The Step of Faith | Pastor James Hoegger | 03.22.26

Devotional

Day 1: Moving from Receiving God’s Gifts to Fighting for Them

God’s people often begin their journey in a posture of receiving His grace and provision like children. This is a beautiful and necessary season of learning to trust in His faithfulness. Yet, God invites us into a deeper partnership, to move from simply receiving blessings to actively fighting for the promises He has given. He calls us to become warriors who contend for our destiny and the destinies of those around us, stepping into the fullness of our purpose. [46:59]

Joshua 1:3 (ESV)
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been content to simply receive God’s help, but where He might now be inviting you to actively fight in faith for a breakthrough?

Day 2: Stepping into the Unknown with Expectation

God frequently calls His people into new territories and assignments they have never faced before. In these moments, the path is unclear and the outcome is not guaranteed. The key is to fix our eyes not on the challenge, but on the presence of God going before us. He leads the way into the new things He is doing, and our role is to follow with expectant faith, trusting that He will perform wonders. [55:04]

Joshua 3:3-4 (ESV)
…When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.

Reflection: Where is God currently leading you into a situation you ‘have not passed… before,’ and how can you intentionally prioritize following His presence rather than focusing on the uncertainty?

Day 3: The Principle of Movement Before the Miracle

Faith requires obedient action before we see the evidence of God’s power. We often want God to part the waters and remove all obstacles before we are willing to take a step. Yet, His pattern is to ask us to move in obedience while the river is still flooding. The miracle happens in the midst of our faithful steps, not before them. Our movement demonstrates our trust in His character and His promises. [01:07:07]

Joshua 3:15-16 (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… the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away… and the people passed over opposite Jericho.

Reflection: Is there a ‘next step’ of obedience God is asking you to take where you are waiting for clarity or a guarantee before you move? What would it look like to take that step in trust today?

Day 4: Rejecting Familiarity to Embrace New Things

A subtle danger for believers is becoming comfortable and familiar with how God has moved in the past. This familiarity can lead to cynicism and a lack of expectation for what God wants to do now. God is perpetually doing a new thing, and our call is to perceive it and join Him in it. We combat familiarity by cultivating a heart that eagerly anticipates God’s fresh work in and through us. [59:32]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Reflection: In what ways might a sense of familiarity or past experience be limiting your expectation for what God wants to do in your life or community in this season?

Day 5: Stepping into Your God-Given Authority

The journey of faith culminates in stepping into the authority God has given every believer. This is not about our own power, but about the delegated authority of Christ within us to ‘tread upon’ the plans of the enemy and claim our inheritance. Each step of faith is an act of applying Christ’s victory to our lives and circumstances, moving from promise to possession. [01:13:53]

Luke 10:19 (ESV)
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Reflection: What is one specific ‘serpent or scorpion’—a lie, a fear, or a persistent struggle—that you need to consciously ‘tread upon’ using the authority you have in Jesus Christ?

Sermon Summary

The sermon centers on the step of faith illustrated by Israel’s crossing of the Jordan. It contrasts two seasons of spiritual life: a dependent, childlike posture that receives manna, water, and quail, and a warrior posture that must fight for possession and purpose. The narrative frames the Jordan as a flood-stage barrier that separates promise from possession, showing that God’s promises often sit just beyond present experience and require forward movement to claim. The ark of the covenant serves as the tangible presence that leads the people; the command to follow the ark and keep a measured distance emphasizes that obedience to God’s presence provides direction through unfamiliar territory.

Faith emerges as action before clarity. The priests step into the swollen river while waters still flow, and only then does God halt the flood—teaching that obedience often precedes visible miracle. Familiarity with past blessings can harden into complacency, so renewed expectation counters spiritual stagnation. Trust must grow into bold obedience: the call moves from receiving mercy to exercising authority. The promise “every place the sole of your foot will tread” becomes a test of courage and a summons to take ground, not merely hope for it.

Prioritizing God’s presence receives heavy emphasis. Worship encounters should spark a pursuit of God through the week; daily intimacy with the living God protects the heart from doubts and the enemy’s lies. The crossing culminates in memorial stones at Gilgal—physical reminders that God rolled away past reproach and established a new identity for future generations. That memorial motif points forward to the greater rolling away of the stone at the resurrection, linking Old Testament conquest language to the gospel’s power over sin and death.

The message ends with a dual call: for believers to move from childlike dependence into warrior partnership with God, and for those who have not yet entered new life to respond to the one who rolled away the stone. The narrative presses for active faith, obedience without full sight, and a highest priority on God’s manifest presence as the pathway from promise into possession.

Key Takeaways

1. Move from receiving to fighting Belief that begins as humble reception must mature into active pursuit. A life that settles for daily provision misses the call to possess promised inheritance. Growth requires embracing conflict as the soil of spiritual progress, and cultivating habits that train the heart to fight faithfully for God's purposes. [42:58]
2. Let God’s presence lead The ark going before the people models leadership by the visible presence of God. Prioritizing presence clarifies paths the mind cannot map and steadies the heart when surroundings look uncertain. Worship experiences should ignite a weekly pursuit of God's nearness so decisions flow from intimacy, not impulse. [54:07]
3. Obedience often precedes certainty The priests stepped into flowing water before the miracle occurred, teaching that movement can trigger God’s intervention. Waiting for full understanding becomes an idol when God commissions steps of trust. True faith chooses duty over perfect sight and invites God to make a way as feet press forward. [66:37]
4. Step into given authority Every promised place waits for a foot to claim it; authority accompanies obedient steps. The crossing and the Gilgal memorials show inheritance becomes real when taken, not merely promised. Taking ground reshapes identity for current and coming generations and activates God’s rule in daily life. [73:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:31] - Connection with the church
[42:32] - Introducing the step of faith
[42:58] - Crossing the Jordan: promise vs possession
[45:15] - Desert provision and the call to fight
[54:07] - Follow the ark: presence leads
[66:37] - Movement before miracles
[69:41] - Protect and prioritize God’s presence
[73:13] - Authority to take ground
[77:05] - Gilgal stones and the rolled-away past
[81:43] - Invitation to respond and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
*Joshua 3:14-17 (ESV)*
When the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 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. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Observation questions

According to the passage, what was the condition of the Jordan River when the people and the priests arrived at its banks?
What specific action had to happen before the waters were cut off and rose up in a heap?
Where did the priests stand once the miracle occurred, and what was the state of the ground beneath them?
What was the role of the ark of the covenant in this entire event? [54:07]

Interpretation questions

The Jordan River was at flood stage, representing a significant, intimidating barrier. What does this teach us about the nature of the obstacles that often stand between God's people and His promises?
The miracle did not happen until the priests' feet were wet. What does this sequence of events—movement before the miracle—reveal about how God often works in response to our faith and obedience? [01:06:37]
The priests had to stand firm in the middle of the riverbed while the entire nation passed through. What does this suggest about the cost and commitment required to see God’s promises fulfilled for the community, not just for ourselves?
The sermon mentioned that God wants us to move from a "family" posture of receiving to a "warrior" posture of fighting for our inheritance. [51:46] What is the difference between these two postures, and why is the transition necessary?

Application questions

Belief that begins as humble reception must mature into active pursuit. [42:58] In what area of your life have you been content to simply receive God's provision, and where is He now calling you to actively fight for and possess the promise?
Prioritizing presence clarifies paths the mind cannot map. [54:07] What practical step can you take this week to ensure you are following God’s presence rather than rushing ahead or lagging behind in your own understanding?
Waiting for full understanding becomes an idol when God commissions steps of trust. [01:06:37] Is there a specific step of obedience God is asking you to take that feels unclear or risky? What would it look like to "get your feet wet" this week as an act of faith?
Every promised place waits for a foot to claim it. [01:13:13] What is one specific "place"—a relational, spiritual, or practical area—where God has given you authority, but you have yet to "tread upon" it and take ownership?
The longer you serve Jesus, the more in danger you are of getting too familiar. [58:59] How have you seen complacency or cynicism creep into your walk with God? What is one way you can cultivate renewed expectation for what He wants to do anew?
The memorial stones at Gilgal were a reminder that God rolled away the reproach of the past. [01:17:05] What "stone" from your past—a failure, an identity, a season of slavery to sin—do you need to remember that God has rolled away, giving you a new identity and future?

Sermon Clips

No. Like, sometimes you have to get up and you have to start walking. Have to start trusting. You have to start saying that river is not too big for my God. And I got 200 2,500,000 people behind me who are counting on me getting into that river and seeing God do a miracle. And so Joshua says, tomorrow you're gonna see some wonders. Come on, that's a word from God. Right? Tomorrow you're gonna see some wonders. Mission Church, on Easter Sunday, you're gonna see some wonders. You're gonna see some wonders. And listen, you haven't been there before. You haven't been there before, and God's gonna show up in your midst. [00:56:40] (32 seconds) #ExpectWondersTomorrow

You might have some generations defined by slavery to sin in your life, in your background, in your past. That might have been what you were known for. But at Gilgal, when God does a miracle, when the people move through the Jordan River, it says at that place, the stone is rolled away. Now I don't know about you, but how many of you can remember another stone that's been rolled away, right, to free you from your sin? [01:19:33] (22 seconds) #StoneRolledAwayFreedom

and it's not unlike your Christian walk. Right? It's not unlike God how God works in your life. In fact, the Old Testament and how he works with the people of Israel is simply a foreshadow of how he wants to free you and bring you into your destiny. So a lot of us, we live with the promise of hope. We live with the promise that God's got a a a purpose for my life, and we live in the context of God's provision and his blessing and and he how he lavishes and we receive like a child, and he's really inviting us to move into warrior mode and become to be one of those people who can be relied on to fight, that can become a warrior. [00:45:48] (37 seconds) #ForeshadowToDestiny

There's nothing more powerful than seeing somebody get baptized, than seeing somebody come to faith in Christ. There's nothing more powerful for the longtime believer than realizing there's still people out there that are hearing this stuff for the first time. And we got an assignment. We got an assignment for before God. The second thing I wanna say about this is that God moves in your life at the speed of your faith and trust. Look at Joshua chapter three seven through 13. It says this, the Lord said to Joshua, today, I will being I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel that they may know, as I was with Moses, I will be with you. So this is a a leadership transition. [01:00:41] (36 seconds) #GodMovesWithYourFaith

People who stay on this side of the river are consumed with these thoughts and ideas. I'll trust God when I understand everything. I'll follow when the outcome is guaranteed. I'll commit when it's more convenient. I'll love when they change. I'll lead when I feel qualified. I'll speak up when I'm more confident. I'll pray when things get really, really, really bad. I'll repent when I'm ready. I'll deal with that later. I'll surrender that, just not yet. I'll obey when it costs me less. I'll go when I have more time. [01:07:33] (29 seconds) #StopWaitingForPerfectConditions

I'll start when I feel motivated. I'll step in when someone else goes first. I'll do it when I'm not afraid anymore. I'll share my faith when I know more about God. I'll disciple someone when I feel mature enough. I'll answer the call when I'm more prepared. I'll use my gifts when I'm less busy. I'll let go when it doesn't hurt anymore. I'll forgive when they apologize. I'll believe God when I but I'll keep control just in case. I'll trust with most things, but just not that. I'll obey as long as it doesn't change my plans. [01:08:02] (31 seconds) #NoMoreExcuses

You're still receiving the blessings of God. He still loves you. You're still his kid, but you haven't moved over here, where God says, I'm looking for warriors. I'm looking for partners. I'm looking for when you see that little thing that wants that cynicism wants to rise up in your heart, that you go to war on that spirit in your own life. And you say, no. No. No. No. No. I'm gonna trust God. I'm gonna believe for more. I'm gonna believe for right expectations. [00:59:08] (23 seconds) #FightCynicismTrustGod

the reality is is the longer you serve Jesus, the more in danger you are of getting too familiar with this side of the Jordan. That's just the that's a harsh reality. The longer you serve Jesus, you are in danger of just staying here and staying comfortable. Oh, I've been to camp before. I've been in the presence of God before. Oh, I prayed for that issue before. I've seen God move before. I've seen baptism before. Sometimes it sticks. Sometimes it doesn't. You can get cynical. You can get jaded over here. Oh, you're still in. [00:58:37] (32 seconds) #BewareSpiritualComfort

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The Step of Faith | Pastor James Hoegger | 03.22.26

Devotional

Day 1: Moving from Receiving God’s Gifts to Fighting for Them

Day 2: Stepping into the Unknown with Expectation

Day 3: The Principle of Movement Before the Miracle

Day 4: Rejecting Familiarity to Embrace New Things

Day 5: Stepping into Your God-Given Authority

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Step of Faith | Pastor James Hoegger | 03.22.26

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