Unhallowed Hearts
[Editor's Note: This is the second sermon in a series of messages by Johnny Hunt from the Book of Joshua.]
Introduction
As Israel sits at the bank of the Jordan River, contemplating the crossing, my mind races with thoughts.
Can you identify the obstacles that exist between you and the fulfillment of God’s will?
Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
God specializes in things thought impossible
He’ll do what no other friend can do.
The Red Sea spoke of Israel’s EXIT.
The Jordan River spoke of Israel’s ENTRANCE.
Remember my first sermon; Dueteronomy 6:23.
“He brought us out, to bring us in.”
At the Red Sea we were saved from something (Rearview).
At the Jordan River we were saved to something (Windshield).
“To get something you’ve never had, you have to do something you have never done.”
I. COMMUNION 1
“rose early in the morning”
Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
MEDITATE on God’s Promises.
MEDITATE on God’s Power.
MEDITATE ON God’s Person.
Old Proverb “He who lives without discipline dies without honor.”
John Newton (Amazing Grace), “Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.”
Great leaders prepare for Jordan and Jericho.
It is because we loose sight of a God who can do the impossible that we meet frustration and futility.
Think for a moment as to where you are in your Christian journey.
II. CONSECRATION 1-2
V1 “lodge there before they crossed over;” V2 “after three days.”
V1 “set out”
Thus far, all these Israelites knew was familiar and predictable.
“God rarely requires what is easily released.”
“If Egypt represents the world, and the long excursion in the desert represents the discipline every one of us experience, then the Jordan River represents the full surrender that must precede the life-long tasks of knowing God. Each of us comes to our own Jordan at some point in our lives.” Erwin Lutzer
There seems to be a predictable pattern to people of faith.
1. Confess Sins and Repent of their sins and ask Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Lord.
For some, “I said the prayer, I got the gift, now, where was I before this unexpected life interruption occurred?” As a result, they continue with the same level of religious activity and spiritual depth as they had prior to their salvation experience.
For others, they will know this to be a point of departure into a different kind of spiritual experience and seek to go deeper with Christ.
2. Commitment to Faith Activities
Embracing both spiritual growth and life in a community of faith.
Bible Study/Church/Discipleship
3. Experience a Prolonged Period of Spiritual Discontent
Slip into a spiritual coma; relaxed state with no stretching of their faith.
Comfortable or numb.
Some sense a silent nagging that is troubling them regarding their faith.
Holy Discontent
Spiritual Plateaued
Most abandon the next step once they realize the commitment and cost of moving forward.
4. Experiencing Personal Brokeness
God meets us head-on with the realization that we are still self-reliant.
While we deal with our sin, we must also deal with our independence (reliance on one’s own efforts and abilities).
This can lead to Brokenness after much reflection and meditation, sorrow and remorse, realistic self-evaluation, talking and listening to God. Coming to the end of self as the “go to” person in all situations.
a. Brokenness is a permanence of God neediness.
b. Uncommon communion.
c. Servanthood through identity not a strategy.
d. Radical obedience.
This is largely about realigning our spirit with God’s.
Choosing to Surrender and Submit fully to God: Radical Dependence; Total Surrender, complete submission, and utter dependence upon God. We allow God to remake our lives. This produces an ever present God consciousness. We agree to give up control.
We begin to enjoy profound intimacy with and love for God.
Oswald Chambers, "Consecration means the continual separating of myself to one particular thing... We cannot consecrate once and for all. It’s continually separating myself to consider God every day of my life."
V1 and V3 “set out” – speaks of a time of transition (change); word for journey
“The process of consecration, this transforming of our character, can be compared to an iceberg which has only 10% of its total mass above the water. As the sun shines on it, the exposed parts melt, moving the lower parts upward. As the light of God’s word works in our hearts and changes in those moments matters brought to our attention, we become aware of even more work that needs to be done.” Erwin Lutzer
SPIRITUAL GLOBAL WARMING
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Chuck Swindoll
III. CURIOSITY 1-5
“Man’s extremity furnishes the most suitable opportunity for God to display His power.”
1 Corinthians 2:9: “But as it is written: "’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man - The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’"
IV. COMMITMENT 6
“CROSS OVER” – “connotes something with tremendous epic significance” (E. John Hamlin).
The verb emphasizes the decisive nature of this moment in the history of the Hebrew people and distinguishes it from everything that had gone before.
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though darkened by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the great twilight that knows not victory or defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt