Feet

Photo Credit: Ben Hartley, Unsplash.com

Feet are important. They take us where we want to go. They let us stand on a certain spot. They mark our location.

Feet are important in the Bible. The priest had to apply the blood of the sacrifice to his right big toe. There is much foot-washing to remove dust (the ground was cursed, so the feet needed to be washed to symbolically leave the curse of sin behind), and removal of sandals from feet on holy ground. The waters of the Jordan River did not part until the feet of the priests, who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant, stepped into the water.

Several times in Scripture, God’s people were told that wherever the soles of their feet would tread, that land would be given to them. Let’s look at a couple of those:

“Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. “ Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.” (Deuteronomy 11:23-25)

“ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Joshua 1:3-5)

We can see that dominion can be claimed on the land we walk on. This can be applied physically and also spiritually. The ground that you have stepped on and claimed, and won ownership of, belongs to you. If you have fought a battle with the enemy and through Jesus, you have won victory, that ground is yours. While standing on that ground, you can extend the grace and victory to others fighting that same battle. And when praying for a territory, if you walk on it and claim it for Jesus, that ground can no longer be held by the enemy, but he must fall back. Declare the authority of Jesus over that wound or struggle.

What was it that made the Jordan River part? What was it that made Israel’s enemies fear? What is it that enables us to take authority and claim ground? It is the Presence of the Lord WITH His People. He is Immanu El, God with us. And because He is with us, we can walk as His ambassadors and take the ground in victory for Him.

Let’s take this further. Jesus….Jesus, Himself, came down bodily, and walked on this earth. It was necessary for His feet to tread on the earth, to take back the land and establish His Lordship. And it is in His authority that we walk and lay claim to the ground we walk on. Where did Jesus go? He walked on the earth. He also went down to Hell and conquered sin, death and the grave. “ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev. 1:18) He also rose from the dead and walked the earth as Victor. And, He also ascended to the Throne in Heaven. And feet are still important there:

“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” (1 Cor. 15:25)

“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:21-23)

“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” (Hebrews 2:8)

Consider next, how it was only the High Priest of the tribe of Levi, who was allowed, once a year, with atonement, to enter the Holy of Holies. Only his feet could stand there, before God, only on Yom Kippur. But now, the veil is torn. Jesus, who IS the way, made the way for ALL who will, to come and stand before the Father in the most holy place. And not only once a year, but continually. And for all eternity, we will have that place.

Because we have God with us, Immanu El, Jesus, wherever we go, it is Jesus’ Spirit in us who claims the ground through our feet. And this is the basis of our authority. In Christ.

And what do the Scriptures say of OUR feet?

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (Ephesians 6:15)

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15)

So, our feet lay claim to the ground we walk on as we spread the Gospel of salvation and reconciliation across this world, and do exploits in His Name. Jesus went back to Heaven to send us the Holy Spirit, so that each of us can walk across this earth and claim the ground we walk on in His victory, as His feet, as His Body.

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Romans 16:20)

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

What are your feet accomplishing?