Date:
Thursday,
March 05, 2015
Chapters: Joshua 3-5
Message Title: God Reminders
Hello My Friend,
Let's face it, no one is perfect, we cannot please everyone nor can we avoid offending someone from time to time because we all carry around this flesh that is full of emotions, guilt, pride, anger or bitterness. We are going to suffer because of this, but it's not over, God has a plan for you, He has a plan for all of His children. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:27-29.
Joshua gathered all the congregation together to make the trip over the Jordan, first he instructed the Levites to go ahead of everyone else while the rest stood and waited for them to get into the water. Probably the hardest thing for them to do was stand there and wait as they watched the one tribe that would not even get part of the inheritance of the land cross over the Jordan first. However, as they were waiting, God was right there paving the way for them to enter and show Himself mighty and alive. “And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” - Joshua 3:3-7.
Quite often, the waiting is the hardest part, but during the wait that is when God is preparing for His greatest miracle yet. God is not done with you, He has much more to prove Himself mighty and alive to you too, and He will show it as long as you are willing to wait. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” - Hebrews 10:35-39.
Just as Moses was able to lead the Israelite's across the Red Sea on dry land with God's mighty hand, Joshua led the new generation across the Jordan River the same way. The very first thing that God commanded them to do was gather twelve stones out of the Jordan, one man from each tribe was to gather a stone to represent each of the children of Israel. “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:” - Joshua 4:1-5.
The twelve stones from the twelve tribes from the Jordan was a reminder that the Almighty God miraculously sent them across the Jordan by dividing it and allowing them to walk on dry land through it. God will often give us reminders of what He has brought us through. While He is a forgiving and forgetful God He does allow us to keep in remembrance some of the things that He has miraculously gotten us through over the years. Why? To keep us obedient and to be a testimony for others to follow. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”- Hebrews 10:31-33,36.
In the forty years that the new generation of Israel had been the wilderness none of the laws had been carried our, including circumcision. Before the Israelite men were to go any further they had to be circumcised, circumcision was a command from God upon every male born. “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.” - Joshua 5:2-6.
Circumcision was a symbol showing that they were one of God's people, circumcision was not just for the males, it is for females as well, not physically, but spiritually. The only way to be circumcised spiritually is by the cleansing of the blood of Christ. Every sin committed was taken to the cross with Jesus when He died for you. Calling on Jesus Christ circumcises, cleanses, you from your sins. Your acceptance of Christ and what He has done in your life upon doing so is a reminder that should never be forgotten and is a wonderful testimony for all to follow. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” - Colossians 2:10-12.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for accepting me and making me one of Your children when I choose Your Son as my Saviour. Today, I am a sinner saved by Your grace, and while I know there is nothing that I need to do to keep my salvation, I still want to live my life as the godly example You would like for me to be. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to stay faithful to You, give me the wisdom to understand Your Word, and let me never forget all that You have done for me, and what You have waiting for me by living by Your Word. Help me to be strong and of a good courage in all that You bring me to and through. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following JesusCopyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Chapters: Joshua 3-5
Message Title: God Reminders
Hello My Friend,
Let's face it, no one is perfect, we cannot please everyone nor can we avoid offending someone from time to time because we all carry around this flesh that is full of emotions, guilt, pride, anger or bitterness. We are going to suffer because of this, but it's not over, God has a plan for you, He has a plan for all of His children. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:27-29.
Joshua gathered all the congregation together to make the trip over the Jordan, first he instructed the Levites to go ahead of everyone else while the rest stood and waited for them to get into the water. Probably the hardest thing for them to do was stand there and wait as they watched the one tribe that would not even get part of the inheritance of the land cross over the Jordan first. However, as they were waiting, God was right there paving the way for them to enter and show Himself mighty and alive. “And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” - Joshua 3:3-7.
Quite often, the waiting is the hardest part, but during the wait that is when God is preparing for His greatest miracle yet. God is not done with you, He has much more to prove Himself mighty and alive to you too, and He will show it as long as you are willing to wait. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” - Hebrews 10:35-39.
Just as Moses was able to lead the Israelite's across the Red Sea on dry land with God's mighty hand, Joshua led the new generation across the Jordan River the same way. The very first thing that God commanded them to do was gather twelve stones out of the Jordan, one man from each tribe was to gather a stone to represent each of the children of Israel. “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:” - Joshua 4:1-5.
The twelve stones from the twelve tribes from the Jordan was a reminder that the Almighty God miraculously sent them across the Jordan by dividing it and allowing them to walk on dry land through it. God will often give us reminders of what He has brought us through. While He is a forgiving and forgetful God He does allow us to keep in remembrance some of the things that He has miraculously gotten us through over the years. Why? To keep us obedient and to be a testimony for others to follow. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”- Hebrews 10:31-33,36.
In the forty years that the new generation of Israel had been the wilderness none of the laws had been carried our, including circumcision. Before the Israelite men were to go any further they had to be circumcised, circumcision was a command from God upon every male born. “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.” - Joshua 5:2-6.
Circumcision was a symbol showing that they were one of God's people, circumcision was not just for the males, it is for females as well, not physically, but spiritually. The only way to be circumcised spiritually is by the cleansing of the blood of Christ. Every sin committed was taken to the cross with Jesus when He died for you. Calling on Jesus Christ circumcises, cleanses, you from your sins. Your acceptance of Christ and what He has done in your life upon doing so is a reminder that should never be forgotten and is a wonderful testimony for all to follow. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” - Colossians 2:10-12.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for accepting me and making me one of Your children when I choose Your Son as my Saviour. Today, I am a sinner saved by Your grace, and while I know there is nothing that I need to do to keep my salvation, I still want to live my life as the godly example You would like for me to be. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to stay faithful to You, give me the wisdom to understand Your Word, and let me never forget all that You have done for me, and what You have waiting for me by living by Your Word. Help me to be strong and of a good courage in all that You bring me to and through. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following JesusCopyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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