FAITH EXPLORED: Ankle Deep 2-2-25

FAITH EXPLORED: Ankle Deep 2-2-25

Today we begin a new sermon series that deals with the very core of what it means to be a Christian. The Bible is full of individuals and groups of people who did incredible things, not because of the strength they had in and of themselves, but because of their great faith in God. A God-sized faith is displayed when we step out in trust before the miracle takes place. It means we keep our eyes on Jesus when storms rage around us. It means we are willing to follow God without fully knowing where it will take us. And it means living for God, even if it costs us something. For the next few weeks, we are going to explore the lessons we can learn from the extraordinary faith of some of the greatest stories in Scripture. In order to begin this series on faith and trust, it would be helpful to define what we mean by faith. There are many different ways to talk about this aspect of our relationship with God, but there is a passage of Scripture that captures it in a simple and concise way. We find it in the book of Hebrews.

 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The author of Hebrews says faith is an assurance and a conviction about what or who is trustworthy. But this trust is based on things that are hoped for but unseen. When people have faith in Jesus, they are placing their belief, hope, and trust in someone they cannot touch or feel. Yet, they hold deep conviction that the Spirit of God is worthy of their confidence. Maybe it is better to demonstrate this truth for you.

 

Trust Fall story about SITS and Louie Weber.

 

The stories of faith in the Scriptures have been given to us as an example to follow. God desires for his people to live out extraordinary faith. The first story we will look at today shows us that sometimes we have to take a first step to see that God is trustworthy.

 

I.  We Become Witnesses of God’s Power When We Are Full Of Faith.

 

The Bible tells us that when Moses rescues the people of Israel after 400 years of slavery in Egypt, they begin a long journey, or Exodus, to a place that had been promised to God’s people in the book of Genesis and the book of Numbers. This location was called the Promised Land. It was said to be a place “flowing with milk and honey.” It was a symbol of God’s blessing rest.

 

A.  Uncertainty

A problem arises as God’s people realize that the land of Canaan is inhabited by giants. This causes fear in their hearts. In order to take the land of Canaan they would have to exercise extraordinary faith. The book of Joshua begins with a new leader (named Joshua) readying his people to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The future is uncertain. The way is dangerous. However, God gives the people clear instruction for their next steps of faith.

 

“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 said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  Obedience

Camped on one side of the Jordan River, the people are told that when they see the priests move the Ark of the Covenant, they are to follow. The Ark was very significant to the Jewish people; they believed it housed the physical presence of God. So God gives this instruction because God wanted the Israelite people to stay in step with Him. Not to go before Him or too far behind Him. Instead, he wanted them to follow the presence of God as he led them. If they did, Joshua promised that they would see the Lord do amazing things. God desires obedience from his people, and their faithfulness will result in Him showing his power and might in their presence.

 

Arabian horses go through rigorous training in the deserts of the Middle East. The trainers require absolute obedience from the horses and test them to see if they are completely trained. The final test is almost beyond the endurance of any living creature. The trainers force the horses to go without water for many days. Then they turn them loose, and they start running toward the water. However, just as they get to the edge, ready to plunge in and drink, the trainer blows his whistle. The horses who have been completely trained and who have learned perfect obedience stop. They turn around and walk back to the trainer. They stand there quivering, wanting water, but they wait in perfect obedience. When the trainer is sure that he has their full obedience, he gives them a signal to go back to drink.

 

In order to see God move powerfully in our lives, we must follow his lead.  There have been times in my life when I have operated full of faith. I have sensed God’s leading when I pray, read his word, and spend time with other believers. These times have been a reality only because I have been trained to listen to Him and respond to his leading. I don’t do it perfectly; however, the times that I do I have produced amazing results that increase my faith in Him even more. I have found that the power of God at work in my life is directly correlated to my proximity to Him. Maybe the reason your faith in God has waned is that you have failed to follow closely as he leads.

C.  Trust

 

In this story of faith, God is trying to instill trust in Him in his people, as well as trust in their leader, Joshua. God wants the people to see Joshua in the same light they saw Moses. The first thing that happened was God to split the Jordan River for Joshua just as he did the Red Sea for Moses. However, there is a crucial verse in this story that offers an important key to living with God-sized faith.

 

“And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ” Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 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.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Speaking through Joshua, God gives the priests their instructions for what they must do in order for God’s people to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. They are to take the Ark of the Covenant and enter into the river. This instruction is already a test of their faith because the passage tells us the Jordan River was at flood stage. However, Joshua knew that if the people were willing to trust God to make a way through the Jordan, he would also make a way through the new land where he was leading them. Two major obstacles: the river and the enemies. It would require faith to remain obedient to God.

 

II.  Faith Requires A First Step.

 

A.  Moving from unfaith to faith

What I find most interesting about this story is that God did not split the water and provide dry ground to walk across until the priests, carrying the Ark, put their feet into the water. Their demonstration of faith, by putting themselves ankle deep in the Jordan, was the catalyst to the amazing things God would do for them. Faith requires a first step.

 

What are you asking God to do in your life right now? For the Israelites, they were believing God for a Promised Land of blessing where they would be set apart for Him. What about you? Maybe you sense God is asking you to follow Him into ministry. Maybe you sense God is wanting you to make the first steps in being reconciled to someone. Maybe God is wanting you to move past some kind of sin that has held you captive. Or maybe God is wanting you to serve someone in need in your community. You may feel scared because it is a hard thing to do. You may see a list of obstacles in your way. But what if God is just asking you to take one initial step? You don’t have to have it all figured out. The path may be murky, but the water won’t part until you get ankle deep.

 

B.  Wet feet lead to dry ground

My wife and I took a step of faith many years ago when we decided to leave the comfort of my first ministry.  We loved our life at Northside.  We had many friends.  We had 35 babies born the same year as Caleb.  Our life was blessed by God. BUT . . . We believed that God had more for us, but that more would mean leaving the comfort and safety of Northside.  We moved to Cleveland, TN, so I could attend seminary.  Those years were lean.  Times were tough.  Don’t get me wrong, we were blessed along the way. BUT . . . The action of leaving Northside did not provide dry ground for over 5 years.  We went to TN so we could come to MI.

 

There were many reasons to not take that step. But there was one big reason pushing us to do it:  we did not want to miss out on the things God would do. We would never have had the blessing of watching God work without taking the first steps and getting ankle deep.

 

Having faith in God is simple in concept. Follow closely where he leads and be willing to take steps to see Him work in your life. This kind of faith does not affect just you because it has an effect on those around you.

C.  Dry ground is found in the middle of the stream

 

“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 ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

These priests were obedient to God’s instructions, and as long as they stood in the middle of the dry riverbed, the whole nation of Israel was able to pass through without getting wet.

 

III.  Your Step Of Faith Could Be A Blessing To Others.

 

A.  Your act of faith may be a step toward someone else’s blessing.

Faith is rarely a decision with only personal consequences. A way was made for God’s people to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. When we step out with trust in God, there are often others around us who benefit. A father who is full of faith will have a positive impact on his children. A wife full of faith can transform her spouse. A single family that is full of faith can affect a whole neighborhood.

 

God may be inviting you to step out in faith not only for your benefit. Your trust in God may be a catalyst for blessing people all around you. I love the way the late preacher William Booth spoke about this kind of faith and blessing. “Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.”

 

B.  Your step of faith requires action.

Your step of faith ought to lead to a step of action. I want to invite you to spend a moment asking God to speak to you about what step of faith you need to make today. When God speaks, it is time to take the first step.

 

CONCLUSION

We Become Witnesses of God’s Power When We Are Full Of Faith.  Faith Requires A First Step. Your Step Of Faith Could Be A Blessing To Others.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.