“The Church needs to go back to Gilgal.”
by
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - I grew up in the church. I am what you call a back bench baby and a PK. For those that may not know a back bench baby is we slept on the back bench of the church during service because we had school in the morning or just because it was past our bedtime. Often my mother would have us in our pajamas on the way to church so all we had to do was lay down on the back bench and go to sleep during service. A P.K. is simply a preacher’s kid.
However, being around the church all my life I have certain memories of the older saints in the church. When I was around 2 or 3 years old, they sent my father and mother to Akron to assist Elder Hampton who was getting older and sickly. What I remember about Elder Hampton was how powerful he prayed. He prayed what seemed to me as a young child that he was literally talking face to face with Jesus and whatever he was praying for better watch out because he was praying. I remember one time my father having a migraine and Elder Hampton praying for him, my father was sitting in a chair in the front of the church and Elder Hampton was commanding the pain to leave and he moved around my father’s head and down his back like the pain was trying to run away but couldn’t escape Elder Hampton and had to go. Mother Hampton I remember was a little well-dressed lady that wore some sharp hats. The last time I seen Mother Hampton I was about 16 I believe but what I remember most about her was how she portrayed Holiness. Then there was Mother Tarpley and Mother King these ladies had the character that showed Holiness without no man shall see the Lord. They understood the importance of having their conversation holy, not just what they said, but how they carried themselves, how they lived, how they act, looked, and sound all aspects of their life portrayed God.
Then there were Deacons who would open service with prayer, pray the blood of Jesus and bring heaven down and by the time the opening prayer was done it was like you already had a full church service. Then there were the preachers as they walked down the aisle to the pulpit that seemed like the Elliott Ness and The Untouchables from the television show that were dressed nice and carried briefcases that in my young mind were filled with machine guns ready to unload on anything unholy.
But now we have preachers that are more concerned about being friends and having fellowship with the world than spiritual G-men ready to take out sin and anything unholy. The mothers of the church have been silenced and their ways called old fashion and antiquated. The deacons that had powerful prayers that touched the throne of God have been replaced with light shows, theatrics, musical bands and entertainment that rivals a Parliament concert.
It is a shame, but many so-called churches today promote worldly ideas and establish policies that are contrary to the standards of holiness. They have rejected God’s truth and standard of Holiness for crowds, fortune, and popularity. They think themselves wise, enlightened, and super powerful and that they have a new and better way of doing this. They think the principles of scripture and the way of Holiness are old and outdated and that we need a new gospel. Sure, they have followers some in the thousands, sure they can raise money, but unfortunately, they rob the church of its historical, traditional, and holiness impact. The future generation if the Lord tarries, will not have the memories and standards of true Holiness as those of us that grew up in the church.
It's time for the church to go back to the Old Landmark back to God’s timeless Truth and standards, it’s time for the church to go back to Gilgal.
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURES: - Joshua 5:2-9,
Names & Numbers in the Bible have meaning and often will reveal hidden prophecy. For EXAMPLE: - the number 10 represents Divine Order, Testimony, and Responsibility. There are 10 commandments which is the Divine order of God and describe our responsibility to God and Mankind, there were 10 plagues that fell upon Egypt although it was chaos to the Egyptians it was the Divine order of God. The phrase God said appears 10 times in Genesis 1 which establishes the Testimony of God in creation. Then there is what is called a Minyan in Judaism, which is the minimum number of males required to constitute a representative “community of Israel” for liturgical purposes or to have a meeting. The lamb for Passover was chosen on the 10th day of the 7th month – which represents Divine Order, Testimony, Responsibility, and perfection and completeness. There were 10 generations on earth before the flood.
When a name is given in scripture it is not just given so you will know the name but because there is something significant about that name that needs to be understood.
The ten names mentioned in these the generations before the flood are Adman = man, Seth = appointed, Enosh = mortal, Kenan = sorrow, Mehahlalel = The blessed of God, Jared = Shall come down, Enoch = Teaching, Methuselah = His death shall bring, Lamech = The despairing, Noah = Rest/comfort.
The hidden prophecy revealed in these names is: - Man appointed mortal sorrow (which happened with the fall of man). The blessed of God shall come down teaching (Jesus). His death shall bring the despairing rest and comfort.
TEXT: - We find the children of Israel are soon to approach Jericho when Joshua hears from God and commands that the children of Israel return to Gilgal and experience removal, remembrance, renewal, restoration, and revival. They would not be able to move forward and conquer Jericho or enter the promise Land until they first returned to Gilgal. Understand that the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, the had eaten manna, received water from a rock, crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, but now this generation literally knew not God. Although they were associated with the older generation they themselves needed to experience Gilgal for themselves, they needed to have their own revelation of God in their lives and remove flesh in order to proceed. This is exactly what they church of today needs a revelation, removal and renewal experience at Gilgal.
The importance of Gilgal.
To understand Gilgal, let’s look at Joshua 5. The name Joshua means Jehovah is salvation the number 5 means God’s Grace. Joshua 5:2-9 “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. The LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
Understand that the old generation have gone on and this new generation, this new church was not equipped, they didn’t understand the old ways, they had association with but did not understand deep rootedness, the struggles, they don’t know the standard sure they went to service, they pay their tithes, they take communion but they just didn’t portray that level of holiness much like today. We have people that can speak in some kind of tongue, everybody knows how to shout – they practice their praise dance, they have titles, and can use enticing words to stir up a crowd. However, the standard of holiness they don’t know. Just like the Children of Israel they have association, but they obeyed not the voice of the LORD.
If the church today wants to see the glory the church had before, if they want to experience the power, and leave a memorable mark on people like the ones that left a memorable mark on me and those of you that remember the older saints then they will have to return to Gilgal.
Gilgal is the place of removal/circumcision, remembering, renewal, and restoration. Before the Children of Israel could enter the promise land flesh had to be dealt with. The reproach of Egypt (sin) had to be removed and they had to come into covenant with God. Before we can move forward, enter heaven, conquer sin, convince, convict, or convert sinners we need to have fleshly pride removed, remember the old paths, renew our commitment to God, and restore the joy of our salvation.
Let’s look at Gilgal.
The place of Removal/Circumcision - Joshua 5:2-3 “At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins”.
Gilgal is the place of the Removal of the flesh.
WATCH THIS: - Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of a male, circumcision is bloody, personal, painful, it exposes all that you are, and incapacitates you for a time. God told Joshua that the children of Israel had to be circumcised again. There’s some stuff Joshua that needs to be removed. There’s some flesh standing in the way of your moving forward. There are some hindrances that are stopping you from going forth. So, I need you to make some sharp knives and circumcise the children of Israel again. That again means there was once a circumcision and removal but now there is some other stuff that has formed and needs to be removed. This generation of the children of Israel was not circumcised in the wilderness because they moved away from the traditional way, the were in a new place so they did things differently, but in order for them to move forward, in order to enter the promise land they had to go back to the old paths.
God was saying that before the children of Israel, this new generation could go forth, be an army to conquer the land and possess the promise He had for them, there had to be a removal of things. They had to realize that they were no longer a slave to the ways of Egypt. Before they could go into battle, they had to realize that it’s not by power nor by might that they were able to do the things they were doing but it was God. When they were circumcised, they became incapacitated and had to totally depend on God because circumcision causes you to be incapacitated unable to defend yourself leaving you open to attack from the enemy so why they had to stay in Gilgal until they were healed. The church needs to go and have some things removed at Gilgal. Their needs to be a circumcision of the flesh in the church, there needs to be some incapacitation of the people to realize that if it had not been for the Lord and stop thinking because I have a title, because I am popular, because my name has wealth and depend on God.
IN THE NATURAL: - Although circumcision is bloody, it’s painful, and it incapacitates you for a while, it beneficial because there is a decreased risk of a urinary tract infection once it is done. STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are less likely to happen because of better cleanliness.
UNDERSTAND - The urinary tract is the same path that spermatozoa’s travel in the process of reproduction. If the urinary tract is infected the probability of the offspring will be infected as well. Our job is to make disciples – how can we make disciple when we have a spiritual urinary tract infection. When we witness and a person desires to be changed and live for God but the spiritual urinary tract the avenue which reproduction travels is infected and we spread spiritual transmitted diseases like back-biting, gossip, mediocrity, worldliness, lust of the flesh, pride, arrogance, false doctrines. The seed that is produced will be infected and think that it’s o.k. to still do these things and think they are on their way to heaven still with Egypt – Sin - Flesh covering them.
This new generation, of the Children of Israel, were not going to conquer Jericho, were not going to be able to inherit the Promise Land until they experience Gilgal, until they were circumcised of their old ways and became totally dependent on God.
The church is not going to conquer the world, they will not change people’s minds, hearts, and desires until they first go back to Gilgal and have somethings removed.
David said create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Paul in Romans2:29 said circumcision was of the heart. David in fact was saying circumcise me – remove anything that is not like you Lord! Are you willing to go to Gilgal and say like David circumcise me Lord remove my flesh so I can be more like you.
Gilgal a place of Rememberance
Joshua 4:19 “And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over”.
The children of Israel left a legacy, left a memorial of how God delivered them so when they in the future would see the stones, it would remind them of how God worked a miracle.
The Question is: - What is the church of today leaving as a memory for those to come. Like I said about Elder Hampton how he prayed and as a young child about 5 yrs old I just knew that the pain better not try to mess with my dad anymore because Elder Hampton prayed. Over 50 years later I still remember the Mothers of the church and the standard of Holiness the portrayed. What are we leaving as a memory of our legacy, our we leaving standing stones that will say this is how God delivered us, this is the standard of Holiness or are we leaving things that say it is o,k, to have a night club spirit in the church, memories of pastors telling their church deacons we need to grow weed to teach people about farming, its o.k. for the pastor and his husband to preach and the church, the Bible and God are incorrect, and we must apologize.
He who stands for nothing will fall for anything the church must return to Gilgal and remember Psalm 94:16 “Who will rise up for me against evil doers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity”. We need to go back to Gilgal and remember the Old Paths Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…”
If we go back to Gilgal and remember when it seemed to be a cloud in the church, when the anointing flowed freely, when people would walk in off the street and say I heard a sound and I had to see what was going on. Remember shut ins, tent revivals, remember the old paths.
Gilgal a place of Renewal - Restoration
Joshua 5:9 “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day”.
The children of Israel had flesh removed and remembered the miracle of God now they have been renewed and able to resume a proper relationship with God and move forward in their journey after the reproach of sin, after flesh had been taken out of the way.
When you go to Gilgal there is a renewal of a right spirit within you. Psalms 51:10-13 says “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy way; and sinners shall be converted unto thee”. When there is renewal, there is rejuvenation, revitalization, refilling, replenishment, regeneration, rebirth, resurrection, reassurance, recharging, reopening, and restoration.
When something is restored, it is more valuable than it originally was worth. In 1957 you could buy a 57 Chevy for about 2100 dollars, but if you restore a 57 Chevy and sell it today you can sell it for more than 25,000 dollars today because the value of it is now worth more than it was then. Once we go to Gilgal and go through the process of restoration, we become even more valuable. Sure, the process of restoration hurts, there is some cutting, some beating, some removal, it will incapacitate you for a while but when it’s all done, we shall come forth as pure gold.
A spiritual renewal is God removing the reproach of sin, the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life and showering us with His spirit and causing us to experience again Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judeah, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”. Until we go back to Gilgal and have a renewing of our hearts, minds, attitudes, spirits we will not be able to convert the sinner unto Him.
CLOSING: - Like the song says “Take me back dear Lord to the place where I first received you to the place where I first believed. I feel that I’m so far from you Lord but still I hear you calling me. Those simple things that I once knew their memories are drawing me. We need to go back to Gilgal.
Gilgal meant much more to Israel than just a place on the map. It was a place where they met God. And when Israel needed to find its heart and soul again, when they needed to reminder, a renewing, a restoring they would return to Gilgal. Israel needed a place like Gilgal - do you – I know I do?
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
