Follow The Leader

Follow the Leader, the Walls Are Coming Down!

Prophetess Tamiko Stewart

Sunday, February 26, 2006 – Living Word Full Gospel, Rockford, Illinois

Key Verses:

Joshua 1:11 – Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three Days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord you God is giving you for your own.’

Joshua 6:15-16

15) On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.

16) The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!

For over 40 years, Israel had journeyed a circuitous route through the desert, not because they were following their leader. Quite the opposite was true – with failing faith, they had refused to obey God and to conquer Canaan. So they wandered. Finally, the new generation was ready to cross the Jordan and posses the land. Having distinguished himself as a man of faith and courage (he and Caleb gave the minority spy report in Number 13:30 – 14:14:9), Joshua was chosen to be Moses successor. This book records Joshua’s leadership of the people of God as they finished their march and conquer the promised land.

Joshua was a brilliant military leader and a strong spiritual influence. But the key to his success was his submission to God. When God spoke, Joshua listened and obeyed. Joshua’s obedience served as a model. As a result, Israel remained faithful to God throughout Joshua’s lifetime.

I wonder do we have any Joshua’s willing to be faithful and obedient to God?

I not talking about the people with the Burger King mentality, wanting to have it your way!

Joshua was committed to obeying God, and this book (Joshua) is about obedience. Whether conquering enemies or settling the land, God’s people were required to do it God’s way.

In a final message to the people, Joshua underscored the importance of obeying God. “So be very careful to love the Lord your God” (23:11), and “choose for yourself this day whom you will serve……….But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (24:15). We should make a fresh commitment to Obey God today. Decide to follow your Lord wherever he leads and what ever it costs.

See, God already predestined and ordained for Israel to take the land. God told Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promise land (also called Canaan) and conquer it! This was not an act of imperialism or aggression, but an act of judgement.

Let’s look at some of the early passages in the Bible where God promised to give this land to the Israelites and the reasons for doing so.

Genesis 12:1-3: God promised to bless Abraham and make his descendants into a great nation.

Genesis 15:15: God would choose the right time for Israel to enter Canaan because the nations living there would be wicked and ripe for judgment (for their sin would reach full measure.)

Genesis 17:7,8: God promised to give all the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants.

Exodus 33:1-3: God promised to help the Israelites drive out all the evil nations from Canaan.

Deuteronomy 4:5-8: The Israelites were to be an example of right living to the whole world; this would not work if they intermingled with the wicked Canaanites.

Deuteronomy 7:1-5: The Israelites were to completely destroy the Canaanites altars so nothing would tempt them away from Worshipping God alone.

So you see God promised it!

In Chapter 1:1-2, After the death of Moses, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun. You and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan river into the land I am about to give to them – to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

1:5 reads, No one will be able to withstand against you in all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

See, previously the Israelites had an opportunity to enter the promised land, but they failed to trust God to give them victory. As a result, God did not allow them to enter the land, but made them wander in the desert until the disobedient generation had all died.

See, some people, some church folks, some leaders, some ministers, some aint’s are not going to be able to cross over to the promise land. They are disobedient, not faithful. They are wandering just like the children of Israel. You might ask how are they wandering? By fornicating, by committing adultery, be rebellious, worshipping Idols which can be men, women, cars, houses, jobs, positions, titles or being stuck on yourself. See, they have a form of godliness but denying the power there of. Look saved, act saved, but ain’t saved.