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JOSHUA 4:1-9

When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.

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THOUGHTS ON MAKING IT

Mama, We Made It

Show excitement or get recognition when you do something well

Graduation
Famous
Job
Anniversary

There are some things that you made it through

Persecution
Transition
Sickness
Death

The children of Israel

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THE ASSIGNMENT OF MAKING IT

Joshua 4:1

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Joshua 4:1

When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,

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THE ASSIGNMENT OF MAKING IT

When all the nation

Lets us know that there was a time that they hadn’t quite made it yet

There are moments in your life that you are in the going through phase. You have to go through in order to make

Moses

Moses received the word from God through the burning bush
All you need is a word to know that you will make it

Joshua

After Moses died, Joshua to lead the people.
Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. –Joshua 1:2-3
The promise continues

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THE ASSIGNMENT OF MAKING IT

Within 3 days, you will cross over the Jordan

They find themselves in a holding pattern

You wait until God says move. Some of us are in a holding pattern right now

What do you do while you are in a holding pattern?

Prepare

Spies were sent into the city to see what was up ahead
God goes before you get things ready for you while you are getting ready for this
As soon as you see the ark of the covenant, you follow

You don’t move until you see the presence of God move

Consecrate

Consecrate yourselves, tomorrow we cross

Before you go into what God has for you, you have to make sure you are ready to do what God has called you to do

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DON’T FORGET HOW YOU MADE IT

Joshua 4:4-7

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Joshua 4:4-7

Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

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DON’T FORGET HOW YOU MADE IT

As soon as they crossed the Jordan, the word of obedience was to build a memorial

God knew that they were forgetful people.

They forgot when He was bringing them out of Egypt and the wilderness

We too forget (where we have come from, where we were, what God has done for us)

If I am bringing them in to the Promised Land, I need them to know me

New levels = new devils; I need more than a verse a day keeps the devil away believers. I need believers who know me

One person from each tribe to bring a stone

This not God bringing one person through, He brought them all through
A stone is something that is seen everywhere, but a bunch in one place would cause one to ask questions

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DON’T FORGET HOW YOU MADE IT

When your children ask what these stones mean

Tell your testimony, the water was cut off and we crossed the Jordan

How did you make it?

What God did in their lives

Plagues, but God
Red Sea, but God
Bitter water, but God
Hungry, (quail and Manna), but God
Thirsty, (water from the rock), but God
Messed up worship (Golden calf, but God)
Coming into the Promised Land, by the Grace of God

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REMEMBER HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT

Joshua 4:8-9

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Joshua 4:8-9

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REMEMBER HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT

Stones in the Jordan where the priest stood

There is another memorial
Even though they are in the Promised Land, this does not mean that they are done with the battle

Just because you reach the place of destiny does not mean that you will not encounter any other opposition

Hittites, Amorites, Cannonites, Jebusites
The Ites of life

Stones in the river bed

Why put stones in the dry part of the river, eventually the water would cover them back up
But there would also come a time of famine, see the stones and know that God will bring your through