Why be a Joshua you might ask? Because Joshua represents a remnant of followers that actually possess the promise of God in the earth. In prayer the Holy Spirt said to me, "Jesus disarmed the enemy but the people of God must dispossess the enemy and possess the land." Remember, God never does for us what He has assigned to us. Therefore, as followers of Jesus Christ and believers in His commission in the earth, it is our duty, privilege and assignment to DISPOSSESS (kick out) the enemy and POSSESS (take ownership of ) the land. For this reason Jesus told His disciples, "it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the HELPER will not come to you, but I will send Him to you" (Jn. 16:7 ESV). Jesus knew we needed help possessing the land. As "God with us" He began a revolution on the earth. He made such an impact that even history is measured by His first advent - B.C. and A.D. However, Jesus also understood that there would be another dimension to possessing the land that not only required "God with us" but "God in us". For this purpose the Holy Spirit was sent at the inception of the church not just to dwell among us on the earth but to live large through us. The Helper invaded the earth filling God's people with passion, boldness and power. No longer would a pilgrimage be required to the tabernacle of God in the wilderness or in the city of God. No longer would the person and presence of God be limited to the ministry of Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Galilee. The Helper has come to fill God's temple, the body of Christ in the earth, with only one purpose and that is to DISPOSSESS THE EMEMY AND POSSESS every land!!
Joshua's assignment was to possess the promise land but the church's assignment is to possess every land.
Joshua represents the type of ardent follower that is needed to fulfill this mission in the earth. The Great Commission is GREAT. The task is overwhelming and in the natural realm - impossible to accomplish. However, with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (Matt.19:26). In his generation, Joshua stood out but not by accident. He stood out becasue there were certain qualities about him that caused him to emerge as one of Israel's greatest leaders. God is always looking for the Joshuas to arise in every generation; For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth that he may strongly support those whose heart is completely His (2 Chron. 16:9). Whose heart is completely His is the key to Joshua's life and ministry. Joshua stood out because his heart was completely, not partially, not half-heartedly the LORD'S. God used Joshua because Joshua was whole heartedly devoted to His will and purposes in the earth. Joshua's heart was for the kingdom of God first then all other things second. May the Joshuas arise in the earth today and possess every land!!
I believe Joshua's life and ministry provides a wonderful example for us to emulate if we want to stand out in our generation. The following are five key qualities that STAND OUT about Joshua's life:
1. Worshipper. Joshua was passionate about the presence of God. So much so that Ex. 33:11 says that when Moses left from speaking face to face with God, Joshua lingered in the presence of God. I believe Joshua lingered because he was passionate about his relationship with his God. It was his relationship and love for God that separated him from the ordinary. Joshua the great leader of Israel was born here - in the presence of God. Religion can't empower a pure and holy life - a life separated unto the LORD but a love affair with the Almighty can transform an ordinary man or woman into an extraordinary vessel of honor!
2. Visionary. Joshua was a man of supernatural vision. Joshua's life demonstrated the transforming power of the glorious presence of God. It is not what but WHO we behold that transforms us from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 2:17-18). Because Joshua's focus was on the LORD there was no spiritual veil covering his eyes and limiting his ability to believe God. Joshua saw as God saw which is what supernatural vision is - seeing as God sees. Therefore, when Joshua was sent to spy out the promise land (Numbers 14) he came back with a CAN DO report while the others could only see in the natural realm of impossibility. Joshua was a VISIONARY because He received a vision from the invisible God who is always willing to share His heart with those who want to know, want to see, and are will to obey Him. Faith comes from seeing as God sees through the revelation that God provides, such as His word. God speaks, we see and understand, FAITH COMES. Joshua was a man of great faith because he was a man with God-vision.
3. Warrior. Joshua was a man of war. He understood that the advancement of God's kingdom had to be taken by force. He also understood that authority without the will to exercise it is ineffective. Therefore, Joshua went to battle to dispossess the enemy from the land and from hindering the advancement of God's kingdom in the earth. History, both biblical and secular, records a great upheaval took place in the land known as 'the promise land' in the Bible. This upheaval took place the same time that biblical history records the accounts of the Book of Joshua and the conquest of the promise land by the Israelites. However, long before Joshua was leading the Israelites into the promise land he was a warrior in the wilderness as recorded in Exodus 17:8-9,13, Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
4. Servant. Joshua had a servant's heart. Joshua did not become the leader of Israel overnight. Joshua learned to serve in the wilderness. While the others were cursing the wilderness, Joshua spent 40 years serving the vision and ministry of his mentor Moses and growing into a next-generation leader . For example, he was one of the fourteen that was sent to spy out the promise land- a land he would later possess by faith; he was with Moses on the mountain when Moses talked face to face with God while the others stood afar off refusing to enter the glory of the LORD; and he was in the valley fighting the Amalekites while Moses stood far above in intercession. Most importantly, it was Joshua along with Caleb that stood with Moses while the rest of the Israelites grumbled, complained and even discussed killing Moses. Joshua was a servant to vision before he became a leader with vision. Joshua served his way to becoming the leader of the next generation of Israelites. At least on two occassions the Bible refers to Joshua as the servant of Moses (Ex. 24:13,Num. 11:28). Jesus said that the greatest among us would be a servant to all (Matt.23:11).
5. Leader. Joshua was a great leader. Title, position, personality type, popularity, looks, talent, self-confidence do not equate to a LEADER in kingdom of God. While all of the above are admirable and useful - God is more interested in the heart. God looks at the heart when choosing His leaders. God qualifies the called instead of calling the qualified. God enables, empowers the faithful - the humble. This does not excuse us from developing our skills and working hard to achieve; however, skills can be learned, work can produce achievement but a heart whole-hearted devoted to God is rare. If it were not so then THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR REVIVAL in our generation!!!! The world's way of choosing leaders has created unprecedented greed and a polical system that is absolutely corrupt in our nation. There is no such thing in our nation as a true representative government at least in practice because we do not value true leadership anymore. We have replaced true leadership with power mongering men and women who are willing to sell their soul for money, power and influence. However, the good news is that God's kingdom not only supercedes man's kingdom but man will eventually yearn for the real, the true, as Israel did for King David.
God is looking for the next generation of Joshuas both male and female to arise!
Be an ardent worshipper
Be a visionary - filled with God-vision
Be a mighty warrior
Be a servant of all
Be a leader not a follower
BE A JOSHUA!!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Arise, Stand-up, and Break Forth in 2012
Ever since I set my heart to seek the Lord at the onset of the new year, I keep hearing one resounding word from the Lord - ARISE. In my last post I shared from Isaiah 60:1-2, Arise, shine, for your light is come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold darkness will cover the earth, thick darkness the peoples, the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will be seen on you. I wrote about an army of believers that will ARISE at the word of the Lord and SHINE, SHINE, SHINE.
In this hour, I wonder can things really get much darker on the earth and on the peoples. But what is even more concerning is the darkness I see on the "people of God" which is why I believe God is about to do something mighty big on this earth and for His people. God has always been faithful to His people and make no mistake, whatever good that happens in this earth will come on behalf of God's faithfulness to His people. When God makes a covenant - He is faithful. This is why when gross darkness seems to cover all that we see and the oppression becomes so overwhelming, God's people must understand that this is the very hour that God is up to something mighty big! He is faithful regardless if there is no indication that change is on the horizon. Throughout biblical history and beyond God has spoken a word IN SEASON shifting and shaping the events on this earth especially at the darkest times. I am convinced God is speaking a word of awakening into the earth this very hour commanding His people to ARISE because He has a plan to break every chain and shake every nation with great demonstrations of His glory.
I believe 2012 is the year that God will arise upon YOU and His glory will be evident upon your life. Expect a supernatural breakout in 2012!!! Let me expound.
God recently spoke three words to me - ARISE, STAND UP, and BREAKOUT. By His Spirit God is declaring ARISE to His people. As I explained in my last post this is not a invitation but a command to arise.In order to grasp the prophetic impact of this word, God gave me the example of Gideon from Judges chs. 6-7.
When God's word came to Gideon he was in a pit just barely surviving and certainly not thriving. The Midianites and gross darkness had taken over Israel and the people of God were in deperate need of supernatural intervention. So what does God do? God finds Gideon, perhaps the least of the least according to Gideon, and He (God) commands Gideon to ARISE. God did not choose Gideon because of his abilities or even his faith, God chose Gideon IN SPITE OF his lack of ability and faith. Gideon had one of two choices: he could stay in his pit barely surviving, undergoing and oppressed by the gross darkness of his time OR he could STAND UP and give God someone to work through. Gideon as the story goes made a history changing choice. He chose the stand up and God made him stand out.
Faith that did not exist or that was small in measure, exploded the moment Gideon obeyed the word of the Lord. Gideon's faith did not attract God's invitation to be used, but rather the opposite, God's invitation opened the door for Gideon to emerge from the shadows of doubt and unbelief into the light of God's unlimited possiblity.
Let God's word to you, ARISE, cause you to stand up and emerge from the shadows in this hour!!
Gideon, when given the opportunity to make a difference in his generation, chose to allow God's word to supernaturally energize and transform his life. God sent His word anointed by His power commanding Gideon to ARISE and Gideon did exactly what God's people need to do in this hour -STAND UP AND UNLEASH THE SUPERNATURAL. God is commanding His people who are called by His name, redeemed by His blood, anointed by His Spirit to STAND UP and make a difference in their generation. God wants you and I to make a choice today that will forever impact history!
If Gideon hadn't stood up then his role in God's miracle would have ended. I am not implying that Israel's miracle would not have come but certainly not through Gideon's participation. Don't be a spectator in what God is about to do in this hour, STAND UP and be used because through you God is about to BREAK FORTH upon the enemy in a measure of demonstration and glory that no eye has seen nor ear heard.
What God did through Gideon in BREAKING FORTH upon the Midianites was nothing short of phenomenal. God took one very unqualified man and used him to a lead an unequipped and untrained army of 300 men to defeat one of the most formidable, well equipped, and well trained armies on the earth at the time of about 135,000 Midianites. The Israelites were out numbered 450 to 1. As the story goes, God equipped Gideon and his army of 300 with a clay pot, a candle and a shofar (trumpet). All this to fight against an army equipped with camels for speed and every weapon of warfare known at the time. It was with these weapons and ruthless tactics that the army of 135,000 Midianites used to reduce the Israelites to a nation that was literally starving, dying and on the brink of extermination. These were very dark times in Israel to say the least, so what changed in just a few days - weeks?
What changed is God visited Gideon and spoke a word, a command - ARISE. That's it!! God spoke, Gideon obeyed and God supernaturally moved on behalf of His people. However, God didn't just move on their behalf the Israelites, He used them to do the work of this miracle. God used their faith and obedience to do the impossible. God wants to do the same in this hour!
If only God's people could get ahold on this powerful truth:
STAND UP and BREAK FORTH in 2012. This is the year and season for the greatest demonstration of His glory in the earth and in your everyday life. The blind will see again, the deaf will hear again and God's people will be revived!!!
I pray today that those who hear this word from the Lord will choose to stand up and see what God will do in this season, amen Jesus...
In this hour, I wonder can things really get much darker on the earth and on the peoples. But what is even more concerning is the darkness I see on the "people of God" which is why I believe God is about to do something mighty big on this earth and for His people. God has always been faithful to His people and make no mistake, whatever good that happens in this earth will come on behalf of God's faithfulness to His people. When God makes a covenant - He is faithful. This is why when gross darkness seems to cover all that we see and the oppression becomes so overwhelming, God's people must understand that this is the very hour that God is up to something mighty big! He is faithful regardless if there is no indication that change is on the horizon. Throughout biblical history and beyond God has spoken a word IN SEASON shifting and shaping the events on this earth especially at the darkest times. I am convinced God is speaking a word of awakening into the earth this very hour commanding His people to ARISE because He has a plan to break every chain and shake every nation with great demonstrations of His glory.
I believe 2012 is the year that God will arise upon YOU and His glory will be evident upon your life. Expect a supernatural breakout in 2012!!! Let me expound.
God recently spoke three words to me - ARISE, STAND UP, and BREAKOUT. By His Spirit God is declaring ARISE to His people. As I explained in my last post this is not a invitation but a command to arise.In order to grasp the prophetic impact of this word, God gave me the example of Gideon from Judges chs. 6-7.
When God's word came to Gideon he was in a pit just barely surviving and certainly not thriving. The Midianites and gross darkness had taken over Israel and the people of God were in deperate need of supernatural intervention. So what does God do? God finds Gideon, perhaps the least of the least according to Gideon, and He (God) commands Gideon to ARISE. God did not choose Gideon because of his abilities or even his faith, God chose Gideon IN SPITE OF his lack of ability and faith. Gideon had one of two choices: he could stay in his pit barely surviving, undergoing and oppressed by the gross darkness of his time OR he could STAND UP and give God someone to work through. Gideon as the story goes made a history changing choice. He chose the stand up and God made him stand out.
Faith that did not exist or that was small in measure, exploded the moment Gideon obeyed the word of the Lord. Gideon's faith did not attract God's invitation to be used, but rather the opposite, God's invitation opened the door for Gideon to emerge from the shadows of doubt and unbelief into the light of God's unlimited possiblity.
Let God's word to you, ARISE, cause you to stand up and emerge from the shadows in this hour!!
Gideon, when given the opportunity to make a difference in his generation, chose to allow God's word to supernaturally energize and transform his life. God sent His word anointed by His power commanding Gideon to ARISE and Gideon did exactly what God's people need to do in this hour -STAND UP AND UNLEASH THE SUPERNATURAL. God is commanding His people who are called by His name, redeemed by His blood, anointed by His Spirit to STAND UP and make a difference in their generation. God wants you and I to make a choice today that will forever impact history!
If Gideon hadn't stood up then his role in God's miracle would have ended. I am not implying that Israel's miracle would not have come but certainly not through Gideon's participation. Don't be a spectator in what God is about to do in this hour, STAND UP and be used because through you God is about to BREAK FORTH upon the enemy in a measure of demonstration and glory that no eye has seen nor ear heard.
What God did through Gideon in BREAKING FORTH upon the Midianites was nothing short of phenomenal. God took one very unqualified man and used him to a lead an unequipped and untrained army of 300 men to defeat one of the most formidable, well equipped, and well trained armies on the earth at the time of about 135,000 Midianites. The Israelites were out numbered 450 to 1. As the story goes, God equipped Gideon and his army of 300 with a clay pot, a candle and a shofar (trumpet). All this to fight against an army equipped with camels for speed and every weapon of warfare known at the time. It was with these weapons and ruthless tactics that the army of 135,000 Midianites used to reduce the Israelites to a nation that was literally starving, dying and on the brink of extermination. These were very dark times in Israel to say the least, so what changed in just a few days - weeks?
What changed is God visited Gideon and spoke a word, a command - ARISE. That's it!! God spoke, Gideon obeyed and God supernaturally moved on behalf of His people. However, God didn't just move on their behalf the Israelites, He used them to do the work of this miracle. God used their faith and obedience to do the impossible. God wants to do the same in this hour!
If only God's people could get ahold on this powerful truth:
- God speaks
- We choose to obey
- God works miraculously though us to BREAK FORTH
STAND UP and BREAK FORTH in 2012. This is the year and season for the greatest demonstration of His glory in the earth and in your everyday life. The blind will see again, the deaf will hear again and God's people will be revived!!!
I pray today that those who hear this word from the Lord will choose to stand up and see what God will do in this season, amen Jesus...
Monday, January 2, 2012
There's An Army Rising Up
There's an army rising up all across the globe to break every chain of the enemy. This army is the ARMY OF GOD and it looks just like the Body of the RISEN CHRIST. It will include believers from every nation, denomination and from every walk-of-life. This isn't about a church experiencing revival this is about the head of the church, Jesus Christ, whispering with a resounding and reverberating roar, ARISE to those who have ears to hear and hearts ready to obey.
As the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, He is also speaking to us today, ARISE, SHINE for your light has come and the Glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Behold darkness will cover the earth, deep darkness will cover the peoples, but the Lord will rise upon you and His Glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isa. 60:1-2).
What an invitation from our Lord. Actually the Hebrew word 'arise' is in the imperative mood which means its a command. The Commander of the Armies of Heaven, Jesus Christ, is not asking you and I to arise, no, He is commanding us, ARISE! Arise means to stand up, stand out, rise up. YES, there is an army of believers rising up with one mission which is to SHINE.
This is God's hour in our generation to demonstrate His glory through His church. Let me with emphasis reiterate - it is HIS CHURCH that I am speaking of, not man's social religious creation but those with ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to THE CHRUCH. The Lord commands His army to ARISE then He commands us to SHINE. What is He saying? The next part of the verse explains, "for your light (Jehovah's light) has come and the Glory (splendor, honor, majesty) of the LORD has risen or SHONE on you." As the moon has no glory, no light, no illumination in and of itself, it (moon) reflects the light or the glory of the sun. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, God's glorious army is commanded in this hour to do the same - reflect the Glory of the LORD.
Jesus, the risen Christ, has risen upon you. In His death you were buried - so remain dead. In His resurrection, you were RAISED by the glory of the Father that you might walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE - so live here. The GLORY OF THE FATHER raised you up from the pit of sin and dysfunction with the intent that you WALK IN HIS GLORY, REFLECT HIS SPLENDOR, and DEMONSTRATE HIS RESURRECTION POWER. As darkness covers the earth, gross darkness the people, the good news is that His Glory will rise upon you and nations and kings will come to your light and the BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR RISING.
As God's army rises up there will be an explosion of His glory all over the earth. As one can put a thousand to flight and two ten thousand, imagine the impact of the mulitudes that ARISE AND SHINE in this hour. The brightest days are ahead of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today you can choose to say yes to the command of the King and ARISE. You can choose to ARISE from your past, ARISE from your present and embrace the call to arms by your King. Regardless of your present circumstances, ARISE at the word of the Lord. Just as Gideon was in a pit, hiding and barely surviving, the word of the Lord to him was ARISE YOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR. In the natural there was nothing mighty about Gideon, but God was not speaking in the natural. God was speaking to the man Gideon was called to be to his generation at his time and place in history. So ARISE and SHINE because there is an army rising up that will break every chain!!
As the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, He is also speaking to us today, ARISE, SHINE for your light has come and the Glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Behold darkness will cover the earth, deep darkness will cover the peoples, but the Lord will rise upon you and His Glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isa. 60:1-2).
What an invitation from our Lord. Actually the Hebrew word 'arise' is in the imperative mood which means its a command. The Commander of the Armies of Heaven, Jesus Christ, is not asking you and I to arise, no, He is commanding us, ARISE! Arise means to stand up, stand out, rise up. YES, there is an army of believers rising up with one mission which is to SHINE.
This is God's hour in our generation to demonstrate His glory through His church. Let me with emphasis reiterate - it is HIS CHURCH that I am speaking of, not man's social religious creation but those with ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to THE CHRUCH. The Lord commands His army to ARISE then He commands us to SHINE. What is He saying? The next part of the verse explains, "for your light (Jehovah's light) has come and the Glory (splendor, honor, majesty) of the LORD has risen or SHONE on you." As the moon has no glory, no light, no illumination in and of itself, it (moon) reflects the light or the glory of the sun. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, God's glorious army is commanded in this hour to do the same - reflect the Glory of the LORD.
Jesus, the risen Christ, has risen upon you. In His death you were buried - so remain dead. In His resurrection, you were RAISED by the glory of the Father that you might walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE - so live here. The GLORY OF THE FATHER raised you up from the pit of sin and dysfunction with the intent that you WALK IN HIS GLORY, REFLECT HIS SPLENDOR, and DEMONSTRATE HIS RESURRECTION POWER. As darkness covers the earth, gross darkness the people, the good news is that His Glory will rise upon you and nations and kings will come to your light and the BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR RISING.
As God's army rises up there will be an explosion of His glory all over the earth. As one can put a thousand to flight and two ten thousand, imagine the impact of the mulitudes that ARISE AND SHINE in this hour. The brightest days are ahead of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today you can choose to say yes to the command of the King and ARISE. You can choose to ARISE from your past, ARISE from your present and embrace the call to arms by your King. Regardless of your present circumstances, ARISE at the word of the Lord. Just as Gideon was in a pit, hiding and barely surviving, the word of the Lord to him was ARISE YOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR. In the natural there was nothing mighty about Gideon, but God was not speaking in the natural. God was speaking to the man Gideon was called to be to his generation at his time and place in history. So ARISE and SHINE because there is an army rising up that will break every chain!!
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