Following in Joshua's footsteps.

We are entering a new season called Autumn. Personally, I don't like this season as it is basically saying that the cold weather is just round the corner. It also tells me that we will soon have dark mornings and dark evenings and very little sunshine. Yeah, I get the beautiful colours of the leaves and the crisp Autumnal air, but it isn't the Summer! I am a sun lover and it makes it even more disappointing that we had a pretty rubbish summer with regards to sunshine and now I have to wait about seven months for any possibility of that. Sorry to be so negative at the start of this blog that I haven't actually written in x months! However, for me a new season is fast approaching that I am very excited about. As a church we are about to embark on a move to a new venue. God told us to move a while ago and in two weeks we are about to see this move become a reality. The cloud of God is moving and we are following Him to go to a more spacious place. God recently spoke to me about Joshua and the move into the Promised Land. Out of this I felt that we need to draw some important lessons. Crossing the Jordan 3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.” 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” Firstly, we are to follow the presence of God before we go anywhere. The Ark of the Covenant represented His presence and His people were only to move when they saw the Ark move. Someone wrote recently that the church has often camped itself around the sermon or the worship session at church, whereas the Israelites camped around the presence of God. Our first calling is to worship or to just spend time in God's presence. Moses said unless your presence goes with us we aren't going anywhere! First and foremost we need to be following His presence. Secondly, when you spend time in His presence you will then know which way to go. So many people say to me that they don't know where they are going in life. My answer is: "Have you spent time in His presence, by just being?" I imagine the Father saying "I haven't spoken to my child for years...I can't get a word in edgeways!" We often come to God and talk and talk and talk and talk on at Him and then leave that place and wonder why we haven't heard Him speak to us. Give Him a chance! Wait in His presence and listen. Thirdly, consecrate yourself for tomorrow I will do amazing things amongst you. Wow! What a great promise. Why did Jesus see so many amazing things? Because he set himself aside for his Father's purposes alone. He gave himself fully to fulfilling His Dad's will. He only did what he saw his Father do. How did he know what his Dad was doing? He set time aside to watch Him in his devotional time. Do you want to see amazing things happen tomorrow? Set yourself aside purely for His purposes. Lastly, start living by your faith eyes and not your natural eyesight. The leaders of Israel had to step into the mighty River Jordan and expect God to make a way through for all of God's people. There's one thing getting excited in God's presence and believing Him for anything, but it is another thing to leave that place and attempt to do things that are naturally impossible. It is a new and exciting season. Are you ready for some amazing things to happen in you and through you?