RITE OF PASSAGE INTO ALL POWER

Mike Blume
April 3, 2005 pm

  Scripture Text:

 

Joshua 4:3 KJV  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.

Joshua 4:9-13 KJV  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.  (10)  For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.  (11)  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.  (12)  And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:  (13)  About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

John 1:26-28 KJV  John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;  (27)  He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.  (28)  These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Genesis 1:26 KJV  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.


  Message:



We read of Joshua's leadership into Canaan, through Jordan, where twelve stones were removed from, and twelve others placed in the river instead.
  • John baptized at this location -- BETHABARA, meaning HOUSE OF PASSAGE.
  • It was where Israel crossed Jordan.
  • And as John spoke to the Pharisees, read what he said:

Matthew 3:7-9 KJV  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

John pointed to the stones set up by Joshua!
  • And he told the pharisees that true children of Abraham were the stones risen up by God.
  • At the very location Joshua took Israel into Canaan, and where he later baptized Jesus.

He called the religious leaders a generation of vipers.
  • All of us were like that.
  • The serpent in the Garden deceived Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, and we were all born in sin as a result.
  • Spiritually speaking, as sinners we were the children of the devil.

A generation is the offspring of a source called the generator.
  • The serpent generated the entire sin in mankind, making us generation of vipers.

Jesus was baptized here, and went back into the wilderness, as though going back outside of the Promised Land to retrieve those lost in sin, representatively.
  • There he was tempted of the devil.
  • He overcame.
  • The wilderness is like our lives before salvation.
  • Outside the Garden in the wilderness, having been cast out due to Adam's sin.
  • He was led of the Spirit there, but RETURNED IN THE POWER of the Spirit due to SAYING NO to the devil.

Luke 4:1 KJV  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Luke 4:14 KJV  And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

Baptized, filled with Spirit and sent forth to minister.
  • All of this was an experience Jesus would see repeated in each of our lives.
  • But it only occurred with Christ at this time.

He was baptized int he Jordan where BETHABARA was, the passage of Israel into Canaan under Joshua, because HE CONNECTED THE IDEA OF ENTRANCE INTO CANAAN WITH BAPTISM IN TO JESUS CHRIST for the believer.
  • His baptism shows us a spiritual picture of what HIS DEATH WOULD BE FOR US!
  • PASSAGE.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 KJV  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Adam's race was a generation of vipers.
  • Baptism is passing THROUGH CHRIST into newness of life.
  • Like a door in Egypt with blood of a slain lamb surrounding it, we entered THROUGH CHRIST'S DEATH into newness of life.
  • And we come out in POWER.
  • At least, that is the results what God is trying to show us!
  • We need to learn what happened to us when we were baptized into Jesus Christ.
  • So many only know a small part of this.
  • God wants to show us more.

Romans 6:3-4 KJV  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  (4)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Paul stated this:

Philippians 4:13 KJV  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Notice Paul implies POWER in our lives as a result of GOING THROUGH CHRIST.
  • Think of Christ as a DOOR when you read THROUGH CHRIST.

John 10:7 KJV  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

We read this concerning Christ alone, but this would spiritually be repeated in every believer's life, and we can see a spiritual picture in Revelation.

Revelation 4:1 KJV  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

John is taken in the spirit into heaven.

Revelation 4:2 KJV  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

He sees a THRONE there.

Revelation 4:6 KJV  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: ...

And before the throne, between the throne and John's position, was a body of water.
  • So untouched that it was still LIKE GLASS.

A barrier.

Revelation 5:1 KJV  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

There is something in the hand of God on the throne.

Revelation 5:2-4 KJV  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  (3)  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  (4)  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

No one can PASS THAT BARRIER and reach that throne.
  • Like JORDAN being a barrier before the Land of Canaan.
  • Jordan is like a FLESH BARRIER that stands between us and all God has for us in ministry and power and anointing.
  • Not many break through this.
  • They do not seek God in prayer and fasting.
  • Prayer and fasting unleashes the potential in our lives within God-given faculties in our spirits to reach out into the spiritual realm and become exposed to all of God's Kingdom.
  • But we have to breach the FLESH BARRIER and enter in, just as Israel had to breach JORDAN.
  • And JORDAN swelled it's banks at that time.
  • Of all times to cross!
  • The truth is, any time you wish to launch into God's will more deeply, THE FLESH STIRS ALONG WITH THE DEVIL.
  • And we simply have to BREACH THIS BARRIER ANYWAY.

Revelation 5:5-7 KJV  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  (6)  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  (7)  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

But A LAMB APPEARS and passes the BARRIER and gets to the throne.

Jesus came out of the baptism and wilderness IN POWER but it only regarded Himself.
  • HERE is a mirror of that event, and this time, not only Has Christ gained access to the throne, but we read it affects the saints.

Revelation 5:9-10 KJV  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  (10)  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

So this time WE are affected and have POWER.

When Joshua entered into Canaan with Israel, they were no longer described as follows:

Exodus 12:38 KJV  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

We read this instead:

Joshua 4:13 KJV  About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

40,000 prepared for battle!

POWER

And then we read:

Joshua 6:4 KJV  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.

SEVEN RAM'S HORNS when with them.

Revelation 5:6 KJV  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Jesus is seen as a LAMB WITH SEVEN HORNS.
  • ALL (7 - complete) POWER (HORNS).

We have all power when we are baptized into HIS DEATH.
  • HE DIED AND RESURRECTED in Rev 5, for we read HE STOOD AS HE HAD BEEN SLAIN.
  • That is resurrection.
  • And although He resurrected and prevailed/overcame, we read the saints suddenly became kings and priests!
  • This can only be explained by the fact that the Apostles taught we are baptized into His death and are thereby buried, resurrected, ascended and seated with Him on the right hand throne of God.
  • SO WE HAVE ALL POWER THROUGH CHRIST.

Paul said He could do "ALL" things THROUGH CHRIST.
  • That implies ALL POWER!
  • And Christ's death is LIKE A PASSAGE since THROUGH HIM we have ALL POWER TO DO ALL THINGS.
  • No wonder His baptism in Jordan at BETHABARA ("house of passage") was accomplished to fulfill all righteousness.
  • It TYPIFIES what we spiritually experience when we are baptized into His death.
  • BAPTISM IS A RITE OF PASSAGE INTO ALL POWER.

Matthew 28:18-19 KJV  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Since He has ALL POWER in Heaven and Earth, we baptize others IN HIS NAME.
  • INTO HIS POWER.

Acts 2:40 KJV  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

UNTOWARD GENERATION.
  • That is like saying, "YOU GENERATION OF VIPERS".
  • Children of the devil were born in sin need to be BORN AGAIN into Christ!
  • And we read Peter spoke words which pointed towards this salvation FROM THIS GENERATION.
  • What words did this include?

Acts 2:38 KJV  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

BAPTISM.
  • RITE OF PASSAGE INTO ALL POWER.

Adam was initially given power over ALL THE EARTH.

Genesis 1:26 KJV  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

That implies ALL POWER if it is over ALL the earth.

We need to realize what our baptism into Christ's death has done for us.
  • It allowed us to PASS INTO ALL POWER.

Romans 4:13 KJV  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

 We are heirs to THE WORLD.
  • Let us use ALL POWER and conquer the wickedness in this world through faith and prayer!
  • HAVE REVIVAL!!!


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