A 2013 Outpouring (Part III)
One by one, the Children of Israel passed over the Jordan river bed from the wilderness into their “Promised Land”; a land promised by God that “floweth with milk and honey.” (Lev. 20:24). They passed by the Ark that had the sprinkled blood on its mercy seat, symbolic of entering into life by the washing of the blood of Christ. Instructed by God, Joshua chose a man from each of the twelve tribes. They were to carry from the river bed a stone from where the priests’ feet had stood firm. They were to carry their stones into Gilgal. It is believed that a large platform was built and the twelve stones were stacked as a memorial that would easily be seen. God said, that the stones were for a sign, “that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 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,… and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever" (Josh. 4:6&7). Are our children observing memorials that commemorate that Jesus is the Way from life unto death? Do they ask why we pray, take communion, have baptism?
God instructed Joshua to gather twelve more stones from the Jordan River bed and pile them at the feet of the priests that had held the Ark. Remember, they stood in the edge of the Jordan River when it was at flood stage and the waters rolled back to the city of Adam. The memorial of stones would be seen and especially when the Jordan was no longer flooded. This memorial of stones would be seen on the other side from where the Children of Israel had passed. In other words, there was a memorial of the place called “entering into death so that I might live.” We died with Christ so that we may live in Him. The child of God hears the Word; believes upon the Father and Son as Redeemer, Savior, and Lord; receives everlasting life; is delivered from condemnation; and passes from death unto life (Jn. 5:24). How? …By the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
So please tell me. Why do so many of God’s children desire to now leave their Promised Land of outpouring and return to their wilderness of sin. Is sin so attractive that we would exchange life for death? Remember sin may be a pleasure for a season but the wages of sin is death (Heb. 11:25; Rom. 6:23).
God has many promises for us. Come. Let us believe Him. The Lord said, “If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold I will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you” (Prov. 1:23). “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine offspring" (Is. 44:3). The Lord even instructs us, if we will give ten percent of our income (which belongs to God anyway), He will “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal.3:10). The Lord says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28&29). This prophetic Word came to pass in a great way in the Book of Acts, but I believe that there is a mighty outpouring yet to come. Let us “ask of the Lord rain (His outpouring) in the time of the latter rain (which I personally believe is now) …” (Zech. 10:1). Amen!