Your Word for Today

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Your Word for Today

“and seven Priests shall bear before the Ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the Priests shall blow with the trumpets (Josh. 6:4).

The manner in which Jericho was to be taken had no semblance of military strategy, neither was it meant to have. Yet all of this serves as a type or symbol of the manner in which “Jerichos” can be subdued within our hearts and lives. One may refer to them as six principles of Faith which must be brought into exercise in the actual winning of victories in the Christian life. These six principles are:

1. The intelligence of Faith.
2. The obedience of Faith.
3. The exercise of Faith.
4. The folly of Faith.
5. The patience of Faith.
6. The victory of Faith.

The “intelligence” of Faith puts Jesus in the midst, just as Israel, at God’s Command, put the Ark in the midst, which was a Type of Christ.

The “obedience” of Faith observes exactly the Word of the Lord, as Israel, in this Chapter, minutely obeyed the many Divine directions.

The “exercise” of Faith is illustrated here in that Israel had to march silently around the city day after day for six days. Such exercise develops Faith.

The “folly” of Faith, as it looks to the world, is evidenced here by Israel’s silent march, day-by-day, around the city; and by their using, instead of battering rams, trumpets made of the horns of rams! The soldiers on the walls could very well have mocked them.

The “victory” of Faith is seen in the fact that the wall fell down without the use of means that could account for its fall.

The Lord gives us victory presently on the same principles. It is always by “Faith,” but it must ever be remembered that Christ and the Cross must ever be the Object of Faith (I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and you, in any wise, keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated to the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD (Josh. 6:18-19).

The wall of Jericho was its strength; the wealth of Jericho, its security. Israel was to have no fellowship with either. As to the wall, faith was to destroy it; as to the wealth, faith was to devote it to God.

At Jericho, God and Satan were face-to-face. It was the first great battle in the Land. It was a crisis; therefore, God must be everything. The victory must be entirely wrought by Him; the spoil must be wholly His. To be sure, the Lord cannot misuse wealth, but His Children can, and, most of the time, do!

Later on, when further trained and taught, Israel could share in the spoil. So it is in the Divine life. Gifts which, at the beginning, would be a snare may, later on, be sources of legitimate joy; but only so if shared in fellowship with God. Fellowship in that which was the security of Jericho would have brought Israel into bondage to the world, just as accepting the wealth of Sodom would have robbed Abraham of his independence.

The Believer’s security is to be spiritual if he would win spiritual victory; and his confidence is not to be in the might and wisdom of man, i.e., the wall of Jericho, but in the Word, which says, “I have given Jericho into your hand.” The Lord is saying the same thing presently as it regards the “Jerichos” which seek to serve as hindrances to our Christian experience.

Let it ever be understood:

Victory can only be won in God’s Way, which is the “Way of the Cross.”

Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is Crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“but the Children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the Children of Israel (Josh. 7:1).

Israel had won a great victory regarding Jericho. The victory, of course, belonged to the Lord. The Believer, however, as Joshua, is sometimes caught off guard after a great victory. It is easy at such a time to be overconfident, and, thereby, to forget prayer. Had Joshua prayed about Ai, sin would immediately have been discovered and defeat avoided.

A hidden sin was the cause of Israel’s defeat at Ai. God had given the Command that none of the “treasure” of Jericho was to be taken by the people; all of it was to be dedicated to the treasury of the Lord. Achan had disobeyed that Command and had taken for himself some silver, gold, and a Babylonian garment (Josh. 7:21).

In the life of victory, God is the One and Only strength of the Believer. We have no other strength. But God cannot give that strength if we indulge in sin. If He did, He would deny His Own Nature, which is Holiness. When He acts in power in the midst of His People, He must act in harmony with His Own Nature; hence, He must judge sin in the camp of Israel with the same “fierce anger” with which He judged it in the city of Jericho. In both cases, that Judgment was death.

But if the judgment and discovery of sin be painful, and if there be faithfulness in dealing with it, then Grace gives both blessing and victory, and the valley of Achor becomes a “Door of Hope” (Hos. 2:15).

The valley of Achor was where Achan was executed for his sin and his refusal to repent, until forced by Joshua. Sin should be feared, and extremely so, but neither its bitterness nor its punishment should be dreaded; for if it is dealt with correctly, by confessing it to the Lord, then, as stated, the “valley of Achor,” which had been a valley of death, now becomes a “Door of Hope” (I Jn. 1:9).

The Christian fails when the Christian gets his eyes off Christ and the Cross and onto self, which denies such a one the help of the Holy Spirit. That being the case, the person is to be restored by telling them “why” they failed, and how, once again, to resume the road of victory, i.e., Christ and the Cross (Gal. 6:1).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“then Joshua built an Altar unto the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal (Josh. 8:30).

There were two mountains in Israel, actually in the midst of the country, which were to be dedicated to the Lord. One was Mount Ebal, which was the Mount of Cursing; the other was Mount Gerizim, which was the Mount of Blessing. Both stood side by side (Deut., Chpts. 27-28).

The Lord commanded Joshua to build an Altar on Mount Ebal, which was, as stated, the Mount of Sin and the Judgment of Cursing. The Altar pictured Jesus and the price He would pay at Calvary’s Cross. The Altar was to be built of “whole stones,” which meant that no tool was to embellish the Altar, which means that Calvary and what it stands for is never to be changed.

Unfortunately, the modern Church is attempting to build an Altar, that is, if it recognizes the Altar at all, on Mount Gerizim, the Mount of Blessing.

But let it ever be understood:

There can be no Blessing until we recognize that our problem is sin, typified by Mount Ebal, and that the only answer to sin is the Cross of Christ.

Unfortunately, we presently have “Blessing Churches” and “Cursing Churches.” To major in either one to the exclusion of the other is wrong. The Church that is Biblical will understand that sin is the problem and the “Altar” is the answer. That being done, the “Blessing” will abundantly follow! Otherwise, there is no Blessing!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make you a league with us. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them (Josh. 9:6, 15).

The Gibeonites, which were inhabitants of the land of Canaan, deceived Joshua and the Elders of Israel into believing that they were from a far country and that a covenant of peace should be made with them. And so it was. But after three days, Israel found out that the Gibeonites were instead only a short distance away. However, Israel had sworn to protect them; irrespective of the deception, Israel must keep her oath (Josh. 9:18).

Several things here were wrongly done. In the first place, the Scripture says that Joshua made peace with them because he believed them without “asking counsel at the mouth of the LORD” (Josh. 9:14). This tells us that we must pray about everything. In other words, we cannot trust the flesh, which speaks of mere human wisdom, to do anything right. It is incumbent upon the Child of God to seek the Lord about anything and everything, irrespective as to how small it, at first, may seem to be. We must have His Leading and Guidance in all things (Jn. 16:18).

Second, the Gibeonites practiced deception, which was wrong. Had they come to Joshua and the Elders of Israel in humble supplication, the evidence is they would have been spared. This is proven by the place and position given to them by the Lord.

When most people come to the Lord, however, they little come for the correct and the right reasons. But yet, if faith is evidenced, God always honors it, no matter how misplaced, at least for the person coming to Christ. As an example, almost no believing sinner comes to Christ as a result of love for the Lord, but rather because they fear Hell, etc.

But Grace triumphed over the folly of the Gibeonites, which it always does. The Gibeonites became the Nethinim. This word means “given,” i.e., devoted to the Sanctuary of Jehovah. Their lives were spared because the Princes of Israel had taken an oath to them in the Name of Jehovah. But, because of their deceit, they were condemned to be drawers of water to the House of the Lord. They were not condemned to domestic slavery to the Israelites, but to bondage to “the congregation.” This meant they were to make certain the Brazen Laver was always filled with water and there always was wood for the Brazen Altar.

Grace, therefore, brought them into the Glory and Joy of Psalms 84:10. It also instructed David to appoint them to high positions in the Temple (Ezra 8:20). Later on, they were carried away captive with Israel; however, they were among the first to return with Ezra and Nehemiah, pledging themselves to keep the Statutes given by God to Moses (Ezra 2:43-58; Neh. 8:60). We last read of them (Neh. 3:26; 10:28; 11:21) making their home outside the watergate of Jerusalem.

Why the watergate?

Because, by being near the water supply, they could more readily discharge the honorable bondage to which Joshua had condemned them, i.e., of being drawers of water to the Temple of Jehovah. Thus, a curse, justly pronounced by Law, becomes, by Grace, a blessing.

And so it does with us all, and all made possible by Jesus and His Sacrificial, Atoning Death.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into your hand; there shall not a man of them stand before you (Josh. 10:8).

Gibeon had made peace with Joshua, although under somewhat devious circumstances. But yet Joshua was bound to defend them. When anyone makes peace with the Divine Joshua, he brings upon himself the anger of those who had once been his friends and companions. Thus it was with Gibeon.

Five kings formed a confederation against Gibeon, not understanding, I suppose, that Joshua would come to their rescue. But to their help he would go; he would, in fact, win a tremendous victory, because the Lord had given him instructions. Not only did the Lord use Joshua and his army, giving them superhuman strength, but “the Lord cast down great stones from Heaven upon them” (Josh. 10:11). These were hailstones, which wreaked havoc among the enemy. But the greatest miracle was yet to come!

The day was far spent, and the victory had not yet been won. Joshua asked the Lord for one of the greatest miracles that had ever been performed, and that was for the Earth to stop in its rotation. He said, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in valley of Ajalon.”

Hebrew Scholars point out that the words, “stand still,” and “midst” are defective translations. The word “Sun” is to be understood as “sunlight,” as in many other Passages in the Bible. “Stand still” should be translated “remain”; “midst” means the “half of,” i.e., the horizon, for so they spoke in those days.

The hill of Gibeon at the moment when Joshua spoke was behind him to the east, and the sun was setting in front of him to the west. It was evening and a continuance of the daylight was needed in order to complete the victory. What Joshua said may, therefore, be thus expressed in modern English: “Sun, keep shining upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon!” And the sunlight remained and the moonlight continued, until the people of God had avenged themselves on their enemies.

God is a miracle-working God; He will do the same presently for all who believe Him!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them (Josh. 10:24).

The placing of the foot on the head or neck of someone speaks of total dominion. There is but one way to deal with sin and that is to place the triumphant foot of faith upon its neck, putting it to death. It is impossible to come to terms with sin, just as, in the Judgment of God, it was impossible for Israel to improve these five kings. Man, in his folly, tries to improve what is opposed to God; but the failure of his effort ever reveals its foolishness.

Sin, in some way, is ever the problem of humanity. The solution to the sin problem, and there is only one solution, is the Cross of Christ (Rom. 8:1-2, 11). Man keeps trying to improve self, and the Church leads the way.

Let it ever be understood:

Self cannot improve self. It is impossible!

While self definitely needs to be improved, it can only be accomplished by the Power and Person of the Holy Spirit.

And how do we get Him to carry out this necessary work within our hearts and lives, which, in effect, is the development of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23)?

Let us say it again:

One cannot come to terms with sin, not in any capacity. It must be totally and completely defeated and put out of our lives, typified here by the feet of God’s warriors being placed on the necks of these enemies.

The method? There is only one.

“For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is ‘God’s Prescribed Order of Victory’) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., ‘the way the Spirit works’) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (anytime Paul uses this term, or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this ‘life’ possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of sin and death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the ‘Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus’ alone is stronger than the ‘Law of sin and death’; if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure” (Rom. 8:2).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them (Josh. 10:24).

The placing of the foot on the head or neck of someone speaks of total dominion. There is but one way to deal with sin and that is to place the triumphant foot of faith upon its neck, putting it to death. It is impossible to come to terms with sin, just as, in the Judgment of God, it was impossible for Israel to improve these five kings. Man, in his folly, tries to improve what is opposed to God; but the failure of his effort ever reveals its foolishness.

Sin, in some way, is ever the problem of humanity. The solution to the sin problem, and there is only one solution, is the Cross of Christ (Rom. 8:1-2, 11). Man keeps trying to improve self, and the Church leads the way.

Let it ever be understood:

Self cannot improve self. It is impossible!

While self definitely needs to be improved, it can only be accomplished by the Power and Person of the Holy Spirit.

And how do we get Him to carry out this necessary work within our hearts and lives, which, in effect, is the development of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23)?

Let us say it again:

One cannot come to terms with sin, not in any capacity. It must be totally and completely defeated and put out of our lives, typified here by the feet of God’s warriors being placed on the necks of these enemies.

The method? There is only one.

“For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is ‘God’s Prescribed Order of Victory’) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., ‘the way the Spirit works’) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (anytime Paul uses this term, or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this ‘life’ possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of sin and death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the ‘Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus’ alone is stronger than the ‘Law of sin and death’; if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure” (Rom. 8:2).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms (Josh. 11:10).

Hazor was the center of power for this area. Conventional wisdom would propose to make it the seat of the new government, so that it should be that for God which it previously had been for the world — “for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.” But God will in no wise allow this seat of power to become that of His People. They were to depend exclusively on Him, thereby allowing Him to lead them accordingly.

So Hazor is to be totally destroyed. Not a vestige of its former power must remain to compete with Gilgal, where the Lord then resided. The center and source of power must be all Divine. At that time, Joshua also destroyed the Anakims, who were giants, actually the product of the union of fallen angels and women (Gen. 6:4).

The Believer must ever understand that God demands nothing less than total victory. Every work of the flesh must be subdued and destroyed. This can be done only by the Believer placing his Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ, which then gives the Holy Spirit great latitude to work within our lives. What is impossible for us is totally possible for Him. He is God!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the Children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the
west . . . which Joshua gave unto the Tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions . . . all the kings thirty and one (Josh. 12:7, 24).

On the wilderness side of Jordan, Israel conquered only two kings; on the Canaan side, thirty-one. So it is in the Christian life. Those who are satisfied to stop short of claiming and enjoying all the exceeding great and precious promises of the New Covenant win but few victories over sin, self, and the world, but those who go on into a perfect Faith, which is Faith in Christ and the Cross, win many victories.

It is encouraging and touching to read of these thirty-one victories so definitely and individually recorded. There were not just thirty victories, but thirty-one. Each victory was important in the eye of God and precious to the heart of God, however uninteresting and small it might appear to man. No victory over the enemy is small to God’s mind. The broken numbers in Scriptures, for example, the number of the firstborn of Israel, the number of David’s mighty men, the number in the net of John, Chapter 21, etc., form a profitable Bible subject for study.

All victory is found in the Cross, and the Cross alone (Rom. 6:3-14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, You are old and stricken in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed (Josh. 13:1).

Joshua was now about 100 years old.

The first seven, and perhaps the first twelve, Verses of this Chapter are the very words of Him Who said, “In My Father’s House are many mansions.” He here pointed out to His People the “very much land” that He had prepared for them. He desired to make them understand and know all that He had given them. He had a Perfect Plan for them, as He has for His Own today. There was nothing uncertain in His arrangements, but, on the contrary, everything was orderly and well defined.

The fact that these Verses are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ makes them especially precious to the Christian, while, to the ordinary reader, they are uninteresting. The sad word, “nevertheless” (13:13), expresses man’s response to the exceeding Great and Precious Promises of the preceding Verses. Such is also the sad condition of most Believers presently. All spiritual blessings are ours in the Heavenlies in Christ, but how few of these are really possessed and enjoyed!

There is a difference between the Gifts of God and receiving and enjoying those Gifts; and, accordingly, how many enemies remain unsubdued in the hearts of Believers.

Please allow me to state that which we have stated again and again:

All that the Lord has for us can never be realized unless we make the Cross of Christ the Object of our Faith. If we try to possess these “Promises” by carnal means, it cannot be done!

As we have repeatedly said, the Holy Spirit Alone can make real to us the victories already won by Jesus Christ, and He ever does so by the Cross and our Faith in that
Finished Work (I Cor. 1:18).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakims were there, and the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance . . . And the land had rest from war (Josh. 14:12-13, 15).

This Chapter is one of sunshine, simply because it is one of faith. In the midst of unbelief registered by all of the Tribes at one time or the other, Caleb’s faith shines like the sun. His was a Divine Faith. Such a faith overcomes the world; and, accordingly, he claims the great mountains for a possession; he not only expels giants from thence, but even Arba, the greatest of the giants (14:15). Such was the energy of faith in the heart of this man! The result was that Kirjath-arba — that is, the city of Arba — became Hebron — that is, “fellowship”; and the land had rest from war, for whenever there is faithfulness, there is rest.

Thus, Caleb, who was a slave on the plains of Egypt, became a prince upon the mountains of Hebron.

Giant sins entrenched on strong mountains cannot be dislodged by the religious ingenuity of man, but only by a Faith that is born of God. Such Faith, at least Faith that is honored by God, must ever have the correct object, which always is the Cross of Christ. There is only one answer for the evil passions with which Satan would afflict us, and that is the Cross.

That’s the reason that Paul said, “But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8).

Paul’s Gospel was “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“as for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the Children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day (Josh. 15:63).

Judah, being the Royal Tribe, and Joseph, having the Birthright which was forfeited by Reuben, were the first to receive their portions in the Promised Land. It is delightful to read of this apportionment. When God enriches His People, everything is real, substantial, and definite. He gives largely; and His Blessings may, without fear of disappointment, be counted just as this Chapter records the 116 cities given to Judah.

But a life of Blessing with God has definite borders, just as the lot of Judah had its Divinely marked boundaries. It is important that God should choose a lot in life for each one of His People, and that they should be satisfied with that lot and its limitations.

Achsah’s faith and intelligence were admirable. So sure was she that the South Land given to her by her father was really hers, and would not be taken from her by the Canaanite, that she asked for springs of water to make that land fertile. Her father, gladdened by such faith and intelligence, gave her more than she asked. Even a South Land needs springs of water. Therefore, without the Holy Spirit the most happily circumcised life, or gifted Ministry, must be alike barren. If men give good gifts unto their children, as Caleb did to Achsah, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him! (15:16-19; Lk. 11:13).

Man, however valued, is never perfect, and, therefore, Jerusalem remained in the power of the Jebusite until David, a type of Israel’s Mighty King, captured it. In how many lives is found a fortress opposed to Christ’s government, which ought to have been conquered at the beginning? (Williams)”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“when they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the Children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them (Josh. 19:49).

Several things are said here which open to us the possibilities of great things given by the Lord. They are:

1. “They gave him the city which he asked”: We have not, because we ask not, and, all too often, we ask out of covetousness rather than asking in the Will of God (James 4:2-3). And yet Jesus told us, “Ask, and it shall be given
you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Lk. 11:9).

2. “According to the Word of the Lord”: The Elders of Israel found that it was God’s Will for Joshua to be given that for which he asked. “The Word of the Lord” should ever be the criteria. If it’s promised in the Word, then we can have it.

3. “Even Timnath-Serah in Mount Ephraim”: “Timnath” means “portion that remains,” and “Serah” means “city of the sun.” So, in effect, Joshua was asking for the “portion that remains.”

Too many Believers are satisfied with the status quo. They never push on for the “portion that remains,” and thereby miss out on so much. It is ironical! The Lord made the sun stand still for Joshua (the rotation of the Earth ceased for a period of time), and “Serah” means “city of the sun.”

4. “And he built the city, and dwelt therein”: The Lord seldom gives us a city, so to speak, that is already built and ready. He gives us instead the Promise, and then we are to build whatever it is that is designated, which oftentimes requires the expulsion of the enemy. This is done in order that our Faith may be strengthened.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“and the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the Tribe of the Children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the Children of Judah (Josh. 19:1).

There was a reason that Simeon’s inheritance in Canaan was within the inheritance of Judah.

Simeon, because of his misconduct (Gen. 34:25-29), was under a curse (Gen. 49:5-7). So, whenever the Tribe of Simeon came into the Land of Canaan, which was about 250 years later, because of this curse, Simeon has no inheritance. Judah, which was given the largest inheritance of all, shared with Simeon.

Such is a perfect example of the lost sons of Adam’s fallen race. The whole of humanity was, and is, to a certain extent, under a curse, all brought on by the Fall in the Garden of Eden. However, our Heavenly Judah (Jesus came from the Tribe of Judah) has such a bountiful inheritance that He has consented to share with us. And so, our inheritance is now within the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul said, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ . . .” (Rom. 8:17). Thus it was that Simeon, justly doomed to wrath, was taken up in Grace — the curse being turned into a blessing, which the Lord Alone can do — and given a seat among the sons at the King’s table; for the Lord, as stated, sprang out of Judah (Heb. 7:14).

Simeon was saved by Grace, not by works. The name means “hearing.” The Holy Spirit in Galatians 3:2 contrasts salvation by “doing” and Salvation by “hearing,” and teaches that only upon the latter principle can sinners be given a portion in the Heavenly Canaan.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

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Your Word for Today

“speak to the Children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spoke unto you by the hand of Moses (Josh. 20:2).

The cities of refuge were six in number; three westward of Jordan, and three eastward.

Hebrews 6:18 sets forth Christ as the City of Refuge for sinners guilty of His Blood; and the six cities appointed by Joshua display, by the meaning of their names, something of the sufficiency of that Saviour. For in Him is found: “Holiness” (Kadesh), “Strength” (Shechem), “Fellowship” (Hebron), “Safety” (Bezer), “Uplifting” (Ramoth), and “Happiness” (Golan).

God puts Holiness first and Happiness last. Man reverses this.

The individual who accidentally kills someone could flee to one of these Cities of Refuge. He was to remain there until the death of the High Priest, when he could then go free. The Avenger of Blood, one of the relatives of the individual killed, symbolized the Law. It demanded the death of the man-slayer.

The death of the High Priest satisfied this claim and liberated the man-slayer. Christ’s Death, not His Life, rent the Veil, and frees the sinner from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13-14). The man-slayer was then at liberty to return to his possession as a free man.

When Israel shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced, it will then be revealed to them that His Death restores them to the Land and the Family of God.

Thus, a City of Refuge stood almost at every man’s door, because these cities were scattered over Israel; but to enjoy its safety, the man-slayer had to flee thither.

There were individuals who found neither refuge in the city nor liberty in the death of the High Priest. It was the murderer by intention. Sinners who flee to Jesus prove, by doing so, that they are not willingly guilty of His Blood; and they, therefore, find in Him both safety and liberty. But sinners who refuse thus to seek mercy in Him demonstrate, by their refusal, that they are verily guilty of His Death; and for these individuals there is no Salvation (Williams).

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

[iLOVE]

Your Word for Today

“and the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron (Judg. 1:19)

Clearly and plainly, the Scripture says, “The Lord was with Judah.” But yet Judah failed to take advantage of the might and power of the Lord, which could have helped them do anything. While “chariots of iron” may have been a formidable obstacle to Judah, they were nothing to the Lord. But yet Judah did not depend entirely on the Lord as they should have, and the enemy remained.

They looked at the “chariots of iron” instead of looking at the “Arm of the Lord,” and so became the miserable bondmen of those whom they should have utterly destroyed. They first permitted to remain in their midst the inhabitants of the land, and then, very soon, became insensible of the existence of these sources of evil and misery.

Such is the sad history presently of many a Christian, and many a Church.

The faith of a weak woman, Achsah, and the courage of her cousin, Othniel (Judg. 1:12-15), are here again recorded by the Holy Spirit; they stand out in contrast to the cowardice and unbelief of the Tribes.

By the victories given to Judah, Simeon, and Manasseh, God showed what he could do for the heart that trusted Him. But the ground won by faith can only be held by faith; and very soon, therefore, the Canaanite and the Philistine recovered possession of what they had lost, which proved to be a terrible thorn in the side of Israel, and was so all the days of the Judges, a time frame of over 400 years.

We learn from Judges that the “Promise” is different than the “Possession.” The “Promise” does not contain a “Possession” free of the enemy, but, most of the time, filled with the enemy. However, as Faith claims the Promise, likewise, it must claim the Possession of the Promise.

The principle now is the same as then.

While Israel of old fought physical enemies, we today fight spiritual enemies, but, as stated, the principle is the same. The Lord has given us the Promise, but, if we do not trust Him, the “chariots of spiritual iron” will never be dispossessed.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

[iLOVE]

Your Word for Today

“and an Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break My Covenant with you. And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed My voice: why have you done this? (Judg. 2:1-2).

Actually, Verse 1 should read, “The Angel of Jehovah,” i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is not an Angel, at least as we think of such, but, at times, the Holy Spirit uses the term “Angel” to refer to God, Angels (as we know of such), and men. In this case, it is the Lord.

The doctrine of this Chapter is that God cannot give victories to the “flesh.”

“Gilgal” means “rolled away”; it refers to the reproach of the wilderness that is rolled away from the Children of Israel. It is a place of victory.

“Bochim” means “place of weeping”; it pertains to the Israelites who failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land, abjectly disobeying the Word of the Lord, hence the reason for the admonition.

The Lord would not have told Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land but that He would help them to do. With God all things are possible! The evidence, however, is that they ceased to rely on the Lord, and relied on their own ability and strength, i.e., “the flesh,” thereby, suffering defeat. So, “Bochim” is rightly called the place of weeping.

The Believer is admonished to gain the victory over all “works of the flesh.” He can do so only by one means, which is by ever evidencing Faith in Christ and what Christ has done at the Cross, all on our behalf. Then the Holy Spirit, Who is God, will give us victory after victory; however, He will not help us otherwise (Rom. 8:1-2, 11). Defeat results from unbelief, and we speak of unbelief as it regards Christ and the Cross. In fact, that’s where all unbelief centers up.

How many Believers are in a place of weeping because of defeat, which means they have tried to live this life by the means of the flesh instead of by Faith in Christ and the Cross?”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

[iLOVE]

Your Word for Today

“now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan (Judg. 3:1).

We find in this Chapter that idolatry always leads to slavery. There was first bondage to Baal; then, as a result, bondage to Shushan. However, every time they cried unto Jehovah, He raised up a Saviour for them. When they cried, He delivered — no matter how guilty they were. There was no delay. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Forgiveness immediately follows true confession.

The word “quarries” (Judg. 3:19, 26) should read “graven images.” How sad to learn (Judg. 3:19) that these idols had been set up at Gilgal, especially considering that this had been the dwelling-place of Jehovah. Gilgal pictures the broken and contrite heart in which God dwells. If He be grieved away from such an heart, it quickly becomes the home of graven images, i.e., idols.

Regrettably, the problem of “idols” did not cease with the Israelites of that time and place. They abound presently. That’s why John the Beloved said, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (I Jn. 5:21).

An “idol” is anything in which we place our faith, other than Christ and the Cross. In fact, religion is the greatest idol of all, and the doing of religion is the greatest narcotic there is. That means that everything other than Christ and the Cross leads to defeat, abject defeat! (Gal. 2:20-21; 6:14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart

 

[iLOVE]

Your Word for Today

“and the Children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the Children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the Children of Israel. And Deborah, a Prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time (Judg. 4:1-4).

This may be said to be the women’s Chapter. The faith of Deborah reached out and won a great victory; the faith of Jael destroyed a great tyrant and saved thousands from certain death.

There was one heart that did not tremble before Sisera and his nine hundred chariots of iron. She “sat as judge” under a palm tree near Bethel. Her namesake, Rebekah’s nurse, was buried there some 400 years back. This was Deborah.

Some would claim that God cannot use women in the preaching and teaching of the Gospel. However, both of these women were raised up and energized by God for their respective Ministries, as were also the great women of the Pauline Epistles. If the Scriptures be read accurately, it will be seen that God used women under the First Covenant and He continues to do so under the Second Covenant.

Under the First Covenant, the Lord used Deborah to defeat one of the mightiest heathen warriors of them all, Sisera. It says that he had “nine hundred chariots of iron.” But through the faith of this woman, his army was defeated, plus all of his chariots.

The Scripture says, “And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak” (Judg. 4:15). The word “discomfited” implies supernatural discomfiture. Jael, another woman, finished the task by driving a nail through Sisera’s temple. “So he died” (Judg. 4:21).

The Holy Spirit points, in the Scriptures, to only two women as preeminently “blessed among women.” The one was “Jael”; the other, “The Virgin Mary.” The latter is associated with the Advent of Israel’s Redeemer; the former, with the judgment of Israel’s oppressor (Judg. 5:24; Lk. 1:42).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart