The Power of God

Introduction

Remember going to a place you have never been before? In this day and time of MapQuest, Google Maps, and AAA travel brochures, we can get a lot of information about a place before we ever arrive. Randy and Brenda will be going to Japan. They may have received some brochures about Japan and some instruction from Dwight about what to expect, but the truth is they have never been to Japan. Being told about Japan and experiencing Japan are two different things.

For 40 years, God’s chosen people have been listening to the stories of a land flowing with milk and honey—a land of riches and great peoples, a land that is just waiting for them. But all the stories, while whetting their appetite for arrival, do not fully prepare them for what is to come. They are encamped on the eastern shore of the Jordan River. After 40 years, the time has come for them to cross over. Can you sense the excitement? The apprehension? The nervousness? The uncertainty? As we study today, we will see that God wants to bring confidence, and He does this by demonstrating that His presence is with them. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same God who brought confidence to Israel is our God as well. Let’s be strengthened in our faith walk today.

Discussion

I usually take a text and discuss it and then try to make some application from that text. But I don’t want to do that today. While studying for this lesson, there were some things that jumped out at me that I want to share with you. I have prayed for boldness without being critical, and that is where my heart is this morning. But God is far wiser than I, and when sermons were planned months ago, little did I know that today’s text would provide the opportunity it is providing today.

I want to focus on the phrase in Joshua 3:4: “Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” Israel had never been in the promised land. They had never been on the eastern shore of the Jordan River during flood stage. They didn’t know where to cross and they didn’t know what would be required. You have never been this way before.

In a large measure, this describes our situation at Park. We have never been this way before. The last full-time minister hired was John Simpson in 1984. Twenty-two-plus years have come and gone since then. Most of you have not been here that length of time. We have never been this way before. For the last 20 years, Dwight and I have shared this pulpit, and we all become comfortable with that arrangement. There is a certain sense of knowing what is going to happen day by day and week by week. But the truth is that with my now being full-time at FHU and Dwight being the only full-time minister at Park, with so much discussion about what to do, who to hire, direction and focus of the congregation—there is a certain amount of confusion. There is uncertainty, and we do not like those emotions.

We have a variety of opinions about what to do. Without listing most of those opinions, realize that is what they are—opinions. I like chocolate ice cream; Dick Rogers likes vanilla. Whose opinion is right? We have never been this way before. What is distressing to me is that as the opinions are being shared, they are not shared with a realization that it is one of many but as if it is the only one that makes sense. Shame on us. We have never been this way before. So what does Joshua do?

In 3:5, he tells the people to consecrate themselves. Purify yourselves. Clean yourself and empty yourself. Recognize that what is getting ready to happen is about God, not about you. We have never been this way before, but what a great opportunity to empty ourselves so that God can do something profound through us. When I went to Japan, Dwight told me with some regularity before I arrived that it was imperative that I be flexible, that I try not to be American, and by all means not to be arrogant about my culture. Instead, I was to empty myself and eat whatever was placed in front of me without asking questions and without turning my nose up. Because I had never been that way before, it was time for me to put aside any preconceived notions about how things were supposed to be done and empty myself so that I could be led.

Look at 3:7. God tells Joshua that He is going to exalt him in the eyes of Israel so that they will know God is with him just as He was with Moses. What a great promise! What does Joshua do? He turns around and tells the people in verses 9-10 to watch what God is going to do. In other words, there was no attempt on his part to act as if he were in charge, but instead to point people to God. The result is found in 4:14—the people revered Joshua as they had revered Moses.

Application

We have never been this way before. We need to empty ourselves and allow God to do something profound through us. Here is what I am suggesting—I am calling for all of us to give time every day to praying that God will be exalted through this congregation and through you as His child. We are trying to discover where God is leading us. Since we have never been this way before, let us give ourselves to prayer that seeks ways to lay our views aside so that only God can be seen.

Second, I am calling on us to exalt God and allow Him to exalt us in His own time. In other words, let’s quit working so hard to be heard and work harder to make sure that God’s voice is what is heard. That means that we have to develop a spirit of submission, that fewer sentences begin with the word “I” and more often begin with “Praise God.”

With our sense of uncertainty and transition, we have a unique opportunity to reaffirm what truly matters. It is a wonderful opportunity to empty ourselves and exalt God. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the leading of God. Israel waited 40 years. We probably will not have to wait that long. But let’s review what God has already done among us.

Sixteen months ago, we began this transition. During that time, has this pulpit been filled each week? During that time, have we added members? During that time, has our love and unity remained intact? During that time, has God provided what we needed? During that time, have we remained His children? During that time, has every ministry remained intact? During that time, have our college kids heard the voice of God and led us in touching the lives of children? During that time, have we exalted God through the new emphasis in the Christian Student Center? During that time, has the Bible been preached? During that time, have our elders prayed with dozens of people seeking their spiritual health? During that time, have our deacons continued to lead their ministries?

What has changed is our faith. Uncertainty and transition demands faith. Where is yours? We have never been this way before. Praise God we have a God who is leading us. Exalt Him. Empty yourself. Pray. Wait. Watch. God is going to do great things.

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