But First…
“I am raising up those with the anointing of Joshua. They will lead My body into the new things I have spoken to them.”
November 17, 2023, I was in prayer and clearly heard, “Read Exodus 33.” So, I picked up my Bible and began to read. Holy Spirit began to speak into my spirit these words: “I am raising up those with the anointing of Joshua. They will lead My body into the new things I have spoken to them.”
Joshua was very different from other leaders in his day. When you look back at the scriptures, you see that Joshua was a servant to Moses. This means that Joshua received a lot from Moses. He watched Moses lead well, lose his temper from time to time, disobey God a time or two, repent and go back into the meeting place with God. He was the one who would stand outside of the tent of meeting while Moses was inside, and the cloud of God’s presence was descending upon the tent. He stood firm and when Moses left the tent of meeting, Joshua would stand outside of the tent continuing to soak in the presence of God. Exodus 33:11 says, “when Moses would leave, Joshua would not depart from the tent.” He deeply desired the presence of God. He wanted to meet God for himself. The first part of verse 11 says that God spoke face to face with Moses as a man speaks to his friends. This is what Joshua wanted and he chose to be a man set apart from the rest.
Joshua heard Moses contend with God… “If Your presence does not go, we will not go!” Joshua carried the same heart. Before Moses passed, he laid hands on Joshua in order to pass on the mantle to lead the people of God. Joshua carried the anointing of Moses but walked in an obedience and fear of God that Moses struggled with. Joshua feared God, not man.
You see, Joshua was from a different generation. He wasn’t part of the original group that left Egypt. He was born in the dessert, learning the stories of God’s mighty works through his parents and Moses. He didn’t have a slave mentality and God knew He could use Joshua to take His people to the promise.
Joshua was favored by God, blessed by Him, and had His hand of grace over His life. These are the ones God is raising up in this hour. They will carry a mantle and lead the people of God and this world where current leadership can’t. Why? Because much of the Church today is tainted by religion, a slave mentality and they’ve lost sight of the power, presence, and fear of God. They are so consumed with self’s agenda – which is what those with a slave mentality desire – that they can’t see beyond their own picture to lead into this new era.
Joshua understood these 3 things:
The vitality of the altar.
The vitality of consecration.
The vitality of walking in the fear of God.
Over the years the altars have been replaced with the god of self (aka - idols) – platforms, performance, pride.
Over the years consecration has been sloughed off for bigger and better. “The more we look like the world, the more we will draw in.”
Over the years the fear of God has been replaced by the fear of man… corrupt church government, fear of offending and not getting the money for the next big ‘self-driven’ project or campaign, national government – can’t lose those 501C3’s so we better adjust to the worlds culture, people pleasing and so much more.
Over the last few years God has shaken and shaken the church, people yell out “we’re going to change” but quickly settle back into the comfort of routine, religion, and self – just like the scriptural patterns of Israel. I’ve heard so many who deeply desire change, yet they can’t seem to fully grasp it and change. They’ve attempted to return to these 3 things, but pride, false-humility, and self still get in the way and many just don’t see it. This is what happened with the children of Israel and Moses along with his leadership. They lost sight of the altars, replacing them with idols, other gods they could ‘see’. They lost sight of consecration in their deep desire to go back to Egypt and live like the enemy. They lost sight of the fear of God in the midst of worshiping idols – they walked in disobedience over and over. Moses allowed anger and disobedience to ruin his chances of leading people into the promise, Aaron allowed the fear of man to lead his decisions. They tried to pull the people back around in their own ways, but it was impossible for this generation because of their mindset. Destruction would happen, they would cry out “we’re going to change” yet when it got ‘good’ again, they would quickly settle back into their comfort of chaos. They couldn’t for anything truly surrender to God! This is where so many are right now.
Joshua knew the promise of God could not be fulfilled without the fear of God, complete surrender before Him, sacrificing self, crazy – crazy obedience and trusting His words. Joshua carried the promise of “everywhere you place your feet, it is yours”, “nothing will be able to stand against you because I am with you”… “be strong and courageous, I am with you”… these promises drove Joshua to occupy what Moses couldn’t. These are the leaders God is about to bring on the scene! They will walk hand in hand with God, heartbeat to heartbeat, their feet will step where He says step, their ears will hear clearly and their eyes will see past the boundaries of Moses, they will REFUSE to leave the presence of God to please a people, they will live their lives set-apart in the depths of the fear and awe of God.
But first… Moses had to see that his time as leader was over and he had to be willing to pass the torch to Joshua… and Joshua had to stop mourning Moses – the past, the loss, the picture of someone else and be willing to GO where others were unwilling to go, where others said, “it’s too dangerous – there are giants in the land!”.
I pray in this hour the Moses’s hear God clearly, passing the torch in joy and humility.
I pray in this hour the Joshua’s rise boldly and take their positions in all 7 mountains of influence.
God see’s you consecrated ones! He has had you in the secret place of crushing, the secret place of refining fire, the secret place of preparation for this time. You understand the vitality of the altar, the vitality of consecration, the vitality of fearing Him above man. You are rising up courageous, strong, and fearless in the face of the enemy. You are being released in this hour to enter into your sphere of influence to be the leader the crushing and the fire has prepared you for. Now, just as God said to Joshua, He is saying to you… “the era of Moses is dead – there is no longer life in this move – GET UP! RISE UP, shake off the old, cross the Jordan and occupy the land!” Let GO and let’s GO! The new move of God is here!
(Exodus 33; Joshua 1)