Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- 3:5 - Key text
- Quote from EJ Hamblyn
- God's people set out 89 times over 40 years
- (Only 3 times in the book of Joshua)
- The life of faith is a continual story of setting out
- To cross is used 21 times
- God's people did not journey alone
- His presence was represented by the Ark of the Covenant
- Explanation of the Ark of the Covenant
- It represented God present with His people
- God descended from heaven in His Shekinah glory
- 3:4 - to follow at a distance of a 1,000 yards (2,000 cubits)
- Not easy terrain - including the River Jordan (up to 1 mile wide and 12 feet deep)
- Where was God in this journey?
- Overview:
- God Before You
- God Beyond You
- God Beside You
- God Behind You
God Before You
- 3:5 - God will sanctify you and do wonderful things
- Move as consecrated vessels - holy people
- Abstaining from legitimate privilege to get our priorities right
- 3:3 - God goes before us
- 3:4 - God leads us into new areas of life
- Do not get familiar - keep a distance to the Ark
- We cannot 'handle' or manipulate God
- We must not lose sight of the Holiness of God
- God is moving amongst us
- The Holy Spirit is leading repentant sinners
- Amazing things happened with a first step of faith
- Picture the scene
- 3:16
- Are you afraid of getting your feet wet?
- God is before us
God Beyond You
- 3:5 - Impossible conditions
- Of all times to cross the River Jordan - harvest time was the most dangerous (3:15)
- The waters of the Jordan were completely cut off (3:16)
- This was not luck or chance
- It was a miracle of God
- What God does 'upstream' has a direct bearing on us 'downstream'
- God's providence directly affects our life
- The Westminster shorter catechism of faith definition of providence
- There is no such thing as 'luck' for the Christian
- God Beyond You
God Beside You
- 3:5 - Have you ever felt in too deep?
- 3:17 - all passed through the Jordan on dry ground
- The Ark of the Covenant was between the people and the waters
- God was beside the people as they passed by
- Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit
- John 14:16 - a Paraclete, a counsellor
- Reading Isa 43:1-4
- God is beside us in the depth of every situation we find ourselves
- 4:5-7 - Do you have monuments/special memories of God?
- Quote from David Ralph Davies
- Church anniversaries
- Ps 103:2
- How many stones of remembrance have been placed since your salvation?
- God Beside You
God Behind You
- 4:11 - God was first in and last out
- God first went before and then behind them
- God has our back
- Example of Pharaoh's army
- Are you afraid that past sins will catch up with you and destroy you?
- We overcome the accuser in the blood of the Lamb
- Our past sin is dealt with at Calvary
- Rev 22:13
- God is first in and last out in every journey we make
- God's goodness and mercy follows us
- 4:18 - The waters of the Jordan returned
- Where is God is your life?
- Are you still lost in sin?
Closing Remarks
- Are you living in light of His proximity?
- Do you know Him as Lord and Saviour?
- Come to Him now