Crossing over to your inheritance

The presence of the Lord changes everything. The presence of Jesus at the wedding of Cana changed everything. Jesus said that wherever two or three are gathered in His name He is there in their midst (Matthew 18:19). Where the presence of the Lord is, there must be a difference.

Joshua 3:14-17 (KJV)

And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; ¹⁵ And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

¹⁶ That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. ¹⁷ And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Every one of us has something that the Lord has spoken to them. Today we want to talk about how to cross over to get that which God has promised and destined for you.

No one is here by accident. God has a purpose over your life. God did not remove you from where you were in vain; He has an agenda over your life, even when we feel like we do not understand what is going on, when we are going through fire and tough times. Until you attain that which He has destined for you, God is not yet done with you. People may look at you and say that maybe God has forsaken you or that you have come to your end, but know that as long as you have not attained that which God promised you, God is not yet done with you.

God had an agenda and a plan for the children of Israel, which is why He got them to the Promised Land, parting the sea twice for them to cross over, ensuring that their clothing never ripped or grew old, feeding them etc. As we talk about our inheritance, the greatest inheritance is in heaven, the great news being that we are not here forever. One day we will hear the trumpet, and be caught with our Lord in the sky, the dead rising up to meet Him. Going to heaven is an inheritance, a promise for us.

You may have gone through a lot, through fire, lack etc., and may have come to a point where like the children of Israel the only thing standing between you and your destiny/ God’s promise is the river Jordan. What is that Jordan standing right before you? I want to declare to you that the Lord is strengthening you and helping you to cross over. Are you ready to cross over to your destiny?

Few things that will help us cross over to our destiny:

1. Set out from your tent

Joshua 3:17 (AMP)

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

The first thing that we will do if we want to cross over to our destiny is to get out of our tents, like the children of Israel did. The tent is the temporary dwelling. You are supposed to stay in a tent for a short time, leave and go to a better house. If you want to enter your destiny and walk in the promises of God, let me put it to our that we must get out of our tents. Sometimes God may be telling us that it’s time to get out of our tents, but we tend to insist on staying. These are times that God tell us that it’s time to move on, that we are beyond that point. It may be a job, or a car etc. Do not dwell in the tent. Are you in a tent? Have you gotten comfortable in the tent?

3 Cs to avoid in order to promptly set out from our tents

• Conformity

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are in the world, but not of the world. Conformity is taking the form of. We ought not to conform to the way things are wherever we are. We have a place where we are going, therefore we should not conform our ways, talks, dressing, and things to the world. Just because the majority in the world are bribing, doesn’t mean that you should do the same.

•  Complacency

This is being comfortable where you are. We ought not to be complacent. This is a danger zone for the church, as even in the faith some people tend to be complacent and feel like they can do what they want to do, not caring about what the Lord wants. There is much much more that we can attain if only we continued to passionately seek the Lord.

• Compromise

This is mixing and adjusting yourself to what is going on around you. You ought not to compromise your faith or salvation. Compromise involves you settling for less than is intended for you, having to get out of God's will and plan for your life by incorporating what is below you. It involves you stooping lower than your standards, God-set standards.

Hebrews 11:24

By faith Moses, when he had become of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

Moses chose to refuse to compromise, conform and be complacent at Pharaoh’s house. Conformity, complacency and compromise will outrightly hinder you from setting out from your tent, as you will miss out on God's calling to set out. When God says you set out from the tent, conformity, complacency and or compromise will be there to hinder you from either hearing Him, or obeying Him. Either and or all of these should be avoided by believers. 

2. Being led by God

Joshua 3:17 (AMP)

So when the people set out from their tentsto pass over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

As the people were crossing over the Jordan River, the Lord had instructed them that the Ark of the Covenant should go before them. The Ark of the Covenant signified the presence of the Lord. If we have to walk on and cross over to our destiny, we have to be led by the Lord, His presence has to go with us. Moses also understood that they could not make it to the Promised Land without the presence of the Lord, which is why he asked Him that if His presence did not go with them, He should not let them go from there:

Exodus 33:15

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

The presence of the Lord signifies His face, which signifies His favor. The Ark of the Covenant was made of pure gold, which signifies righteousness and holiness. Without holiness and righteousness, the Lord will not lead you to your promise. We must uphold righteousness. Because the presence of the Lord was before the children of Israel as they matched around the city of Jericho, it had to come down (Joshua 6). No walls can stand up against the presence of the Lord. The shout Joshua and the children of Israel made would have had no effect on the walls if the presence of the Lord had not gone before them.

3. Deep your feet in the Jordan

Joshua 3:15

And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

This is not the message for the fearful or cowards, it is for the ones who have faith, those who are passionate. We must have faith my brother and my sister. Without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). We must be bold and courageous enough to say that even though the Jordan River looks full and overflowing, we will believe the promises of God and deep our feet in the Jordan River.

The Bible clearly tells us that the Jordan River overflows its banks at the time of harvest. It was a time of harvest, but they had to reap what they had sown through faith. It is the harvest time; do not be discouraged. The Jordan River overflows its banks at the time of the harvest to discourage you and make you fearful, but it is time you realized that it’s not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6). It is time when you see the overflowing of the Jordan River you know it’s harvest times, and know that the devil is not pleased with you, he is not excited by the fact that you are about to harvest. Do not look back; move on passionately, because the time of harvest has come.

Because they set out from their tents, were led by the presence and got their feet in the Jordan, they were able to cross over to the other side. It took obedience for them to cross over to the other side. What has God commanded you? Are you following up with God’s instructions? Are you one who follows instructions or are you one to lead yourself?

If the Lord tells you to move on; if the Lord tells you to put your feet down, do it. When we walk in obedience, there is no Jordan that will hinder us from getting to our promise or destiny.

As the Lord is taking you to your destiny, do not forget where He has brought you from, do not forget what He has done for you. Forgetting what the Lord has done is what develops complacency. Be thankful and determine to maintain and retain an attitude of gratitude even when God helps you to successfully cross the Jordan river, over to your inheritance.

Make a decision to cross over to your inheritance, and that nothing will hinder you or stand in your way. Work and walk with God, to get to your inheritance. Obedience is the key.


Amen.

-- Pastor Karani Kaugi

(17/11/13 Kesha Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor) 

Pastor Karani Kaugi is a pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.