Crossing Jordan

Josh 4:14  On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Josh 4:15  And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Josh 4:16  Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
Josh 4:17  Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
Josh 4:18  And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

Josh 5:1 When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear. (NLT)

This was an important event for Israel, it showed that God was still with them and that they had a new commander to replace Moses, a commander who was a prophet who heard from God and who spoke for God and as an intermediary, he was able to plead for his  people when necessary. Only Moses had been spirit filled as the go between for God and Israel. Now God showed that he was still with Israel by parting the Jordan river as he had parted the Red Sea. Joshua was the new commander, the spokesman between God and man.

They had to obey the laws to be blessed. Always before it was Moses, the law and the prophets. Jesus said that it was from these two ways that God spoke to them.

Luke 16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 16:17  And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

John 1:45  Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Jesus now is the intermediary between God and his people. When Jesus was raised from the dead and returned again to God the father, he left the Holy Spirit with his believers. Now each Spirit filled person has access to the throne room of God.

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Jesus intercedes for us concerning our failure to keep all the laws, for we are no longer under the penalty of the law, but we are given grace. Each man may pray to God and he forgives them through Jesus our Lord and savior.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27  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.
Rom 8:28  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.

No longer is it a Moses or a Joshua or just one spirit filled man on earth who hears and speaks for God; all Spirit filled believers have this right. We are to fear and obey God and not fear what man can do to us. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are to hear from God and speak to him as the children of God interceding for others and our nation. We are God's miracle people filled with the power of God and when we pass the spiritual Jordan to the promised home of God we will not be alone. We will be with all those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb and who love and worship God.

Be of good courage

  

Josh 1:7  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Josh 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Josh 1:9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Be strong and of good courage, not bad courage. Some are bold to do evil, this is not God's command. We are to observe to do all according to God's word. We fail when we leave his word. Our courage is not just our bodies strength but also our soul, our godly Character and trust. Our faith in God keeps us going and not with many words but by his word and promises.

1 Cor 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1 Cor 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Cor 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Watch out for lusts of the flesh and pride of life. Submit all to God as the Proverb says.

Prov 3:1  My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Prov 3:2  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Prov 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Prov 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Prov 3:8  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Have good courage and obey God.

Lev 26:6  And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
Lev 26:7  And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
Lev 26:8  And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

The people of God are to have courage, for God goes with them. Pray for our military and our government leaders that they trust God and are of good courage. We are not to serve the devil, but the Living God. We take our orders from above, not from evil but from our righteous commander. Be a good soldier of the LORD, stay in his word and his will so that we will go forward as the victorious people of God.

Our Warrior God

  

Deut 23:26 "There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

27 The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He thrusts out the enemy before you; it is he who cries, 'Destroy them!'

28 So Israel will live in safety, prosperous Jacob in security, in a land of grain and wine, while the heavens drop down dew.

29 How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will bow low before you, and you will trample on their backs!" (NLT)

This blessing from Moses stands today. Israel does not seek to make war, but if threatened, then Almighty God fights for them. He has ordered his people to fight and even to destroy an entire people. Evil will be destroyed in God's time.

Exo 17:14  And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

He warned his people of His wrath against idolaters.

Exo 22:20  He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

Lev 26:44  And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.

God would keep his covenant with Israel, his covenant people. He would punish them for turning away from him, but in the end times they would be gathered again as a nation and then they would receive their Messiah.

We, who believe in Jesus were once rebels and outcasts.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are under the New Covenant of God's mercy and grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God is greater than any power. God protects his covenant people. He holds us in his arms and goes before us to destroy his enemies. Fear God, but do not fear the devil and his words. Evil cannot stand before God. He has cleansed us from our sins and we are seen  in Jesus as the righteous people of God.

Rom 16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Chosen before birth

John the Baptist was chosen by God from the womb. He was the answer to the persistent prayers of his elderly parents. They prayed for a son, but God made him to be His prophet.

Luke 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Luke 1:16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The parents may not have seen John as he baptized people for repentance in the Jordan River. God sees and calls his people into service. John had a special calling to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Repentant hearts bring restoration to families to the community and to the nation.

Some do not want children but I wanted my children. Some people were mistakes, not planned while others have aborted their mistakes. Let the babies live, God has a purpose for them to fulfill. He has called them from the womb to be his witnesses.

Jeremiah was called from the womb.

Jer 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jer 1:6  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jer 1:7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jer 1:8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jer 1:9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
Jer 1:10  See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

We are chosen before the womb.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Jesus' birth was foretold

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The everlasting king will come from David's family and he will bring many to God's family to a restored earthly kingdom where there are no harmful creatures.

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

All are foreknown of God and are his creation. A woman has rights over her own body, but not of the babies life. God has placed the baby in the womb for his purpose. We are not to interfere with his chosen vessels. Those who respond to the calling of God are his chosen. Be at peace with God. If you have sinned and made mistakes in the past, Jesus will forgive you and restore you. Come to Jesus as the chosen of God. He loves you and will receive you.

Secret things

Deu 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Hold onto the things that God has revealed to you and trust him for what you do not know. We do have the responsibility to learn what he has told us and to obey him.

Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

There is so much we are told and yet so much is a mystery. One mystery revealed to us is the church. We are the body of believers, the body of Christ and he is the head.

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus paid the price for our sins with his blood and we became joint heirs with Christ, the children of God. He died on the cross in my place and has been raised from the tomb to give us eternal life. We have access to the mind of God our father, through the Holy Spirit who is our comforter.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Jesus told us to ask of him and we will receive.

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Many are going through afflictions. God knows and he is there for you.

Psa 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psa 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Psa 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

We are destined to eternal life with God. Jesus is our Lord and King.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know

Jesus is the way to God; hear him and believe him. We are not to make mysteries out of what is revealed. Everything important to us he reveals to us. Believe in him always and take time to see and understand what he has shown to us.

Joseph of Arimathaea

Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 

Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
Mar 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mar 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Joseph was described as honourable

honorable: (from Strong's concordance)

1) of elegant figure

a) shapely, graceful, comely, bearing one's self becomingly in speech or behaviour

2) of good standing

a) honourable, influential, wealthy, respectable

Joseph was an honourable counsellor

counsellor: a Senator or member of the ruling counsel of the Jews

Joseph was a man of wealth and influence; Pilate respected him enough to allow him to take the body of Jesus to be buried in Joseph's own tomb. This was the fulfillment of a prophecy.

Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Matthew described Joseph as a rich man and a disciple of Jesus.

Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

John tells us that another secret believer joined him in preparing the body of Jesus for burial. We know of this other man as Nicodemus who came to speak to Jesus in John 3, and was told that ye must be born again of God. Nicodemus was a Pharisee.

Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Two secret witnesses in high places. Both did not actively witness that they were believers, but they did have some influence in the governing body of the Jews. We need people of influence in our government that are believers of Jesus Christ. They need to speak out for righteousness and so do we. There is a song about "secret service Christians", well we are not to keep Jesus a secret but to tell all that he is the Son of God, who came to save us, to make us free from the bondage of sin and to deliver us as free people into the kingdom of God.

15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

Mary the mother of Joses was the sister of Mary the birth mother of Jesus.

Joh 19:25  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 

Salome was the mother of Zebedee's sons, James and John. It takes some figuring out to get these names straight.

Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
Joh 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

The garden tomb was nearby. There they lay him because it was the Passover preparation day. The blind religious people were to observe the Passover where the blood of a lamb was shed to spare them from the death angel. As they celebrated this symbolic event, they were spiritual dead, unaware that they had just killed their Messiah, the Lamb of God, the one that John the Baptist pointed to.

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

They had killed the Passover Lamb, the Son of God, who would be raised from the grave on the third day.

Mind Control

If ever there was a time that we need discernment, it is now. It is a time like the time of Christ's first coming. There is a spirit of antichrist controlling minds , swaying public opinion, just like when Hitler controlled Germany; they repeat something over and over and the uninformed masses repeat what they hear. Today it is class warfare; tax the rich, but the very rich are seeking to control the whole world. The street organizers and mind controlling entertainment makers are as the chief priests that moved the people according to their devious plans, speaking emotionally to incite the crowd.

Mar 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Mar 15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Mar 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Mar 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Mar 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

We need to be informed and follow our conscience. They knew Jesus to be a healer, a man who spoke with authority explaining the scriptures. He had done miracles and had compassion for the lame and the blind. Jesus was never fooled because the Father showed him what was to come. He was one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. If we are born again of God's Spirit we should have judgement as to what is right or wrong. Perhaps we have not been trained to know good from evil, yet if we listen to the heart of God, we will know. What is not by faith is sin to you. Do not let the voices of evil move you, but stand fast in your liberty in Christ Jesus. If we go along with the mob inciters we will betray truth and righteousness and loose our freedom.

Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Guard your mind as you would guard your flesh against seducers. Keep yourself holy in all of your thoughts and ways. Jesus is coming again and the devil is inciting the minds of many people. Wash your mind daily with the word of God and stay under the blood of Jesus. His spirit is in you to guide you through the lies by keeping you in the truth of God.