February 10, 2014 - Monday

Start Time: 5:50 A.M.

End Time: 6:33 A.M.

Title: Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

Scripture: Joshua 5:1 – 12

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.   At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.  Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt.  All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.  The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.  So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.  And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

NOTES:

Ø God’s works in our lives cause our enemies to tremble and fear us!  Amazing Lord!  His works in our lives, the miracles He has done and will be doing in us, His actions gives us victory and cause our enemies to fear and lose confidence in facing us – which then fulfills God’s promise of security of our land and assurance of our health, wealth, richness, success, blessings, etc.  If this is so then we should allow God to work in our lives all the time; allow Him to use us and do as He pleases because His works in our lives bring fear to the hearts of our enemies, ensuring our safety and success in what God calls us to do!  What an amazing and marvelous King!  Truly His actions act like ripples and its effects bring good things in us at the same time, stops our enemies from attacking us!  Hallelujah!

Ø God’s ultimate work in our lives requires purification of our whole being!  Note that God can work and give victory in our lives even if we are unclean and dirty or uncircumcised but for Him to fully access and work on what’s needed for us, thru us, and in us, He requires clean and purified vessels (we are the vessel).  So God commanded the new generation of Israelites to be circumcised!  Note that circumcision was made once only.  After the older generation was circumcised, they were no longer circumcised again.  This is true even to this day.  We receive Jesus Christ once and He performs the circumcision of ourselves and that’s it!  There’s no point of accepting Jesus again and again for once is enough!  One act of surrender to Jesus brings complete circumcision/purification of our lives.  The Holy Spirit is given to us and though we grieve Him, He will be long-suffering for us and will work His way in changing us from Glory to Glory!  Amen!

→Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. ¹¹ The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

NOTES:

Ø God started fulfilling His promises the moment His people stepped on the land He has given them!  On the very first day they stepped in the land of Canaan, God celebrated with His people the Passover (which is the Egypt victory) and the people tasted the fruit of their obedience!  God labored, the people obeyed and so we experienced the fruit of God’s labor!  God is a God of His words and He told us that He will bring us to a promised land and the moment we start conquering the land He has promised for our lives, then we will definitely enjoy the fruit of God’s labors so we are to give Him all the glory and honor for HE did everything for us and we just enjoyed the spoils!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Praise Your Name!  Glory to You and You alone for You are worthy of all Praise and Worship.  I am greatly amazed of Your love and power that You are willing to do the impossible in our eyes to fulfill what You have spoken.  Lord thank You because Your works in my life bring fear to my enemies, causing them to tremble and run away because Your mighty power and glory will shine in my life.  Lord thank You because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was done once and it becomes the ultimate purification we needed in our lives that You may ultimately do and finish that work You started in us.  Jesus, thank You for Your death and resurrection!  Thank You because its power lasts thru out eternity and it only takes one acceptance and one surrender from me to activate the full power and strength of Your death and resurrection in my life.  Lord thank You because Your death purifies and forever cleanse me, covering my all my sins with Your righteousness.  Lord thank You because as we journey with You towards the goal You set, the moment we stepped in to the land You promised, Your words becomes alive in our lives and everything You have spoken becomes a reality.  Open my eyes Lord, and let me see these promises coming to pass every day in my life.  Let me sense the fulfillment of Your promises in my life Lord every day as I walk in faith in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!