June 2024: Stepping Out In Faith

For many of us there is a gap between what we know about God and what we actually experience of God.

Why is that?
It’s a matter of faith.

And guess what happens when we step out in faith?
God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary.

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-27,31

When we step out in faith, our knowledge of God and experience of God come together, and then God does extraordinary things through us.

Joshua

“After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.”
Joshua 1:1-2

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:7-9

We know where and how to step out in faith
by reading the Bible and meditating on it.

Joshua believes God and says to the people
“three days from now you will cross the Jorden here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.”
Joshua 1:11b

Would God really give them the land now?
hey knew what God had told the previous generation but would they actually experience it?

They needed to step out in faith to find out.

So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 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…So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”
Joshua 3:14-16a,17

When did God stop the Jordan?
Not until they stepped in the water!

And what season did God choose for them to cross over the Jordan?
Flood season

God parted the Jordan river to bring His people into the promise land – but that was just the start.
That got them into the land and now they had to fight for it.

They had taken a step of faith – and now they needed to keep walking in faith.

Jericho

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Joshua 6:2-5

Just like with the Jordan River, out in front leading the people of God around Jericho was the Ark of the Covenant.

Inside the Ark of the covenant was a golden pot that had manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

Joshua led the people with the constant reminder of God’s promise to him “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid for I am with you”

God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary

God will use you to do the extraordinary

“…if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15

Who will you choose to follow with your life?

Will you step out in faith into the flood water?

Will you follow the promises of God into unknown territory trusting God to go before you?

Choose this day whom you will follow.