PROPHECY: A HUGE PART OF THE END TIMES

PROPHECY- A HUGE PART OF THE MOVING OF GOD!

I have a desire to prophesy! What does that mean? It means I desire to hear the voice of God and declare it out of my mouth. Prophecy is a HUGE part of the last days! Today we have the privilege of having the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We have the privilege of hearing his voice and he wants us to both desire to speak it and he wants us to speak it! Yes we are in subjection to the house we're in but you can prophecy in your prayer closet! You don't try to overpower or take over services. You don't force yourself to be heard where you are not welcome! You prophecy in subjection to whatever house you're in! In your house, you're the head so if you aren't in position to prophesy in a church, then prophesy in your prayer closet! I dare you to try it! I dare you to declare what the voice of God speaks to you!

1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Acts 2: 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 

17 ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.


18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

TODAY YOU CAN HEAR HIS VOICE- TODAY YOU CAN PROPHESY- TODAY THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY IS INSIDE OF YOU

HEBREWS 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son

I hear a lot of people use this scripture as a text for debunking prophecy but I use it as a text to prove that prophecy is for sons and daughters everywhere who have Jesus inside of them. In the Old Testament, everyday man did not hear the voice of God but people went to the prophets. To use this as a text to debunk prophecy would be inconsistent with scripture in both the new and old testaments since there are multiplied passages teaching the correct doctrine of New Testament prophecy. This text shows that we now hear the voice of God through Jesus Christ!

If you are not seeing prophecy poured out on menservants and maidservants you may not be in the middle of what God is doing!

Now you may say that doctrine passed away but I refuse to get into a theological debate when the Word of God is as plain as day!

Now you may say that I'm drunk on wine but I will say, not wine but new wine, his wine, the wine of the Holy Ghost for I am not drunk as you may suppose but I'm filled with the Holy Ghost and this promise is for you too!

I tell you if you want to see a last days move the way God wants to move in the last days, you need to firmly embrace prophecy and let your sons and daughters prophecy! There's power in declaring the Word of God because God doesn't do anything until somebody speaks it out of their mouth! Fruit is born of seed and God's word is seed so embrace prophecy and teach it correctly and then release it from your mouth and allow the release of it! It's the Word of God!

I dare you to declare!

Amen and be blessed!

AT THE END OF THE DAY

In Joshua 10 we find a pretty intense situation.  Israel was in the promised land and there were battles to fight.  They would find themselves fighting for a nation that had at one time been an enemy but was now in covenant.  The surrounding armies were in fear and everyone had something to say:

·         The remaining enemies had something to say.

·         The new found friends had something to say.

·         God had something to say.

·         Joshua had something to say.

It really doesn't matter who says what! What matters is what God says.

When we find ourselves in a battle- whether fighting for ourselves or fighting for friends, we need only to know what God says.

Once we know what God says, that's what we are to say.  When we do that, we demonstrate the kind of faith God honors.  The child of God that will stand in faith, look the enemy in the face and fight the good fight in confidence will see the hand of God and the power of God come to their defense.

For Joshua, the sun stood still at his command!

There was no day like that before and no day like that after that day!  

Even the calendar has changed because of that day! 

What changes are we affecting by standing on God's word?

THE ENEMY ARMIES SAID WHAT?

The kings of the surrounding enemy armies spoke in fear among each other, planning and conspiring how they could defeat the Gibeonites.  This obligated Israel to protect Gibeon as if they were one nation.

These kings spoke!  What came out of their mouth was an evil yet futile plan to attack Gibeon and preserve themselves!

Joshua 10:3,4 Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4-Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel......5- Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

·         They said they would smite Gibeon.

·         They said it alone and they said it together.

·         The defeat of Gibeon, was spoken from the mouth of the kings.

Sometimes what the enemy, being the devil, says will come into your ears. When the talk comes into our ears, we just need to call upon the name of the Lord!

THE GIBEONITES SAID WHAT?

Joshua was the leader of the army of Israel and this nation had made peace with Israel.  The Gibeonites called on Joshua for help according to covenant!

Joshua 10:6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

Joshua means Savior and surely he would be that to the Gibeonites.

When we call on our savior he comes running.  When the Gibeonites called on Joshua, he came running, bringing ALL the armies with him.

Joshua 10:7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

GOD SAID WHAT?

Here's what God said as Joshua stepped out to help their new friends:

Joshua 10:8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

·         God says fear not!

·         God says he's already delivered us!

·         God says he will fully defeat our enemies and really, already has!

·         God says he will not do a partial work!

WHO SAID WHAT AND WHO DID WHAT?

It doesn't matter who said what when God has spoken. Only what God says matters.  God said he had delivered them and that's what happened!

Joshua 10:10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11-And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

JOSHUA SAID WHAT?

Joshua said, "Sun stand still" 

God had said, "There shall not be a man standing!"

Joshua held God to his word.  It says he spoke to the Lord but commanded the sun to stand still. 

God will stop at no lengths to bring his Word fully to pass even if he has to stop time. 

Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon 13-And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 14- And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

When we line up our mouth, in faith with what God has said, God will listen to our voice.  Joshua was a man of faith. He had full confidence in God's ability to do what he said and was so confident he was willing to speak to the Lord and command creation.  That reminds me of a scripture:

Isaiah 45:11  Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “ Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons;

And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.

God wants us to know that he will honor his Word above his name.  God has given us dominion and the ability to speak in his name!

·         He has said we could speak to mountains.

·         He has said we could ask anything in his name.

·         He has said, "Whatever we ask in prayer believing, we receive.

·         He has said we will have what we say!

·         He is looking to someone that will confidently, in faith, believe him, even in the face of great battles.

The day was over. The night was upon them. There were enemies still standing yet God had said, "There will not be a man standing before you!"

Have you ever heard the saying, "At the end of the day?"

Well at the end of the day, it didn't matter who said what; it only mattered what God and Joshua said.  God is looking for those who will believe him, and stand in faith in what he's said.  Then concerning the work of his hands, we can command and God will honor his word!

At the end of the day, God's word came to pass!

Some of us may want to give up before the end of the day but don't give up!

Keep fighting and keep speaking and you'll see, at the end of the day, God's word is true!

AT THE END OF THE DAY

At the end of the day, the sun stood still.  At the end of the day, God's word was true! At the end of the day, they could all look back and say, "Who said what?" 

We can know for certain that it doesn't matter what the enemy said - it only mattered what God said! 

What is God saying to you concerning things you're going through.  Whatever God has said, that he will do.  Hang onto his promises and stand in faith.

I wonder what the enemies said..... AT THE END OF THE DAY!

TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE PT 2

TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE BECAUSE GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE- PART 2

In the last blog we were talking about how the people of Gibeon in Joshua 9 had decided to enter into a covenant with Israel rather than fight against them as the other surrounding people were.  This angered the other kings who came against Gibeon in a unified front in Joshua 10.

Joshua 10:5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

Gibeon called for Joshua to come on the scene because they were in covenant relationship.  When you're in covenant, you are no longer an enemy of God and you are promised rights of protection. 

TIME

It seemed like an eternity!

Joshua responded and was on the way to help but to Gibeon it may have felt like an eternity. They were already surrounded and Joshua was an entire night away.

Sometimes we feel surrounded- as if God is a million miles away!  It's at times like that he says, "Do not fear or be discouraged. I will not leave you or forsake you."

THE LORD COMES ON THE SCENE

Time is on your side because God is on your side!

If you are a Christian, you are in covenant with Jesus, Yeshua, Joshua, the savior of the world.  He will come on the scene for you when you call upon him, believe and confess his Word!  Those Gibeonites said, "Save us," because they understood they were in covenant!

Did Joshua sit back and ignore these new friends?  No he didn't.  He ascended- he went to them- he helped them!

Now the bible says Joshua had to come from where he was to fight for Gibeon!

It took Joshua all night to get there!

9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. 

Sometimes it seems in our darkest  hour, that God is a million miles away!

Time is on your side because God is on your side!

Josh 10
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.”

So Joshua stepped out honoring the covenant and then, after he ascended, the Lord spoke!

Isn't it amazing when the Lord speaks?  There's nothing like getting a Word from God in response to a battle you are in!  God said, "Don't fear!  I have delivered them into your hand!"

That's amazing!  Before the battle was fought, God said, "I have delivered them!"  God truly does the end from the beginning and calls things that are not as though they are!  The battle was won before it was fought!

Time is on your side because the battle is already won!

In the same way, when we call upon God he says, "I have delivered them into your hand!"

GOD FIGHTS FOR YOU

When God comes on the scene, you can fight but really it gets easy from there.  This says more died from hailstones from heaven than from the sword of man.  God really did take care of things for Israel.

Joshua 10:11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. 

Time is on your side because God is on your side!

With the Lord on our side, who can stand against us?  That reminds me of a song:

The enemies fled and descended!  It's interesting the bible puts it that way. 

Joshua ascended but the enemy descended!  Sure the reason is because Gibeon was on a hill but surely there's some prophetic symbolism there.

Ascend means to go up, spring up, meet and to be superior!  Jesus is superior and he springs up to meet us.  He ascends to give us victory and in fact has already ascended and won every victory in advance on our behalf.  Just as God said here, "I have delivered them into your hand," so our enemies have already been defeated!  Look at a few scriptures about the ascension of Jesus:

We are free because he ascended!

Ephesians 4:8
Therefore He says: “ When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

Because he ascended he is able to fill all things. Because he ascended the Holy Spirit was poured out and now abides inside of us filling us with the glory of God, something they did not have in Joshua's day.  My how fortunate we are to have been born into this day and hour.

He ascended, set us free, delivered us from all bondage and now fills us and gives us gifts that are all we will ever need in this life! Hallelujah!

Ephesians 4:10
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Joshua is a type of Jesus.  When you're in covenant with God, no matter what your past, he will jump up from where he's at to meet you where you are and right where the trouble is!  He's a covenant keeping God!  He has already won the victory.  He has ascended, and is seated at the right hand of God as the victor!  He has poured out his Spirit who now lives inside of us.  He has made us more than conquerors!

SPEAK OUT IN FAITH

Look what else happened!  God had said not to be afraid. 

He had spoken to Moses and said not to be afraid.

He had promised to never leave them or forsake them.

He had told Joshua to have great courage and here Joshua had great courage and spoke out in faith!

Joshua 10:12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: 

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to godown for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

You know, sometimes it seems time is passing by and the battle still hasn't been won but God is a redeemer of time.  Here God even heeded the voice of Joshua and caused time to stand still ensuring the complete victory.  God is a redeemer and it's never too late and the battle's never too intense for God!

If you feel time is passing you by, take courage and speak to the time and say, "Stand still!"  Remind God that he is a redeemer of time and be assured that he is a redeemer of time.

God will go to whatever length is necessary to help you.  He will not forsake you.  He will spring up and come to you at your point of need.  He already has defeated the devil who is your true enemy. 

For you, my friend, God will even make time stand still! Amen!

TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE

TIME IS ON MY SIDE WHEN GOD IS ON MY SIDE

In Joshua 10, some of the surrounding Kings were beginning to get just a little concerned to say the least.  They had heard how Joshua and the armies of Israel had defeated Ai and Jericho.  They're thinking, "Man are we next?"  On top of that, a strategic city, and a great city, Gibeon had entered into covenant with the Israelites! 

In the context of 2011, just think about how it makes the devil and his demons feel when someone is converted to a genuine covenant relationship with Christ. 

Someone who was strategic in the devil's kingdom and instrumental in keeping people from Christ is no longer useful for the devil but on the contrary is now increasing the Kingdom of God!

Joshua 10:1 Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

The situation here is that Joshua and the armies of Israel have entered into their promised land and they are in the process of taking cities.  They are dispossessing enemy armies and taking possession.

That's what we do today as we walk through our promised land.  The bible says we tread on serpents and scorpions as we possess all God has given us!

We convert the hearts of men from the grip and hold of the devil and translate them into another kingdom. 

If you trace the Gibeonites, they are hard to find in history.  It seems they may have just been absorbed into Israel.  Truly when those that are strangers of Christ come to him, they are made new and are made a part of another kingdom! Hallelujah!

That's exactly what Jesus came to do!  He came to destroy the works of the devil and drive him from territories in the hearts of people.  He then absorbs them into him!

THE ENEMIES HAD HEARD THE BUZZ

Joshua 10:2  that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.  3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,4 “Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

The kings of the surrounding nations had HEARD and were in FEAR about the covenant of peace Israel had made with Gibeon (covered in previous blogs.)  They decided to come against Gibeon in a united front.

It said they heard!  What did they hear?

• They heard a word of destruction!
• They heard their God fought for Israel.
• They heard they were unbeatable.
• They heard of how Gibeon had joined Israel.
• They feared!
• How did they hear?

THE BUZZ

It was as we call it "the talk of the town!"

Joshua 10:3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 "Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.”

You know you've got something going on when you're the talk of the town.  There's a story being played out and you're one of the players and the players are:

• The ones creating the stir
• The ones wisely joining with the winners
• The ones gossiping and spreading the news- truth, fear, rumor
• The ones fighting the losing battle- the enemies
• The ones that joined with Israel in covenant

At the end of the day, there was a buzz as one king told another who told another who told another.

THEY ATTACKED THE FRIENDS- THE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

Remember from the previous chapter, the Gibeonites were the ones that joined with Israel.  This nation eventually disappears in history having been absorbed into the nation of Israel (I think.)  Gibeon had decided it was better to serve Israel than fight them.  Therefore they entered into covenant obligating Joshua to fight for them.  You will see how God viewed this covenant momentarily.

Because Gibeon was large and strategic, the kings of the surrounding cities joined together in a unified front to attack Gibeon, the new covenant friends of Joshua and Israel!

Anyone is welcome to join themselves to God in truth. They always have been and always will be. When you seek to join with God in truth you will not be denied and even your history as an enemy doesn't stop God!

You may have a history but God holds the future in his hands! In Joshua 10 God made the sun stand still for Gibeon, a former enemy!

  

Jesus is our new testament Joshua. It's the same name in Hebrew and it means savior of the world!  These men entered into covenant with Yeshua even though the were strangers and foreigners. Because they agreed to be friends and not to fight against Israel, Israel would protect them.

Josh 10: 6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.” 

They reminded Joshua of the covenant. In the covenant they were made servants!  They said, "Hey! Don't forget us!" 

That's all it took for them and that's all it takes for us!

NOT FORSAKEN

Time is on your side because you are not forsaken.  It doesn't matter how long your battle takes, God has already given and promised victory!

They were not forsaken and we are not forsaken!

What have you been through that makes you feel as if you are forgotten and forsaken?

It's time to do three things.  1- Call upon the name of the Lord and 2-Believe his Word and 3-Watch what he does!

Here's just a few scriptures you can hang onto.  Sometimes it's easy to believe the lies and the rumors. 

These kings got together and they were talk talk talking but it says the Gibeonites called on Joshua (Yeshua) and reminded him of covenant.  Look at the truth:

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8
And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Joshua 1:5
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua was given the same promise as Moses and Joshua knew the he had to give this Gentile nation the same promise he had from God and that was to NOT be forsaken.  Before hearing from God, Joshua understood covenant.  

Today we have the same promise:

You may feel forsaken at times but listen to the Word of God!

2 Corinthians 4:9
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

Look forward for this blog to continue tomorrow!  Stay tuned for Part 2! 

Covenant- Strangers But Accepted

COVENANT- STRANGERS BUT ACCEPTED

In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites came to Joshua's camp as enemies of God. They were not God's people yet they were requesting covenant.  They recognized and had heard that THIS GOD, the God of the Israelites was a victorious God, a God that drove out enemies and a God that protected his people. Rather than fight this God, they wanted to join this God!

Joshua 9: 3- But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” 

God will never turn anyone away that comes to him truly desiring to enter into covenant with him!

They came in as liars and deceivers to the Israelite camps.  The Israelites were blinded to who they were.  They came in wearing old shoes and carrying old wineskins and wearing old clothes.

Just as the Gibeonites came with the old, but were given new, and were accepted into the Israelite camp, in that same way we have been grafted into the covenant promises of the nation of Israel.

                       

Ephesians 2:11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Although coming to him as sinners, apart and separate from the covenants of God, we are accepted into covenant as we are!  We are made new!

It was later uncovered who they were just as we are continually sanctified and who we are is exposed.  God still protects us even as we are.  We are still in covenant even as we are.  It is in covenant relationship begins as we are grafted into the tree of Israel and given the same covenant rights!  It is then he begins to change us as we walk in a new relationship!

Joshua said, "Let them live!"   In that same way, Jesus says to us, "Let them live as we are given new life with new and better promises than the life that was the source of our old wineskins and our old clothing. 

• They were destined for death but this covenant gave them life!
• They came in with old wineskins from their past but were given a new life within covenant!
• They chose to be reconciled to the God of Israel than live a life of defeat!  Wow!

2 Corinthians 5:17-17  17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

They were cast into the mercies of God, throwing themselves upon his mercy rather than remaining enemies. 

Josh 9:25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. 26- And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

Although they came in as deceivers and liars, they were accepted as servants in the house of God!

Josh 9:22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from you; when ye dwell among us?  23-  Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.  24- And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25- And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. 26- And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. 27- And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

Even though they were servants it's better to be a servant of God than an enemy of God!

Psalm 84:10
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

• Even in light of all of this we can see that these people were given covenant.
• 
  
  
  
  • Even in light of all of this we can see that these people were given covenant.
  • Even today the nation of Israel is dealing with people that remained in the promised land during those years.
  • Many have their roots in these very people that were given covenant.
  • Israel is not to treat them unkind but is to be good to them and protect them- and that's what we see in Israel even today.
  • God will still honor his word so long as they don't come against Israel- in fact any nation coming into covenant to protect Israel will be afforded the same protection as they are.
  • In the same way, God now protects us as the apple of his eye!  We have eternal life and he has assigned angels to watch over us! We have absolutely nothing to fear!
  
  
  BLINDED TO THE TRUTH
  
  
  Historically Israel was blinded to the fact that God reached out to the gentiles and gentiles were grafted into the tree of Israel.
  
  
  • The gentiles that have accepted Christ have been afforded a new covenant, better than the old we came to him with.
  • We have the same protection as Israel.  We have the same God!
  • It didn't matter how they came- it mattered what they be-came! 
  
  
  WE HAVE BECOME FRIENDS
  
  
  We still must remember this is an old testament story that just gives a shadow of what was to come.  They became servants but we have become friends.  Thank God that he accepted us as we were even though we were unworthy and made us friends!  Amen!
  
  
  John 15:15
  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
  
  
  
  
  • Today I'm thankful that God accepted me with all of the deception of my past.
  • I'm thankful to be his servant and even more thankful to be made friend.
  • I'm thankful for his continual work of sanctification that exposes who I am but changes me to be more like him.
  • I'm thankful for his eternal protection and destiny in my life.

Careful In Covenant- Part 2

CAREFUL IN COVENANT- AGREEMENT- PART 2

Joshua 9: 3- But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” 

TWO COVENANTS

How can you keep covenant with God and God's enemy at the same time!

Be careful in entering into covenant.  Ask God! 

The children of Israel didn't ask God.  They entered into covenant buying the story that had been told them.

Because covenants were bonds, the bond of your word that couldn't be broken they were forced to keep covenant even though they were deceived in entering into it.

COVENANT WITH GIBEONITES

It was only after making covenant with the Gibionites that Joshua found out he had been deceived. 

Because they had sworn with their word, they could not retract their promise. 

This brought complaining and confusion into the camp of Israel. 

These were people God had promised to drive out and give the land to Israel. 

Today, we are not driving inhabitants out of lands and houses in the natural, even though yes, there are parts of Israel that one day in the natural will come into Israel's possession but we must look at this in another context- the spiritual.

God wants us to drive out the influence of the devil, the world and ways that are against his ways.

How can God do that if we are in covenant and agreement with the very things he has promised to drive out?

Joshua 9

14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. 17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.” 21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” 26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27 And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

GOD'S ORIGINAL MISSION

At the very beginning, when Joshua became leader he was commanded to do all that had been given to Moses.

JOSHUA 1

 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

THE ORIGINAL COVENANT SAID NO COVENANT!

EXODUS 23: 25 “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. ..................... 32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

THE CONSEQUENCE

What had God said?  He said, "You shall make no covenant!"  Oh my, how quickly we forget sometimes!  There are consequences for not remembering covenant! There are also consequences for wrong covenants.

• Unnecessary battles now have to be fought to protect the covenant you didn't ask God about! 

• If God had been asked, God would have revealed the truth!

• Because Joshua entered into covenant, they had to keep their word and fight the battle of the Gibeonites when they faced an enemy!

• You can read all about it in Joshua 10. God was with them and they won but this was an arrangement that was never supposed to be!

• What you fail to possess can also become a high place in the future.  Gibeon became a high place of Solomon.  Remember Solomon was the son of David that inherited the kingdom but had many wives from other nations.  There was supposed to be only one house of worship but Solomon allowed high places and at Gibeon there was a high place.

COVENANT IS ABOUT AGREEMENT

Remember, one of the meanings of covenant is for two parties to enter into agreement. 

Covenant is important to God because when he enters into covenant he keeps it unquestionably and the same is expected of us.

 If we are to be like God we are to be speakers of truth and we are to be trustworthy!

Also there is power in agreement and power in two walking together.  What are some of the things the bible says about agreement?

Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

It is God's intention to walk through life with one goal, mind and purpose in step with him! 

How can we walk with God in one direction if we're walking with another in a different direction? 

Just picture that- a splitting fork in the road and you're obligated to both!

Matthew 18:19
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Not only are we powerful when we have people we can agree with in prayer and purpose but think of the power of coming into agreement with God. 

You and God make two and according to this verse that's all it takes to be able to ask and receive anything!

2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

From this passage, we can see why we have to be careful in covenant.  You are the temple of God and God can't agree with idols or idolatry. 

How can you walk in agreement with God if you are accommodating idols.  You can see this is the main reason God said NOT to enter into covenant with the nations in the promised land. 

It is impossible to be in full agreement with God and still accommodate the idolatry of the world.  Therefore it was God's purpose to drive out the inhabitants and their ways. 

Today we are to be the influences, not vice versa.

We are to be world changers not changed by the world!

We must be careful in covenant so that we don't find ourselves entering into an agreement that God isn't in or that God isn't ok with. 

We must be careful not to enter into binding agreements that are hard to get out of.  We will usually have to keep our word and suffer consequences that could have been avoided.

Now this may sound like an ancient example from an ancient world but let's just think for a moment how this may apply:

• large purchases that take us into huge debt
• promissory notes for friends that re-nig on their responsibility
• covenants that involve commitments when the fine print wasn't read
• business deals that go sour
• marriages that should never take place
• relationships that would never be consummated if God was consulted

There are many other practical modern day applications for the ancient principle of being CAREFUL IN COVENANT.

Remember, this is something Israel has dealt with since that moment:

• They never fully possessed the promised land and still deal w/ the issue
• High places were built in Gibeon
• They fought battles, and yes, won for the sake of honoring covenant with Gibeon.
• They had an extra burden of responsibility because they didn't ask God!

If there's just two things we can take away from this story, it is let's be

CAREFUL IN COVENANT! ASK GOD! AMEN!

and in addition to being careful,

let's not ever intentionally deceive people into entering into agreement with us. 

That's dishonest and leads to problems in the future.  Let's not be self-seeking but rather mindful of those we are agreeing with.  With all of that said, make a decision to be:

CAREFUL IN COVENANT AND HONEST IN COVENANT!