POSSESSING GOD’S PROMISES
Joshua 1:1-18

Introduction:     After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel is about to take possession of the land which God promised Abraham centuries earlier, Gen. 12:7. This book is about the battles that Israel faced in order to claim that promise from God. Joshua is a book of warfare, suffering and great victories. It is a book that can teach the modern Christian much about obtaining spiritual victory in your life. Often we have the idea that Canaan refers to Heaven. Nothing could be farther from the truth. When we get to Heaven, there will be no more wars, there will be no more enemies, there will be no more suffering or death, and there will be no more sin. All of these are present in the book of Joshua and are dealt with in its pages. Canaan isn't Heaven, but it is a picture of the life of victory available to every child of God today!

I.          THE CALL FROM GOD (VV. 1-9)

A.                 To Claim The Land  (vv.1-4)

The land was given to them back in Gen. 12:7. The land was indeed their land! There was no need for them to continue their wandering around in the wilderness. They had a land, all they had to do was claim it! I see many Christians today that are defeated and who struggle with sins, who, are wandering around in a spiritual wilderness. It does not have to be that way! God has a place of victorious living which He has promised you and me, 2 Cor. 2:14 ; Rom. 8:37 ; 1 Cor. 15:57 . Most of the time, we are defeated because we refuse to walk in victory! I believe there is a place of conquest for every child of God this morning that we can claim for our own and these next few verses tell us what we need to remember as we set out to claim our victory.

B.                 To Have Confidence In The Lord (vv.5-6, 9)

Joshua is reminded of some very precious promises in these verses. Notice what God promised him:

·        V. 5 The promise of victory over every enemy.

·        V. 5 The promise of the presence and power of God.

·        V. 5 The promise of the faithfulness of God

·        V. 6 The promise of absolute victory.

·        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!

·        He still gives victory over all our enemies - 1 John 5:4-5.

·        He is still ever present, Heb. 13:5, and all powerful - Matt. 28:18.

·        He is still faithful - Matt. 28:20.

·        He still gives absolute victory - 1 Cor. 15:57; Rev. 21:4, 27

·        He still keeps His promises - Rom. 4:21.

What do we have to do to see these things come to pass in our lives? Just one thing: Trust God!

C.        To Carry Out The Law (vv. 7-8)

Notice what the Lord told Joshua about the Law and how this applies to our lives today.

·        V. 7 - He was to keep the Law

·        V. 8 - He was to meditate on the Law

·        V, 7, 8 - He was to prosper by honoring the Law

We are commanded to honor the Book of God!

·        We are to feed on the Bible - 1 Pet. 2:2; Job 23:12 .

·        We are to live by the Bible - Psa. 119:11; Psa. 1:1-3; Psa. 37:31; Psa.                                  119:97; Jer. 15:16.

·        We will be blessed when these things are true in our lives - Psa. 1:1-3!

D.        To Courage In Leadership (vv. 6a, 7a, 9a) 

( Ill. Are you standing for the Lord? Or, have you fallen out along the way?)

II.         THE CHALLENGE FROM JOSHUA (VV. 10-15)

( Ill. 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.)

A.        To Readiness (vv.10-11)

B.         To Responsibility (vv.12-15)

III.       THE COMMITMENT FROM THE PEOPLE (VV.16-18)

A.        To A Life Of Surrender (v.16)

B          To A Life Of Submission (v.17)

      C.                 To A Life Of Separation (v.18)

Conclusion:       "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."  (2 Cor 1:20 ) The Heavenly Father has promised victory to us and all we have to do today is to claim it for ourselves. Lost friend, surrender to Jesus today and be saved! Christian, what is it going to take to get you out of the wilderness of “do nothing” and into Canaan today? Are you willing to pay the price, whatever it is? Or, are you more willing to stay on the other side of Jordan and be the first to fall in times of trials? It is entirely up to you today! I don't know you heart, but I do know there are more Christians east of Jordan than there are in the Promised Land. Why not get in today?