Part 6 - Entering the inheritance God has for you. – You have never travelled this road before.

Part 6 - Entering the inheritance God has for you.  – You have never travelled this road before.

Joshua 3:1 Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Acacia Grove with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went through the camp… 3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. 4 But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never travelled this way before.

We focused on the following steps to enter into the inheritance God has for us.

1. The Acacia Grove Mindset – Renew Your Mind

What you feed your mind with becomes a mindset.

• Move to the edge of the Jordan River – Focus on God

Putting God first in our grief is allowing Him to be in control of our circumstances. God has a good plan for those who love Him. When there is hardship, we put our hope in Him.

• Lodging at the river. Spend time with God

Before we can enter the promise of God, we need to lodge before crossing the river.  We need to spend time with God.

• Look at your problem and know that God is greater than it.

Know that God is always greater than your problem.

• Move out of your positions

• Remember what the Lord has done. – Standing on the promises of God.

• Receive instructions from the Lord, by asking God what to do.

• When you see the Ark moving – Move – Act

• You have never travelled this way before

Joshua 3:2-4 (NIV) 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.

Like never before we are entering a time that we are uncertain of the future.  We have no idea what the future holds.  We have never travelled this way before. 

Mat.28:20 He's promised to never leave nor forsake us, for "Behold," He says, "I am with you always, even unto the ends of the Earth!"

And He's given us the torch of His Word to show us where our path is going. We can always throw the Light of God's Word on the path ahead for the Scripture says, Psa.119:105"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, But I know Who holds tomorrow, And I know Who holds my hand!"

In Deut 8:7 Moses reminds Israel of the Land that God had promised them: For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

This was a special land that God had promised, it was called the promised land.  The people looked forward to this land.  Behind the children of Israel was the Wilderness, before them the land of promise.

Between the Israelites and the fulfilment of their dreams stood the Jordan river. The children of Israel were at a stage where they were powerless to enter through the Jordan river.  It was in flood, there was no way that they would be able to cross the Jordan on their own.  They did not know what lay before them, but God did 3 things to get them ready to enter the new:

1. When you enter the new you have the Provision of God behind you. 

Look at your past.  1. Remember we focused on, remember what the Lord has done for you.

Deuteronomy 8: 2 “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

The word “remember”, means to mark out, set a side, to underline, to highlight.  So what did God do for his people? What did God do for his people that they could use as a reference for the future?

God provided for them for 40 years in the desert.  Is it not wonderful to know that if you are in the desert God will provide for you? They were led by God.  God sustained them.  God cared for them. God cared for them every day. There were 3 million people in the Wilderness.

 Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

God never failed them for 40 years.  The children of Israel are now standing at the edge of the Jordan river.  Their hearts are now filled with fear.  They have never travelled this road before, just like many of us are experiencing now trying to figure out what is going to happen next.

Behind them was the provision of what God had done for them. For the next week I want you to write down 10 things that God has done for you in the past. Keep that list in place, when you wonder what God has done for you take out your list and remember what God has done.

Malachi 3:6 God is always the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He never changes. He is so faithful, so constant, so loving, and so true!

•  You have the Presence of God with you.

Joshua 3:1 “Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. 2 Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.”

The central focus here is the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. The presence of God was always symbolised by the Ark of the Covenant.  Inside this Ark was the Law of God, the manna, and the rod of Aaron. These were the contents of the Ark of the Covenant.

The ark was represented by the presence, power, and glory of God. When the ark was in the presence of the people of God, they experienced the victory, but when it was removed, they experienced defeat.

The Ark reminded them that God is with them and would go with them wherever they went.  They were also informed to keep a space between the ark and the people.

Joshua 3: 4 (NLT) “Since you have never travelled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

The reason for this was so that everyone could see the Ark. Everyone had to see the ark. Everyone had to keep their eyes on God individually. Everyone had to see God through their own eyes.

When God leads us into the unknown, we need to keep God in our sight.

Joshua 3:6 (NLT) In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people.

Joshua 3: 17(NLT) Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

Joshua 4:11 (NLT)  And when everyone was safely on the other side, the priests crossed over with the Ark of the Lord as the people watched.

The priests had to go ahead of the people, but they had to stay in the middle of the riverbed. They stood in the middle while all the people of Israel passed through the river. The Ark then had to follow them, once they had all passed.

The presence of God was before them, with them and behind them.  That is how God works, he is before us, with us and behind us.  His presence goes before us, Immanuel the God with us, and the God behind us, our protection.  In these unforeseen times, he is the God that is with us.

Isaiah :43 1-5 But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,     the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place  it won’t be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Saviour

• The Promise of God before us.

Joshua 3:14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

The Israelites walked through the Jordan. God reminded the children of Israel that that he had not changed; as he did 40 years ago at the Red sea, He is still doing now.

God’s promises for you today:

Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:37-39 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord

Conclusion:

Remember:  The Provision of God behind you.  You have the Presence of God with you.  The Promise of God before us.