I have been reading a book over the last several weeks by Mark Hanby entitled “You Have Not Many Fathers”. It was printed in 1996, but is still a very now word on the need for the Body of Christ to move away from the employee/employer team/coach model of ministry back to Father/Son relationships. Everything we have from God is based on son ship!
As I was reading today, my mind began to reflect back to the late 80’s/early 90’s when there was a flurry of messages and songs written about the Joshua Generation. With fifteen years now past the question today is “where is the Joshua Generation?”
The first thing I notice about Joshua’s generation is they desired to move forward. They were a generation of faith and passion. Caleb and Joshua refused to give in to the spirit of unbelief prevalent with their own peers and came back from spying out the land with a good report. And because of that, they were the only two able to experience the reality of the land flowing with milk and honey!
Second thing I notice is they were a circumcised generation. Not just in the flesh, but in the Spirit also. Jeremiah commands us to “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings. (Jer. 4:4)
Also the book of Joshua states the children of Israel who were not circumcised in the wilderness were circumcised when they crossed the Jordan before they fully entered their destiny (Josh. 5:1-7) This tells us if we are going to completely fulfill our destiny, there must be a cutting away of the flesh, a destroying of the domination of the flesh in order for us to complete our assignment from our Father.
This is where it gets serious. Are we willing to allow God to cut away everything that hinders our maturity…and grow up into Him that is the fullness of the Godhead bodily? Are we really willing to lose it all to find Him? Are we truly willing to take up our cross and completely follow Him?
If we do, it may mean we may not become rich! If we truly follow Him, our denomination boards may not accept us! If we really follow Him, people may reject us, call us fanatics, or even try to have us locked up! Some may even lose the churches they have tried so hard to build up, due to the fact that people can’t take their passion for Christ!
I want to live more than a song! I want to be that generation that lives the reality of the promises of God! I don’t want to sing about the coming moves of God; I want to be the instrument the move comes through!
Move over Joshua!
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Where is the Joshua Generation? It may be the same question that Jesus asked: “Will I find faith on the earth when I return?” Are there those who are truly courageous enough to believe the Atonement? Courageous enough to embrace the Atonement in every aspect of its splendor? I believe the “Joshua Generation” is still there, but they are scattered. They sit among us in church, they work among us in the factory, they shop among us in the store, and they eat among us in the restaraunts. Some are discouraged, some feel displaced, some cling to the promises of the past, and others quielty melt into the crowd as they enjoy the communion of the One they love.
They are not scattered because of a lack of faith … or because of a lukewarm commitment … or because of entanglement in the world … they are scattered because their is no true “Joshua” to lead them. A “Joshua Generation” needs a Joshua. Where are such men today? And … where were such men when the prophecies concerning this generation were given years ago? When He returns, will he find faith on the earth? The Joshua Generation now has years of experience walking in the anonymity of their surroundings. Such experience is invaluable. It is invaluable becasue they are not moved by the current standards which measure success in the church. Nor are they easily impressed.
The problem is the lack of a Joshua leader. From among them there must arise at least one who will dare to believe that now is the time … the season of preparation is complete … the Atonment is all that we have been taught to believe … but sadly have not seen. Where is that courageous one who will stand to his feet and be dressed in new robes of righteousness? Where is the one who will dare to believe that He will return again to their generation?
The Joshua Generation is invisible … it appears that they may not even exist. But, I believe they are like dry kindling laying on the forest floor. The smallest of sparks can set a huge fire ablaze. Will He find faith on the earth when He returns? Is there one who will arise in faith and believe that the dry bones will live? Is there one, who may be ever so insignificant in the eyes of the church world, who will arise and believe that He is who He says He is … and will provide the spark (leadership) that will set the entire generation ablaze.
I must believe that such a one exists. Instead of the glitter, the gold, and other manifestations that seem to capture our attention these days … begin to search earnestly for that one in whom resides the Divine Spark. He will not be easy to find, but find him you must. He will not be easy to find because he walks among you every day unnoticed. That which is familiar is often the most difficult to discern.
Find him … and you will find an entire generation that will blaze brightly with the Glory of the Lord.
So true. Too many of us are under pressure to conform to the glitter and glamor of Christian Celebrityism to fit in…but it won’t work. Celebrityism will not work in this hour! God has the Joshuas on the back side of the desert, in a lonely Tabernacle teaching them the most important thing of all: intimacy with the Father Who will teach us how to lead His people into the land flowing with milk and honey!