THIS LAND IS OUR LAND
JOSHUA 1:1-9
In our day, there are many misunderstandings surrounding the Christian life-----a trip to the local Christian book store confirms this accusation-----the shelves are lined up with books that talk about how to make the Christian life easier and more acceptable to the world
--------Numerous preachers have moved into the realm of the prosperity gospel--------and their following is growing immensely
Folks we need to understand what God is saying to us here in these verses--------and understand that when we become children of God that we entered a spiritual battle with our enemy
----------but as we will notice------God wants us to be victorious and He has already given us the victory-------all we have to do is be strong and courageous and claim the spiritual land that God has given us and the victory is ours
I Corinthians 15:57----“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Notice v. 1 & 2----Now as we look at the book of Joshua we see that Moses, the great leader has died and a new leader named Joshua has been appointed to lead the nation of Israel into Canaan -the promised land
We see the book of Joshua is a record of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land
Now remember that the Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years----because the their lack of faith and disobedience---------expound
-------Joshua and Caleb was the only two of that generation that was still living------and was going to be able to enter the promised land
----because they were the only two of the 12 spies that believed God
The book of Joshua can teach us much about obtaining spiritual victory in our lives today
-----now some refer to Canaan as Heaven----but that is now really what God is trying to help us to see--------He is talking about a Spiritual land
-----In heaven there will be no more wars, enemies, suffering or death and there will not be 2 ½ tribes of God’s people who don’t want to go
Canaan is not a typolgoy of Heaven----but it is a picture of the life of victory that is available to every child of God
I Corinthians 10:11
-----------The word example means type--------------you see the land of Canaan is a type of land that we are to possess
Now understanding that God is speaking to us just as much as He was to Joshua------let’s look and see what He is saying
I)---A Call from God—v. 1-9
A)—A call to claim the Land—v. 1-4
In these verses —Joshua is reminded that the Lord has already given the land of Canaan to the children of Israel--------Joshua is commanded to lead the people into Canaan to claim the land that they had been promised by the Lord
God reminds Joshua that they had the land----all they had to do was claim it
Ephesians 1:3-----------Not physical (as the land)—But spiritual blessings
—every spiritual blessing is already ours in Christ----all we have to do is receive them
Heavenlies—refers to that spiritual realm of blessings now-----not talking about Heaven
Compare Joshua 1:3-----and Ephesians 1:3
------The land of Canaan was given to God’s people to enjoy but they must possess it
-----the land of spiritual blessings are given for every Christian to enjoy them----but in turn they must go and possess it as well
Now we must understand that the land is a land of spiritual battles for the believers victory--------you see the land is not only blessings but battles------their enemy was there----------------same with our spiritual land
Ephesians 6:11 & 12
Good news----you never have to be defeated in your spiritual battles
-----same promise for us that was for Joshua---------but we must be obedient and courage and put on our Spiritual warfare
----you never have to be defeated in your spiritual battles
-----same promise for us that was for Joshua---------but we must be obedient and courage and put on our Spiritual warfare
Christians so often are defeated----they struggle with sin, for all intents and purposes are wandering around in a spiritual wilderness --------when it doesn’t have to be that way
God has a place of victorious living which He has promised you and I
---------You see—I believe with all of my heart that God did not save you and me to see us defeated
B)—A call to have confidence in the Lord–v. 5-6 & 9
Joshua is reminded of some very precious promises in these verses
----notice what God promises him:
1)—V. 5----The promise of Victory over every enemy
2)—v. 5----The Promise of the presence and power fo God
3)—v. 5----The promise of the faithfulness of God
4)—v. 6----The promise of absolute victory
5)—v. 6----The promise of God to keep His promises
What did Joshua have to do to make these things happen?-----Just one thing----Trust God was going to give him the victory-----you all he had to do was be obedient to God because of his trust in God
These things were going to happen-----and for Joshua to be part of it—all he had to do was have faith in God
-----same for us-----trust His promises
we must believe God if we are going to have His victory
C)—A call to carry out the Law—v. 7-8
The Lord tells Joshua that if he is to lead the people of God to rest in Canaan----then he must take heed to the law of God----
-------notice what God told Joshua and remember this applies to us today as well
1)—He was to keep the law—v. 7
He was to do everything the law said to do------live according to the Word of God
2)—He was to meditate on the Law—v. 8
3)—He was to prosper by honoring the Law—v. 7 & 8
is there a lesson for us this morning?-----if you want to live in Christian victory today-----you too must develop a love for the Word of God
Psalm 1
If you do not have a love for the Word of God—then your spiritual life will be weak and ineffective
-----but if you do then you are well on your way to claiming your Canaan and entering into your spiritual victory
D)—A Call to courage in Leadership—v. 6a, 7a, 9a
3 times God encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous
------these words carry the idea of standing firm and strong in the face of opposition
-------God’s challenge to Joshua is for him to stand
Folks there is just as great a need for people to stand for the Lord now as there was in the days of Joshua
------attorney General Ashcroft------they trying to stop his morning Bible studies
We need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:58----“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord”
Notice v. 9----this command was based on who the Lord God is, not on who Joshua was---------based on God’s protection and care, Joshua had nothing to fear
II)—The Challenge from Joshua—v. 10-15
After Joshua receives his challenge from the Lord----without hesitation, he goes to the people and tells them that the time has come to take their land
First he challenges the nation as a whole and then he addresses a specific group within the nation of Israel
A)—A challenge to readiness—v. 10-11
Joshua tells the people to get ready to go into Canaan and claim the land
--------now remember they had been waiting for 40 yrs.
Exodus 16:35
God told them to prepare them some food------the manna was going to stop
----the manna was desert diet----now they were about to move up to a whole new level--------------folks that’s what God wants for all of us
God wants all of His people in the land the He has given them----He wants them to continue to move on up to new levels
-------but we must go in and possess the spiritual land that God has given us-----------God wants us to possess all that He has for us
Before we enter our Canaan—we must prepare-----------the way we live must change-----same as for the Israelites
-----the things we feed on must change----the entire scope of our lives must be altered to adjust to life in Canaan
----------------this is why so many never get to enjoy the victorious Christian life
Romans 6:4
What will you have to do to get ready for Canaan?—what will you have to change
B)—A challenge to responsibility----v. 12-15
Now Joshua addresses the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh
God wanted the people to cross over and possess the land ----but the 2 ½ tribes liked the grazing land on the east side of the Jordan more---------------they also felt that their families were safer there
In truth they did not really trust God
------that there was better land on the other side-------and that God was able to take care of their families
God wants His people in the Spiritual land that He has given them and fighting the spiritual battles in victory------not staying on the other side-----(camping out in the world)
Folks we need to understand that God will allow us to be as committed as we chose to be-----but God wants us to dwell in the land He has given us--------------------this is God’s permissive will
folks I want you to understand that there is a tremendous amount of Christians who are just like these 2 ½ tribes
------they are more concerned about making a living than they are about making a life
------there primary thing that motivates them is getting ahead in life
-----------just like these Israelites----they are materially minded
----2rd chair Christians
----------they don’t have enough courage to walk totally with God
They can say anything they want to ----but they have other gods in their lives to whom they worship----------------they need to move to the 1st chair
III)—The commitment from the people----v. 16-18
Notice v. 16 & 17------they lacked courage in their lives but they admired it in the lives of others
II Timothy 1:7----“For God has not given us the spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline”
God calls us and expects us to be 100% committed and He gives us the courage to do it------------it is what we do with what God give us
A)—They commit themselves to a life of surrender–v. 16
This is the only way spiritual victory will come to any life
-----folks what is holding you back for spiritual victory or a spiritual breakthrough today?
B)—They commit themselves to a life of submission–v. 17
While I believe that there is a certain amount of authority invested in the pastoral office, and that the people of God ought to follow the man of God as he follows God’s will for the Church-------there is a higher authority that every person in this room must acknowledge
we are to submit to the leadership of God
if you are ever going to get to Canaan, you will have to submit everything to God
-----Canaan is only for those who are subject to the will of God
C)—The commit themselves to a life of separation–v. 18
they commit to separate themselves from those who refuse to comply with the commands of God
-----notice how strong was their stance
-----------these people knew that allowing rebellion in their midst was a sure way to guarantee defeat-----------they remembered the first trip
Folks if we want to walk in victory, we must practice separation in our lives as well-------we should separate ourselves from anything that would prevent us from having victory in our lives
—whether it be people------our talk-----our work-----our dreams-----what we watch and do-----our attitudes-----our thought patterns—etc
If it is a hindrance from you entering your spiritual Canaan—then it must go
------ask the Holy spirit ----what is between me and God----reveal that to me-------I commit to getting it out of the way
we all are like the 2 ½ tribes—we like to straddle the Jordan—but God says that you cannot serve two masters
------who are you going to serve today?
