Preparing for a Miracle (Pt. 2)

River of Life - Cold Spring

“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.” Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” - Joshua 3:1-5 (NIV)
- Before He does something AMONG us, He needs to do something IN us.
Consecrate yourselves today because God wants to do something TODAY so you can see him TOMORROW.
“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” - 2 Corinthians 6:2b (NIV)
4 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Miracles:
1.) Learn to Wait on God.
“Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp.” - Joshua 3:1b - 2 (ESV)
2..) Follow His Lead.
“giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.” -Joshua 3:3-4 (NIV)
3.) Be Consecrated.
“Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” - Joshua 3:5 (ESV)
We repent enough to be saved, but do we surrender enough to be transformed?
4.) Get Moving
- If you want a miracle, you need to do something!
“So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 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. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” - Joshua 3:14-17 (NIV)