Build an Altar of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship

 “And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joshua assembled all Israel’s tribes at Shechem.  He summoned all the leaders - elders, judges and officials of Israel - and they all stood in the Presence of God.  Shechem at this time was the political cradle of the nation due to its importance in the lives of the patriarchs.  Shechem was not only the geographic centre of Canaan but also the moral heart of the nation.  At this city Abraham built the first altar to Yahweh within the land, and here God appeared to him and promised that Abraham’s seed would inherit the promises.  In Christ, these promises have come to us by Jesus taking our curses on the Cross and giving us the promise of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s build the altar of thanksgiving, praise and worship, to Him Who has chosen to dwell in our hearts, and receive our spiritual inheritance as sons and daughters of God.  Hallelujah!

Jesus’s Blood is Shed for All

 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For the unbelieving husband has been made holy by his believing wife. And the unbelieving wife has been made holy by her believing husband by virtue of his or her sacred union to a believer. Otherwise, the children from this union would be unclean, but in fact, they are holy.  By implication, Paul is making the point that in marriages where one is a believer and one is an unbeliever, the spouses should remain together, for the righteous faith of a believer makes the marriage holy.  In the Corinthian church believers who had pagan spouses thought to divorce them and find a believing spouse, in order to serve Christ.  Paul corrects that error and affirms the marriage covenant.  As in the old covenant, the entire family is in covenant with God.  Therefore, the children of even one believing parent are set apart for God.  The Blood of Jesus has been shed for all humanity.  Amen!

Love God First, then Serve Him

 “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭23‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joshua tells the Israelites, “for Yahweh your God fights for you as He promised He would!  That is why just one of you causes a thousand of our enemies to run away.  Above else, keep watch over your hearts, so as to always love Yahweh your God.”  To those under the law, Moses had said, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart”. Joshua reiterated it.  So much more is for those who have been set free to follow Jesus Christ, our Beloved.  He has completely destroyed the enemy and now wants us to declare the victory of the Cross over any and every enemy against us.  That’s why, in Christ, serving God must be based on loving Him with all our hearts.  Amen!

Don’t Drag Believers to the Court of Law

 “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Don’t you realize that when you drag another believer into court you’re providing the evidence that you’re already defeated? Wouldn’t it be better to accept the fact that someone is trying to cheat and take advantage of you, and simply choose the high road? At times it is better to just accept injustice and even to let someone take advantage of you, rather than to expose our conflicts publicly before unbelievers.  Paul is not saying that believers should give in to abuse from others.  The higher principle he highlights here is that it is better to suffer personal injustice than to bring disgrace to Christ by bringing our conflicts before unbelievers.  The Spirit of wisdom is one of the graces that God pours out upon His people.  This anointing of wisdom will empower the Body of Christ to bring justice and righteousness into our churches.  Jesus put it succinctly, “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.”  Let’s trust Him to turn to good what is meant for harm.  Amen!

Reconcile

“And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭22‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Soon after the return of Reubenites, Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh, to their land east of the Jordan, after they had risked their lives for all the other tribes to get their inheritance, satan planned a civil war to destroy them.  God and His leadership intervened and averted a great disaster.  These two and a half tribes built a replica altar on their side, to serve the God of Israel.  The other tribes quickly judged and misunderstood their good intentions as rebellion, and were about to war against them, in their zeal.  Then Eleazar and the elders went to the accused tribes and reconciliation was made.  In Christ, we beware of doctrine that divides, negative reports and strife, unwise counsel that causes believers to bite and devour one another by bitterness, arguments, backbiting, jealousy and divisions.  The root of bitterness defiles and weakens the Church.  If one believer is affected, the whole Body suffers. Praise God, satan can never destroy the Church, because God has made peace through the Blood of His cross, by Christ, to reconcile all things to Himself.  Let’s not be filled with a wrong zeal, but with the very love of God towards all in the Church.  Amen!

Discipline in the Chirch

 “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is saying, “What right do I have to pronounce judgment on unbelievers? That’s God’s responsibility. But those who are inside the church family are our responsibility to discern and judge. So it’s your duty to remove that wicked one from among you.”  We are to remove wickedness from among the Church family, in this case a church member in the Corinthian church involved in sexual immorality.  The local church has the authority to discipline erring believers who persist in sin.  Under the old covenant that discipline was physical, death by stoning.  But under the new covenant, the Church discipline is spiritual.  Jesus said, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” Let’s build up disciples in the Scripture way.  Amen!

Christ Won the Victory on the Cross

 “And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭21‬:‭44‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So Yahweh gave Israel all the land He had promised their ancestors.  They took possession of their land and settled there.  Yahweh kept His promise and gave them peace in the land.  Not one of their enemies could stand against them.  In Christ all our enemies are under our feet, even though our offensive war continues.  Our glorified Saviour sits at the right Hand of God till all His enemies are made His footstool.  God works through Christ’s Body, the Church, and will completely crush satan under His feet.  God planned the entire history of the devil before the creation of the world.  God sent His Son to destroy all the works of the devil and strip him of all his authority.  Now satan has very little time to deceive the world and persecute the Church.  In Christ we are to resist, drive out and destroy instead of allowing him to roam around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy.  At the end of this age, satan will be bound up for a thousand years in the abyss.  Finally satan will be put into the lake of fire to be eternally tormented.  Let’s labour to enter into the rest and peace of Christ.  Our war is over, it was won at the Cross.  Let’s believe it and reign in righteousness.  Amen!

The Reward of Eternity

 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So resist the temptation to pronounce premature judgment on anything before the appointed time when all will be fully revealed. Instead, wait until the Lord makes His appearance, for He will bring all that is hidden in darkness to light and unveil every secret motive of everyone’s heart. Then, when the whole truth is known, each will receive praise from God.  The clear reference is that God will bring to light not only evil motives but the pure motives of believers - the secret motives of love, faithfulness, righteousness, kindness etc.  When the Lord judges His righteous lovers, their secret devotion and sacrifices will all be brought into the light and God will praise them for their faithful love.  The reward of eternity will be that God affirms them.  God’s praise is actually thanks from God and how mind blowing it is when God praises His faithful servants.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us.  Amen!

Christ my Refuge

 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: that the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The need for “cities of refuge” arose because it was the duty of the nearest relative of a man who had been killed to search out and kill the killer.  When it was clearly not an intentional killing, but accidental manslaughter, then the killer could seek asylum in any of these six cities.  In the new covenant, living in Christ is our city of refuge.  In Christ, even the worst intentional murderers find salvation and refuge. Jesus said “…it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” With our words we sin.  Our Heavenly Father demonstrated His great love for us that while we were yet sinners and His enemies, He reconciled us to Himself in Christ.  Jesus’s finished work on the Cross is our great refuge.  As our High Priest, Christ ever lives to make intercession for us because He alone saves us to the uttermost.  He is our Refuge, our Fortress, Hiding Place,  Stronghold, our Shield.  Our life is hidden with Christ in God.  Let’s rejoice in God our Saviour.  Hallelujah!

God’s Temple built in God’s Way

 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder.  This shows the building of the temple of God and what building materials are used.  In Solomon’s temple, gold, silver and costly stones were used.  But God’s temple has gold which is God’s wisdom; silver which is redemption’s fruit in us; costly stones are the transformed lives.  Wood, hay and stubble signify the works of the flesh of men and not of God, which grow from the ground that God cursed.  God commends both quality and durability and fire causes the better material to glow brighter.  The inferior material is consumed.  Even if Christ is our foundation, we can use the wrong material to build.  We need God’s work done in God’s way to build God’s temple.  Let’s yield to God the Holy Spirit for building us.  Amen!

Honour God’s Servants Who Minister Well

 “When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: according to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭19‬:‭49‬-‭50 KJV‬‬

Eleazar the priest, Joshua and the leaders of the tribes, divided the land by using lots, and after that gave their army chief, Joshua son of Nun, his inheritance.  As Yahweh had instructed, they gave him the city of Timnath Serah in the territory of the Ephraimites, which Joshua built up and lived there.  This extra portion Joshua had longed for, and God had so instructed.  Those who minister to God’s people and serve them, are worthy of double honour.  Paul instructed Timothy in this way, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”  Jesus, our heavenly Joshua, waits for the fullness of His inheritance until His people have received theirs.  He is building up His City, His Church, His Bride as He dwells there.  Amen!

But We Have the Mind of Christ

 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For Who has ever intimately known the mind of the Lord Yahweh well enough to become His counsellor? Christ has, and we possess Christ’s perceptions.  Isaiah had prophesied, “Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being His counsellor has taught Him?”  This is what Paul spoke here, that we believers possess the Holy Spirit, Who reveals the thoughts and purposes of Christ.  The revelation of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached, was not understood by the intellect of men, but by those who welcomed His truth.  Humanly speaking, no one can understand the mysteries of God without the Holy Spirit.  Those who have the Holy Spirit now possess the perceptions of Christ’s mind and can implement His purposes on the earth.  May we acknowledge God the Holy Spirit as He leads us and guides us into all truth and yield ourselves to Him.  Amen!

The Lord Jesus is Our Shiloh

 “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After the Israelites had conquered the land (it took seven years), all of them gathered at Shiloh and the priests set up the tabernacle there, shifting it from Gilgal.  In Shiloh it remained as the centre of worship for 369 years right through the book of Judges and Ruth.  Shiloh means being whole and healthy, sound and secure and in abundance.  Here Hannah prayed for her miracle son Samuel, and then dedicated him.  Samuel was the first of the prophets of Israel.  In the new covenant, Jesus is our Shiloh and we are the temple of the Holy Ghost, born of the Spirit and joined one spirit with the Lord.  Shiloh is in us.  Thank You Lord, Hallelujah!

The Message of the Cross

 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To preach the message of the Cross seems like sheer nonsense to those who are on their way to destruction, but to us who are being saved, it is the mighty power of God released within us. For it is written: I will dismantle the wisdom of the wise and I will invalidate the intelligence of the scholars.  The act of proclaiming the message of the Cross is the ignition point where God’s power becomes operative and actualised with the ability to convert, transform and save.  For Christ Himself is the power of God.  Paul uses the prophecy of Isaiah as a warning against leaning upon human wisdom to understand spiritual matters.  True wisdom comes from above and is given by divine revelation to those who are teachable and humble before God.  Let’s humble ourselves and surrender to our loving Father, even when we don’t understand the situation.  Let’s believe in the goodness of God come what may.  Amen!

In Christ We are One

 “But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Manasseh’s grandson Gilead had a son named Hepher whose son was Zelophehad, who had no sons.  But he did have five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.  According to the law, only sons had a share in their father’s inheritance, not daughters.  These daughters of Zelophehad refused this handicap of the lack of sons, ignored this and chose to develop their strengths.  Let’s not focus on our lack but allow God to become our sufficiency, strength and wisdom. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that we belong to Christ, we are the true children of Abraham. We are His heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to us.  Let women rise up like the daughters of Zelophehad, claiming the best from God and make history!  Amen!

The Early Church was Egalitarian

 “that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV

Paul is sending this letter through Phoebe, saying, “I am sending her with this letter and ask that you shower her with your hospitality when she arrives. Embrace her with honor, as is fitting for one who belongs to the Lord and is set apart for Him. So provide her whatever she may need, for she’s been a great leader and champion for many—I know, for she’s been that for even me!  It is clear that Phoebe was considered a leader, a champion, a heroic woman who was most likely quite wealthy and brought blessings to others.  In Greek the explanation of Phoebe is that she had a great status and a high position in the church.  She carried this letter to Rome which contains the greatest wealth of Christian theology, which blesses us even today.  As a woman, she was a wonderful servant of God in the church at Cenchrea, and one that was honoured.  The early Church was egalitarian in that Phoebe was a deaconess.  May we recognise and discern the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to the Church which includes women as well, and encourage them to serve God faithfully.  Amen!

Be Successful by Being Led by the Holy Spirit

 “And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Beth-el, and goeth out from Beth-el to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The territory assigned to Joseph’s descendants began east of the springs of Jericho into the hill country as far as Bethel.  From Bethel to Luz, it crossed over to Arkite territory at Ataroth.  The Arkites were descendants of Arki, a son of Canaan and grandson of Ham, the son of Noah.  The Arkites are identified with modern Arqa in Lebanon.  Joshua was assigning the territory to all the tribes of Israel as God had directed him to do.  Joseph’s descendants were the tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Manasseh.  Already the half tribe of Manasseh had settled for territory on the other side of the Jordan.  Joshua was not only a warrior but a judicious governor of the children of Israel as he divided the territory among the tribes.  In all this, God Himself guided Joshua, which is why he was successful in dividing the territory.  In the new covenant, Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us every step of the way to be successful in winning souls for His Kingdom.  May we surrender to the Holy Spirit for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Amen!

Preaching the Gospel of Power

 “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul says, “I will not be presumptuous to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me. For many non-Jewish people are coming into faith’s obedience by the power of the Spirit of God, which is displayed through mighty signs and amazing wonders, both in word and deed. Starting from Jerusalem I went from place to place as far as the distant Roman province of Illyricum, fully preaching the wonderful message of Christ”.  Paul thoroughly preached the Gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum, today’s Croatia in the western Balkan Peninsula.  There was much evidence of Paul’s preaching that God was working through him, resulting in many non-Jewish people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.  The signs and wonders were a part of the message, validating Paul’s apostolic mandate to evangelise and plant churches.  Let’s believe that God can use us, however ordinary we are, to preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ validating it with signs, wonders and miracles.  Thank You Jesus!

Our Benevolent Heavenly Father

 “Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Caleb’s daughter Achsah asked him for more in addition to the land he had given her, Caleb readily gave what she asked for.  This reflects our heavenly Father’s generous and benevolent heart.  Both Achsah and her newly wed husband Othniel, agreed to ask for better and more.  Husbands and wives agreeing together in prayer to get more from God, is a great blessing for them and their generations.  We must not limit God, but aspire for more.  The natural mind desiring more is greed, but the spiritually minded who know their God, will not limit God.  Let’s ask for more because, He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Hallelujah!

The Reality of the Kingdom of God

 “for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink, but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with righteousness, peace, and joy. Serving the Anointed One by walking in these kingdom realities pleases God and earns the respect of others.  The Kingdom of God is entered into by the Holy Spirit, and not by observing feasts and ritual meals.  We must be born of the Spirit in order to enter into God’s Kingdom realm.  To have the Holy Spirit is to have the realities of God’s Kingdom.  Righteousness is our mindset of kindness in our relationships and speaks of putting others first and expressing goodness in having right relationships with others as well as right living.  Walking in Kingdom realities is pleasing and beautiful to God.  The Kingdom reality is that the Holy Spirit has come on earth to make us like Jesus, we can’t ever do it by ourselves.  Let’s surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit to walk in the reality of God’s Kingdom.  Amen!

We Can Do All Things Through Christ

 “As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even at age 85, Caleb had great faith to drive out giants.  His faith challenges us today to expect and attempt greater things by accepting greater challenges.  God desires for us to ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’  Under the old covenant, Moses, Joshua, Caleb and others had supernatural strength to accomplish insurmountable tasks.  In Christ, we’re in a better covenant based on better promises, where age has no limitations.  We can go into the hardest enemy territory and mightily deliver souls for Christ.  Though our outward man shows signs of aging, our inward man is constantly renewed day by day becoming strong to sustain our outer man.  Our strong spirit will make us do mighty exploits for God till the last minute of our life on earth.  God’s Word energises us and God’s Spirit empowers us to possess greatly for the Lord Jesus.  The choice is ours, we can increase our inner strength and develop our faith to avail more of God, or we can retire.  Let’s accept new challenges, new tasks, new territories, new vigour, no matter how old we are!  We can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.  Hallelujah!

Put On the Armour of Light

 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is urging the Church that to live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and we know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns. So we must once and for all strip away what is done in the shadows of darkness, removing it like filthy clothes. And once and for all we clothe ourselves with the radiance of light as our weapon.  Our perfect wholeness is the full salvation ready to be unveiled and unfolded in these last days.  As Peter said, “we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  We clothe ourselves with the armour of light as the Truth is made manifest both in Christ and in us, because the darkness is disappearing and the True Light is already blazing.  Let the radiance of Light be our answer to every darkness.  Amen!

The Next Generation

 “All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭13‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joshua, God’s mighty champion had become old and yet much of the land was yet to be possessed.  God told Joshua not to weary himself but to delegate everything to the next generation and to divide the land by lot to the remaining tribes.  Every leader needs to seriously consider his or her life span and to delegate the ministry to the next generation.  Ministers may come and go but the ministry remains.  The Lord Jesus Christ never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  As Head of the Church, His vision and mission is the same through every generation.  In the Church, leaders must learn to delegate and pass on the baton to faithful men and women.  Let’s start praying for the next generation, discern their callings and gifting, assign their jobs and constantly monitor and mentor their progress.  Let the Beloved Holy Spirit release His wisdom to the Church.  As Peter said, “..shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me…and after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”  Let’s be ready and preparing the next generation.  Amen!

The Grace Gift of Exhorting Others

 “or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you have the grace-gift of encouragement, then use it often to encourage others. If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare. If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership. And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion.  When you exhort, you go alongside of someone to comfort, encourage, console, strengthen and stir up faith.  This is how we give care to others who are in such need and we do it cheerfully, bring the joy of the Lord to strengthen the receiver.  People go through the downside of life, but for a believer in the Lord Jesus, we have the mighty Holy Spirit to be led by, Who guides us into all truth and teaches us all we need for that situation.  Let’s turn from the impossibility of our situation and be led by the Holy Spirit, especially the one who is exhorting another believer in the Body of Christ.  Amen!

Our Victory in Christ

 “And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote…”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There were 31 kings destroyed by Joshua.  Our heavenly Joshua has defeated every principality, power, and stronghold that resists our advance in Christ.  The Name of Mighty God El equals 31 in numerical value.  The 31 strongholds that Jesus demolished through the Cross are: walls, impossibilities, limitations; world system; counterfeit spirituality; broken fellowship with God Almighty; anything lifted up against God; pride, arrogance; human ingenuity; human arguments, oratory; sharp tongue, stinging words; political spirit; defensiveness; defeat, depression; rebellion, lawlessness; self-righteousness, hypocrisy; others’ approval, insecurity; false shepherds, selfish leadership; religious spirit; drunkenness; shame, condemnation; self-sufficiency; complacency, passivity; divisive and argumentative; human wisdom, mind of man; traditions, prideful opinions; occult, witchcraft; soulish, double mindedness; distraction, anxiety; man-made holiness standards; celebrity worship; worldly comfort; dull of heart, refusing to change, going nowhere; loving worldly pleasures more than loving God.  Jesus sets us free from each of these thirty-one strongholds.  Amen!

The Magnitude of God’s Kindness

 “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is explaining that the children of Israel were removed from being privileged with God.  Yes, that’s true. They were removed because of their unbelief. But remember this: we, the non-Jews are only attached by our faith. So let’s not be presumptuous, but stand in awe and reverence.  The non-Jews are grateful for the Jewish roots of our faith.  Our Messiah is Jewish and the Scriptures we read were given to the beloved Jewish people.  We feast on the New Covenant riches that have been handed down to us through the “olive tree” of Judaism.  Let’s be humbled by the magnitude of God’s kindness in including us in His Kingdom which is eternal, along with the Jews who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - and this is simply by faith.  Amen!

Jesus removed Impossibilities for Us who Believe Him

 “And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭11‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joshua also drove out the Anakim, a race of giants, from the hill country (including the cities of Hebron, Debir and Anab) - from the entire hill country of Judah and Israel.  Joshua destroyed the Anakim and their towns.  The Anakim were descendants of Anak whom Moses had mentioned as intimidating giants that kept the Israelites fearful in unbelief, which led to their wandering in the wilderness. Joshua eliminated these giants and enabled the tribes of Israel to possess their inheritance, just as Jesus has now removed these giants that keep us from full faith.  Giants are nothing compared to God’s omnipotence.  Jesus Himself said, “What appears humanly impossible is more than possible with God.”  Again, Jesus said, “Anything is possible if a person believes.”  Every giant of impossibility in our life is removed when we believe.  Let’s only believe God’s Word, and get rid of all ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’.  Amen!

The Gospel Preached to Everyone

“But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, And by a foolish nation I will anger you.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So again Paul asks, didn’t Israel already understand that God’s message was for others as well as for themselves? Yes, they certainly did understand, for Moses was the first to state it: “I will make you jealous of a people who are ‘nobodies.’ And I will use people with no understanding to provoke you to anger.”  Those who are “nobodies” and the “people with no understanding” both refer to the Gentile believers among the nations that have by faith entered into new life in Jesus.  Paul here confirms that God’s plan from the beginning was to give the message of salvation to all the nations.  Moses said it, “They made Me jealous by what is no god and angered Me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.”  Isaiah too prophesied it, “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me.  To a nation that did not call on My Name, I said, ‘Here Am I, here Am I.’”  The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ must be heard by everyone on earth because it is the power of God to salvation.  Let’s co-labour with the Lord to fulfill it.  Amen!

Decree God’s Word with Faith

 “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies…. So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the most amazing miracle recorded in Israel’s history.  By the decree of a mortal, the entire cosmos paused as Yahweh Himself fought for His people! God is the Engineer of the universe and holds its controls in His Hands. He can accelerate or slow down the created order He set in place.  As Joshua spoke with authority, the sun and moon stood still and the enemy was conquered.  This was in the old covenant.  In the new covenant when Jesus was resurrected, He said all authority is with Him which He gives to all who believe Him. Jesus stripped the devil of authority and transferred it to His Church.  We are seated with Christ far above all principalities and powers, might and dominion and these are under Christ’s Feet.  Because we are in Christ, even the newest believer has this authority.  Soon, the God of peace will swiftly pound Satan to a pulp under our feet! Let’s not make the devil bigger than he is!  Hallelujah!

Forever Grateful for God’s Gift of Freewill

 “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So again we see that it is entirely up to God to show mercy or to harden the hearts of whomever he chooses.  When this verse is translated from Greek, it implies that God hardens hearts.  But in the Aramaic it is a translated Hebrew wisdom, which says that God gives permission for the heart to be hardened.  This implies that the hardening of the heart is from within the individual.  That’s what happened to the Pharaoh at the time when God was delivering the children of Israel from Egypt.   It says that, “But when Pharaoh saw that there was temporary relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen or pay attention to them, just as the Lord had said.”  God does not interfere with our free will.  The initiative comes from humans, who first release their choice, and then God gives permission for the consequences of that free will choice.  Let’s thank our God that He never forces, intimidates, or troubles us to use this wonderful free gift of free will that He has given humans.  Forever grateful, Father.  Amen!