The Kingdom of Heaven in 2011

Part 2

2 There remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?

(Joshua 18: 2 – 4)

As churches it is always important to remember that we are not here to compete with one another but to complete one another!  Sometimes it can look like we are here to compete, it might feel like we are here to compete, and it might even sound like we are here to compete, but in the midst of it all we have to keep our focus on the bigger picture.  The truth is that Abraham had to leave his family behind so that he could ultimately be a source of blessing to all families including the one he left behind!

There is a song we used to sing:  “Do the work in me, Do the work in me, So that I can do the work you’ve called me to, Do the work in me.”

In Joshua 1 we saw that the LORD had to do an establishing and affirming work in Joshua’s life – establishing him as a leader and dealing with his fear and lack of natural courage, etc – so that he would be equipped to lead the people of God into their inheritance in crossing over into the fullness of all that God had promised them.  Joshua also told the people to prepare provisions for themselves so that they would be equipped to cross over.  It is one thing to hear a word from God about his desire to move us forward and to bless us with an abundance of everything, but it is another thing to take responsibility to ensure that we enter into and receive or take all that he is giving us.

I remember back in 1991 when the Lord told me to climb a local mountain.  When I reached the top he said, “Look around you. I am giving you this land – go in and possess it!”  You can get excited at a word like that!  That is until you begin to share it with others and they aren’t quite as excited as you are, and then you discover that this land you have been told to go in and possess is already inhabited by people who aren’t very happy that you are here either!

Last time we began looking at the truth that it is not enough to know that God has given you the land – you have to take it!  Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force!  We recognised eight steps to community transformation.

INFORMATION > MEDITATION > REVELATION > MOTIVATION > APPLICATION > MANIFESTATION > DEMONSTRATION >  TRANSFORMATION

JOSHUA 2

1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho……”
Joshua would have been very selective in choosing who he sent out to spy the land.  He would have remembered what happened a generation before when Moses had sent in twelve leaders to spy out the land and ten had brought back a bad report that had crippled the people’s faith to proceed.  In only sending two he narrowed the odds of a bad report having a devastating effect upon the people’s faith.  There is also no mention that these guys were leaders whose opinion could have more influence on the people – especially if it was negative.  It is better to discover where someone’s heart is truly at before you make him a leader, rather than discover afterwards that they don’t have what it takes to follow through on God’s word.  Leaders should be recognised before they are appointed.  It is important to always ecognise and appoint those who bring a good report!
So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”  3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”  4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.  8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

You know it has to be a God thing when you are led to a harlot’s house and discover that she has the key to the door of the city in that she is willing to relay information to you concerning the weakness that exists in the city due to the terror that has consumed the inhabitants of the land since they heard what the LORD had done for his people in supernaturally delivering them!  Remember the woman at the well who got the revelation of whom the Father is seeking to worship him.  This is our proof that God is not interested in where you came from or what you have done, but in where you are going and what you are willing to do!  Personally, there are people with whom I have some bad history but I always stay in faith that one day we will press on together!  I don’t ever want history to get in the way of destiny!

You see, it’s not where you worship that’s most important – but who and how you worship!  Those who are bound by the where of worship will always be limited but those who are only interested in the who and how of worship will be free wherever they are!  It’s like someone who always tells the truth and so he doesn’t have to remember what he said.  The person who worships in spirit and in truth doesn’t have to remember where he is!  When everyone catches this there will be a lot more uniformity in our worship and unity in our fellowship!

I believe that if we were as aware of the supernatural power of God as the enemy is we would have complete confidence in his ability to deliver us from every impossible situation or circumstance!  There is supernatural power in worshiping in spirit and truth – read Psalm 149 if you don’t believe me! The devils – including religious devils – believe and tremble!  Never be afraid to declare and demonstrate the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth wherever you are and whoever you are with!

Remember the way the demons reacted to Jesus when he showed up in territory they had been inhabiting.  They were the ones who were afraid!  They were the ones begging for mercy!  There may be no mercy available for demons but there is for the people who choose to be free from their control!
It is essential that we understand that without the supernatural power of God we are stuck in the futility of empty religious ritual.  Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves of the reality of a life that has been transformed by an encounter with the Living God!

1.    WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE SUPERNATURAL TAKES PLACE WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN

What takes place in our lives when we are born again should be sufficient to convince us of the supernatural power of God and his ability to do anything that is necessary to ensure that we maintain a life of victory and go on to possess all that is our inheritance in Christ!  You just have to listen to people’s testimonies concerning the great change that took place in their lives when they were born again.  Many experienced instantaneous deliverance from bondage that they had struggled hopelessly against for years.  However this initial encounter with the supernatural is not supposed to be the end of our supernatural experience.  Israel had an awesome testimony to God’s supernatural deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and yet the bad report from a majority of their leaders locked them into a wilderness cycle where virtually a whole generation perished in unbelief!

In New Wine Church we are contending for God’s word on longevity – long life and length of days – and we are taking back the years that have been stolen from too many of God’s people!  We are not the dead waiting to live – we are the living resisting death in Jesus’ name!

How do you know if you or someone else has been born again?  Well, although there might not be an immediate transformation of every area of a person’s life a wholehearted commitment to the LORD will lead to a wholehearted commitment to live for him that will inevitably result in the fruit of that wholehearted commitment appearing and becoming evident over time.

However, too many people are born again into supernatural relationship with the Father and then almost immediately lifted out of his arms by the church and raised in religion!

2.    WE MUST HAVE AN ONGOING SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S FULLNESS IN OUR LIVES

If we are going to possess the fullness of our inheritance and if we are going to be agents of community transformation then we must be completely dependent upon pentecostal power.  It is not enough to have had a one-time experience of the Holy Spirit that we add into our testimony – that is just pentecostal religion.  There may be one initial experience of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit but there must be a daily filling if we are to remain effective!  You hear many people speak about being “Spirit-filled” but there is only one surefire evidence that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and it is not speaking in tongues.  Speaking in tongues is a means to and end and is not the end in itself.  You know that something is full when it overflows and so the evidence that we are filled with the Holy Spirit will be that we overflow supernatural love, grace, mercy, and power!

12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”  The LORD gives the land to those who will manifest his kingdom and his character, and who will establish covenant relationships.
17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”

3.    WE NEED TO TRUST IN THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF THE COVENANT

A line of scarlet cord!  This represents the covenant that is established and sealed with blood!  We must keep ourselves and our families under the blood!  Remember Job – he made continual sacrifices for his children in fear that they would turn away from God rather than simply trusting in God’s faithfulness to keep his family.  When we celebrate the covenant we are not making another sacrifice on behalf of ourselves or our family – we are thanking the LORD for the sacrifice of Jesus that was accepted by God once and for all on behalf of all who will simply believe and for the supernatural power released through that sacrifice to provide and protect.

21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

4.    WE NEED TO OPERATE IN SUPERNATURAL FAITH THAT IS SPELLED R-I-S-K

From a natural perspective, Rahab was taking several risks in her dealing with the spies.  She risked her involvement in concealing the spies being discovered; she took a  risk in trusting the two spies to remember their promise of protection; she ran the risk of her family refusing to come into her home, etc, etc.  But Rahab found her way into the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith”!

Hebrews 11: 31

31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

If you have never taken a risk then you have never lived by faith!  But faith doesn’t take account of the risks involved – it acts upon the word of the covenant and all that is promised in it!  Just like Rahab, those who operate in faith say, “AMEN – so be it” to whatever the word says!
Rahab also placed herself supernaturally naturally in the natural bloodline of Jesus!  That is what God can do with a harlot who says “AMEN – so be it”  and that is what he can do with a virgin like Mary who says, “AMEN – so be it”!  So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a harlot or a virgin because if you say, “AMEN – so be it” to God’s word – regardless of the risk – then your life will be supernaturally changed forever!

22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

5.    WE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR TIME FOR SUPERNATURAL VICTORY IS NOW

Joshua had picked the right men for the job.  They recognised that the LORD had truly given them  the land and so all that remained was for them to take it!

A whole generation had perished thinking they were unable to possess their inheritance while all of the time their enemies were trembling in fear waiting for their arrival!  Their enemies knew that they had been given the land even though they didn’t!

Our enemies are spiritual enemies!  They know that God has provided us with spiritual weapons that are mighty for demolishing their strongholds.  From the moment we were supernaturally born again they have been trembling in anticipation of our advancing into their territory and driving them out!  When they see us taking up our weapons and trusting in the supernatural power of God they know that our time has arrived and that their time is up!

Will you take up your weapons and advance to take the land?  Remember – Jesus didn’t say, “Just stand and wait until I come!”  He said, “Occupy until I come!”

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN 2011!