Isaiah 40:1--3
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Joshua 3:2--8, 11--4:3
I. First way the culture is penetrated (or make a difference), someone is convinced of GODʼs
power! (penetrated idea from Alvin Reid, via HOLY SPIRIT; see vv. 2--4)
A. “barrier of culture”: “The canaanites worshiped the fertility gods...baal, the god of water, rain, storm, wind, thunder, lightning, depths of the water (Joshua 3:15)...the river represented that Rahab was shielded from the Israelites and their GOD. [baal] is protecting us [because of the river].” (Ray Vander Laan)
B. “The dividing of the Jordan river, when separated, GOD was making a declaration that HE was stronger...than the gods of the culture...water miracles [during desert wanderings] which had to impress upon their hearts GOD was not a GOD of limited location, but a GOD of everything. And, HE was bigger than all other gods in the culture. (Ibid.)
C. Application: “We need to decide if GOD is the GOD of everything, or there are some things that are outside of HIS control.
D. v. 4: even if “you have never been this way before” / Key is reverence! (“keep a
distance”)
II. Second way the culture is penetrated (or make a difference), GODʼs “priests” (or people) go first. (v. 14)
A. Who are “priests?”
B. “priests”
1 Peter 2:9--12
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out
of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now
you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you
have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in
the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing
wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
a) “What stands between you and your calling in life...what [GOD] want[s] to do through
you, [HE’ll] take care of it. But nothing will happen until you put your foot in the water....” (Ray Vander Laan)
b) “Once the ‘priests’ stepped in, they were going to be over their heads, or...” (Ibid.)
c) “If they [hadn’t stepped into the water] theoretically, the whole nation would still be
standing on the bank. But what loosed the power of GOD [if you will] GOD whether
[we] live or...die we’ve got to make a commitment. And they stepped in over their heads...” (Ibid.)
C.They didn’t go empty handed. They had a symbol of GOD’s presence:
1. “the ark”: “the place where GOD’s presence was...” (Vander Laan)
a) HIS mercy seat and HIS Word. (vv. 10--11, 14)
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Psalm 56:3--4
3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
b) Also, we have the HOLY SPIRIT!
Ephesians 1;13--14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in
him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
c)“GOD acts often when people are willing to make that total commitment.
d) Application: Do I want GOD to remove all the barriers and then step out, or will I
make a “total commitment...step in, I’m yours because I believe when I make the total
commitment GOD acts?” (Ibid.)
e) Can you imagine “one priest saying to another priest, ‘Wasn’t I in front yesterday?’”
When we take the first step, then “someone else will have the courage to step forward.”
(1) “We must confront the power of the culture, but we can’t sit and wait until HE
[GOD] figures it all out for [us].” (Vander Laan)
(a) “Determine where you think GOD wants you to go...determine where you
think your abilities and interests are...has to be a total life commitment...
III. Application:
A. Do I feel like I am in way over my head? Call out to GOD! Is GOD’s “arm too short?”
Isaiah 50:2
When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to
answer? Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
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