Taking the Land
JOSHUA 1:1-9
In Deuteronomy 34 Moses dies after the Lord lets him look at the Promised Land. After being Moses' servant for so many years, Joshua is charged by the Lord to lead the people into Canaan. The Lord needed to encourage Joshua for this great task. Why? The Promised Land was full of enemies and they were not very nice people. They would be similar to Isis in our day. Cruel barbarians. I'm sure Joshua was afraid and you would be also. Notice all the promises from the Lord to Joshua as we read this text. He needed the Lord's promises that He would be there with Him. The Lord has a plan, some land, for your life too. It is very similar to the Promised Land. Joshua's name means Jehovah saves. The same word in the New Testament is Jesus. He was a type of Christ in name and deeds as he leads his people from the wilderness into the Promised Land.
1 The Lord spoke to Joshua. Why did He speak to Joshua? Why was Joshua in the place he was in? A place of leadership and an enormous responsibility. Exodus 17:13 a warrior. Exodus 33:11. He was seeking God's presence. Numbers 14:6-9. A good report and faith in what the Lord had said He would do. Deuteronomy 34:9. A disciple of Moses and a spirit of wisdom. Are you seeking His presence? Is His Word true in your life? Are you growing in the things of the Lord? Do you want to be closer to God? Follow the call on your life!
2 Moses is dead. What happened? Disobedience. Did Joshua remember this? Yes, he did! Arise, go, cross this Jordan into the land which I AM GIVING them. The Lord's plan will happen.
3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I HAVE GIVEN it to you. God is always at work around you. He has a plan for your life. When He calls you to something and you let Him work through you, it will happen. But, we have to take a step, we have to move, we have to do something. At first, you will be all alone when you make that decision, and maybe even when you take that first step. But He will be with you and He will give you others to help you along. The farther we walk in that land, the more of it we will possess. This is also part of our sanctification as we take the land He has called us to. He shapes our character and works on our faith and obedience. Your courage will increase as you take that step, as you take that land. Now, if the Lord leads you to do something, does He want it to happen? Yes, He does, but why? Again, He develops our character, our faith, and obedience, and at the same time, He is affecting others around us and is building the Kingdom. The land can be things in your personal life like family issues, the workplace, ministry, or personal struggles.
4 The call is usually to a specific location or area. It WILL be your territory.
5 Listen to these promises. No man. Just as I have been with Moses. Did any great and mighty things happen through Moses? How encouraging would that be? BTW, Moses was 80 when God called him. It is never too late to do something for the Lord. I WILL be with you. I WILL NOT FAIL YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. When He calls you to something, He will be there with you. It will not be easy, but He will be there with you.
6 Be strong and courageous. Was Joshua afraid? Sure he was! Courage is doing something bold when you are afraid. You SHALL give these people possession of the land. The Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Jebusite. Giants too. The promised land is full of enemies! Spiritual opposition will come with the territory. Is God calling you to do something for Him? Is it scary or difficult? He doesn't call us to a comfort zone. Are you even seeking His call or leading? Will He be there with you and for you in it? Yes! Make that decision!
7 Be strong and very courageous! This is a command, not a suggestion. The book of the Law. The Bible for us. Success wherever you go. Where is our focus? God and His Word. This is for our daily lives and in the calling, in the land.
8 The Bible. Speak it. Meditate on it. Do it. THEN you WILL be prosperous and THEN you WILL have success in life and in the land He is calling you to.
9 Again, a command. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. The Lord your God IS with you wherever you go. This is where the greatest fulfillment and the greatest blessings are for your life. Others will be touched by your courage and obedience. The power of obedience. It is never just about us. Joshua was leading over a million people. If God is in it, it is important. It is big. It is part of His plan for you and the Kingdom.
Again, this applies to our lives too. These promises are for us as God's children. How do we discern the Lord's calling for us? How do we know where to take that first step? There are five good ways to help guide us. The Word. We must be reading His Word, the Bible. We must be praying for the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. Preaching many times can confirm what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us. Godly counsel. Seek advice and wisdom from your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Circumstances. Look to see where He is working around you. He will open doors for you to go through. Be sure you let Him open them. He wants to lead you. He will make a way. You do not have to break down doors if He is leading you. If you desire help in discerning His direction in your life, please contact us. We would love to help you move forward with the Lord. This also applies to TWC. We "took some land" here in Nelson and in our country and around the world in 2020. This is what the Lord is calling us to do here and we will do that again in 2021! Hopefully much more. What if this body of believers were all taking the land, were all following the call that the Lord has for them? TWC would be a great testimony to the world and it would touch many lives. People would be attracted to it. It would be exciting. It would be a great fellowship where we all could learn and grow and serve together as we build the Kingdom. It would be fun too! Let's be strong and courageous this year in our personal lives and in the life of this church. Let's take some land in Nelson and beyond this year!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Is the Lord calling you to take a step, to take some land for Him?
Do you believe these promises are for you in that land?
Are you being strong and courageous?
Are you even seeking for or listening for His calling on your life?
He WILL be there with you and for you! He will not forsake you. He wants to help you as you follow Him.
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, please do so today. He is longing to take you into the Promised Land for your life. It will not be easy, but it will be fulfilling and a great blessing for you and those around you. He will not fail you or forsake you!
In Deuteronomy 34 Moses dies after the Lord lets him look at the Promised Land. After being Moses' servant for so many years, Joshua is charged by the Lord to lead the people into Canaan. The Lord needed to encourage Joshua for this great task. Why? The Promised Land was full of enemies and they were not very nice people. They would be similar to Isis in our day. Cruel barbarians. I'm sure Joshua was afraid and you would be also. Notice all the promises from the Lord to Joshua as we read this text. He needed the Lord's promises that He would be there with Him. The Lord has a plan, some land, for your life too. It is very similar to the Promised Land. Joshua's name means Jehovah saves. The same word in the New Testament is Jesus. He was a type of Christ in name and deeds as he leads his people from the wilderness into the Promised Land.
1 The Lord spoke to Joshua. Why did He speak to Joshua? Why was Joshua in the place he was in? A place of leadership and an enormous responsibility. Exodus 17:13 a warrior. Exodus 33:11. He was seeking God's presence. Numbers 14:6-9. A good report and faith in what the Lord had said He would do. Deuteronomy 34:9. A disciple of Moses and a spirit of wisdom. Are you seeking His presence? Is His Word true in your life? Are you growing in the things of the Lord? Do you want to be closer to God? Follow the call on your life!
2 Moses is dead. What happened? Disobedience. Did Joshua remember this? Yes, he did! Arise, go, cross this Jordan into the land which I AM GIVING them. The Lord's plan will happen.
3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I HAVE GIVEN it to you. God is always at work around you. He has a plan for your life. When He calls you to something and you let Him work through you, it will happen. But, we have to take a step, we have to move, we have to do something. At first, you will be all alone when you make that decision, and maybe even when you take that first step. But He will be with you and He will give you others to help you along. The farther we walk in that land, the more of it we will possess. This is also part of our sanctification as we take the land He has called us to. He shapes our character and works on our faith and obedience. Your courage will increase as you take that step, as you take that land. Now, if the Lord leads you to do something, does He want it to happen? Yes, He does, but why? Again, He develops our character, our faith, and obedience, and at the same time, He is affecting others around us and is building the Kingdom. The land can be things in your personal life like family issues, the workplace, ministry, or personal struggles.
4 The call is usually to a specific location or area. It WILL be your territory.
5 Listen to these promises. No man. Just as I have been with Moses. Did any great and mighty things happen through Moses? How encouraging would that be? BTW, Moses was 80 when God called him. It is never too late to do something for the Lord. I WILL be with you. I WILL NOT FAIL YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. When He calls you to something, He will be there with you. It will not be easy, but He will be there with you.
6 Be strong and courageous. Was Joshua afraid? Sure he was! Courage is doing something bold when you are afraid. You SHALL give these people possession of the land. The Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Jebusite. Giants too. The promised land is full of enemies! Spiritual opposition will come with the territory. Is God calling you to do something for Him? Is it scary or difficult? He doesn't call us to a comfort zone. Are you even seeking His call or leading? Will He be there with you and for you in it? Yes! Make that decision!
7 Be strong and very courageous! This is a command, not a suggestion. The book of the Law. The Bible for us. Success wherever you go. Where is our focus? God and His Word. This is for our daily lives and in the calling, in the land.
8 The Bible. Speak it. Meditate on it. Do it. THEN you WILL be prosperous and THEN you WILL have success in life and in the land He is calling you to.
9 Again, a command. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. The Lord your God IS with you wherever you go. This is where the greatest fulfillment and the greatest blessings are for your life. Others will be touched by your courage and obedience. The power of obedience. It is never just about us. Joshua was leading over a million people. If God is in it, it is important. It is big. It is part of His plan for you and the Kingdom.
Again, this applies to our lives too. These promises are for us as God's children. How do we discern the Lord's calling for us? How do we know where to take that first step? There are five good ways to help guide us. The Word. We must be reading His Word, the Bible. We must be praying for the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. Preaching many times can confirm what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us. Godly counsel. Seek advice and wisdom from your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Circumstances. Look to see where He is working around you. He will open doors for you to go through. Be sure you let Him open them. He wants to lead you. He will make a way. You do not have to break down doors if He is leading you. If you desire help in discerning His direction in your life, please contact us. We would love to help you move forward with the Lord. This also applies to TWC. We "took some land" here in Nelson and in our country and around the world in 2020. This is what the Lord is calling us to do here and we will do that again in 2021! Hopefully much more. What if this body of believers were all taking the land, were all following the call that the Lord has for them? TWC would be a great testimony to the world and it would touch many lives. People would be attracted to it. It would be exciting. It would be a great fellowship where we all could learn and grow and serve together as we build the Kingdom. It would be fun too! Let's be strong and courageous this year in our personal lives and in the life of this church. Let's take some land in Nelson and beyond this year!
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Is the Lord calling you to take a step, to take some land for Him?
Do you believe these promises are for you in that land?
Are you being strong and courageous?
Are you even seeking for or listening for His calling on your life?
He WILL be there with you and for you! He will not forsake you. He wants to help you as you follow Him.
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, please do so today. He is longing to take you into the Promised Land for your life. It will not be easy, but it will be fulfilling and a great blessing for you and those around you. He will not fail you or forsake you!
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