Calvary

Matthew 5:¹⁴ “And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.” (The Voice)

It is interesting how we took a break from our study to focus on what God was saying to us at Easter. However, Easter, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus make Higher Ground possible for believers. When we stepped into this season of higher ground, sleeping, waking up, and working, a particular song was consistently in my spirit. It is a Yoruba song, ‘Odi Jeriko ti wo lule…’ and it means the wall of Jericho has fallen. Initially, I was excited, the wall of Jericho has fallen. But when it persisted, I said to God that the season is about Higher Ground and not walls falling down. This season is about going up, so can we please change this song?

Yet when I close my eyes, the song continues. I then realized that this must be a burning bush situation, where you turn aside and see what He is saying. I turned aside and I was blown away completely by what He said! It became clear to me that when the children of Israel came into the Promised Land after crossing the Jordan, the very first city they encountered was Jericho and it was completely walled. In fact, Jericho is one of the oldest cities on Earth, according to archaeologists. The children of Israel marched round and Jericho crashed, you know that story (Joshua 6, please read). However, Jericho was the key that opened the door to the Promised Land. And it will surprise you to know, well it surprised me as though I did not know before, that the cities of the Promised Land were cities on mountains, hills, high grounds.

And I checked – Mount Gerizim, remember Mount Gerizim? That was where the blessings were called out (Deuteronomy 11:29). Mount Moriah, Mount Bethel, Mount Bental, Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel, remember Mount Carmel? Mount Ardon, Mount Gilboa. Remember Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, was a city on a hill. Mount Hebron and Jerusalem were also cities on hills. The wall of Jericho had to crash for the people of God to take their higher ground. And each of those mountains, each of those grounds is hugely significant for believers. These mountains have amazing implications for our destinies. This opened up a huge channel of study for me.

I want to encourage you to study these mountains and their significance. Interestingly, our salvation was paid for at Calvary which is described as a hill or a mountain. Matthew 5:¹⁴ “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (KJV, emphasis added). God is saying to you child of God, you are a city set on a hill, you are meant for higher ground. Every form of obscurity and mediocrity comes to an end in your life today.

Prayer: Father, I declare that I am a city set on a hill, I cannot be hid, in Jesus Name. Amen!