Possess The Promise

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Joshua 1:1–3 CSB

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’s assistant: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.

Introduction

Deuteronomy 1:8 CSB

8 See, I have set the land before you. Enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their future descendants.’

Issues like: Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Walter Scott, and The Charleston Massacre

We live in a society where the civil disobedience of the poor is given national attention and exploited but the peaceful organizing of the same poor people demanding change is ignored.

Numbers 13 CSB

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.” 3 Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the Lord’s command. All the men were leaders in Israel. 4 These were their names: Shammua son of Zaccur from the tribe of Reuben; 5 Shaphat son of Hori from the tribe of Simeon; 6 Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah; 7 Igal son of Joseph from the tribe of Issachar; 8 Hoshea son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim; 9 Palti son of Raphu from the tribe of Benjamin; 10 Gaddiel son of Sodi from the tribe of Zebulun; 11 Gaddi son of Susi from the tribe of Manasseh (from the tribe of Joseph); 12 Ammiel son of Gemalli from the tribe of Dan; 13 Sethur son of Michael from the tribe of Asher; 14 Nahbi son of Vophsi from the tribe of Naphtali; 15 Geuel son of Machi from the tribe of Gad. 16 These were the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and Moses renamed Hoshea son of Nun, Joshua. 17 When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up this way to the Negev, then go up into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 Is the land they live in good or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications? 20 Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land.” It was the season for the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up and scouted out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob near the entrance to Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were living. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. 23 When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which was carried on a pole by two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from scouting out the land. 26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” 31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” 32 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. 33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”

· The Baltimore Uprising was on every national media outlet but the Justice or Else, Million Man March went grossly uncovered.

· Bill Cosby can be indicted for allegations from 20,30,and 40years ago with no much evidence, but Tamir Rice’s murderer can be given the benefit of the doubt even though there is video showing him kill a 12 year old black boy 2 seconds after his arrival.

· Can I bring it to your house? Some of you in here tonight are in marriages that are hanging by a thread. You have more bills than you have money. Our city has doubled its homicide number from 2014 and currently holding 618 inmates in our county jail.

· And if none of that resonated with you to close the year we lost our leader. Although we celebrate the life that was lived. Lessons that were taught and opportunities that were given. I found myself asking, “What are we going to do now?”

· The spirit of the Lord carried me to the Book of Joshua Chapter 1

Context

Joshua is the assistant of Moses he has followed Moses as he led the people but now Joshua is at a place that he has never experienced before. Moses the servant of the Lord has passed and Joshua is left with the responsibility of leading the people. I don’t come as Joshua tonight but I can imagine where his mind was. (Training Wheels Story-Maybe) God had promised the Israelites Canaan but they have been experiencing the wilderness.

· Have you ever been at a place in your life where you know that God’s promises are sure but your circumstances are all you see?

· I came to encourage you in the spirit of Joshua don’t be discouraged you’ve been prepared for this moment.

· I know it seems impossible because the Jordan River is in the way.

o Theologians would point out that the river is at flood stage and it seems like there’s no way over, around, or through. (NO BRIDGES, BOATS, or PONTOONS.)

· But because God has promised it I dare you to act like it’s already in your hand even when it’s not in arms reach.

Big Idea

Sermonic Points

1. Walk By Faith

· Walking in Faith is not walking in IGNORANCE, but in the INTELLIGENCE of God’s IMPECCABLE record.

Sometimes you have to remember what God has done.

Can somebody just praise God for your miracles in the wilderness.

An angel of God and a pillar of cloud and fire guarded the multitude (; ).

A strong wind made a path for the Israelites through the sea ().

The Egyptian's chariot wheels were made to swerve; the army was drowned in the sea ()

Bitter waters were made sweet and drinkable ().

Manna rains from heaven for bread. Quail are sent to provide meat (,).

Water comes from a rock ()

Moses’s raised hand allows the Israelites to prevail over Amalek ().

The wind brings the quail ()

The budding of Aaron's staff ()

Water from the rock and Moses’s sin ()

The bronze snake on a pole ()

I dare you to just think about what the Lord has done for you. It didn’t always look good, but I bet if you look back on it you’ll see God. (Bills, Food, Shelter, Sickness, Safety)

· We walk by faith and not by sight ()

o Sometimes what we see slows us down from stepping in to what God has said.

2. Walk On His Word

Many of you have been waiting on a miracle, but you need to be waiting on a Word.

In the wilderness God performed miracles but in this next move he’s going to work wonders through his word.

This will require work.

Some assembly may be required.

Follow the instructions (His Word)

Huffy Bike Illustration / Christmas Gift

· Work The Word

·

Now, Therefore – The time is now. Time to get off your do nothing and do something.

Arise – God is calling you higher. This place is to low for you.

Go Over – literally means to alienate where you are

You can’t be afraid to Leave where you’ve been to Live where he’s called you.

It’s some stuff you need to leave in 2015

Bad Relationships (It’s not me it’s you – If you don’t want to go with God, I guess I got to leave you here)

Disobedience

Your Haters

His word is the key that unlocks the unexplainable.

Is there anybody in here that says I can’t really explain it I just walked on his word?

Come here Peter – I can’t really explain it. I heard the Lord say come and before I knew it I was walking on water.

Is there anybody in here that’s ever been to the doctor and got a bad report but you spoke his word and you were healed. (BY HIS STRIPES)

Anybody ever been broke and didn’t know how you were going to feed your family. Red notices all over the kitchen table but you spoke his word and somehow he worked it out! (My God shall supply)

God is saying. I’m waiting on you to walk in what I’ve promised you but the only way it will work is if you walk on my word.

3. Walk In Your Promise

So what happens when you are walking by faith and on his word but there are still great obstacles in your way?

“I know you said this is the year that I’ll start my business, but I don’t have the resources.”

“I’ve been trying to lose this tire around my waist for years, but I don’t see results.”

“I know you said to go back to school, but where’s the money going to come from?”

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?

Get As close as you can!

I know it doesn’t look like you have the resource but be bold and call SOMEBODY.

I know you been trying to get your health together but you can start by just not frying everything.”

I know you worried about the money but fill out the application anyway.

Don’t be discouraged we’re getting ready to go over!

Joshua 1:11 CSB

11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’ ”

o Verse 11

Tell somebody that looks like they are ready to go. It’s almost that time.

I’m gone get as close as I can and watch God work it out for me.

Joshua 3:8 CSB

8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the water, stand in the Jordan.”

I know you’re on the verge, but you got to know how to handle the verge.

You came tonight on the verge of a breakdown but God said you’re going to get your breakthrough!

Joshua 3:10 CSB

10 He said: “You will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hethites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites

· Chapter 3 v. 10

God is getting ready to show you just how much He’s really got your back!

Joshua 3:15–16 CSB

15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge 16 and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah—the Dead Sea—was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho.

· Chapter 3 v. 15-16

As soon as the men and women of God will put their feet in dangerous water, then we’ll see the generations, communities, and nations changed.

We can’t be afraid to walk in the dangerous water.

Joshua 3:17 CSB

17 The priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Joshua 3:17

As we cross over into our DESTINY is there anybody that can declare I’m about to put my feet on it.

I’m crossing over into the promises God has for me.

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