Both Feet In

People of God we are living in a time in history in which it seems as if we are at a stand still or in some instances going backwards. Many and much of the progress made seemingly in the last 10 or 12 years are seemingly heading backwards. As we wrestle with the backwardness of America and our societal make-up we have to be real and recognize that we need God to turn us around. Many people wrestle with folks, politics, and racial inequities, but I want to inform you this morning unless we get in contact with the almighty God things will not change. We cannot change anyone’s heart, desires, or their love, but I know a God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that works in us. In other words if we want to see change we have to be change. If we want to see improvement then we have to improve ourselves. If we want things to be better then we have to do better. If we want God to do anything we will have to get in it with both feet! Isn’t it funny people of God the same folks who do all of the complaining are the same ones who do nothing at all, isn’t funny the same folks who want more out of church run to the restroom or take a smoke break when it’s time to give, isn’t it funny the people who want a super bad choir and banging band are the same ones saying that’s too much money, isn’t it funny how people want more but won’t put more in? Tap your neighbor and say neighbor get both feet in.

Preparation:

We see here in the text and it’s context that Israel is at a stopping place. They are reeling from a victory over Og and Sihon in the wilderness. Now they are stopped before the swollen Jordan river in the river valley basin. Israel is also dealing with a change in Leadership in which their pastor and prophet Moses has died and now they have a young Joshua at the helm. Joshua is a warrior with great credentials. He’s the same lad that spoke up in when Israel wanted to remove pastor Moses and go back to Egypt, and Joshua with his partner Caleb said this is good land the Lord will give it to us as he said he would, He’s the same lad that defeated the Amalekites while Pastor Moses kept the rod lifted, and now he is the leader of God’s people. So God gave Joshua some instructions. Church so many times I watch folks mess up because they simply don’t follow the instructions. Joshua tells the people in verse 5 and 6, “Sanctify[c] yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” Church I hate to tell you but before you can experience God’s miracles you have to get preparation for your salvation! In other words you can’t do what you want when you want and expect God to bless it! You have to do what God told you to do and don’t do what God told you not to do! Clean yourselves sanctify yourselves which means to set yourself apart to the Lord and watch God do things in your life that you never thought could happen, but before you experience the greatness of God you need to have preparation. If you want service to be on fire get on fire at home before you get here. If you want the choir to be hot then they need to practice and be ready to praise before they get here. If you want to be blessed then expect God to do it before you get here. Tap your neighbor and say preparation!

Verification:

Now church I hate to tell you but God has a way of verifying those he anoint, because God will allow things to come upon you that you have no experience or expertise in. Now Joshua was a warrior and a spy so fighting and searching he did well right, but now he is before a flooded river with no recourse. So God speaks to young Joshua and says in verse 7, “This day I will begin to exalt[d] you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Many people always want to question leadership especially when they are going in a different direction than the normal. Notice church in the chronological order of the text that Israel instead of coming straight into Canaan went around the back side. See the reason we have to go the long way sometimes is because God is trying to get some mess out of us before we get to where he promised. Somebody say Verification! So God send Joshua to a problem that only God can fix. God gives the leader the instructions, but the only way they can get where they are going is if God provides! So church I said all of that to say this some of the obstacles that churches face is not to question leadership but to see that God is with them! In other words where God sends you God will verify you! Some of you wonder why you face some obstacles in your life, on your job, in your family, and at your church it’s because God wants to verify you! Somebody high five your neighbor in the midst of your storm and say God is verifying me! Somebody shout verificiation!

Salvation (Close)

Give me just a few more minutes and I will bid you good bye. Church after Israel went through preparation and Now God is about to give his leadership verification. So then Joshua instructed the priest to carry the Ark of the Covenant and step into the Jordan. Notice in the text that the Jordan was flooded during the harvest season. Which informs me that sometimes my problems flood during the season in which I am about to receive my harvest! Somebody missed their shout on that one! That’s not the shout though so don’t miss your shout. So as the priest carry the ark or Aron made from the same would that survived the flood Gopher wood which means it can handle water and was carrying the two tablets of stone, and seraphims was mounted on the top. Yall don’t hear me. So church let me help about three people in here. Be careful how you treat the ones who carry the word of God because soon you will need them to get through your flooded river! I come to tell somebody that when the priest stood, “somebody say stood” in that muddy flooded Jordan with both feet! See you have to have both feet in it if you want God to show up. You can’t be halfway in and halfway out if you want God to be in it! You can’t be a saint today and cursing at Walmart tomorrow! You can’t be halfway in Egypt and halfway in Canaan. You have to put both feet in! Now don’t miss your shout here comes your shout, because when the Priest put both feet in and walked in the middle of the river the Bible says that way upstream the river walled up, and even downstream the rive stopped flowing in to the dead sea! One commentary says that some people said it looked as if the spirit of God laid down in the river because historians could understand the river being stopped upstream but God not only stopped it upstream he also stopped in downstream! So I came to tell St John#1 to get both feet in and watch God take what looks like a flood and let you walk over on dry land! High Five your Neighbor and tell them to get both feet in!

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