Reflection on Joshua4:1–9
Memorials
help us preserve important memories. God memorialized many important things in
the Old Testament, often through festivals and ceremonies. In this instance the
Lord used a simple monument of 12 stones, one for each tribe of Israel, so that
in the future the Israelites could tell their children how God stopped the flow
of the Jordan River when the 12 tribes walked across with the ark of the
covenant to enter the promised land.
What
things has God done in our lives that we ought not forget? Think of ways to
memorialize them. We could have a ceremony or create a physical memorial. We
could keep a journal or record of answered prayers and unexpected blessings.
Whatever it takes, we need to foster the memory of God’s work on our behalf.
BELIEVING IN CHRIST'S
AUTHORITY
Truly I say to you,
if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, "Move
from here to there," and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to
you
What
does it take to effectively exercise Christ's authority over spiritual powers?
Can any Christian do so regardless of his level of spiritual maturity? If so,
why aren't we more consistent in demonstrating our authority over Satan's
kingdom?
I
believe there are at least four qualifications for demonstrating authority over
rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm. We'll consider them over the
next few days.
The
first qualification is belief . In the spiritual realm, if you don't believe
you have authority, you're not going to exercise it. If your belief is weak,
your expression of it will also be weak and ineffective. But if you grasp with
confidence the authority that Christ has conferred upon you, you will exercise
it with confidence.
Imagine
a rookie traffic copy approaching a busy intersection to direct traffic for the
first time. They told him at the academy that all he had to do was step into
the street and hold up his hand and the cars would stop, but he's not so sure.
He stands on the curb, tweets his whistle weakly, and sort of waves at an
oncoming car, which roars by him. His authority is diminished by his lack of
confidence.
Now
imagine a seasoned officer coming on the scene. He sizes up the situation,
steps into the street carefully but confidently, gives a blast on his whistle,
and stretches out his hand
--and
the cars stop. There's no doubt in his mind that he's in control in that
intersection because he has a settled belief in his authority.
You
may consider yourself just a "rookie" at stopping the devil's traffic
in your life. But Jesus Christ is a seasoned veteran, and you're in Him. Build
your faith in your authority by studying how Jesus operated against the powers
of darkness in the Gospels and how we are commanded to do so in the Epistles.
Prayer: Lord, enlarge my
belief that I have been given authority over principalities and powers in
Christ, and help me act on that belief.
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