Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo.
Text: Joshua 5:1-10.
” 1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. 2 At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not shew them the land, which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. 8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 9 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. 10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.” KJV.
Our above text is about Israel’s preparation & consecration before entering the promise land. Year 2025 is like a “Good Land” that God is taking us into, hence, there’s the need for adequate spiritual preparation. The generation before them had perished in the wilderness because of murmuring and disobedient (except for Joshua and Caleb). Disobedience, distrust and complaining will not make God’s promises to come to past in your life.
As part of the consecration, God commanded Joshua to have the Israelites circumcised – this is a painful exercise especially for many of them that were adults. Circumcision symbolizes the covenant between God and Abraham (Gen. 17:9-14) which is now our heritage through Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice. For us in the New Testament, “circumcision” as a symbol of the Abrahamic covenant is now of the heart. Deut. 10:16 and Jer. 4:4. This means our heart must be continually purged from all forms of filthiness (bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, envy, ungodly habits etc.) before we can enter the next agenda of God for our lives. Just as a physical circumcision is painful (a sharp knife is used), likewise a heart circumcision is not without pain but the benefits far outweigh the momentary agony.
Things to Let Go
- Let go your past failures (learn from them)
- Let go your past mistakes (use them as springboards for tomorrow’s success)
- Let go your past achievements (reach out for your next level) – Phil. 3:13-14
- Let go of those that have offended you (to prevent Heaven from rejecting your offerings)
- Let go of every toxic relationships
- Let go of your complacency (comfort zones)
- Let go of procrastination
- Jettison your negative mindset (don’t have a low self-esteem of yourself)
- Let go of distractions (be fully focused on God’s plan for your life)
- Let go of dependencies on others (keep your eyes on the Lord)
- Jettison your poor time management (spend quality time with God and also in developing yourself)
- Let go of laziness in studying the word of God
In closing, let’s take this Hymn – Out of My Bondage, Sorrow and Nights – Jesus I Come to Thee.
God Bless You!
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