So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” (Joshua 3:9-13 NLT)
Someone said there are three kinds of people-- the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get something out of the flint you hammer it. But then it gives you only chips and sparks. To get something from a sponge you squeeze it, and the more pressure applied , the more you get. But of the three, the honeycomb just overflows its sweetness all by itself. It has so much that it must give out without force. You definitely want to be a honeycomb. You want to live an overflowing life. One that is so filled that it constantly overflows with love, courage, boldness, faith and inspiration. This was the kind of life Joshua lived.
It wasn't just Jordan overflowing its bank when Isreal crossed it in our text, something else was- Joshua's heart. In fact, it was the overflowing heart of Joshua that facilitated the crossing of the overflowing Jordan. Read our text again and imagine Joshua's demeanor as he spoke. Can you see his boldness? Can you hear his courage and certainty about what God was going to do? Can you see his courage and faith spill on his followers and lit their hearts.
How did he go from a timid rookie leader that God was encouraging a few days before to be bold and courageous to one who was so faith-filled. Joshua learned the secret. To be bold and courageous, you must first have the courage of heaven spill over into your own soul. You must first have an encounter with the powerful God through his faith-filled words. God had spoken to Joshua first. No wonder he said, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says..." God had lit his heart and all he needed to do what allow the sparks to light the others- to allow the spilling streams of heaven to overflow to the people around him.
Peter experienced the same infusion when the Holy Spirit came on them. He went from Simon, a denying and hiding reed, to Peter, a declaring and healing rock. It entered the soul of Paul and suffering and danger could not stop him. The apostles prayed for this overflow from heaven and the building shook , " And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29, 31 NLT).
Only full vessels can fill other vessels. What you do not have you cannot share. What God has not done in you, he cannot do through you. Being a blessing, begins by being the blessed. It is when you overflow your cup, that you are setup to take others up. The word of heaven will fill you with boldness and courage. His Spirit will set you and fire. Start there. Stay there everyday. Read his word. Speak his word. Pray his word. Your vessel will be filled and everyone around you will drink from the overflow.
Decision of the Day
I understand the secret of courage and boldness, that faith is an overflow from heaven into my heart. I will allow God to fill my heart and let it overflow to those around me.
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