DEUTERONOMY 34:1-JOSHUA 2:24
DEATH OF MOSES: Moses climbed Mt Pisgah and saw "the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;" of the Land/the Promise/ the Love of God (Eph 3:18). Moses was 120 years old and was still vigorous and strong. God buried Moses Himself. His epithet: "He knew the Lord face-to-face."
JOSHUA, THE BOOK: The OT version of Ephesians because it details our entrance to the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet 1:10-11) Joshua reveals the pattern for entering and obtaining the Kingdom of God.
JORDAN RIVER: Means "to descend" - and represents the death to the flesh (self). Bury the past and go forward! It is the lowest riverbed in the world, 1000 ft below sea level.
JOSHUA, THE MAN: Born in Egypt, survived the 40-year wilderness wandering to have the impartation of Moses' anointing to him. He was Moses' servant and apprentice, and was with him in the Mount. Joshua was 85 when he succeeded Moses, took seven (7) years to conquer seven (7) nations, and died at age 110. "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him" (Deut 34:9) He caused Israel to inherit the Promise. God promised Joshua His Presence at all times, and that Joshua would have prosperity and success. The fulfillment of this promise is contingent on Joshua's knowledge of the Word of God and undeviating obedience. The God of Moses became the God of Joshua.
"BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE": (Josh 1:6, 7, 9) Faith's demand is courage. The word for "strong"(Heb: chazak) means "to act like a man". To be resolute and decisive and steadfast as opposed to fearful and fainthearted. To NOT panic and run. It is boldness and steadfastness in the face of difficulty. The source of this strength is the knowledge that God is acting with us and in us. We must be single-minded in our belief. PROSPERITY in Joshua was "the ability to persevere against all odds and finish his course".
MEDITATE THE WORD: Meditation is a SOUND, not a thought. It is what we are telling ourselves - out loud - about the goodness and greatness of God. Focus on Truth while ignoring the contrary clamoring. The benefits listed here: PROSPERITY: to push forward, to break through. and SUCCESS: the ability to bring a thing to completion.
REMEMBER: (Josh 1:13) "The Lord your God has given you rest, and has given you this land." But you still have to pass over the Jordan ARMED.
JERICHO: Why especially Jericho? Because that is where the world-system is going to be dealt with. Or, to make it personal, the natural man. The king of Jericho is the antichristian spirit that is already in the world, and in us waiting to be purged. The scarlet cords were placed as signs on the windows, in the same way the blood of the lamb was smeared on the doors in Egypt. It marked Rahab's house and household as being included within the nation of Israel. Inside that blood the people were seen by Joshua/Jesus as being "the righteousness of God". The neighbours still have to see a changed life for their evidence, though.
RESPONSE: Is it any wonder we have to follow the Ark? (the Presence) He's the only One Who knows what He is doing! Obey God or die! That's just how it is in the Land. In the spirit realms. We are headed now into the invisible, inaudible, and impossible realms. Stay close to the Ark or be eaten by a giant! Remember, the carnal mind, the natural man, is a king of the earth - has power and is heavily armed --- HOWEVER, according to Rahab, the enemy is afraid of us! That's because we've been through some things now, and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we WILL get our inheritance - the whole thing! Victory is CERTAIN! The world, the flesh and the devil all know it!
LUKE 13:22-14:6
KINGDOM OF GOD: It is INFLUENCE (leaven) of heaven through us, and only takes a tiny amount, at that! Permeation is inevitable once the yeast is introduced. It is subtle - not a big splash with a big start. The influence of God's Kingdom is almost invisible, but comes to dominate.
"LORD, ARE ONLY A FEW PEOPLE GOING TO BE SAVED?" Access to God is not wide-open, with many routes. But what is really new here is WHO gains entry. When there had been opportunity to know the Lord, those outside had not been interested. Obviously outward contact with Jesus isn't the same as knowing Him. You had better come when you are called. Jesus is keeping to a divine timetable. The clock is ticking.
Chapter 13 culminates with Jesus' judgement of Israel - "Your house is left unto you desolate." Chapter 14 and 15 explain why: They chose darkness and now were in bondage to their darkness. They were "good, religious people" - but rebelled against the Truth. Not only that, but they were driving people away from the Kingdom of God.
TESTED: On the Sabbath, after church, the Pharisees has Jesus over for lunch so that they could "watch" Him. (keep an eye on Him; to spy on with sinister intent) Then they dangled a very sick man in front of him - not a guest - just someone they picked out - hoping that Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus didn't fool around; He actually grabbed the guy, squeezed him hard to Himself, healed him, and sent him away so they could continue their luncheon. He beat the Pharisees to the punch, and took over their luncheon from that point on!
RESPONSE: Don't fool around with God. Reject Jesus and you will never enter the Kingdom of God. It may look like a small thing, but you had better come when you are called. The Pharisees had "leaven" too (Luke 12:1) and were an influence for evil. I don't want to be like them. We ALL influence someone. Someone is watching us and taking cues. Point them to Jesus.
PSALM 79:1-13
Picture Jeremiah walking, weeping among the ruins of Jerusalem after it fell to Babylon. Or better yet, picture the church as a current "reproach", "a scorn and derision" because of its lack of power. The heathen (the flesh) have defied God's authority. Our only recourse is reconciliation with God.
PROVERBS 12:26
The wicked are seduced to think that their way is pleasant, all right and that there couldn't possibly be anything wrong with it - because they are seduced. The righteous is better off, even though others may persecute him, because he still has the freedom of choice.
RESPONSE: I've met people like that - who are going the wrong way but are completely deceived about it. They think they've chosen their way themselves and don't realize the devil seduced them and is still seducing them deeper and deeper. They have so lost touch with Reality that they don't realize they've been cheated. Even though they laugh at me and think I'm naive, old-fashioned, and out-of-touch, I'm better off because I am free from that seduction.
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