Possessing The Land - Part 5: Breaking The Manna Mentality Series

Possessing the Land - Part 5

Breaking The Manna Mentality - Read: Joshua 5:10-12

1. Introduction

The children of Israel crossed the Jordan in full view of the enemy stronghold of Jericho, which lies in the great open plain (3:16). From this city, especially from the vantage point of its walls, the whole Jordan valley from Adam to the Dead Sea was visible. After the Children of Israel had crossed the river Jordan in that great miracle, and were camped at Gilgal, they did six things before taking possession of the Promised Land:

1. Their faith put fear in the hearts of the Enemy (2:2-11; 5:1)

2. They stopped but they didn’t stay (4:20-24)

3. They renewed their commitment to the covenant with God (5:2-9)

4. They remembered their roots (5:10)

5. They destroyed the manna mentality (5:12)

6. They worshipped the Lord

They did all these six things, before they fought one battle, before they attacked one city stronghold. All these things were done in full view of the enemy (3:16). These are principles that we need to follow prophetically.

The fifth thing the Israelites did, after crossing the Jordan, was to break the manna mentality.

Josh 5:10-12 "On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan."

In verse 11, they ate the fruit of the Promised Land for the first time. The next day, the manna stopped forever.

2. Putting fear in the Enemy’s heart - recap

We have read much about our miraculous God, in the book of Joshua. But, experiences of God don’t, in themselves, put fear into the enemy’s heart. What does?

* Attending church on Sunday to worship the Lord, together, and hear His word

* Opening your Bible to read the Word of God, then obeying it when it tells you how to:

* Run your marriages

* Raise your families

* Operate your finances

* Relate to one another

Reading the Word of God, and applying it to your life; doing what it tells you puts fear in the heart of the enemy! An obedient Christian is an awesome weapon in the hand of God!

Here in the plains of Jericho, the enemy observed an unselfish, unified, committed people; a God-centred people.

3. Breaking The Manna Mentality

a. Manna stops

Back to today’s topic - manna. The manna stopped the day after they started eating the produce of the Promised Land. Why is this significant?

(i). Miracles

The miracle of manna was an incredible event ... but it was not God’s best for Israel. We are definitely going to see miracles in revival, but people can see miracles and still not believe in God. Jesus, himself, said, "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." -- Matt 11:21

Some people say "If I see then I’ll believe." This is not belief ... "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -- Heb 11:1

The Israel that God rescued from Egypt lived in the miraculous environment of God; a cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night ... and manna every morning. Also their clothes and shoes never wore out, yet they were wandering in the desert! "During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet." -- Deu 29:5

(ii). More than miracles

But there is more to God than miraculous signs. As I said before, we do expect to see them (Mark 16:20). More important, though, is obedience to the Word of God in our:

* Marriages

* Lifestyle

* Relationships

* Jobs etc.

(iii). Breaking poverty thinking

For 40 years, a generation had lived in God’s good, and not His best. We, too, have lived on God’s good, not His best. The day we break the manna mentality and start to eat from the fruit of the Land, we will see:

* Giants fall

* Cities conquered

* Land possessed for God that has never been possessed before

b. Promised Land (Canaan) Christians

We have to stop eating manna to become ’Promised Land’, or ’Canaan’ Christians. The characteristics of Canaan Christians are that they leave the manna, and:

* Start eating the produce of God’s Promised Land