Arise
Joshua 1:2”…Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise….”
‘Now therefore arise’, implies there is an urgency, there was a ‘now’ situation, therefore without delay, put the pass behind and ARISE, this is a prophetic word for someone out there! Hello!
Moses was dead and the people needed a leader, there was work ahead to accomplish and the lives of enormous people to be taken care of and God commanded ARISE NOW! No more delays! When something goes dead or you lose someone dear, near and precious, you tend to get vexed and dejected and deflated; however, in the case of Joshua, God served him a notice to hurry up and take charge because he was raised for a time like this. Anybody listening? I know and I know God is speaking ……
In the year 2013 February, I had my second major surgery and the advice of the doctor was that, I should not move for the next 6 months. We had a major three days ‘fire camp’ in the month of May which we felt we had to postpone because I was the main speaker. Well, one fine morning in the month of April, while we were sitting as a family for our morning prayer, I heard the Lord very clearly tell me to prepare for the May meeting, which meant, we had to book the train tickets, book the hall for the 3 days meeting, food caterers and much more. The command of the Lord was, ‘NOW THEREFORE ARISE’, because there were souls to be raised for the work of the Lord, the meeting was no ordinary meeting but it was a camp for ‘raising soldiers for Christ.’ No delay. Since it was summer and vacation time, booking was tough and I had to travel in the middle berth which meant I had to climb which was taboo by the doctors. I applied the blood of Jesus all over me and travelled in the middle berth, while we reached the meeting spot, special arrangements were made for me at the platform so that I don’t have to climb stairs but little did they know that I climbed the middle berth compartment and slept through the night. When God calls He protects and provides, Amen.
Do not dilly-dally, obey the voice of God and arise!
A. COMMITMENT SHOULD OVERTAKE EMOTIONS:
DAVID AFTER THE DEATH OF ABSALOM:
2 Samuel 19:7"Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now."
King David had work to do rather than sit and mourn for his son, there are times when we have to pocket our personal emotions and start moving for God. When the news of the death of his small son came to Bro.Augustine Jebakumar ( GEM, Bihar – Founder), he did not rush and run but instead he stayed at the meeting where he was preaching and informed his wife to bury the son. I could not read his book without tears brimming my eyes, such was the commitment of these spiritual legends.
NOW – God speaks about the urgency
THEREFORE- There was work involved
ARISE- get up
B. Leaders have responsibility:
EZRA:
Ezra 10:4 "Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act."
When the people of Israel had done atrocious things of mingling with the gentile crowd and pagan worshippers, the wrath of God had come down on them, God raised Ezra to ARISE and teach the people the difference between the clean and unclean stuff. Dear friend, you cannot ignore and neglect God’s calling just because it is uncomfortable or too tough, God has prepared you for such a season. I was asked to preach at a prayer meeting in a Christian home that was arranged to honor their mother who had passed away one month back of cancer. The title of my message was ‘ SAUL, SAUL , WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?” The most weird title I am sure , I passionately preached on obeying God, after the meeting I was left alone in the room, none wanted to talk to me; however, many from the family got saved and they are still in touch with me for more than 15 years. NOW, THEREFORE ARISE, don’t shun your responsibility!
