A JOSHUA AND CALEB GENERATION
By Andy
white
I believe that we are on the threshold of an incredible move of God due to the fact that the time is short and the days are evil. Our faith is under assault, our families are under assault and the world is calling good, evil, and evil good! Pastor Warren Heckman of Lake City Church in Madison Wisconsin, said, "We are being told that our generation of children will be the first generation in the history of the U.S.A. that will earn less than their parents. We have a generation being brought up with the highest percentage ever of broken homes, single parents, crime, and immorality. They have been let down, disappointed, alienated, and disillusioned. Their feelings of distrust of those in authority have been nurtured by the multiple failures of government, business, sports, education, and religious leaders."
What kind of people are we going to need to be in order to face the things that are going to come upon this world?
The American dream has turned into a nightmare for a vast number of people. This generation of children is eating the bitter fruit of the last generation of children. The "Me" generation is responsible for the "X" generation. Nevertheless, God is raising up a Joshua and Caleb Generation! The fullness of the blessing that the parents lost will be regained by the generation that God raises up! "...surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give your fathers, except Caleb...[and] Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there...moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims...to them I will give it, and they shall possess the land..." (Deut.1:35-39).
The Lord spoke to me and said; "Look at my servant Joshua, who loved me. My servant Joshua, who would linger and stay in my presence. My servant Joshua whom I raised up even from the days of his youth, to be a leader of my people, to conquer giants and obstacles. Look at the ways of my servant Joshua and learn from him!"
There are giants and obstacles in our land today that only a Joshua and Caleb generation will be able to conquer! Our youth face the obstacles of an evolutionary philosophy that is antithetical to the gospel and that permeates the education system. Every day they face the teachings and theories of men that deny the faith, and the giants of the humanistic belief system of the world. Who are the Joshua's of today? Where are the Caleb's of today?
THEY ARE THOSE WHO ABIDE AND REMAIN IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD EVEN AFTER OTHERS HAVE LEFT!
"...and it came to pass, when Moses entered the Tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses...all the people saw the pillar of cloud, and rose and worshiped...and he [Moses] would return to the camp, BUT HIS SERVANT JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, A YOUNG MAN, DID NOT DEPART FROM THE TABERNACLE." (EX.33:9-11).
Joshua lingered and stayed in the tabernacle
where the presence of God was. He stayed there even after Moses left. He stayed
there alone. He loved the presence of God! He saw something in Moses that he
wanted! Moses' face would shine. When he came down off the mountain his face
radiated the glory of God. It was Joshua who had gone part way up the mountain
with Moses and saw how Moses' face would shine with that glory! Joshua's heart
was crying out, "O God, I want that! I want that same glory to be with me! "
I believe God wants to birth a desire in our hearts for Him, both young and
old alike. However, I'm sensing that He's going to do a unique work in the
hearts of our children because, "...where sin abounded His grace abounds much
more."
God wants us to yearn for Him! It is in the
solitary tent of meeting, the secret place of the Most High, that God prepares
His future leaders. There is a sense of expectancy in the church today. God is
preparing the next generation of leaders! The Holy Spirit is preparing a people
today! A generation that is well able to take the land!
Parents, are we the
Moses' that are children are watching? Do they see us go into the Tabernacle of
Meeting to seek God's presence? "So it was, whenever Moses went out to the
tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood and watched Moses until
he had gone into the tabernacle." (Ex.33:8).
Are we the example to our children that we need to be? Are we coming out of our prayer closets glowing with the love of God, with the goodness of God, and with the fullness of God that will birth desire in our children? Satan is stealing, and killing our teenagers' church! He's lying to them with the allurements of this world! It's going to take the brightness and radiance, of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, to outshine the allurements of that angel of light!
God told Israel to go up and possess the land. But they were overcome with fear because of the obstacles and giants. "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said' "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (Num.13:30). Caleb and Joshua were buddies. They had a tight-knit friendship together. They sought the Lord together. Young people! Who are your friends? Who are you hangin' with? Are they like the 10 spies who had no faith? Are they those who say, "Oh, what's the use in serving God?" Or, like Joshua and Caleb are you hanging out with friends who know the promises of God? And that the promises of God are worth fighting for? Yes, it's a fight! Fight the good fight of faith! Lay hold of the promises of God! For we are well able to possess the land!
There will be those who will resist your faith. "And all the congregation said to stone them with stones." (Num.14:10).
When the Joshua and Caleb people stand up in the zeal of the Lord mostly everyone else will cry out, "stone them with stones!" "Out of here with your fanaticism!" "We like our comfort!" When you stand up and say, "We're well able to possess the land!" Someone will come along and say "Shutup!" But if you've been in the presence of God it wont matter what others think or say.
GOD IS GOING TO RAISE UP A NEW GENERATION OF SPIRIT BAPTIZED YOUNG WARRIORS FOR JESUS!
And the Lord said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him...and you shall give of your authority to him, that all the congregation of Israel may be obedient." (Num.27:18-20.)
Observe God's qualifying endorsement of Joshua, "...a man in whom is the Spirit..." Those day's of abiding and lingering in the tabernacle of meeting paid off for Joshua! He was filled with the Spirit of the living God! Some of you have been seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is God's will to fill you. Paul tells us, "...do not be drunk with wine...but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph.5:18).
Linger in His presence! Get hold of God and don't let go till He blesses you!
God want's to say of you, "...a man (or woman) in whom is the Spirit..." Baptized with power! Rise up! Oh Joshua generation! Posses the land! Lay hold of the promises of God and don't settle!
We are living in a time of a transference and impartation of spiritual anointing and authority. God said to Moses, "take Joshua...and lay your hand on him...and you shall give of your authority to him." This authority and unction will be upon those who like Caleb and Joshua, have, "wholly followed the Lord." (Num.32:12). The Joshua and Caleb people will not settle down in complacency east of the Jordan, but will wholly follow the Lord. [see Num.32]. The Joshua and Caleb people will not murmur and complain over their circumstances, but having an eternal perspective they will wholly follow the Lord.
The word the Lord has given me is, "I'm looking for a Joshua and Caleb people. Those whom I will raise up as leaders. Those who have followed me with a whole heart, those who have hungered for my presence. I will raise up a people for my inheritance and I will do it for my name's sake, say's the Lord!"