How to Get past YOUR Jordan

The birth of a New Year brings new hope and an optimistic outlook on the future. Many people have already claimed that in 2009, this will be your time, or in 2009, everything will be fine, or for some in 2009, I am going to get mine, and for all of those who are praying that prayer, I hope God gives you everything you desire.

However, even though the clock will change times, dates will change months, calendars will change years and the line of demarcation will be crossed, don't fool yourself into thinking that the new year will help you escape old problems. The Bill collector still knows your number, trouble still has a key to your door and the devil is still after you.

I have always loved the passage found in Joshua 3:1-6 where the people of God are crossing over into their destiny in the promised land. The phrase found in vs. 4, "you have not passed this way before" has arrested my attention as I stand looking over the horizon of another year.

Selfishly, I want everything to be great! No problems, no deaths, no headaches, heartaches, really I don't want anything to ache. I want members who are concentrated on ministry not mess, people who see the possibilities not the problems, I want the promised land! But I realize that, NO ONE SEES THE PROMISED LAND WITHOUT GOING THROUGH JORDAN TO GET IT.

What is Jordan? The simplest definition is "Anything that stands in the way or in between you and your destiny". Under normal circumstances, Jordan is not that formidable but when you get to your Jordan, it won't be normal. When the Israelites came to Jordan, Js. 4:15, the river was at flood stage. Under normal circumstances the Jordan was shallow and only 100 feet wide crossing at Gilgal but when the Israelites showed up it was over a mile wide and very deep. It was over 50 times wider and deeper than it would be normally and they would need supernatural help to get past it.

Jordan is not just a bill but it is a debt so large that there is no way you can pay it without some supernatural help. Jordan is not just a death but it is a death of someone so beloved in your life that it shuts down your ability to want to go on and live yourself. Jordan is not just a problem in the church but it is a problem so deep that it threatens your message, your ministry and now they want to call a meeting. It can't be fixed, faced or fought without supernatural help.

We can get past our Jordan's if we:

LET GOD GO FIRST VS. 3
The Ark of the Covenant was symbolic of the presence of God. If the Ark moved, it meant God was moving. Where ever God leads, we must be ready to follow. The Bible says, "set out and follow it", it reminds me of the game "Follow the Leader" Where ever the leader went, we went, behind the bushes, through the trees, down the valley, etc., and it is the same in our lives, since we have not passed this way before, wherever God leads, we must follow.
GIVE GOD ROOM TO LEAD VS. 4
There were clear instructions on getting to close, "There shall be a space between you and it................that you may know the way by which you must go". By giving a distance between the ark and those following, the ark could clearly be seen by the people. Too often we want to rush ahead of God without keeping our eyes on God, then wonder why we fail.
GET YOURSELVES SPIRITUALLY READY VS. 5
Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you". Sometimes we miss the wonder because we have not put in the work. Separate, set apart, consecrate yourselves. Get ready! If we are going to get past the Jordan's in our lives, we must examine ourselves to make sure our lives are as clean as possible.

We are all unfinished flower beds constantly needing the Master's touch in our lives. He digs, weeds, transplants and tills away at the places in our garden that do not look like him. It is not an overnight process and neither should it be but he is still working on us. We am not what we will be but neither are we what we used to be but the gardener while shaping us knows exactly what we can be.

Not sure what this will be but still I am ready to run,

Owens