Scripture focus: Joshua 3:5-6
Disclaimer: Please forgive any typographical, grammatical, and/or content errors in the following notes. They are not meant to be an exact transcription, but rather a helpful guide for those who appreciate the written word along with the spoken word. If you have any questions on what was taught, feel free to reach out on our ‘Contact Us’ page.
Have you ever participated in:
- orchestra or band
- a presentation at work
- a playoff game or high level sporting competition?
- a test you needed to pass in order to move forward in a job or school
- public speaking – maybe a speech at a wedding
- made something intentionally with your hands – framing a house, baking a cake, etc.
Did you just “wing it” for these occasions? Most of the time when we want to accomplish one of these things we want to perform our best so we practice (and practice and practice) so when the time comes it’s more like muscle memory to do the task.
We’ve been looking in the book of Joshua on how we, like the Israelites, can have a mindset of preparation so that when they cross the Jordan River they are ready to face what is before them. We are now witnessing the Israelites on the banks of the Jordan River and seeing the land of promise on the other side. The Lord gives the people one final note of preparation and it’s the culmination of all their previous preparation.
Joshua 3:5-6
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
What does consecration mean?
To remove from common use to set apart or aside for a specific purpose; to be made holy; sanctify; Related to the idea of dedication.
This definition is tied into Hebrew thought on the greatest commandment that the Jews call the Sh’mah meaning “hear” – Deuteronomy 6:4-6“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
This recitation is an act of consecration. A Jew will repeat this twice a day as a visceral reminder of who they are and what they do. It’s a reminder who we are set apart for and to intentionally commit ourselves to the Lord. It doesn’t say to stand there and be consecrated or that God will do it or that priests will do it. We bear the responsibility to consecrate themselves. Joshua says, “Consecrate yourselves.” Joshua, in giving the Lord’s directions, is very intentional that the responsibility is on our shoulders to be used by God and see God move in your life.
My experience oftentimes is that it’s easy to get into a spiritual lull or spiritual rut where we go through the motions just coasting. When I reflect on my own life those seasons are when I’m not taking seriously the daily discipline of consecration. When I don’t see the Lord move like I would want him to I may feel that the Lord is distant and it’s very easy to begin to point fingers upward and outward but very rarely do we point the finger inward; but the onus of consecration is on ourselves. The new testament reinforces this idea and the active ingredients to consecration come in two parts:
- The Spirit of God – Galatians 5:16-17 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
- The Word of God – Romans 12:1-2 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Consecration is an act of worship. Our lives are lived out expressions of obedience, praise, dedication, and consecration to our King. Once again, we see that it is our responsibility to present our body as a living sacrifice. This can be an overwhelming thought and that’s how the enemy is going to attack us. As soon as we start talking about man’s responsibility and our call to be holy as He is holy, quite frankly we should be concerned! If I had the inkling that I could actually consecrate myself and do what God calls me to do in my own strength and power then that just shows how little I understand how God works. So what does it mean then?
We need to have the willingness to be shaped. It’s a desire to serve the Lord that overwhelms our desire to serve ourselves. It’s a desire to be shaped and molded and used by the Lord and allowing the Lord to put to death your selfish, prideful flesh.
- Philippians 2:12-13 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
If you don’t have that desire, are you willing to have the Lord give you that desire? That’s practical, pragmatic consecration. Are you willing to acknowledge that you like your sin but you want to like God more? If we can’t do that ourselves then that’s why we do this as a family so our brothers and sisters can point that out. A willingness to be honest with ourselves is crucial to our being honest with God. Self-deception is such a destructive thing and is why the devil is called the father of lies. This is why James writes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (1:22).”
In our text of Joshua 3:5, why did Joshua say to consecrate themselves? They are preparing to be in the presence of the Lord as he does wonders among them. The word for ‘wonders’ is the same word used in Exodus 3:20. The idea of something astonishing, beyond comprehension, that only a divine being could accomplish. The people went through their physical aspects of life – kneeling, praying, fasting, washing clothes, abstaining from sex – but, alos went through mental preparation, which we’ve talked about in previous teachings. What should our expectations be in thinking about the wonders God will show?
How to think about consecration? 3 scopes/timelines
- The Eternal Scope – Jesus has done this for all believers! Praise God that we can know we have been washed and cleaned by the blood of Christ. We are made holy because Jesus is holy. We are a new creation.
- Hebrews 13:12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood
- John 17:16-19 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
- Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Already, Not Yet Scope – We are already holy, cleaned, and sanctified for eternity, but we are living a lifetime of refining – being made more and more like Christ. If we think we have arrived at the pinnacle of holiness, or that we can ever arrive on this side of heaven then we are self-deceived.
- Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
- Exodus 23:29-30 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
- How many of you know that when a 16 year old gets a permit you give them a new, luxury car? You give them a vehicle that gets them from point A to point B. You don’t know what you don’t know. Experience, maturity, and decision making skills that improve come with time and then you can be trusted to drive a nicer vehicle. Similarly, God doesn’t just snap his fingers and ‘boom’ the Israelites are in possession of the entire Promised Land. This would bypass the important process of struggle and refinement. It’s in this process that the enemy will discourage us by whispering lies – “You should be further along. Are you really still doing that?” Instead of spiraling downward, we walk by the Spitirt, rooted in the Word, recognizing that though I may have fallen victim to my sin and flesh that’s not where my identity lies.
- The Moments Scope – There are seasons where the Lord is preparing you for a specific task and there’s specific consecration for these specific moments. The Lord says in Joshua 3:5, “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow…” When we have the privilege to be a part of one of those moments then may we relish in that moment because it is precious! Perhaps there’s no greater joy or privilege on this side of heaven when the Lord has prepared and used you in a specific moment to accomplish a purpose. Sometimes he makes it very evident, sometimes it’s a clear opportunity – the Lord is setting it before us and we want to prepare and do it well. Sometimes it’s spontaneous and we by God’s grace are able to play like we practice. We’ve had the work done to us as we’ve submitted to his refining process in our lives and we respond well! Then we can say, “Wow, God, that was incredible!” We can give testimony to our church and unbelievers and God gets the glory.
God always moves. He’s constantly moving and He’s always at the head. The priests took the ark of the covenant to the front. That’s how God works – he’s constantly leading us and consecration is honing that spiritual instinct to follow his lead as the opportunity presents itself. These already not yet and specific moments culminate in eternity where we can worship and praise him forever and ever.