Something in my spirit has been stirring up, I miss my Lord. I miss God, I miss spending quality unhurried time with the Lord. Time with God cannot be compared with anything in this world. It is very precious, and should be treasured. Left to choose between the two, more sleep or time with God? Most of us would rather sleep than waking early in the morning just for this cause. We can spend time with Him any time of the time, which is true enough, but in reality – we will try to cram that time to our already busy schedule within the day. Even though some of the things that makes us busy, just steal our time.

It is a sacrificial offering. Every sacrifice is not easy, it is hard, out of comfort zone, laying down your rights, and challenging. At the same time it takes effort, self control send self discipline, There’s so many things that must be done, but only the right sacrifice will be acceptable to God. Only right sacrifices will become a beautiful aroma to our father. It’s not about being legalistic – it’s about doing what is right.

We had a role model and that is also one of the reason why we can’t say, that we can’t. Jesus was so busy while He was on earth, and they do travel by foot during that time. There’s crowd of people (which is tiring already) and he taught them the Kingdom of God, He ministered to them, and He traveled, Despite of a busy and tiring schedule, the Bible says He will wake up early in the morning just to spend time with the Father. He sacrificed sleep and tired body, just in order to spend time alone with God. Remember during this time, He is God in the human form.

We need to make a choice to offer pleasing sacrifice to God. Spend time with the Lord… He is waiting..

God called Joshua to be strong and courageous, we already talked about him being strong, now – God is also calling him and everyone of us to be courageous.

He needs courage to overcome whatever comes along their way. It’s easy to run away, it’s easy to stop especially when you see that nothing is going right. You need courage to stay, you need courage to move forward, but most of all you need courage to continue on the things God called you to do, even though it seems nothing is working.

Courage to lead – because he is a newly installed leader, he don’t know what the people were expecting from him. The way of his leadership will be very different from Moses. It takes courage to lead people, because their lives and future is in his hand. People will follow him and his instruction, and Joshua must lead them to victory.

Courage to move forward – the promise land is very different from the place where they’ve come from. They experience, season, everything is very different.. What seems effective in the wilderness, may not be that effected during this season. But they need to move forward, because that’s the only way they can conquer the land, eventually arriving in the promise of the Lord. Moving forward in the land and season you’ve never been before takes lot of courage, because of his word – uncertainty. But Joshua focus himself on the Lord and on the task given to him.

Courage to cross-over / change – before they arrive at promised land, they need to crossed over the Jordan river first.And that crossing over will be the first step of change, it’s a new land in the other side. Without crossing over,t here will be no changes. And this is what they must do, accept the reality of change. He needs to make a decision that He wants to cross-over & change, because staying will not change anything.

Courage in the face of intimidation – Joshua needs courage because they’re going to face fierce enemies, walled and armored cities. They will face enemies who might be greater than them in the first glance, but in reality powerless before God. Courage that in the face on intimidation, he will not run away.

Courage to see impossible becoming possible – It takes faith and total dependency on the Lord. It takes willingness and obedience to see the miracle working power of God. And in the books of Joshua, there are things that happened that show the might and power of God. Events that took place that only through the power of God possible. The situations may seem impossible, but Joshua choose to believed that nothing is impossible with God. He choose to have faith to the one who called him to lead. He saw the river Jordan being divided, the walls of Jericho coming down, even the sun standing still.

Courage to stay – and this is where most people do run away. When they see that nothing seems happening, they tend to run away. When they face the walls of Jericho, they need to march around Jericho for several days. And for many days, nothing seems happening until the day God commanded them to shout. Nothing is happening, nothing significant, but they continued. They stayed in the faced of what seems intimidation, and in the front of the enemy. And they saw the victory because they stayed. Joshua should show this trait first, before the people can follow.

Courage to do the right thing – Joshua needs to make hard decisions, and this takes lot of courage. When they were defeated with their war against the next city after Jericho, it is because one of them did not followed the instruction the Lord has given, everything from Jericho is the Lord’s. And eventually the Lord exposed Achan as the source of their misery. Someone who’s with them in the wilderness, a part of the next generation who’ve been promised to enter the promised land with them. But Joshua need to make a decision to cut off Achan and all his descendants or else bring the whole nation of Israel to defeat, misery and stoppage. They will not be able to continue to moving forward without cutting Achan’s family from them. Joshua need courage to do the right thing, even though it is hard for him.

Courage to obey – I’ll end this part with this. There are still a lot of things that we can connect about the call of the Lord to lead the people to their promised land, but it all starts when Joshua choose to obey the Lord. It takes lot of courage to obey the Lord, to believe God on His word, to have faith. The Lord Himself encouraged Joshua, an assurance the He will be with him. God knows that it is not going to be easy, but nevertheless – Joshua choose to obey the Lord God Almighty.

And Joshua being strong and courageous is applicable to our time during this time. We need to become strong and courageous, it’s a different season. But the promise of the Lord remains true, and He remains faithful.

When the Lord called Joshua, he’s been told again and again to “be strong and courageous.” If it’s been said to you again and again, it only means that you need to take notice of this. This is really important. It’s one of the most familiar phrase in the Bible for us, because when the Lord called me to start the church, it’s one of the statement He has given me.

Joshua needs to be strong because it’s not going to be an easy task. He needs to become strong in all aspect of his life, spiritually for his strength must come in the Lord, for he will need faith, trust, and dependency on the Lord to defeat the enemy. He needs to be be strong in his faith in the Lord, and believe the Lord is with him, believed the words and promises of God given to him and them.

He needs to be strong physically for the task will require of physical strength. They will journey, battle, build cities & communities. Journeying, battling, and building were all part when you want to conquer something. And for Joshua, it means exerting physical effort.

He needs to be strong emotionally, for it’s going to be exhausting also emotionally. Why? Because there’s a time in life of Joshua that they did not succeeded immediately upon conquering a certain city. Someone from them did not listen nor take heed of the instruction given to them – the result, failure and defeat. And as a leader, that’s hard for Joshua emotionally. Eventually, the Lord exposed the sin – and they dealt with the person as how the Lord commanded them to dealt with him and his family (achan’s sin). It’s hard for Joshua in his heart because if there’s one thing that a good leader don’t want to see, that is to see the destruction of the people whom they’re leading. If they’ve just listened – perhaps this is what he’s thinking.

He needs to be strong mentally, for it will take a long time before they conquer everything the Lord wants them to conquer. He needs to strategize, plan a battle plan, etc. in order to win. Yes, indeed God is giving him wisdom – but an the end of the day, he still need to execute it. there’s so much land that needs to cover, and sometimes waiting for a long time is mentally exhausting. He needs to be strong mentally and keep listening to the truth of the Word Of God, rather than to the lies of the enemy.

He needs to be strong in leading the people of the Lord, because it’s not easy. The task is so great, and he’s not leading few individuals, but thousands. And being strong in the leadership means people need to see his leadership, he must be in the frontline of the battle – not in the back and hiding. People follow him, whatever direction he goes to, they follow. He had insight and revelation that the people don’t, he know things they didn’t. That’s why – he need to be strong in his leadership, because if not – the people he’s leading will crumble. Leadership keeps them intact and in focus.

He needs to be strong with his family, that despite of what he is doing – he will still not forget his family. And he said this – for me and my house we will serve the Lord, which only means that he’s able to imprint to his family that it is important for them to serve the one and real God. He did not neglect His family.

Finally, he needs to be strong also for himself. Why? Because during this time, all he had is the Lord and Caleb. They are the original receiver of the promise and leading the next generation, who did not received the promise of the Lord directly about the promised land. And i believed that when Joshua first heard it from Moses, he desired to see it happening with his own eyes. So, imagined how he felt during the time when the people of Israel choose unbelief rather than having faith in the Lord – the result is a 40 years journey in the wilderness. He waited for a long time to see the promised of God being fulfilled, and now is the time he can see it. He must not quit, he must remain in focus – for him to see it being fulfilled. And yes it indeed, as well for Caleb.

All this aspect of being strong is applicable to us, especially during this time. God is reminding me once again. All glory to Jesus

When God called Joshua to take over the leadership after Moses, it’s not an easy or light task. God Himself knew what kind of work is waiting for Joshua, He know that it’s going to be a battle. The promised land is not being given with a free access, there’s a fight that needs to happen. There’s a battle, a conquering that must be done. And there’s a reason why the Lord did not removed the inhabitants on the land immediately – so that wild animals will not take over.

That’s why the Lord reminded again and again, not only once for Joshua to be strong and courageous. And the assurance that He will be with Joshua as He is with Moses. The Lord seems saying to Joshua, obey, accept the job, do the instruction – you don’t need to be afraid. Whatever can cause any kind of fear to Joshua that has connection with the leadership position, has been eliminated or tamed with these encouragements from the Lord God Almighty.

It’s a new position, a new role, a new assignment. From being in the back to becoming the frontliner – being a support to becoming a leader. That’s a big transition, but Moses has been preparing Joshua for this time – for a long time. Now, it’s up to Joshua to step up and take the mantle of leadership.

And God Himself assured Joshua that no man will be able to stand against Him, that He will be with Joshua. It’s an encouragement, comfort, and assurance. Joshua himself saw how the Lord moved through the life of Moses – so what he is receiving from the Lord is something that he had seen, and yet to experience. The Lord seems saying to him – “look how I moved in the life and leadership of Moses, I’ll do the same thing to you.”

There are people who tried to destroy the leadership even character of Moses, but it did not succeed. And this were from Israel itself, not from their enemies. An assurance, that whatever position the Lord has given, no man can destroy it. Whatever calling or assignment the Lord has given, no person can remove it from you. Only God.

So take the mantle. Do the task..

 ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 

Joshua was entrusted with the call to lead the people to their promised land. He is not the original leader, Moses was, but Moses died. He’s not able to bring the people of Israel to then promise of the Lord, and someone needs to take over, and that’s Joshua. The Lord called him to be the one to lead Israel conquering the land of promised because he’s been there with Moses all the time. Moses was used by God to bring Israel out of their captivity from Egypt, leading them in time of uncertainty in wilderness – while Joshua will lead the people in entering and conquering the promised land.

Whatever the call of the Lord that’s been entrusted to us, these two people is teaching us to do well. Whether it’s a physical ministry or through the social media just like today, or both – let us do it well. It’s the Lord who gave the call to Joshua, just like how He called Moses on the burning bush.

When the Lord gives you a call, there’s a purpose for it. There a reason, there’s a cause. And yes, you have the right not to accept it, but a person who fear the Lord will obey. God gave Joshua the call, the purpose, and a promise. What a good God we have, because when He call us, there’s a promise included in it most of the time. An assurance that we don’t need to be afraid, because we are not alone. His promise is a proof that He is with us, no matter what.

Just like how He is with Moses, and Joshua – so does He is with us now. When the Lord called me to pioneer a church, I don’t have any idea – all I have is His confirmation, and the promise. And now, it’s been 7 years and I am still holding to one of His promise – the House Of worship (not just a venue for worship). There’s still a call that the church will become big, that the place we are using before the lockdown is too small for us. But because of the situation now, it seems that is hard right now.

But the call remains the same – situation might be a little different but the call remains the same. Lead the people – to their promise land. Conquer the land, fight for the destiny of the people, let them see the fulfillment of God’s promise. And yes, there’s still a promises of God yet to be seen, but right now – be faithful. Be faithful to the call, and you will see it come to pass… God can use the situation right now, to make it happen. Who knows, He can use the situation like now to make His promises happens…

Remain Faithful To The Call….

Joshua 1:1-4

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory

If there’s a book in the Bible that’s been used by God to reveal His plans, agenda, mission, strategies, promises to me – it’s the book of Joshua. I have done a lot of devotions that involve this book, but there’s always a fresh and new revelation everytime the Spirit of the Lord leads me to tackle this book again. And I believe, just like before there are new things that the Lord wants to reveal that is applicable on this season, and His new instructions.

The book of Joshua is the book in the Bible where I am always being reminded of what my calling is, what is the purpose, what is the agenda of the Lord. It reminds me why I am doing what I am doing. The setting might be different, the methods and strategies, but the agenda is still the same – bring them in the promise land – the promises of God. There are underlying stories here that I am not able to see before, but I believed on this time – God is making me recognized it, like the training of the next generation. The people who’s with Joshua and Caleb grew up in the wilderness, and the book of Joshua is all about conquest, or conquering the land. And in order for you to be successful in your conquest, you needed a trained army.

The book of Joshua is the book where the Lord constantly reminded me to be strong and courageous, keep going forward. It’s the book of God’s promises and assurance. It’s an instructional manual to know what should be done, and also a compass and map, to see the directions that’s needed to undertake.

In the season that we are in now, we need a clear direction, and instruction. And the book of Joshua is reminding me now, just like how the Lord has revealed Himself to me before – He will do the same thing now through this book. Times are changing, and so also the way we are doing the ministry God has entrusted. I want to believed that the Lord is preparing us, His church too for a great conquest.

We Need To Be Reminded Again…

Joshua 2:24

²⁴ And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

This is a new blog and devotion website dedicated during this season. We are in a unprecedented season, a season where it seems things were out of your hand and you’re not in control. A season where the whole world is facing a so called global pandemic, and there’s a threat of a new kind of virus. It’s been four months since the lockdown in our nation started, and things are not looking hopeful when it comes to lifting up the lockdown. The lockdown change the way churches do their ministry… and by the use of technology, through social media platform, the preaching and teaching of the Word of God continues. Still, even in the presence of this tool, the reality is, it is not enough to reach the world.. and it is really changing the way we do church.

I am not a total fan of the ministry through social media alone, but it should serve as one of the avenue for the gospel and “not” the only avenue for the gospel. One of the avenue for the church to gather, meet, and be equipped and “not” the only avenue to do it. Because right now, that is what’s happening – it is becoming the norm. Because of lockdown and restriction, technology platform ministry is becoming the norm.

But whether through the physical aspect or online (internet). the reality is this. There’s a land that need to be taken, or i would say retaken. There are promises we need to claim and hold, there’s the gospel that needs to be preached and taught. There’s the church, and saints of the Lord that need to be equipped. And there’s this calling to redeem the time, and prepare the way for the second coming of the Lord.

There are people who need to be ministered to, encouraged, prayed for, experienced the power of God through healing, deliverance, provision, etc. There’s the church leadership that needs to be strengthen, and workers to be trained and awakened. And there’s a harvest still waiting to be reaped.

If we will wait for the things to get back in order before we do what we need to do, we might lost the chance and opportunity to serve the Lord in such a unique way during this time. So, I am being reminded now – there’s a land that needs to be retaken, souls needed to be won to the Lord, people of God need to be awaken – and the enemy will not give it up that easily – we need to take it by force.

That’s the purpose of this devotion, to be reminded that in order to gain possession, we need to conquer the enemy – taking part in the battle. Whether it’s a personal battle, church, or on this nation, the reality is this – it’s time to be reminded of the calling of the Lord, and how we can serve Him best during this time….

The hand of the Lord is still moving, so we are going to write down revelations of the Lord, strategy, testimonies, everything the Holy Spirit will allow us to write. I myself need to be reminded – the agenda and purpose of God remains the same, and it’s time to maximize one of the weapon He has given to conquer the land. And yes, this is one of the tool – so let us use it to advance His Kingdom and agenda while not leaving the original design for the church. Time to retake the land!

See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the LORD swore he would give to your fathers–to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob–and to their descendants after them.“

Deuteronomy 1:8