Mensa Otabil - Let Us Sanctify Ourselves (10/06/2025)
We’re getting close to the end of 2021, and pretty soon we’ll be welcoming a brand new year. So we are preparing our hearts for that, and we’re looking at how the children of Israel prepared to cross over into the Promised Land in Joshua chapter three.
Now let’s look at verses five and six. Joshua said to the people, «Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.» Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, «Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over before the people.» So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people.It’s fascinating to read the scripture and see the steps taken in preparation for a major event. This is a very pivotal event for Israel; they are crossing over from the wilderness after 40 years since they left Egypt to the land that God had promised to take them. Therefore, this is a very important step they are taking as they cross over.
As the day for crossing the Jordan approached, the Lord gave special instructions to Israel, and He said to them, «Sanctify yourselves, for God will do wonders among you.» Why would God say that? Because although this is a physical event-the crossing of the Jordan is physical and they are going to go over it-it’s also spiritual. God didn’t say to sharpen your swords, nor did He say to lift up your shields, which are important, but they are entering a battle that is spiritual. Thus, the preparation has to be spiritual as well.
There is a lesson we can learn here: entering a new year is physical, but there is a spiritual dimension to what is happening. Why? Because we are entering the unknown-into a new space of 306 days about which we know nothing. God must lead us, and there will be all kinds of levels of engagement. We will face spiritual warfare, we’re going to encounter battles, and we will need to push back against all kinds of negativity. We will deal with various things of which we have no clue. That is why God said to the children of Israel, «The preparation you make for crossing over is spiritual. Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you»
That is a very powerful statement. God wants to do wonders for them. God is going to give them a miracle; God is going to open the Jordan. At that time, they didn’t know how it was going to happen, but God would do it. He says the way you prepare yourself is by sanctifying yourself.So think about your life. Take stock of your life. How is your relationship with God? How are you living for God? Is there sin in your life that you need to address? Is there a bad attitude that you need to deal with? Is there more time you need to spend in the presence of the Lord?
Sanctifying yourself doesn’t necessarily mean that you have sinned; it simply means you are setting yourself apart for God. You’re giving time to God; you’re spending more time with God.I would encourage each one of you that as we prepare for the coming year, don’t wait until the New Year service on the 31st to start praying. Start sanctifying yourself now. Start talking to the Lord; start praying; start bringing your requests before the Lord. Begin to make a mental focus on the Lord, and God says if you do that, then He will do wonders among you.
I believe there will be signs and wonders for God’s people in the coming year. I believe that God will do a powerful work for you on the 31st but that will not end then; it will continue into the new year and beyond. May the Lord do wonders in your life; may He do powerful things in your life; may the Lord cause His goodness to go before you, and may everything that is an obstacle before you be opened for the glory of the Lord to be manifested in your life.
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I set myself apart for You as we approach the new year. My hope is in You; my eyes are on You; You are my help. In Jesus' name, amen.» I’ll catch you again. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.