Part One: Joshua’s Mandate Is Still Relevant Today

 



Joshua had been Moses’ right-hand man before his death. Upon Moses’ death, God told Joshua: “Moses my servant is dead” and Joshua was to take the people of Israel across the Jordan River. Often, we focus on Joshua fighting the battle of Jericho, but we overlook an important detail. Don’t get me wrong, the way the people fought over the seven days was powerful and faith filled. I believe we should learn to fight our battles just like that. Often, we pray about something but then we try to accomplish it on our own strength instead of waiting for God to fight our battles for us. This could be part of the reason why we are not seeing any breakthroughs in our lives.

In Joshua 3:5 he said, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you”. I think this is a verse that is often missed among believers today. We want God to perform miracles, but we don’t want to prepare the soil of our hearts for God to move on our behalf. We are not willing to let go of selfish & worldly desires, not willing to “die to self”, and not wanting to let God lead the way. Have we consecrated ourselves for God? Do we even know what that means? This definition taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary means: “to make or declare sacred; to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony.” I like how the definition is written from the Oxford Reference: “the act of separating persons or things from profane use and dedicating them to the service of God.” I believe that many times we have neglected to devote ourselves extensively to prayer, worship, and solemn obedience to God. How are we as Christ believers expect for the Lord to move among us if we don’t set ourselves apart to Him?

The Church wants a mighty move of God in our society, and we want a revival, but we have neglected the Holy things of God. There’s a local Pastor that asked his congregation this: “what’s wrong with holiness?” Basically, what’s wrong with being set part Holy unto the Lord? Joshua understood the importance of consecrating or purifying himself for the work of God. He understood that he did not want anything else to get in the way of what God wanted to do in his life, his leadership, and the lives of the people. Joshua told the people of Israel to set themselves apart for the Lord, to be holy for Him, devoted only to Him. Had everyone not consecrated themselves to God, there would have been complaining & murmuring probably the first day they marched around Jericho. How amazing that they marched around Jericho for six days without even saying a word and the priests “continually blowing the horns”?!

The verse goes on to say, “for tomorrow” and I want you to focus on that for a moment. “Tomorrow” for the people of Israel meant starting the journey to cross the Jordan River. Their “tomorrow” meant that God will be performing powerful acts among them. Did you know that the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground?! That’s the same thing God did when He parted the Red Sea! Their “tomorrow” was “if God is for us, then who can be against us?” And finally, their “tomorrow” meant staying in Covenant, faith, and obedience to God. I want you to reflect on what is your “tomorrow”? What is it that you have been asking God for? I want you believe that “your tomorrow” is just around the corner keeping in mind that “your tomorrow” is different than God’s tomorrow. It was not until 3 chapters later that they started the march to Jericho and then 7 days later was when God gave them the city. Set yourself apart, pray, worship, believe, and obey God for “your tomorrow.”


Warm Wishes,

Carline

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