Words from the Lord:
"The season is changing. The time has come. There will be a ‘changing of the guard’
worldwide. Do not panic. Do not fear. Look to Me because I am the Judge that puts
one down and raise up another."
Further words from the Lord:
"I am raising up a new generation! I am looking for a people who will take My
instructions seriously as their mandate! I am looking for a people who will not look
back to the old ways or carnal ways! I am looking for a people who is fully convinced
that My ways can only do them good! Assuredly, I say, this new generation that
I raise up will rise above all circumstances and thrive no matter what comes their way!"
I believe this 'change of guard' does not just happen in the worldwide political and financial spheres, but it is also in the Body of Christ.
And in the Body of Christ, this new generation that the Lord is raising up doesn't just apply to younger people or younger believers. The common ground this new generation have is they submit and obey the Lord based on personal revelation that they have received through their close walk with the Lord.
Recently, the Lord led me to read the book of Joshua again from chapter 5 to chapter 7, i.e. right after the people of God had crossed the Jordan river.
So, let us go to chapter 5.
A new generation
Joshua 5:2
At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time."
Joshua 5:5-6
For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord - to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, "a land flowing with milk and honey."
When the Lord told Joshua to circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time, it was not to circumcise those who had already gone through it.
By the way, many of those who have been circumcised had died because of old age or due to their disobedience to the Lord.
But this second time of circumcision, it's to set apart the new generation, i.e. the people who were born on the way out of Egypt or in the wilderness. Their age might vary but they all had not been circumcised.
This circumcision is the evidence of their covenant with the Lord, that they are to follow and obey His instructions only.
A new generation raised up by the Lord Himself
Joshua 5:7
Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
Joshua 5:9
Then the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
'Gilgal' literally means ‘rolling’. And ‘rolled away’ here in Hebrew is ‘gâlal’, which also means ‘removed’.
You see, this second circumcision was very crucial and significant because it was right before they conquer Jericho. And in order to conquer Jericho, the Lord needed a people who would seriously obey His instructions, without any doubts in their minds.
Now, take note that this new generation had not been in slavery in Egypt before. So, this generation that the Lord raised up Himself, they grew up eating manna from heaven, seeing miracles, signs and wonders, and experiencing the power of God in their daily lives.
So, can you imagine that when the Lord gave them the instruction to march around the wall of Jericho for seven days, which sounds ridiculous and stupid to the mind of any common people, none of them voiced any doubt at all. Because they knew, they were fully convinced, they grew up with this faith that if the Lord says it, He will fulfil it!
How many of you want to live with this kind of faith and lifestyle?
How many of you want to see the power of God manifesting in your life as common events?
How many of you want to experience the real things in Christ and not just being termed as a religious person?
I do!
I have experienced how God moved powerfully in my life and in the lives of people I have ministered to. Whenever He spoke and we obeyed, something great always happened in our lives!