The Promised Land

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd November 5, 2015 - Filed in Devotional - 12,161 views
  Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread on, to you have I given it, as I spoke to Moses. Joshua 1:2'3 WEB
  
  God sent plagues on Egypt until they released His people (Ex 13:15). He went before them as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21). He parted the sea so they could cross safely (Ex. 14:21). He fed them mana from heaven for forty years, and their clothing did not wear out (Neh. 9:21).
  
  God had done it all until then, but from here on they were going to be working together. To take the promised land, the Israelites were going to have to fight for it, city by city. God told Joshua 'Every place that you set your foot, I will give you' (Joshua 1:3) but Joshua died before they took it all (Judges 1:1).
  
  It was now up to the Israelites to work with God and conquer the existing inhabitants of the land, and the ones that they did not drive out, became thorns in their sides and a snare to them (Judges 1:32, 2:3). What they allowed to stay, God allowed to stay.
  
  Israel crossed the Jordon river (Joshua 3:17), we can see it as a form of baptism. Then they were circumcised at Gigal (Joshua 5:2) renewing a covenant relationship with God. To us it is circumcision of the heart (Rom. 2:29), but it is still a covenant relationship, an agreement, a contract.
  
  The first city they went up against was Jericho, and all the gold and silver were to be brought into the treasury of the Lord (Joshua 5:19). We can see this as tithing, or giving to God first and it is the first city that you will come to in your Christian walk. God will test you to see who you love the most, Him or your money. Achan just couldn't do it and kept some for himself, then Israel lost the next battle at Ai for God was no longer with them (Joshua 7:1).
  
  Today, God takes cares of what we cannot. He created salvation and redemption because we could not. Think of that as crossing the Jordon river into the promised land. Now you are saved and your feet are in the promised land, but it is not entirely yours until you work with God to take the rest of it by force.
  
  Jesus said, 'That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man' (Mark 7:20).
  
  What you allow to remain inside of you, God allows as well. Our hate, anger, bitterness, greed, lust, jealousy, strife, addictions will stay as long as we 'tolerate' them. When we decide to get rid of them, God will help us. It is a battle that we fight together with God.
  
  God worked with the Israelites as they took their promised land. He rained hailstones down on some of their enemies (Joshua 10:11) and sent hornets after others (Joshua 24:!2). He will work with us as well to take back our land.
  
  The enemies that we face will do anything to stay just as theirs did. The Gibeonites lied to the Israelite leaders and got them to sign a treaty of peace. The Israelites did not inquire of God but followed their own judgment (Joshua 9:14).
  
  Everyone that gets serious with God knows when He puts His finger on something in their life that needs to change. Work with God to stomp out the bad and bring forth a harvest of good in your life. Take down the strongholds one at a time as God brings you to them. Take control of what is rightfully yours, your own body, your mind, and your mouth.
  
  Prayer: Father, I pray that You give me the grace to change for the better. Don't let me stay the same! Break me out of the shell that I have formed, deliver me and set me from the things that bind me. Help me see clearly what needs to change, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
  
  Note: Good morning, all! We made some upgrades to the chat system yesterday, which includes a better interface, and notifications for private messages and friend requests, and other improvements. The chat area is available at the footer of the website and also now available for mobile users. If y''all see any issues, please let us know! For FAAD members, we have consolidated the general and FAAD chatrooms into a single "RHM Chatroom" so it will be easier to find, so that is the place to go for the FAAD chat tonight! Have a blessed day!