sermon connect the Israelites' experience with the Jordan River to our own lives today? What lessons can we draw about God's provision and our response to it? [06:30]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you had to step out in faith before seeing God's provision. How did that experience shape your understanding of faith in action? [00:20]

2. What are some "memorial stones" you can create in your life to remember God's faithfulness? How can these reminders help you stay grounded in gratitude? [02:05]

3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be prone to forget God's role in your successes. How can you actively combat this forgetfulness and maintain a spirit of humility? [05:21]

4. How can you ensure that you are passing down the stories of God's faithfulness to the next generation, as instructed in Deuteronomy? What practical steps can you take to share these stories with your family or community? [04:23]

5. Identify a current challenge you are facing. How can you apply the lesson of trusting in God's miraculous provision, as demonstrated in the crossing of the Jordan River, to this situation? [00:54]

6. In what ways can you cultivate a habit of gratitude in your daily life, acknowledging that every blessing is a result of God's grace? What specific practices can you implement to remind yourself of this truth? [06:30]

7. How can you remain vigilant in remembering God's commandments and His works in your life, especially during times of abundance and success? What strategies can you use to keep your focus on God's role in your journey? [05:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in Action: Stepping into the Unknown
Faith is not merely a feeling or a declaration; it is an action that requires stepping into the unknown, trusting that God will make a way. The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River exemplified this principle. Despite the river being at flood stage, they moved forward in obedience, demonstrating their trust in God's promise. This act of faith was met with a miraculous intervention as God stopped the flow of the river, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. This story reminds us that God desires to see our faith in action, not just in words or feelings. When we take steps of faith, even when circumstances seem impossible, we open the door for God to work powerfully in our lives. [00:20]

Joshua 3:15-17 (ESV): "And as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you take a tangible step forward today, trusting in His provision?


Day 2: Miraculous Provision: Trusting in God's Power
God's intervention in stopping the Jordan River and providing dry land for the Israelites to cross illustrates His ability to provide for us in miraculous ways. This event was not just a demonstration of power but a testament to God's faithfulness and His commitment to fulfilling His promises. In our lives, we often face situations that seem insurmountable, but this story encourages us to trust in God's power to meet our needs. When we rely on Him, even in the most challenging circumstances, we can experience His miraculous provision. [00:54]

2 Kings 4:1-7 (ESV): "Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, 'Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.' And Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?' And she said, 'Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.' Then he said, 'Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.' So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another vessel.' And he said to her, 'There is not another.' Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, 'Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.'"

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God for miraculous provision? How can you actively express your trust in His power today?


Day 3: Building Memorials: Remembering God's Faithfulness
The stones from the Jordan River served as a memorial to remind the Israelites of God's faithfulness and intervention. This physical representation was a call to remember that their current blessings and position were not due to their own strength or abilities but because of God's divine intervention. In our lives, we too should create reminders to remember God's past interventions and express gratitude for His ongoing presence. These memorials can take many forms, such as journaling, sharing testimonies, or setting aside time for reflection and thanksgiving. [02:05]

1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV): "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, 'Till now the Lord has helped us.'"

Reflection: What is one way you can create a memorial in your life to remember God's faithfulness? How can this practice help you cultivate a heart of gratitude?


Day 4: The Danger of Forgetfulness: Avoiding Spiritual Complacency
Forgetting God's role in our lives can lead to pride and self-reliance, which are dangerous to our spiritual health. The scriptures, particularly in Deuteronomy, emphasize the importance of remembering God's commandments and the miracles He performed. When we forget, we risk becoming spiritually complacent and losing sight of our dependence on God. This takeaway serves as a warning to remain vigilant in acknowledging God's hand in our successes and to continually seek His guidance and presence in our lives. [05:21]

Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (ESV): "Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

Reflection: What are some ways you might be forgetting God's role in your life? How can you actively combat spiritual complacency and maintain a posture of dependence on Him?


Day 5: Gratitude and Humility: Acknowledging God's Grace
Recognizing that our achievements and blessings are due to God's grace fosters a spirit of gratitude and humility. This understanding helps us maintain a proper perspective on our successes, acknowledging that without God's intervention, we would not be where we are today. By continually reminding ourselves of God's grace, we cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility, which are essential for a healthy spiritual life. This perspective not only honors God but also keeps us grounded in the reality of our dependence on Him. [06:30]

James 4:6-7 (ESV): "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Reflection: How can you practice gratitude and humility in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to acknowledge God's grace in your achievements and blessings today?

Quotes

"so god told them in flood season to tell the priests to take the ark of the covenant which contained the ten commandments, the word of god and to tell the priests to put their foot in the bank of the jordan why because before you can ever see what god does in flood season he wants to see you're walking by faith he doesn't want to see you talking by faith or feeling by faith he wants to see you moving by faith so he says let the priests put their foot on the back i got to see that they're going to trust me" [00:00:53]

"and a couple of miracles took place during flood season god blocked the water from flowing down the jordan river so that now god walled them off damned them up so that the water would stop flowing that was one miracle in and of itself but then the bible says they crossed over on dry land not wetland dry land it had to be land where they could walk over and their feet not get muddy where they could roll wheel barrels of of their goods and not get stuck in the mud where horses could still try to cross walk across and run across and not get stuck in waters that for years and centuries and decades have been wet but the bible says god not only damned the water he hardened the soil so that when they walked over they walked over on enjoyed land you need to understand who we're dealing with here and it all happened in flood season" [00:39:12]

"it was in this context of the supernatural intervention of god that god tells joshua to get a representative again the principal of representative where the leaders would represent the 12 tribes of israel to go back into the dry jordan and pick up a boulder a stone now this wasn't a pebble this is a major stone because he had to carry it it says each one on his shoulder so it was a major rock and he says what i want you to do with this rock is i want you to build a memorial i want you to build stones of remembrance i want you to build something so you'll never forget what was done here and who did it" [01:32:72]

"i want you never to forget that the only way you got to where you are from where you came from is because god brought you in flood season from where you were to where you are i don't want you to get the big head i don't want you to think that it is by your power or your might that you are in this place 40 years later i want you to have a perpetual reminder that the only reason you are where you are today versus where you were 40 years ago is because i supernaturally intervened into your situation" [01:37:12]

"because god knows we are subject to forget some of us have raised children who have forgotten they've forgotten that they didn't clothe themselves feed themselves uh house themselves you get children who forget the fact that if it wasn't for mom and dad not only would they not be here but they would not have the life that they have now if it weren't for your investment in fact we have a generation of children who've forgotten or who neglect their mothers and fathers and forget the overtime forget the hard work forget the effort god knows we're prone to forget and while you may forget a lot of things in life god is not the one you want to forget" [03:10:80]

"in deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 9 we're told these words only give heed to yourself give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligent so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and that they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life but make them known to your sons and your grandsons" [04:08:64]

"then it shall come about when the lord your god brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers abraham isaac and jacob to give you great and splendid cities which you did not build and houses full of all good things which you did not fill and you cisterns which you did not dig vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant and you eat and are satisfied then watch yourself that you do not forget the lord who brought you from the land of egypt out of the house of slavery" [04:38:39]

"beware that you do not forget the lord your god by not keeping his commandments his ordinances and his statutes which i am commanding you today verse 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the lord your god who brought you out of the land of egypt out of the house of slavery" [05:18:72]

"but you shall remember the lord your god for it is he who is giving you power to make wealth that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers as it is this day it shall come about if you ever forget the lord your god and go after other gods and serve them and worship them i surely against you today will testify and you shall surely perish like the nations that the lord makes to perish before you do you get the message you better not forget" [05:40:96]

"you better watch yourself because it's easy to forget it's easy to think you're your own source it's easy to think it's all on you about you from you to you through you and because of you it's easy when you've gone from nothing to something to forget how you got there it's easy to forget what it was like when you only had a bike you couldn't even get a car then you graduated from a bike to a car then you went from a car to two cars then you went from an apartment to a house then you went from a smaller house to a bigger house when you went from rags to riches when you went from a few dollars an hour to a full salary it's easy to forget that if god hadn't opened the door paved the way and set it in place if god was not your source it's easy to forget" [06:21:99]

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Transcript
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