True North Church

Joshua 3:1-5 NIV Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 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. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.” [5] Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

Joshua 3:13-16 NIV And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord---the Lord of all the earth---set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap. ” So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

What is so important about the ark? The important thing is that it symbolized God’s presence among the people..

TWO INSTRUCTIONS JOSHUA GAVE US REGARDING THE ARK OF LORD
1. A Reference Point for God’s People
2. A Reverence for God’s Powerful Presence

The ark served as a reference point, indicating when they were to move out and which way they were to go.

WHEN SHOULD THE PRESENCE OF GOD BE OUR FOCAL POINT?
1. During New Initiatives
Joshua 3:4a NIV Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before…

WHEN SHOULD THE PRESENCE OF GOD BE OUR FOCAL POINT?
2. During Times of Conflict

Joshua 6:6-7 NIV
So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” And he ordered the army, “Advance ! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

WHEN SHOULD THE PRESENCE OF GOD BE OUR FOCAL POINT?
3. During Times of Failure and Confusion

Joshua 7:6 NIV
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads.

WHEN SHOULD THE PRESENCE OF GOD BE OUR FOCAL POINT?
4. During Times of Worship & Recalibration

Joshua 8: 33
All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

A Reverence for God’s Powerful Presence

Joshua 3:4 NIV
Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

THREE ATTITUDES & ACTIONS OF REVERENCE:
1. Recognize The Danger of Familiarity

THREE ATTITUDES & ACTIONS OF REVERENCE:
2. Seek A Personal Experience

Joshua 3:5 NIV
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

God is not nearly as interested in changing our circumstances as he is in changing us

THREE ATTITUDES & ACTIONS OF REVERENCE:
3. Live in Obedience

Joshua 3:14 NIV
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.

CROSSOVER AXIOMS
1. What you focus on can influence the direction of your life.
2. God is not nearly as interested in changing our circumstances as he is in changing us
3. Can’t experience a new thing — doing the old things.
4. No amount of worship is a substitute for doing the will of God.