Victory side of Life # 6
The Consecration for Victory by Gerald Van Horn
Joshua 5:1-10
The children of Israel are now in the promise land. A new situation develops. The miracle of their crossing the Jordan made the enemies hearts melt, neither was their spirit in them any more. v.1. Maybe this is why there is no panic in Satan’s camp today because there is no supernatural move of God in our churches.
It was a real chance to launch an offensive attack on the enemy. All of the Christian’s battles for God are offensive. I didn’t hear God sound the retreat. You would think now was the time to strike at the enemy. You’d think even God could see the advantage. But God never gets in a hurry. So the Lord says “wait.”
1. A place of renunciation.
The rite of circumcision was absent for 40 years. In our Scripture setting it is reinstated. We find the true meaning of this act in Genesis 17:10-14.It was a seal for the covenant that God made with Abraham.
Two things happened in the rite of circumcision:
1) Blood was shed. The Bible says that life is in the blood. People can live with their body organs damaged or removed but none can live without blood. Jesus sealed the New Testament covenant by shedding His own blood on the cross. His blood was pure and sinless blood. It was very precious. It was sprinkled on the mercy seat in heaven that we might live by faith. We are justified by the covering of His blood in our hearts.
2) Pain was involved. The prophetic utterance in Isaiah reveals to us what Jesus suffered for our salvation. Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did not esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” V.7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” Oh what a Saviour! Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at he right hand of the throne of God.”
The land of blessing cannot be obtained in the weakness of the flesh there must be complete obedience to God for He is the One who will fight our battles. The thing God asked for here was for Israel to submit. The very life of every child of God is the death of self and the humbling of our wills to God. Paul says that circumcision or uncircumcision means nothing under the new covenant. Romans 2:25.Paul further states in Colossians 2:10 “And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power; v.11 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of sin of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” You see only Jesus can keep self and the flesh in the right place.
2. It was a place of restoration.
The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal and kept the passover right under the devil’s (Jericho) nose. The Passover meant time worship and feasting. A time of celebration.
Christians some time get so involved in activities that they forget to celebrate. Our fellowship is in the Lord. The life of a Christian is not a long faced-sad one. It is a joy to be a child of God. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.
The next day the manna ceased after they had eaten the old grain of the land. Never again would Israel eat manna again. They would now eat the fruit of the land. Forty years of miracle food ceased.
Notice the pattern: the rite of circumcision and then the blessing. The pattern has not changed. We must put off the flesh and it’s works to enter into the blessings of the Lord.
We recall the incident with Samson. After defeating the Philistines with the jawbone of an animal the blessing came in the form of water. The very weapon Samson used became a means of blessing.
God has not left us orphans. The answer is found in Romans 8:1. “There is therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” There you have it. We are to walk in the Spirit. To the Ephesian church Paul states: Ephesians 5:18 “And be ye not drunk on wine; in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.” Galations 3:3 “having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh.”
You will fail as long as you are trying to do it in your own power and resources.
“May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:23,24.
* Do not become discouraged.
* Concentrate on what the Lord has done for you.
*Stick with the truth which is God’s Word.
* Keep the Holy Ghost fire burning in your soul.
* Remember you are special to God.
