Ye Have Not Passed This Way Before

TEXT:  Joshua 3:2-4

INTRODUCTION:

A.    ISRAEL PREPARES TO CROSS JORDAN.

B.    GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FOLLOW THE ARK.

C.    “FOR YOU HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE.”

        1.     Renewal of our commitment – a new start.

        2.     Untrodden territory.  A need for determination and work.

I.     WE STAND ON THE BANKS OF THE JORDAN WITH ISRAEL.

A.    WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

        1.     Could continue on at the same slow pace.

        2.     Could wake up to make the best use of this new day!

B.    TIME IS AN UNCERTAIN COMMODITY.

        1.     We have little of it (Job 14:1-2;  Eph. 5:15-16;  Jas. 4:13-14).

        2.     In contrast to God (2 Pet. 3:8).

        3.     Number our days (Psa. 90:10-12).

        4.     How to make each day eternally important (James 4:13-17).

II.    EXHORTATIONS OF CROSSING.

LET US …

A.    COUNT OUR BLESSINGS.

        1.     Psalm 65:11;  James 1:17.

        2.     And be thankful (Phil. 4:6;  Col. 3:17).

B.    COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE DUTIES WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH.

        1.     To the unity (Eph. 4:1-16).

        2.     To the work (Rom. 12:3-8).

C.    LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT (Heb. 12:1).

        1.     Sin (1 Pet. 2:1;  1 John 2:1).

        2.     Worldliness (Rom. 12:1-2;  James 4:4;  1 John 2:15-17).

        3.     Worldly entanglements (2 Tim. 2:3-4).

D.    ENTER THIS TIME WITH RESOLVE!

        1.     Let us resolve to grow (2 Pet. 3:18;  1 Pet. 2:1-2).

        2.     Let us resolve to read our Bibles (2 Tim. 2:15).

        3.     Let us resolve to pray (1 Thess. 5:17;  Luke 18:1).

        4.     Let us resolve to meet with God’s people (Heb. 10:24-25).

        5.     Let us resolve to resist the devil (James 4:7-8).

        6.     Let us resolve to go forward (Phil. 3:12-16).

CONCLUSION:

A.    YOU MIGHT SAY, “I HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.”

B.    NOT THIS ONE – YOU HAVEN’T BEEN DOWN 2003.

C.    WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT? (Josh. 24:15).