Good day dear listeners, welcome to overcoming temptations, today our topic is titled Take your Possession. Our bible reading is taken Joshua 1:1-9 It says After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 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. 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. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 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.”
Awesome passage. In this reading God told Joshua to be strong and of good courage 3 times. Meaning that the only thing that will hinder him will be fear. Many times it take strength and courage to take the blessings that God has promised us. It does not mean that because God promised you something you just fold your arms and it will come to you. No, sometimes you have to wrestle for your blessings. It does not mean that God cannot bless you on a platter of gold, however sometimes he wants you to show your faith by fighting for the promise He gave you.
So the promise land God gave Joshua was not going to be easy. In Numbers 13 when Moses sent spies to explore the promise land they came back with report that the land flowed with milk and honey but there were giants there so the people should not go. However Joshua and Caleb by faith decreed that they will be able to overcome. Your promise land may have giants but that will not stop your victory in Jesus name. Likewise in Exodus 17 we read that Joshua had to fight the Amalekites. Moses with Aaron and Hurs support had to hold his hand until sunset so that Joshua would win the battle. It was’nt an easy battle, the enemy fought back. However in the end Joshua and his army emerged victorious.
In our bible reading in Joshua 1:3 God told Joshua that anywhere the sole of his feet threads God will give it to him. Wow! So all Joshua need to do was to take a walk on the entire land, as long has his foot stepped on the place God promised him victory. Many times Christians are timid, timidity and humility are different, you can be humble yet be assertive and determined. God has given you many opportunities but due to fear, you don’t use them. Many times you have the solution to a problem but because you lack courage you don’t speak out. God is saying to you like he said to Joshua, Be strong and of good courage; take your possession. Life is a battle you need to fight, not necessarily physically but more spiritually. This is the life God has called us to live, it is not a rehearsal, that you are acting , this is the real thing. So make the most of it, pursue your dreams, don’t wait for the perfect time, person or place. Start with whatever you have. Fulfill your purpose, maximize everyday as if it was your last, take time to rest but continue after you have rested.
The spies who did not believe God did not enter the promise land, but Joshua and Caleb did. So be courageous and take your possession, be passionate about what you believe in and pursue it. May the Lord strengthen you in Jesus name. Have a blessed day.
