East and West of Jordan
Are you living on the East or West of the Jordan river?
Joshua 12:6–7 (ESV) 6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the people of Israel defeated them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 7 And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments,
The Jordan symbolizes crossing over into total victory. When we cross through it, we identify with the victory our true Joshua comes to give us. Moses took the people out of Egypt and to the edge of the land. He also took SOME of the first fruits of the inheritance for Israel by war and conquest. Joshua, however, led the people through the Jordan as an entrance into a victorious conquest disconnected from their shallow pre-Jordan life. After the Jordan, there is tremendous victory for 7 total years as Canaan is conquered. Again, note that land on the East of the Jordan was conquered by Moses before his death but far more land on the West was conquered by Joshua. I see here a spiritual principle for us today.
Many Christians are living an "East of the Jordan" existence. That is, they have come out of Egypt (slavery to sin and death) and they have been given some measure of Christian freedom and inheritance. They enjoy this small amount of victory and for far too many of them, they see it as enough. In fact, it is just enough "salvation" to keep them from going after the total victory God would have them ultimately possess.
Joshua leading the people through the Jordan is a symbolic experience for us. It represents the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon God's sons and daughters for an abundant life. When we receive the Holy Spirit we receive the power to walk in victory and begin to take the territory the devil, the flesh or the world keeps us from having. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can do this for us. We need to cross over from "just enough" salvation into full and empowered living commensurate with the newness of life Christ came to give us.
Remember at His baptism, Jesus receives the empowerment of the Spirit. It says in two different passages this about Jesus' baptism in the Jordan:
John 1:32–33 (ESV) And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Mark 1:10–11 (ESV) And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Joshua 12:6–7 (ESV) 6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the people of Israel defeated them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 7 And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments,
The Jordan symbolizes crossing over into total victory. When we cross through it, we identify with the victory our true Joshua comes to give us. Moses took the people out of Egypt and to the edge of the land. He also took SOME of the first fruits of the inheritance for Israel by war and conquest. Joshua, however, led the people through the Jordan as an entrance into a victorious conquest disconnected from their shallow pre-Jordan life. After the Jordan, there is tremendous victory for 7 total years as Canaan is conquered. Again, note that land on the East of the Jordan was conquered by Moses before his death but far more land on the West was conquered by Joshua. I see here a spiritual principle for us today.
Many Christians are living an "East of the Jordan" existence. That is, they have come out of Egypt (slavery to sin and death) and they have been given some measure of Christian freedom and inheritance. They enjoy this small amount of victory and for far too many of them, they see it as enough. In fact, it is just enough "salvation" to keep them from going after the total victory God would have them ultimately possess.
Joshua leading the people through the Jordan is a symbolic experience for us. It represents the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon God's sons and daughters for an abundant life. When we receive the Holy Spirit we receive the power to walk in victory and begin to take the territory the devil, the flesh or the world keeps us from having. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can do this for us. We need to cross over from "just enough" salvation into full and empowered living commensurate with the newness of life Christ came to give us.
Remember at His baptism, Jesus receives the empowerment of the Spirit. It says in two different passages this about Jesus' baptism in the Jordan:
John 1:32–33 (ESV) And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
To be a Spirit-filled Christian is to identify with Christ in crossing over the Jordan. You are not just saved from sin, you are saved to occupy your God-given inheritance. But you must receive that power by faith. Jesus comes to baptize you in the Holy Spirit so that you can hear that same testimony of the Father over you "beloved child" AND you can walk with the Spirit remaining on you as an anointed member of His family.
If you haven't yet experienced the fullness of the Spirit, ask God for it. Believe by faith He will give it to you. Then begin to see God lead you into the completion He has planned for you.
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