~ Crossing Jordan ~

What a series of impounding messages from the Lord regarding crossing Jordan. Almost every service and devotional that I have come across the last couple of days makes reference to crossing the river Jordan – into the land of inheritance. The interesting thing is that I was on the way for Watchnight service in Geneva. The first song that started playing on my Ipod was “Crossing Over” (lyrics below – the church is Church for the Nations). And it was raining in Geneva – speaking of God’s abundant blessings and perhaps promise of hope. Somehow, I felt that this meeting in Geneva was going to be very important for me – I had to go (despite my body’s reluctance). I had already “attended” the City Harvest service via internet the previous day and I had already gone to Geneva that very morning for their morning service. (Pastor Kong Hee was talking about possessing our inheritance – crossing he river Jordan). Thirdly, I had to risk missing the last train out of Geneva at 1.18 am. But I felt that I had to go. No choice. And so I went.

Guess what? The message had to do with crossing over to Jordan. It’s all falling back into perspective and pieces. This morning, Rick Joyner’s weekly devotional again spoke about crossing over Jordan to possess our inheritance. Coincidence? I’m afraid that when God speaks like this, it’s better that I obey. Below are initial ramblings on what I have gathered from the sermons, devotionals, quiet time… It may be the beginning of a “series” of what I shall write.

The children of Israel, having left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness, were at their threshold of entering into their Promised Land, led by Joshua. The manna, quail, water from the rock, pillar of fire by night and cloud by day would from then on stop. They need to enter and fight against the giants of the land.

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. (Jos 5:12)

Entering Jordan - God’s promise for us - takes faith, action, and obedience. God had to let a whole generation to pass before allowing the new generation to enter because the former had no faith. They were afraid of the giants of the land. We must enter our Promised inheritance by faith. Claim it by faith, and not be double-minded – or double-spirited. A double-minded man receives nothing from the Lord. (James 1:5-8).

Entering Jordan also takes action – we need to act – to actually step into the Land. It is not going to be “free and easy”. Faith without action is dead. God has brought them thus far on eagle’s wings – it has been “easy” on the Israelites – it is now time for real action. God wants each and everyone of us to take up the responsibility for entering into our inheritance. Too many of us just want God to “do all the work”. No – we need to work. He who does not work shall not eat. We cannot be lazy and expect God to do everything for us. There are times when I have fallen prey to this mindset, thinking that “I am blessed by God. So everything will be ok.” This is a lie from the evil one. God expects us to work – and work hard. We do not need to toil i.e. work under excruciating conditions, but we need to work. Remember in Genesis 1 that the plants did not yet grow, until man was created to till the ground! Taking action to possess our inheritance is part and parcel of God’s plan for us.

Gen 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

Entering Jordan takes obedience. The first ground to enter was Jericho – with such high walls protecting the city, there is no way the Israelites were going to beat the giants of Jericho without listening to God’s word and obeying it. Joshua had to receive revelation from the Lord on the strategy to conquer Jericho. They had to prayer walk around the city walls seven times. It was a humbling and even humiliating act. But it worked. The walls came down after the seventh round and with a great shout. God’s ways are higher than our ways. The battle is won in the spiritual before manifesting itself in the natural. Are we listening to God’s voice? Are we obeying?

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. Jos 6:2-5

Remember – Obedience is better than Sacrifice. God expects us to obey when He has spoken.

Until next time – blessings…

Barnabas

P.s. – by the way, there was no last train. The timetable got mixed up. I was stuck in Geneva for a long time along with the flu. And the rest is another story for another day.


CROSSING OVER

(Verse 1)
We come before Your throne
Our hearts we give to You
We long to see Your kingdom come
And bring Your truth to all the earth

(Pre Chorus)
Nations will cry out Your name
Send us to Your harvest Lord we pray

(Chorus)
By Your Spirit O Lord, we claim the nations
Of the world for You, Jesus
Pour down Your rain

Holy Spirit move in us today
By Your Spirit O Lord, we claim the nations
Of the world for You, Jesus
By Your word of truth, we’re crossing over

To win the lost for You

(Verse 2)
Your cross before our eyes
You've set our hearts on fire
To give what we can never keep
To gain what we can never lose