Sermon on Sunday 2 June 2019 by Pastor Justin
The book of Joshua is like a war book. The commander of the army was God himself. The promise through the book of Joshua clearly reveals that God is faithful. There are 24 chapters in the book of Joshua. The first 12 chapters are about the conquest of Canaan. The second part is about the settlement in Canaan. From the initial invasion to the settlement, Joshua was the leader and God was the conqueror. It is the same God who was, and is and is to come. He will never forsake you.
Joshua 1:1-2 - Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
God had to wait for Moses to die, the old generation, a generation of trouble. Because of that generation’s disobedience, they did not inherit the promised land. This new generation had to cross the Jordan to get to the promised land.Â
Joshua 1:3Â - Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
Everything you do must be led by the Holy Spirit. On the other side is death. Therefore, live by the Holy Spirit. He is with us. Enter by faith, walk by faith. Enter by light, walk by light. Enter by love, walk by love.Â
Joshua 1:5Â - No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
The land of Canaan was ruled by giants. In our lives right now, there are giants in the form of sins. The spirits of addiction are all around. But no sin shall be able to stand before you when God is with you.
Romans 6:14Â - For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
We are talking about conscious sin. There is a supernatural power in you to overcome conscious sin, under the work of the Holy Spirit. You must be willing to submit to Him and resist the devil. If you want to have consistent victory over life and sin, you have to fix your eyes on the Lord. He is the only one who will lead you to the path of righteousness.
Psalm 25:15Â - Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.Â
You must accept that Satan has more power than you. However, you have authority over that power. Rebuke the spirits of sin.Â
Luke 10:1Â - Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
Roman 6:11Â - Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.
Remember these 5 things:
1. Not a single sin (however powerful) will be able to overcome us.
You have to pray. Be thankful. When you are prayerful, you will be full of joy.Â
2. We must claim our inheritance by faith.
We must do things with faith, then we will receive.
Mark 11:22-23Â - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be though taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.
Joshua 1:7Â -Â Only be strong and very courageous, to 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 have good success withersoever thou goest.
Be watchful. Obey all instructions from the Lord. Do not deviate. Then you will be successful in everything that you do in heavenly things. Then earthly material things will be given to you.
Matthew 6:33Â - But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
3. Becoming like Christ
Imitate Him. Be lowly, meek and humble. When you serve, you serve sincerely in spirit.
Joshua 24:14Â - Now therefore fear Jehovah, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the river, and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.
Jesus does first, then He teaches.
Acts 1:1Â - The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach.
Those Christians who cry out that they have no victory, they have not walked like Christ.Â
4. Let us press on to perfection
Hebrews 6:1 - So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.Â
The Spirit is in us. Let us go on to become mature Christians.
2 Cor 7:1Â - Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Phil 3:12-14Â - Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.
5. We must confess the promises of God’s words with our mouth
You must confess things that are yours. Meditate with understanding, by reading the word carefully. Take action, and you will receive.
2 Cor 4:13Â - But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak.
Joshua 1:8Â - Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
A life of constant triumph
2 Cor 2:14Â - But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savour of His knowledge in every place.
Rom 8:37Â - No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ that loved us.
The victorious life that I seek in Christ is actually something I already possess. You already have victory in Christ. Let’s be steadfast in doing the good work, in labouring for Him.
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Our victory comes when our faith is placed in our God and our obedience in His word!
When you are prayerful, you will be full of joy. God Bless!