Joshua 3:1-13 And Joshua rose early in the morning;
and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of
Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. (2) And it came to
pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; (3)
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of
the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove
from your place, and go after it. (4) Yet there shall be a space
between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it,
that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way
heretofore. (5) And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify
yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. (6)
And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and
pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went
before the people. (7) And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day
will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know
that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. (8) And thou
shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are
come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
(9) And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the
words of the LORD your God. (10) And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall
know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out
from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the
Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
(11) Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth
over before you into Jordan. (12) Now therefore take you twelve men
out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. (13) And it
shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear
the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of
Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come
down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
Joshua would be
MAGNIFIED when Israel would cross Jordan.
The ark would be uplifted
over their heads. 40 times the blood was splattered on the mercyseat as
they were 40 years in the wilderness. The day of Atonement occurred each
year, so forty splashes of blood were on the mercyseat altogether.
Joshua 3:16 That the waters which came down from above stood and
rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and
those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and
were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
There
was a spiritual flow of humanity that was going DOWN from Adam to the Dead Sea
(salt sea). Adam was first given DOMINION by God, but went DOWN from there
into slavery due to his sin. God's restoration of man was foreshadowed by
Israel's Exodus out of Egypt. Going to their own land in Canaan depicts
the contrast in which God lifts one up from slavery to dominion.
So, God is going to stop this downward trend, and turn the tables and make the
enemies of hell be destroyed and defeated. This is foreshadowed by the Ark
of the Covenant entering into the downward flow of humanity towards death, and
cutting off that flow, so far as the believers' destinies are concerned.
Jesus is the Ark. He cut off the dying flow of humanity, and gave
LIFE and restoration from death. But let's go a step further.
The
ark of the covenant depicts the throne of God. It was held aloft over the
heads of the Priests, just as KINGS were carried in royal procession over the
HEADS of the servants. It was, therefore, little wonder that when David
retrieved the Ark from the Philistines, God was enraged at the ark being pulled
by oxen on an ox cart! It spoke of His throne! And barn animals
should not pull the lord on an ox cart! God should be high and lifted UP!
The throne is LIFTED UP!
Isaiah 6 shows God on his throne.
And as the ARK would LIFTED UP in the Jordan River, JOSHUA WOULD BE
MAGNIFIED IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE.
The ark was where the people
splattered the blood of the atonement sacrifice once a year on the day of
atonement.
Leviticus 16:14-16 And he shall take of the
blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat
eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his
finger seven times. (15) Then shall he kill the goat of the sin
offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do
with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon
the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: (16) And he shall make an
atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of
Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he
do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the
midst of their uncleanness.
The number forty in scripture is ONE
GENERATION (the average of the years in generations found in Matthew 1).
It is interesting that it was at this same period of Hebrew history when
Israel finally entered Canaan, that the OLDER "GENERATION" had died off.
Joshua 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in
the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of
Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom
the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto
their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and
honey.
It was THEN that Israel was circumcised a second time.
Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp
knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
A
male can only be physically circumcised ONCE. But God looked at Israel's
two generations as ONE PERSON with TWO elements. One element had to DIE
before the second one could ENTER the land. And the one that had to DIE
was the DOUBTFUL element. That element was circumcised away from the
second. This older generation represents your DOUBTFUL FLESHLINESS and the
carnality.
The older folks were forbidden to enter because they DOUBTED
God would give them the land forty years earlier at Kadesh-Barnea. So it
is no coincidence that when the OLDER ONES died, the YOUNGER were THEN
circumcised and could THEN go into the Land.
WHEN YOUR DOUBTING
Carnality dies, you are circumcised a second time, and you can THEN ENTER INTO
THE PROMISES.
Joshua 4:1-3 And it came to pass, when all
the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua,
saying, (2) Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every
tribe a man, (3) And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of
the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve
stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging
place, where ye shall lodge this night.
Now, 12 STONES were taken from
the very place where the PRIEST UPHELD THE ARK WITH THE BLOOD ON THE SEAT.
And these stones were irrefutable proof that GOD MIGHTILY stopped the
Jordan and the people walked on DRY GROUND.
Joshua 4:6-7
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers
in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? (7) Then ye
shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the
covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut
off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for
ever.
People would always be reminded of God's POWER by this monument.
But that was not all that was done with 12 stones.
Joshua
4:8-9 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took
up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua,
according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried
them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down
there. (9) And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan,
in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant
stood: and they are there unto this day.
The PEOPLE took 12 stones from
Jordan, but JOSHUA PUT 12 stones IN JORDAN. This represents the exchange
for a NEW LIFE. The stones represented ISRAEL'S PEOPLE,
because the people were represented by 12 tribes who each took a stone out
of Jordan. These were the people who remained after the elder doubters all
died. So the representation of these people was taken OUT of Jordan.
And the meaning behind another set of 12 stones that were put IN
JORDAN regards the older doubters who were now dead and buried. Something
was put there where something else was taken out. And BOTH sets of stones
represented the PEOPLE -- one people died and were gone, while the next
generation of people were then able to enter the land. Jordan had been the
point of demarcation beyond which the older generation could not progress.
So at that point, the 12 stones representing the older Israel of doubters
were buried in the River, while the new set of 12 stones representing the
younger Israel could enter the land.
Jesus was also BAPTIZED in Jordan.
And Like Joshua, He led forth a battle against hell and devils and demons
in a ministry that gave life and salvation to the people after leaving that
baptism. After crossing Jordan's experience of baptism, Jesus faced
the devil in the wilderness and resisted His temptations, and entered into
ministry of 3.5 years of terror for hell. He cleared out the land of the
devil. Everywhere He went, He raised the dead, healed sick, forgave
sinners, and exposed the hypocrites.
And we are BURIED WITH HIM IN OUR
BAPTISM. But recall there were two times the WATERS DIVIDED for Israel.
RED SEA and then a second time at JORDAN. Salvation from slavery
occurred at the Red Sea division, but entrance into warfare against the enemy
occurred at the Jordan division. A second circumcision. Circumcision
of sins of the flesh (Col 2:11-12) at the Red Sea, and circumcision of the
doubtful and the carnal element at the Jordan.
We died with Jesus and
were buried with Him in our baptism when we were first saved.
BUT THAT TAKES ON A MEANING FAR BEYOND WHAT WE EVER THOUGHT BEFORE WHEN WE
COME TO THIS SECOND "BAPTISM".
JOSHUA WOULD BE MAGNIFIED IN THE
EYES OF THE PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.
Joshua 4:13-14 About
forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the
plains of Jericho. (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.
JOSHUA is the Hebrew version of JESUS. The manner in
which JESUS is magnified in our hearts even more, is when we come to the place
where we receive a powerful revelation! The raising of the ARK in Jordan
with blood on the seat represents the reason -- the raising of the symbol of
God's THRONE. Thousands came PREPARED FOR BATTLE that day.
You
see, the ARK of the throne had BLOOD OF ATONEMENT ON IT. The reason there
is BLOOD OF ATONEMENT ON THE ARK is because ATONEMENT speaks of restoring
mankind with God again. When you first believed and asked Jesus to forgive
your soul on account of the blood sacrifice He made in dying on the cross....
(sacrifices always were for forgiveness)... Then you died with Him.
Only at that point of faith can you say His death was your death. And that
saves your soul. But there's something more than that involved. When
Jesus atoned for your soul, you were made one with Jesus. Two root
words are found in ATONEMENT -- They are "AT-ONE". That speaks of
unity.
Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him
from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
When God saved us, He worked the same power in us that He worked in Christ
when He raised Him to the throne. The right hand of God speaks of THE
THRONE OF GOD. Right hand means POWER. THRONE means POWER.
Christ went to that throne of power AFTER HE DIED AND ROSE
AGAIN! He was on the throne before He ever was born in Bethlehem!
But the reason He came and died and rose to once again go to the throne is
to do something about the fact that Adam lost Dominion in the Garden. So
we are all people born at the disadvantage of having been purposed for the
throne, but having lost it through Adam's actions. There is BLOOD on the
throne-seat is because HIS DEATH caused POWER of God to work on our behalfs.
And BY HIS BLOOD we are thereby SEATED ON THE THRONE IN AT-ONE-MENT with
Him.
He becomes far more magnified in our eyes, when we realize
His death also includes raising us up with Himself to sit on the
throne with HIM!
Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
(6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus:
The number 40 in the FORTY SPLASHES speaks of A
GENERATION. Recall the two generations represent TWO ELEMENTS in us.
A doubtful one as opposed to a faithful one. And its as though 40
splashes on throne seat represents God's truth of making us one with Christ - to
reign with Christ - being stressed over and over and over again UNTIL THAT
DOUBTFUL ELEMENT IS GONE!
Every year brought Israel's younger
generation that much closer to WARFARE and DOMINION in the land and the doubters
that much closer to being out of the way.
Everytime I preach to you
about the blood and victory, its brings you that much closer to ENJOYING IT, and
your doubts that much closer to being GONE forever!
And the same book
of Ephesians which speaks about SEATING WITH CHRIST by His blood....
Ephesians 4:17-27 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,
that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their
mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves
over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
(20) But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye
have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be
renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbour: for we are members one of another. (26) Be ye angry, and
sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (27) Neither give
place to the devil.
The 12 old stones are under.. and 12 new stones are
raised out.
OLDER GENERATION IS DEAD. NEW GENERATION GOES OVER!
Paul told CHRISTIANS to take off the old man and put on the new.
He is talking about THINKING. The way we LIVE. Get this truth
until it affects the way you live! Put the old under and that doubtful
aspect away from you, finally. And realize what that blood of Jesus did
for you. THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT YOURSELF. Renew your thinking.
Stop thinking so doubtfully. Stop thinking so negatively about
yourself. THE BLOOD ON THE MERCYSEAT MEANS YOU ARE THERE, TOO!
And you will not give place to the devil any more!
After that is dealt
with and the old is put under, Paul then proceeds to speak as follows:
Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and
in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Just like
Joshua!
JESUS IS MAGNIFIED TO ME MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, when I realize
the greater scope of work He did, that I did not know beforehand!
He
becomes more precious to me when I put this all on a personal level, for me,
individually, as we are meant to understand it. You will then, at this
point of faith, walk out from the mob-mentality of believers, like sardines in a
can, who simply horde themselves to churches every week, but never LIVE a
supernatural and blessed life for God! You will walk into the land of
blessings and promises of God, where you do not simply wish you could be healed,
or live in peace, but actually experience! WHEN JESUS IS MAGNIFIED EVEN
HIGHER! WHEN THE BLOOD IS SEEN BY YOU ON THE MERCYSEAT TO EVER REMIND YOU
THAT YOU ARE SEATED WITH HIM!
(A member of the congregation
received this following revelation during the ministry of the above message:
When you talked about the Blood on
the mercy seat, I thought "That's It!" We have to reach that place where we are
"priests unto God' and can SEE the Blood! Its very different from crossing
the Red Sea where the blood was applied to the outside of the house and the ones
inside who were protected by it could not "see" it. There is no doubt the
thought here also of obedience when leaving Egypt, but submission when it came
to entering the Holiest Place.
The thought of the blood being applied 40 times to the ark in the
wilderness reminded me of the 40 stripes that Jesus possibly took on His
back.
De 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he
should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy
brother should seem vile unto thee.
In Exodus God told the people when "I" see the blood, but with
understanding and maturity and an entering in to spiritual things, "man" was
able to see the blood as a priest unto God.
It is not about "seeing" physical blood, but about the eyes of
our understanding being enlightened.
The progression of the Grace of God is beautiful. He has led man
from Egypt and the symbolic applying of the blood of the sacrificial lamb,
through the wilderness where he allowed a man to enter the Holy of Holies, to
the Promised land where by faith, we can turn these representations into
spiritual realities in our every day lives:)
Praise
God!
Pastor MF Blume
