Many Christians, including me, are not walking in the place where God can work through them to enforce what Jesus has already obtained for us – total and complete victory over Satan and his demonic kingdom.
One of the primary reasons why we are not “doing the works Jesus did” – and I’m not even talking about the “greater” – is because we don’t see ourselves as God and Jesus see us.
The Holy Spirit brought this point home to me recently as I was reading the first chapter of the book of Joshua. He showed me how Joshua, even though he knew that he would be the one to lead Israel after Moses, was still “mentally unprepared” to lead them to the Promised Land when that day arrived.
Today, Christians are “mentally unprepared” to enter their Promised Land and receive the inheritance their Father gave them before the foundations of the world. Turn with me to Ephesians, chapter one. We’re going to read verses 3-5.
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
(4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Let’s begin in Deuteronomy 34. Moses has just finished blessing the 12 tribes of Israel. God tells him in verse 4 that the land He has promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the land of promise – Moses would see in a vision but he would not enter into it. God is repeating what He has already told Moses in Deuteronomy 32:52. We’re going to read verse 5: So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
Moses is called “the servant of the Lord” 18 times. “Servant” is the word evedh (doulos in the Greek). It’s a term used with great honor in reference to those who serve God. Moses is the example from the O. T. of what it means to be God's servant. He spoke to God. He reasoned with God. He even reminds God that before He wipes Israel off the face of the earth, that they were the people He had chosen. Why could he talk to God this way? Verse 10 tells us why.
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.
Exodus 33:11 says “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
Psalms 103:7 says “He [the Lord] made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.”
In Deuteronomy 34, let’s read verses 6-12. If you’re taking notes, you may want to write Numbers 27:15-23 after we read verse 9.
(6) And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.
(7) And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
(8) And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping andmourning for Moses were ended.
(9) And Joshua the son on Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.
(10) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
(11) In all the sings and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
(12) And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
Verse 6 says the Lord buried Moses. The Lord loved Moses so much that he honored Moses by burying him himself. Do you see this? The Lord buried Moses. No other prophet was given such an honor. Even though the Lord wouldn’t allow him to inhabit the Promised Land, he showed all of Israel what he thought of Moses. He was telling Israel, “I’m going to show you how special Moses really was. You are not going to bury him. I am.”
Now turn with me to Joshua 1. We’re going to read verses 1 and 2.
(1) Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spoke unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
(2) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over the Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
In verse 1, Joshua is now Israel’s leader. But he still hasn’t come to grips with Moses’ death. The period of mourning was over and he hadn’t taken charge of Israel. Joshua knew that he would be Moses’ successor. Israel knew it. But now the day has arrived. It was time for Joshua to do what he had been prepared to do – what he had been called to do – what he was capable of doing.
In verse 2 the Lord has to remind Joshua that Moses is dead and that he is now looking to Joshua to stand up and be the man. When the Lord says “Moses my servant is dead”, it’s as if he’s taking Joshua by the shoulders and shaking him to get his attention. “Moses my servant is dead Joshua! He’s not coming back! I’ve buried him! Now get up. Arise (stand up and be the man).
What this means to us today:
When Jesus was on earth, he did everything his Father told him to do. God worked through him. He healed the lame. He gave sight to the blind. He raised the dead. He cast out devils. Jesus was God’s beloved. Jesus pleased God. Now he no longer physically walks the earth. Jesus told us that we would have to enforce what he has accomplished. In John 14:12 Jesus says “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do, ye shall do also; and greater than these shall he do; because I go unto my father.”
In this O. T. example, God is telling us that “Jesus, my beloved son, the obedient son, the anointed son is no longer here. He’s gone! Now get up. Stand up and be the man and woman I have called you to be. My people need you. I need you.” Do you see this? Just like Joshua, we have a job to do – a job that we are capable of doing.
Let’s continue with verses 3 and 4.
(3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
(4) 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.
The Lord reminds Joshua that He’s kept His promise to Israel through him. He tells Joshua that the promise has already been kept! Joshua didn’t see it this way and that’s why God made sure that Joshua understood it the same way He did.
What this means to us today:
Christians are still waiting for God to keep His promise – whether it is healing, prosperity, peace, etc. They’re still waiting for deliverance that became theirs the moment they got born again. Like Joshua, we must take what is already ours.
Now look at verse 5: 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.
This is a power packed verse. God tells Joshua: (1) “No one will be able to defeat you as long as you live”; (2) “I’ll be with you just like I was with Moses”; and (3) “I’ll be faithful to you just like I was faithful to Moses.” The Lord is telling Joshua that, “if you’ll let me, I’ll be as close to you as I was to Moses. I’ll exalt you in the eyes of the people like I did Moses. But you’ll have to let me do this.”
What this means to us today:
During his time on earth, Jesus lived victoriously. Even in death, he was victorious. That’s available to us today. We can, from this day forward, walk in complete victory in every aspect of our lives. That’s a promise from the word. Just like God was with Jesus and never forsook him, He is with us and never forsakes us. We are the ones who do the forsaking. We’re the ones who walk away from the promises of God by our words and our actions.
God desires to be as close to us as he was to Jesus. He desires the same relationship with us that he had with Jesus. But we have to make room for him. We have to make ourselves available to him.
Let’s continue with verse 6: Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
“Be strong and of a good courage” – One writer says it this way: “Have courage, then, play the man!” The Lord was telling Joshua to be confident and peaceful about the task ahead. How could Joshua be confident and peaceful? God had just told him that He would be with him just like He was with Moses and that He would always be by his side.
What this means to us today:
The Lord is telling us that as long as we put our total, complete and unwavering trust in him, we can be confident and peaceful about the task ahead of us. And what is our task?
Hold your fingers here and turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5. We’re going to read verses 17-21.
(17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.
(18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
(19) To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
(20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
(21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The words reconcile and reconciling means “to repair and restore the relationship, return to the original intent.”
Now turn back to Joshua 1:7. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
God reiterates to Joshua the need for absolute confidence and trust in him. Why? So that he could do everything Moses had commanded him to do. If Joshua stayed on the path Moses laid out, he would always prosper in everything. The word prosper means “to be prudent, i.e. act with insight, understanding and devotion.” Joshua will prosper in every area of his life as long as he’s following Moses’ commandments.
What this means to us today:
Jesus left us commandments which we receive by staying in his presence. The analogy Jesus used in John 15 was “vine” and “branches” and the need for the branches to abide in the vine. Jesus was plugged into the Father and prospered in everything. The prosperity he demonstrated was what would be available to us as members of the kingdom of God.
Verse 8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
One writer puts it this way: “The law thou has in writing must govern every utterance of thine.” The word meditate means “to mutter, to speak (talk to yourself).” Spending time meditating God’s word and confessing what the word says about us are keys to our prosperity and to our success. And our prosperity and success are based on our relationship with the one who will be with us like He was with Jesus. It’s based upon our relationship with the one who promised never to fail us (let us down, disappoint us, embarrass us) or forsake us (turn his back on us).
Notice the progression in this verse: (1) God’s word is to determine what we say and how we say it. (2) We speak the word to ourselves. (3) Our way becomes prosperous. (4) We’ll have good success.
Verse 9: Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
After God gets Joshua’s attention, He tells him for the third time – “Be strong and of a good courage.” But God also adds two new things: (1) Be not afraid (tremble or dread) and (2) Neither be thou dismayed (be shattered, scared, not paralyzed by fear). Why were these added by the Lord? “For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
This verse makes it clear why God talks to Joshua the way he does. Moses is dead and Joshua is afraid and lacks the confidence he needs to lead Israel even though he is named Moses’ successor nearly a year earlier. Again, it’s one thing to know that at some point you’ll be the Man. It’s quite another when that day arrives.
What this means to us today:
Many of us understand what Joshua is feeling. We understand what it’s like to feel inadequate to fulfill our calling in the body. We understand that Jesus is no longer here physically and that we are to act in his stead. And quite frankly, some of us are scared to death. What if I pray for someone and nothing happens? What if I command a demon to leave and it doesn’t? What if? What if? What if?
In this record from Joshua 1, God is telling us not to be afraid and consumed with the “what ifs” that life will throw at us. His command is simple: Be confident. Be at peace. Keep your thoughts focused on my word. Meditate on my word. Speak my word. Fear nothing. Don’t be swayed by what you see and what you feel. I’m with you. When you’re obeying me, I’m with you everywhere you go and I’m ready to give you everything you need to be prosperous and successful.
Praise God!
