By Pastora Monique Lopez Ong
It is 2023. God gave a word to the 8th year anniversary of Revelation City Church: All Things New. God is going to do something new this year. And we should all be expectant.
In Joshua 4, the Israelites have been in the dessert for more than 40 years. And they have claimed to walk into the promised land. Now they had to cross over the Jordan River. It was the harvest season and the water was deep. But before they could cross over, God wanted them to do something first. The Arc of the Covenant had to go first; God has to go first. Just like in the beginning of the year, you make New Year Resolutions, things you say you will do in the year ahead. But did you stop and ask God what He wants you to do? So instead of resolutions, why don’t you repent and ask God for forgiveness for the things you did the past year that were not pleasing to Him? If you did something wrong and you did not correct it, do not expect to do something well in the future. You have to fix your wrongs to be able to sanctify yourself for what He wants you to do in the future.
As soon as they stepped into the Jordan River with the Arc of the Covenant, the water stopped and all of Israel crossed over on dry ground. This is a reminder of what 2022 looked like. Coming from the pandemic, God simply wants to be first. He wants His people to fix their lives because He will do something in you. Many walked through 2022 and felt a miracle. No matter how difficult your situation was, you experienced a miracle and you are still here. The Jordan River represents your problems and struggles. You are walking on dry ground only because of God.
Joshua 4 says, “When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” God is calling out leaders. Leaders are going to rise up in 2023, more than you were before.
“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Jesus is your living stone, your foundation. You are carrying Him with you. The living stone works through you. It serves as your testimony. Your living stones are your Jesus stories, and how He has worked through and in you. Tell others what He did in your life. When you share testimonies of Jesus in your life, they may be repeated.
“Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the Lord and the priests came to the other side while the people watched.” The water came back as soon as they had crossed.
God did so many things in Revelation City Church in the past year. All of this began with jesus. You are the carriers of the living stone. 1 Peter 2:5 says, “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” You do what you do because the Lord is building up His house. It is a house of His glory and presence. God is calling His children all at the same time and everyone is working for His kingdom because He is coming back soon.
God is expanding and multiplying and He is conquering mountains. Learn to pause because everything will happen very fast. Dig deeper into His word daily. Walk with Him and open your Bible because that is where He will give His instructions to you. Only those who are anchored deep will go the farthest. Sow into the kingdom so that you will not lack. Listen to Him and meditate on His word. 2023 is going to be an exciting year if you are with Jesus.
2000 years ago, God already knew all about your past, present and future. He still came for you. He wants you to experience His joy in full measure. So He joyfully gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He walked on earth and died for the penalty of all your sins. You can never pay for that. He died and was buried and rose again on the third day. And that is what you are celebrating. Because the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has not only promised those who believe. He is coming back. Make it your assignment not to leave without surrendering your life so that you can experience the living stone. Allow yourself to testify to His goodness. It is all about Him.
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