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JOSHUA 3:10-17

"DARE TO GET YOUR FEET WET"

Intro: The day has finally come and we now stand by Jordan. We are about to enter
       into a new dimension, "You have not passed this way heretofore."

I. THE WILDERNESS IS BEHIND US.
        A. The experiences have been good and bad.
                1. God has met our needs.
                2. There were times when He seemed very close & times when He seemed
                   so distant. We were prone to doubt if He was even there.
                3. Relationship might be described as unstable (no stable Christians in
                   the wilderness).
        B. It has been a period of strife (Meribah..
                1. Striving with the elements.
                2. Striving with the enemies.
                3. Striving with God.
                4. Striving with own flesh. (No peaceful Christians in the wilderness).
        C. It has been a time of murmur & complaint.
                1. The murmuring as it turned out was unfounded.
                        a. Caused by impatience & anxiety.
                        b. God was there aII the time,  they lust didn't know it. 
                        c. God was going to work it out the whole time, they lust
                           doubted it. (There is no lasting joy in the wilderness).

II. THE LAND IS BEFORE THEM.
        A. It has been promised to them.
                1. The enemy was to be driven out before them.
                2. All they had to do was go in and possess,  what was already theirs
                   by a gift.
        B. It was a rich land.
                1. It would provide more than just their needs.
                2. The land flowed with milk & honey.
        C. In this land their relationship with God was to change. 
                1. In the wilderness their relationship was experience oriented.
                        a. Glorious experiences to be sure.
                        b. But the relationship was so shallow.
                        c. Unless God was working some new miracle that very moment prone
                           to forget.
                2. Their new relationship was to be based upon complete faith in God's Word.
        D. In this land they would find rest.
                1. Their lives were to be filled with joy.
                2. They were to know a perfect peace.

III. THE RIVER BETWEEN THEM.
        A. One great obstacle stood in their way.
                1. Flood season & Jordan was overflowing its banks.
                2. The swirling flood waters seem very formidable.
        B. Joshua their new leader gives them their orders to move.
                1. The priest were to go before them bearing the Ark of the Covenant.
                        a. They were to step into the waters of Jordan (talk about a step
                           of faith..
                        b. You say, "But he had God's Word" what do you have?
        C. Here we are at Jordan today.
                1. The wilderness is behind us the land before us.
                2. We can go one of two ways.
                3. There is one big obstacle in the way. "ME" my weakness, my failing flesh,
                   those powerful inner forces that have kept me defeated.
                4. God is saying to move ahead. you may get your feet wet, begin your walk
                   of faith