Precious people of God,When the world is reeling under severe economic crisis and people dont know what is going to happen on the earth,as unpredictability becomes the key word and uncertainity looms,its time as people of God to look unto the hills to have a knowledge of who our helper is and where does our help come from.The Lord brought to my attention to Joshua 17 and i got a ray of Hope through His word.Relying on the Holy Spirit so that the same will happen to you.In Joshua 17 we read of 4 methods to experience expansion
1)EXPLORE AND EXPOUND THE WORD OF GOD...(17:4)
The daughters of Zelophehad had no inheritence as their father had no sons.Though the law didnt mention anything about their case,they took their case to Moses in Numbers 27:1-4.Moses takes the case to God and God stands for these women who understood the need of an expansion and of an inheritence.But in Numbers 36,we read a condition attached to this law.The condition was that they were not supposed to marry from another tribe because the inheritence was given to a tribe.What a beautiful reminder that we as God's children are having inheritence to all blessings,but when we go our ways,we lose our inheritence.Esau sold His birthright for a meal,inheritence was lost.Inheritence doesnt only mean financial blessings,it also means the possession of what all you have when you become a child of God and all that goes when we live a life of sin and according to our own desires.When we look in Joshua 17 we see that the inheritence is claimedThe steps therefore are1)SEEK THE WORD2)GET THE WORD3)KEEP THE WORD4)CLAIM THE WORD
2)EXPEL THE INHABITANTS(17:12)
We read that the people of Manasseh didnt drive away the inhabitants of that place Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely. Many a time we too like the people of Manasseh dont drive away the inhabitants,We need to understand that we fight many a battle not against flesh and blood but against power and dark forces of the air and principalities.Only people in a battlefield get to become overcomers.We also need to prune the old habits,inhabitants of our bodies and expel them ,as our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.Lets expel the enemy from our lives,our ministry,our jobs...our churches...
3)EXTEND YOUR IMPACT(17:15) Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the LORD has blessed us abundantly." 15 "If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites." 17 But Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh-"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours;
We also know many a time that we are living in congestion,but we dont want or take steps to come out of that.Joshua tells the house of Joseph to understand their power and extend their impact.When we tithe and give to missions we extend our impact,when we know the gifts God has given us and when we trade that we extend our impact,we cut many wild forests and plant the grace in many lives.Brother.Sister..we are living in a hurting world and we need to agents of healing by extending our impact as much as possible.Acts 1:8(AMP)..You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you (shall make an impact..)shall be my witnesses.
4)EXALT THE NAME OF GOD(v25)
When the house of Joseph came to Joshua they said the canaanites have IRON CHARIOTS.Those who glorify their problems will not face an expansion.They underestimate the power of God when they glorify their problems.Joshua saysthough the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."We need this type of gutsy faith and trust in God to experience an expansion.What is that area that needs an expansion...a possession of God's promises and blessings..experience expansion in the mighty name of Jesus
