Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
2/16/2021
You have not passed this way before!
“As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it….Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:4 Meaning they were not to relate to the presence of God with familiarity nor approach the promises of God carelessly. Joshua said they must first be consecrated and abide in the fear of the Lord. He said, “you have not passed this way before.” For 430 years they were enslaved in Egypt. It cost them another 40 years after the 8 spies came back from the promised land because of their unbelief. But now God is preparing to release a new level of power. Joshua 3:5 Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” After 430 plus 40 years of preparation, God required a new level of consecration. It was time for a fresh surrender to God. Israel was holy not because of what they did but because she was set apart unto God and HIS purposes. I believe we have been called to intercede before God because he called us to. He said a “Storm is coming” and we need to prepare for it. It took Israel 3 days to consecrate herself unto the Lord. He said, “When you see the ark of the covenant, … go after it!”
Israel was a unique people who would draw their strengths from God and his promises to her. By following the ark, the Israelites were, in truth, following God into the realm where all things are possible.
Isn’t that true today also. We know we are set apart. We know we are called a holy nation. But we wander off like sheep, grazing into turbulent pastures, and sanctuaries of darkness until one day God sends a deliverer, a prophet, a sign.. saying to consecrate yourselves and revere the holiness of God. It took Israel 3 days to do that one part. Our generation says a prayer in passing and wonders why they don’t feel and see and know that intimacy with God. WE have not had 470 years of preparation, “the hard way”. All her achievements and failures, sins and virtues were surrendered to the Almighty in preparation for something greater to come. The long periods of discipline and learning were now leading them to a new realm of immediate breakthroughs. Joshua 3:13 “And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” Follow me here: God was giving them a foretaste of the new realm of immediate, supernatural breakthroughs. The priests are required to step into the Jordon. This was not a stream… it was deep. The text says in vs 15, “the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest.” The river did not dry up gradually overnight and by the stiff wind like the Red Sea did. The Jordan was at flood stage but in faith, the four priests carrying the covenant stepped out in it. The extended, falling foot of each priest stepped down and landed on solid and dry ground instantly! It was as if God was saying, welcome to the realm of covenant power, the domain where all things are possible. They were stepping forth in the same covenant of their wilderness days, but they would possess a new revelation concerning it. They would discover following God in the day of His power. It takes time to be truly obedient in both spirit and deed. The Lord must deliver his people from the false gods of ambition and fear, jealousy, rebellion, murmuring, complaining, and unbelief. Once obedience was established God was free to move quickly. Note, the priest stepped fearlessly into the Jordon. These were not the murmuring kinsmen who died in the wilderness. They did not reason within themselves until they were so full of doubt and fear they were paralyzed. They relied fearlessly upon the covenant power of God. Let us also consecrate ourselves for the new breakthroughs that are at hand. For we too have not gone this way before. Jeremy Camp find me a river https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upElWJkWc08 Excerpts are taken from Francis Frangipanes’ book The power of covenant prayer.
