This morning there was a fierce rain storm. The lightning was unusual for our area, and reminded me of a dream I had 3/24/06. Here is the dream and lesson that followed;
On this morning there was a lightning, thunder, and heavy rain storm where we live. I went back to sleep and dreamt that I was reading the Elijah List, and a prophet spoke during the thunder, “How long will you wait?” There was thunder and lightning in between each word, and before and after, for a total of 7 thunders. This text is from Joshua’s message to the children of Israel who had not yet taken their inheritances in the promised land. The message in the dream is from the Seven Thunders, urging us to obtain our inheritances and not tarry.
There is a parallel to the warfare we are experiencing which deals with such enemies as sickness. This parallel is found in the wars appointed to the children of Israel upon entering the promised land. Moses received a covenant from the Lord which told the Israelites not to let any of their enemies remain. They were not to co-habitate with the Canaanites (Ex 34:10-16). They were not to make a treaty with them, but break down all their altars, and God would drive the enemies out of the land. If the Israelites did not obey the Lord in doing this, their enemies would become a snare to them, eventually leading the Israelites to prostitute themselves to the gods of their enemies.
One of the consequences of co-habitating with our enemies is that we begin to look for the good in them. This leads us dangerously close to calling what is evil good (Is 5:20). We can form a belief system which looks for evil circumstances to form us into the image of Christ, and eventually to believe this is God’s perfect will for our lives. If so, why the sacrifice of Jesus? Though God does work all things to our good, He does not intend us to believe that all things are His perfect plan.
The Israelites had great success in routing their enemies at first. But when Joshua was preparing to die, he asked the remaining tribes who had not pursued their enemies “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land . . . the Lord has given you?”(Josh 18:3). He encouraged them, saying that their strength was such that “One of you routs a thousand because the Lord your God fights for you” (Josh 23;10). However, he also warned them that the Lord would not rout their enemies, but would leave them in the land, if the Israelites did not obey Him and fight. This eventually happened, and God stopped driving their enemies out. They had made covenants with their enemies (Jud 2:1-3), which resulted in thorns in their sides, and snares.
This story from the book of Joshua parallels the Church taking the kingdoms of the world, which include darkness, infirmity, and calamity. We are to make them the kingdoms of our Lord. God put the works of His hands under Man’s feet (Ps 8:6). Jesus gave us authority over sickness, demons, and more. The issue that He seems to be addressing is compromise; How long will we wait until we take possession of the land?
Jesus is about the business of putting every kingdom in heaven and on earth under His feet (1 Cor 15:27). Let us consider that the authorities and the gifts He has given us are for much more than forming us into His image. We are His body, His hands and feet on the earth. He still works through His people.
In Rev 11:15-17 we read about that triumphant moment when the kingdoms of this earth become the kingdoms of the Lord. He has put everything in subjection to Himself so that He may present it all to the Father. This is when the temple in heaven is opened and we see the arc of the covenant (vs 19). The original covenant of subduing the enemies of God and Man (Ex 34:10) is met in the final victory of Jesus and His Church.
Perhaps we have compromised by accepting things which our enemy has handed us, promising us that these hard things will make us a better Christian. If we find ourselves believing this, then we should also consider that God left the enemies of Israel in the promised land to test them and see if they would obey Him. I believe that the Lord will fight with us for our inheritance if we will stand against our enemies, not only in our lives, but for the lives of our brethren. I want to encourage you to develop your spiritual gifts in service to Him, and to stand, having done all. I strongly believe His hand will move with healings, deliverances and miracles in our meetings when we fight the good fight for our inheritance. Amen.
