This Land Is Our Land Series

THE CANAAN CONQUEST – PART ONE

“This Land is Our Land”

Joshua 1:1-18 - ©Dr. Larry L. Thompson (2007)

Introduction:

THIS LAND IS OUR LAND! The Canaan Conquest is an expository series that we will be studying from the book of Joshua over the next few weeks. 2007 is an historic year for us at First Baptist Church. It is the celebration of our 100th year of ministry here in South Florida and I can not think of a better book for us to begin this year with than by enjoying the rich truth found in the journeys of Joshua. THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT TAKING POSSESSION OF WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED IN YOUR LIFE, in my life and in the life of our church. This year we will be taking possession of what God promised to me in a word He gave me years ago. We will be moving into a new CLC, that will minister to literally thousands of people over the next few years and we will claim that new center totally DEBT FREE. The people of Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, were people who followed the Lord with HEART AND SOUL. I am proud to be among the same type of people who are serving the Lord in South Florida with the same conviction and with their whole HEART AND SOUL.

I have noticed there are many misunderstandings surrounding the Christian life. A trip to most Christian book stores confirms this concern. The shelves are lined with books that talk about how to make the Christian life easier and more acceptable to the world. However, the Christian life is a journey and as take that journey we will absolutely face battles that must be fought! We are engaged in warfare with a spiritual enemy who is far more powerful than any of us in this room today.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:12 (NIV)

In our own strength, we are no match for the devil! The good new is he is no match for the God we serve!

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

Therefore, in the midst of the battles we face in the journey we call the Christian life, there is always hope for victory, there is always the possibility of CONQUEST! The Bible tells us that we are the recipients of victory through the Lord Jesus Christ!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57

While we are engaged in the battle with evil, there is the expectation that we can and will walk in victory in our lives. For me, this is what the book of Joshua represents and this is the truth I want us to understand in this expository series, “The Canaan Conquest.”

In this book, we find that Moses, the great leader of Israel has died and a new leader named Joshua has been appointed to lead the nation of Israel into Canaan. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel is about to take possession of the land which God promised Abraham centuries earlier as we read:

“The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” Gen. 12:7

This book is an excellent resource that instructs us on how to live the victorious Christian life.

First, let’s talk about the Promised Land we call Canaan. Canaan isn’t Heaven, but it is a picture of the life of victory that is available to every child of God this morning!

My goal in this preaching series is help you to stop wandering around in a spiritual wilderness and to encourage you to enter your own Promised Land and enjoy the Canaan Conquest in your life. This first chapter serves as something of an introduction to the book. Listen carefully to what the Lord has to say to Joshua. These verses will help us to understand what it takes to go from the frustration and defeat of the wilderness to living in a land of victory. There are 3 truths which enable us to say in victory: "This Land Is Our Land!"

I. THE CALL FROM THE LORD – (v.1-9)

• THE CALL TO CLAIM THE LAND – (v.1-4)

“After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, 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. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.