New in Christ

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired Bible Studies Thursday 9th May 2019*
*Anchor:* Sis Leah Adepeju

*Topic:* New In Christ

*Text:* Joshua 5:1-15

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how God had stopped the Jordan River before the People of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts sank; the courage drained out of them just thinking about the People of Israel. At that time God said to Joshua, “Make stone knives and circumcise the People of Israel a second time.” So Joshua made stone knives and circumcised the People of Israel at Foreskins Hill. This is why Joshua conducted the circumcision. All the males who had left Egypt, the soldiers, had died in the wilderness on the journey out of Egypt. All the people who had come out of Egypt, of course, had been circumcised, but all those born in the wilderness along the way since leaving Egypt had not been. The fact is that the People of Israel had walked through that wilderness for forty years until the entire nation died out, all the men of military age who had come out of Egypt but had disobeyed the call of God . God vowed that these would never lay eyes on the land God had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. But their children had replaced them. These are the ones Joshua circumcised. They had never been circumcised; no one had circumcised them along the way. When they had completed the circumcising of the whole nation, they stayed where they were in camp until they were healed. God said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt.” That’s why the place is called The Gilgal. It’s still called that. The People of Israel continued to camp at The Gilgal. They celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the plains of Jericho. Right away, the day after the Passover, they started eating the produce of that country, unraised bread and roasted grain. And then no more manna; the manna stopped. As soon as they started eating food grown in the land, there was no more manna for the People of Israel. That year they ate from the crops of Canaan. And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?” He said, “Neither. I’m commander of God ’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” God ’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.” Joshua did it.

Joshua 5:1‭-‬15 MSG

https://bible.com/bible/97/jos.5.1-15.MSG

We all have understanding what it means to be new...
Take for example you had an old shoe in and it broke, you might have the opportunity to take it to a cobbler/shoe maker who can help fix it to certain extent but by then it has turned to *Tokunbo (second hand)😀* although it looks new but it cannot be compared to buying a brand new rubber cha cha😃😃 (as my folks will say) shoe of your choice without restriction..
So when we are new in Christ we are not second hand, everything is made new, it's a new life, a new ball game entirely, a new journey, the old one has passed away according to 2 Corithians 5:17.
So in the Bible scripture tonight when all the Amorites kings West of Jordan and Canaanite and host of others saw that God had stopped Jordan River for  the people of Israel *until they crossed over* their heart sank🥺💘💔🖤
The colour of their heart changed because they know who this Israelites are.. this same people crossed the Red Sea unscratched, instead their enemy perished in the Red Sea.. These people again have crossed Jordan. The kings were just thinking they are in for it. The courage in them drained🥺🥺
There is a message for us here. When people that have always seen you and I with that second hand shoe or second hand whatever it may be suddenly see you and I in a brand new rubber, their heart will sink especially the ones who have written us off because they know that that is just the beginning of a new thing God is doing in and through us.

I pray everywhere you and I have been written off, today God will rewrite our story and those waiting for us to hit the rock bottom will have no choice but to sit while we get elevated if they fail to see God's plan in us and support it in Jesus name.

So Joshua circumcised the people. Fast forward to verse 4-7. Now those old Israelites who were circumcised that came out of Egypt had all perished in the wilderness because *they disobeyed God*.. God vowed that they would not lay eyes on the land He promised their ancestors. But their children replaced them.

Hmmm! This is worth reviewing properly. So they left Egypt. According to Bible Scholars the journey was meant to be 11 days but they wandered in the wilderness for 40years.

What a waste!

Yes God was with them but you know they died on their way to fulfill purpose because of disobedience.

*I pray that every iota of disobedience in me that is bent on me failing God is flushed out today in Jesus name. *
*I pray none of us will die on our way to fulfill purpose in Jesus name.*
*I will not be replaced in the name of Jesus.*

They were replaced because of disobedience..

One thing we should know about God is that He will not force His way on us.
His word will not return to Him void.
Yes, He promised that he will take them out of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey, yes He did that.
But at the same time, can we continue in sin and expect grace to abound? No.
Then Jesus hadn't come in flesh maybe they would have made it to the promise land due to the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ.
When the circumcision of the whole nation was finished they stayed there until they were healed.
Circumcision..
I believe many or some of us must have witnessed circumcision of a male child.
It is a quick but painful thing for the male that goes through it..
The foreskin is what is cut off..
Here this circumcision was a way of consecrating this new set of warriors.
Remember Joshua was born in Egypt and he was the only one who was circumcised that was left and crossed Jordan; the others perished in the wilderness.
In this period of consecrating these Israelites God was making them new.
But do you realise some new things will always go through the process of pain before the beauty?
If you do not believe, ask a woman who is getting her hair done👩🏾‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱 she will have to endure some pain before being able to flaunt that beautiful hair style.
Before a building can stand fully erected with all amenities working it would go through stages - foundation, pillars, and different digging, but when it eventually becomes ready the owner can boast of a newly built house 🏠
God had to make sure these people were new beings, they were separated soldiers so they can face the task ahead of them.
The circumcision was to consecrate them but the only one who God used was already set  apart.
He saw the whole exodus of Israelites from Egypt, he worked and walked closely with Moses. Joshua was a man that was already made a leader to born leaders. Hallelujah!
He was made new even when his voice was still among bunch of voices - Exo. 17:4, Numbers 27;18-23, Joshua 1:1-9.
Then in verse 9 God said to Joshua *today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt.*
The consecration didn't just make them new - it led to the taking away of the reproach of Egypt that had followed them for 40 years.

*_Lord make me over, Lord make me over, make me over again_*

Some things will not be off your tail except God turns the situation around to be new.
We are so privileged im this generation that Christ had come and He had already set us free from the reproach of generations because we are born again, we are new in Christ.
We are already leaders set aside to born leaders and it doesn't mean your naturally born generation but every spiritual leading God has placed you to be in charge you are ordained to born leaders.
After their consecration they celebrated Passover and watch what happened next.....🌈🌈🌈🌈💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
*They started eating the produce of that country.*
Once they were made new, things started falling in place.
And then no more manna..

They had manna all through in the wilderness but this new thing that happened birth change..

So they had produce of the land.. they had varieties.
Ask someone who lost their palette how food tastes on their tongue 👅
It will just be bland, but let them gain it back they will start hinting you on how some sour part sweet part because the tongue is now functioning.

Back to the Tokunbo second hand shoe.. when such a person now gets shoe that has proper insole durable for all weather able to wear it casually or officially they will step differently👠👟👞🥾🥿 They will show off because now they don't have to step with caution of the fear of the shoe breaking again and another journey to the cobbler.

Are you ready for that new thing Christ has made ready for you?
Are you ready to launch into it as in you want to flaunt your newness in christ?
Your thinking changes.
Your mindset changes.
Your vision changes.
Your declaration changes.
Your output changes because your input is no longer contaminated, you have been consecrated.
You are new in Christ.
I am new in Christ.
We are new in Christ.

Then when Joshua was near Jericho he looked up and saw right In front of him a man  standing, holding a drawn sword. Joshua moved closed to him.

*_Oga which side you dey?😀😀_*
*Whose side are you on? ours or our enemies'?*
Let us pray in tongues if we can.
If not just worship God.
God  sent commander of his army  to help the Israelites.
God will send help from above to  you in Jesus name.
He sent help from heaven to them.
Joshua was not afraid. Remember the promise God gave Him - as I was with Moses I will be with you.
God was with Him. He approached a man with a drawn sword to ask which side he was for.
When you are new in Christ your mindset changes.
Your boldness takes an upper power.
You no more belong to the league of cowards.
You are divinely directed.
You are divinely orchestrated.
God moves undeniably in and through you.

Are you ready to be new in Christ?
Are you sure you are ready?
Are you ready to take off the old self, the old skin, the old thoughts, the old conviction that leads to disobedience so you can eat from the land flowing with honey, milk, new produce, diverse types of benefits unlimited?
May God open our eyes and our thought to see what He has placed before us.
May we not be blinded by what we can see in this physical world.
May our spiritual mindset change henceforth in Jesus name.

*Let us pray.*

Father I want to thank you for this word you have sent to me because you have personally sent it for me to know your plans for me. Lord forgive me for every disobedience and remove everything that keeps me on the journey of disobedience in Jesus name.
Father I come to you today releasing everything to you, the reproach I have worn over as a garment I take off henceforth in Jesus name.
Lord everything that you have called me to do I receive strength to do henceforth, no more self limitation because I step into your supernatural ability in Jesus. Name.

*You know where you want the newness in Christ to be vivid in your life, pray in regards to it now and believe God has done it.*

Lord thank you for Be Inspired family as a whole and for all the vessels you use here. Thank you for the Holy Spirit father keep us in you till we see you in glory in Jesus name.
Thank you Jesus for answered prayers in Jesus name.