The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Before Moses died, God instructed him to anoint Joshua to lead Israel in possessing the promised land; in the presence of all Israel, he told him, “The Lord goes before you and will be with you.”
These are empowering words.
If we are walking with God and God is walking with us, He is not only with us walking but is also walking ahead of us. Therefore, in our calling and purpose, it is crucial that we are divinely connected.
Our Gilgal
Before the battle, God sanctifies us at Gilgal.
Today, our Gilgal could be in our prayer chamber. or some place, a holy place, like in a boot camp or in a prayer and healing group where God sanctifies us, circumcising our hearts. There, we immerse ourselves in the Jordan River. Today, our Jordan River is the River with the Water of Life flowing from God’s Throne. We immerse ourselves in God’s Presence.
The River of Life
1 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
3. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits a and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Ezekiel 47:1-6 NIV
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, b where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.
1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,a with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. 3. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5 NLT
Once we are cleansed, God’s Order of Battle is revealed. He tells us how to battle. He commissions us. Thus, we don’t do our own thing. No command, no action.
My Gilgal experience began at home. Heaven opened to me at night in my sleep. 3 consecutive prophetic dreams unveiled my spiritual eyes. First dream, I saw myself as a sinner. Second dream, I saw myself as a black knight extracted and transformed into a white knight. Third dream, I saw myself called and anointed as a warrior supernaturally empowered for battle.
My Jordan River was in Ali Mall. I was immersed in God’s presence, sniffling in tears, which was like being in deep waters, repenting, and confessing. The songs of worship were like the sound of many waters while angels were there worshiping God with the congregation. There, I became a new creation. A changed man. But as one who is newly born, the Lord incubated me at home with the light of His written words in scriptures. knowing Him. Knowing His will.
Our Battle Is a Done Deal – Jericho Shall Crumble
The Lord goes before us; He knows what lies ahead. The battle is already a done deal. He already ordained our victory.
In every generation is a Gilgal and Jericho in life, the first battle toward possessing the promised land, our Divine destiny.
As neophytes, the battlefield could be intimidating. Though our battle now is not against flesh and blood. Our battle is against the unseen forces of evil, ruling in the spiritual realm, the puppeteers. Not their puppets. Not people.
Our war is not a bloody war. It is bloodless. Our Jericho is not the physical world. It is the spiritual world.
Therefore, if we are fighting in the physical battlefield, tarnishing personalities, institutions, and governments, we are in the wrong battleground. Like deserters and defectors committing crimes of treason, the Lord rebukes us.
Our Confidence
When we are spiritually high, we could be very confident. But our confidence should not be in our abilities. As humans, we only know and understand what we see. So our abilities are limited. Because we cannot see the puppeteers, who are spiritual beings and deceivers in every sense. We depend on God, Who sees them and Who guides us.
Immerse in God’s Presence
At Gilgal we have to immerse ourselves in God’s presence.
The Divine Presence is our anointing, our confidence. It empowers us. It breaks the yoke, the unseen yoke of puppeteers. The yoke of evil. Thus, surely, their puppets will be set free. People are set free. Delivered. Healed. Rejoicing, giving glory to God in the highest. Not because we put demons under our feet. But because our names are written in the Book of Life.