A0301 Taking Possession
Date: 1st April 2007 (Sunday AM) Ref: A0301
Place: Kambah P.S.
Title: Taking Possession
Text: & Joshua 21:43-45
Illust: In 1508 Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel in the Vatican, Rome.. It took him until 1512 to complete.When Michelangelo, a sculptor was ordered to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he refused. He had never done any work of that kind, and said he could not do it. But he was told his refusal would not be accepted. When he discovered that there was no alternative without unpleasant consequences, he mixed his colors and went to work. And thus came into being the world’s finest painting.
Most of us are just like Michelangelo in that you don’t realize what possibilities are locked up within you until some necessity compels you to attempt something you may have always considered impossible
I. Taking the Land
A. In Your Life
i. The historical event is of the children of Israel having left Egypt after years of slavery, spending some 40 years wandering in the wilderness and then crossing the Jordan to enter & conquer the promised land. Now the bible records that they had taken possession and are able to rest.
ii. The bible uses this imagery of conquering usually against overwhelming odds, over & over. – Gideon & the Midianites, Barak & Deborah & the Canaanites, David & Goliath, Samson & the Philistines, Hezekiah & Sennacherib – the list goes on.
iii. The word ‘conquer’ means to prevail or to overcome. We all have areas in our lives, fears, challenges, besetting sins / temptations. Even things we know we need to do but don’t do – Prayer, Word, through laziness or lack of organisation / self discipline ~ we don’t do
iv. Whatever the challenge or obstacle, we are called to be overcomers, to have the victory
B. Your Destiny
i. The destination of the Israelites from the minute they left Egypt was the Promised Land, that’s where they were headed, that’s was their destiny. – Spiritual parallel we understand that when we were sinners we were slaves to sin and in figurative bondage in our old life in Egypt. By the Passover lamb – Jesus Christ & the deliverance of God we have been set free and we to are called to be marching, moving forward in pursuit of the destiny God has for you.
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (NKJV)
ii. What plan does God have for your life, is it even an issue to you. What does God want for me? What does God want for this Church? Are you praying about your destiny, your purpose, are you laying aside your own agendas for the call & purpose of God.
iii. Need to be an overcomer. Overcome the flesh & its desire for comfort, for the material sensual pleasures. Overcome the fears & doubts that assail your mind & spirit. Overcome the torments of soul over what might have been, over your past, over your future. Overcome the temptations and besetting sins. Overcome laziness, addictions, habits that are holding you back. Overcome health problems.
iv. Called to be overcomers, indeed more than conquerors.
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (NKJV)
II. Enemies Defeated
A. Promise of Victory
i. & vs.43 ~ Wonderful promise in our text. There comes a time when God will give you the victory. Not saying that we can just sit back and relax & think that God is just going to do everything for us. – But God promises Victory to you.
ii. In many of the old Negro spirituals & southern Gospel songs the picture is painted of ‘crossing the Jordan’, being like dying & going into the Promised Land. – I certainly hope not. When you read your Bible, crossing the Jordan was the 1st step. They still had a fight on their hands. ~ Actually God very specifically speaks to Joshua
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. (NKJV)
Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. (NKJV)
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (NKJV)
iii. The spiritual parallel is that we still have a part to play, ultimately it is God who brings the victory but we still have to strap on the sword & go out to battle.
iv. You can & will overcome as you step out in faith, cross the Jordan, & start to take a stand against that enemy in your life – Laziness, sickness, fear, torment, depression, sorrow. carnality, lust, addictions, habits – Speak the word of God – Pray believe God. Seek Godly counsel. – Believe that God is on you side. – Be strong and of good courage
B. Rest
i. & vs.44 - The wonderful promise of rest. – Who likes to rest? I do. After a fight, it is imperative that you rest, God knows this. God Himself, stated that
Exodus 23:12 Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. (NKJV)
ii. Rest does not imply lazing around – In context, God’s people are now freed to live lives of peace, of normality. There is no more war. There is still work to do, crops to be sown & harvested etc, but the fruit of their labour is theirs to enjoy. When you have victory over the opposition & obstacles in your life then there is am inner peace & fruitfulness to your life.
Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (NKJV)
iii. When you are victorious over the opposition in your life there is rest for your soul, rest for your mind & your body.
Exodus 33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (NKJV)
III. Faithfulness of God
A. Not in Your Strength
i. The good news is that you won’t and can’t conquer in your own strength. – The first word of verses 43 & 44 make it very clear that their possession of the land, the rest they enjoyed all came as gifts, from the hand of God.
Psalm 44:3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. (NKJV)
ii. Scene in the Bible that to me seems to illustrate this point perfectly is the battle of the Israelites against the Amelekites in Exodus 17. The soldiers were down in the valley swinging swords & fighting under the command of Joshua, - Moses with Aaron & Hur was up on the mountain interceding. When his hands dropped, Israel started to lose, as long as his hands were raised Israel had the upper hand, ~ Still fighting but it wasn’t their skill or strength in battle that brought the ultimate victory but reliance on God.
Zechariah 4:6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. (NKJV)
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (NKJV)
iii. It is God & His strength that you are to rely upon as you stand up to confront the obstacles before you & take possession of your inheritance.
B. Good Things
i. & vs.45. – God brings the good things, He promises you & I victory and you can rely on Him. ~ & Deuteronomy 8:6-10
1 Kings 8:56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. (NKJV)
ii. God only has the best for you because He loves you. He will not / cannot let you down when you trust in Him. We see that the Israelites were continually conquered had more battles to fight against enemies, but this was not because God was not faithful. This was direct result of their own sin bringing judgement.
Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (NKJV)
iii. God will bring good things into your life if you trust in Him and obey His plan and purpose, Seek the destiny He has for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (NKJV)