Possessing Our Possession #2
Brother Stephen shared a ministry centered on the biblical account of Joshua crossing the Jordan River. He emphasized that crossing the Jordan symbolizes entering into God's promised inheritance, which requires spiritual preparation and faith. Stephen explained that the Israelites' crossing of the Jordan was a divine act where the waters parted as the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the river, illustrating that God's power is accessed through obedience and faith. He highlighted that the crossing signifies not only entering into the Promised Land but also the spiritual journey of possessing Christ as our inheritance. Stephen drew parallels between the Red Sea and Jordan, illustrating that both represent baptism—Red Sea as salvation and deliverance from Egypt, and Jordan as entering into the fullness of God's promises. He stressed that baptism is a one-time act of identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, symbolized by the stones taken from the riverbed and set as memorials. The stones represent the old fleshly life buried forever, while the smooth stones symbolize new life in Christ. Ultimately, Stephen urged believers to exercise faith in Christ's finished work, crossing over into abundant spiritual life, and living in the power of His resurrection.
Main Points Outline
Joshua's crossing of the Jordan as a type of spiritual possession and divine promise.
The significance of faith and spiritual preparation in entering God's promises.
The symbolism of water representing death and life, depending on context.
The Red Sea as a type of baptism and salvation through the blood of Christ.
The Jordan River as a symbol of death, burial, and resurrection, representing entering into Christ's fullness.
The importance of exercising faith to appropriate Christ's finished work.
The stones as memorials of burial of the flesh and new life in Christ.
The believer's call to cross over by faith into the abundant life in Christ.
1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. 5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: 6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. 8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over. 11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
