THE PASSOVER OF CONQUEST
THE PASSOVER OF CONQUEST
Sunday, March 23, 2025, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
I was driving down Westheimer praying about preaching on “Judges.” As is my custom, I asked the LORD multiple times what He wanted me to preach today. I was preaching away in my car.
“We the church have been given authority over the unjust judges and justice system in our nation. Jesus Christ is our Judge-Deliverer upon whom the Spirit of God came bringing our deliverance from servitude to sin and Satan.”
Suddenly my preaching was interrupted. I heard in the Spirit:
“Passover of Conquest.”
“Yes, LORD!” That is where the church is positioned as we approach the Passover season and Resurrection Sunday. You have given us back our land, our nation, our liberties, our freedoms, and our moral standard of life. You have given us a deliverer in President Donald J. Trump. You are telling us to be of good courage and possess our inheritance through the “might” of our King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, The Captain of the Hosts of the LORD.
The Passover of Conquest (Joshua 5) speaks of the preparation of God’s people for the full possession of the Kingdom. The reproach of Egypt is rolled away (slavery to anything). The enemy is afraid.
The kings of the nations knew of the mighty hand of the God of Israel who delivered them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea and now dried up the waters of Jordan so they could cross over. They were afraid of the “might” of the God of Israel.
5:1: It came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from the children of Israel; until we passed over, their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel.
The Amorites were mountain people apparently the greatest and most powerful of the Canaanites. Each nation was conquered by sovereign intervention except for Gibeon. At Gibeon, Joshua and Israel did not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
The Passover of conquest is the second time recorded in Scripture that the nation kept the Feast of Passover. There are four other times where Passovers in the Old Testament were initiated after backsliding: Gideon – Jg. 6: 20-21; David established Temple ordinances. Hezekiah (2 Chron. 2; 22-22-24) and Ezra 6:22.
Today we will only consider:
1. First great Passover was the fall of Egypt.
2. Passover of Conquest – Fall of Jericho – Promised Land was given to Israel.
3. Passover of Salvation – Jesus Christ the Passover Lamb. The conversion of the sinner by the Blood of the Lord Jesus.
4. The Passover of the Kingdom (Luke 22) – This speaks of the full deliverance of God’s people into the Kingdom (passing over into a new age).
Luke 22: Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed…they made ready the Passover…when the hour was come he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him… “I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
The First Passover includes Divine Healing and Deliverance.
The Passover of Conquest is the authority of “conquest,” possess the promise,” “destroy the works of evil.”
The Passover of Salvation (Jesus Christ) includes Divine Health and Possessing the Kingdom.
The Passover of the Kingdom includes Divine Life and Kingdom authority to rule and reign with Christ. “Until the kingdom of God shall come…”
At Tuesday Bible Study two weeks ago, I briefly touched on the Passover of Conquest and the generation born in the wilderness who had not been circumcised. This struck a chord in the Holy Spirit with the prayer team. There ensued a productive discussion and prayer for the uncircumcised generations on the earth who have not repented and turned their hearts over to Jesus Christ.
5:2: At that time the Lord said to Joshua, Make sharp knives and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
The cutting away of flesh was performed on the 8th day. New Testament circumcision is water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the token sign, and seal of the New Covenant (Rom. 4; Gal. 3).
The sharp knives are flint knives. The words “again” and the “second time” reveal the restoration of circumcision to the nation (not repeated as an act on the person, but on the nation.)
Even though the old generation was circumcised, their disobedience kept them out of the Promised Land. The old order did not see the new land. The new generation of the present day that our Lord is taking into the Kingdom must learn the truth of circumcision (the initial cutting away of the flesh). One cannot enter the Promised Land (Kingdom of God) apart from spiritual circumcision:
(1) Legally: Gal. 2: 13-14: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree. That the blessings of Abraham come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” – The finished work of Jesus Christ put away sin.)
(2) Inwardly: Rom. 2: 28-29: We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.” The work of the Holy Spirit removes a stony heart.
(3) Practically: Rom. 6: 1-14: “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Do you not know that so many of us, who were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we walk in newness of life…”
The Old Testament nation as well was exhorted to a circumcision of heart.
Deut 10:16: Circumcise the foreskin of your heart and be no more stiff-necked.
Josh. 5:7-9: Their children whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them in the Wilderness.
The Lord said to Joshua, This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
The reproach of Egypt is the malicious taunt of Ex. 32:11-12: The Lord was angry with the Israelites and told Moses he was going to consume them, but he would still make Moses a great nation. Moses prayed to the Lord saying the Egyptians would say you brought us in the wilderness for mischief to slay us in the mountains and consume us from the face of the earth? Turn from your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Your people…”
This is the reproach of Egypt which the Lord rolled away on the day of circumcision. Gilgal means “rolling away.” It became their headquarters during their campaign to conquer Canaan. (the place of the circle). Joshua 5:9: Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.
5:10-12: The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. They did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. The manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
The Passover of Conquest speaks of preparation of God’s people for the full possession of the Kingdom. The reproach of Egypt is rolled away. The enemy is afraid. Another generation is to be circumcised. The Old generation will not go into the promises of God – only Joshua and Caleb. On the 15th day (Rest) the diet is changed from the manna of the first principles to the corn of the Word. This results in a new dimension of warfare.
Jesus was a corn of wheat that fell into the ground and died. He was the Seed and the Living Word. He was planted in the earth in death and burial. He came forth in the harvest of His resurrection as the Firstfuits of them that slept.
The Manna ceased on the 16th day of the lst. month. This was the Feast of First fruits. They ate the fruit from Canaan. This was exactly 40 years from Exodus 12:41.
5:13-15: “It came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand; and Joshua went to him, and said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries? He said, Nay, but as Captain of the Host of the Lord am I now come. Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship. He said to him, What says my Lord to his servant? The Captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, Loose your shoe from off your foot; for the place whereon you stand is holy, and Joshua did so.
The Hosts of Heaven are daily in battle with the evil powers and principalities of Satan. Jude admonishes the saints in verse 3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” We must contend for the faith in worship, prayer and the Word of God. It is the power of praying saints that tip the balance.
We like Joshua must enter, overcome, and occupy God’s promises. The rending of the Jordan River corresponds to the rending of the Veil. (Heb. 10:20; 2 co. 3). This is the beginning of real spiritual warfare.
Communion today.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX . Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Principles of Present Truth by Kelly Varner. Teachings I have done on Joshua 5 and The Passover of Salvation.
www.eastgateministries.com