Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Be A Joshua!

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!!

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