sf1013 - Taking Your Canaan (Joshua 1 1-8)
Joshua 1:1-8
Introduction
Every Christian has victory as a gift. Every Christian is to live a victorious life.
The Bible admits the possibility of failure but it never assumes the necessity of failure.
1A. Understand What You Have in Christ (1:1-4)
1B. The land of Canaan
The history of the Israelites
Ø Slaves in Egypt
Ø Defeated in the Wilderness
Ø Canaan is the land of victory and peace.
The implications of the crossing
Ø Egypt represents the bondage of the sinner
Ø Coming out of Egypt – miracle of our new birth
Ø The Wilderness – no victory, no joy
Ø Canaan – victory, peace, service (not heaven), the believer’s victorious life.
2B. A land of release - freedom
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
John 8:36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
3B. A land of refreshment
For 40 years they had eaten Manna, morning, noon, and night.
Numbers 21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."
Canaan the land of milk and honey, land of abundance
Do you need to be refreshed?
3B. A land of rest
Hebrew – a land of rest
Not inactivity but rest in Christ
Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
4B. A land of reality
They had heard all about Canaan but not experienced it
It is time for your doctrine to turn into reality
God has given you victory, but you must appropriate it
Key is 1:3 –“I have given to you…”
It is finished!
Satan is defeated and in Christ you have victory!
You don’t have to win the victory, Christ did that, you simply have to appropriate the reality of the victory.
We must claim our Canaan.
God has given you rest, refreshment, release, reality.
2 Peter 1:3 …His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
In Jesus Christ you are complete!
The life of victory is walking on conquered ground.
2A. Appropriate God’s Promises (1:5)
1B. The promise of God’ power (1:5a)
There is power to do everything God has commanded you to do.
To overcome sin and self!
Living victoriously is not your responsibility it is your response to God’s ability.
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
2B. The promise of God’s presence (1:5b)
The promises did not die with Moses or Joshua.
Hebrews 13:5 … He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5 (AMP) …He (God) Himself has said, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let [you] down [relax my hold on you] – Assuredly not!
“Will never, will not” – intensive form
3A. Surrender to God’ Plan (2:6-8)
We Must Prepare ourselves (2:6)
Be strong
Be courageous
Be obedient
God enables us to fulfill His requirements.
When we surrender and cast ourselves on Christ we experience God’s supernatural working in our lives.
A plan to pursue (2:8)
Proclaim the Word of God (2:8a)
Power in the Word!
The Word is our sword!
Ponder on the Word of God (2:8b)
“meditate” – humming.
Practice the Word of God (2:8c)
Walk …
Do you obey the Bible? Then you believe it.
Meditation gives you knowledge about God, obedient gives you knowledge of God.
“He that has my commandments and keeps them…”
Application