Secrets to Enter Your Promised Land - Step #2

Welcome to Step 2 of our article series. In our last discussion we were impacted by the knowledge that God speaks to His children. We discovered that God knows the changing seasons of our lives and how important His spoken word can be to give us hope and faith in our time of need. One of the most amazing verses in the Bible highlighting God's posture is found in II Chronicles 16:9,

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and from throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him "

The Lord is looking for opportunities to show Himself strong in our behalf. He wants to bless, increase, and expand our lives beyond what we could ever ask or think. He wants to fulfill His fatherly promise in our lives at every level of our existence. The only ingredient necessary for us to experience the strong promise of God is faith -unwavering faith -faith that overcomes. And the spoken word of God gives us access to that faith. Paul said in Romans 10:17,

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

In our last discussion we saw that God understood Joshua was going through a major transition in his life. Moses had died. A father in the faith, a brother in the Lord, a friend and confidant was now gone. This one whom Joshua depended on for over 40 years would not be there to bring them into the Promised Land. That's why God spoke.

All of us need God to speak into our lives from time to time. We need to hear a specific word for our specific situation a word to carry us through. I remember hearing one preacher say, "God will give us a word to break through while we're on the verge of a breakdown!" That's why we need God to speak.

Now verse one of the Book of Joshua tells us God spoke. But verse two begins to tell us what God specifically said to encourage Joshua. It says,

"Moses my servant is dead: now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of
Israel." Joshua 1:2

God begins to give Joshua specific instructions and direction for his new role. The Lord's statement highlights the fact He was closing one chapter of Joshua's life and opening another. The closed chapter Moses' leadership. The new chapter Joshua's leadership. The first statement God tells Joshua is to "arise, go over this Jordan "

Every new season, every new chapter has a beginning and an end. That which marks the end of one season becomes the bridge or boundary to the next. The Jordan River marked the end of one season of the journey for Israel, but it also marked the beginning of a new life waiting for everyone who would dare to cross it.

The Jordan River became the first faith test Joshua would have in his new leadership role. Though God knew Joshua would have many faith tests in the days to come, He knew Joshua must first focus on this one obstacle. The Jordan River could either be a wall or a bridge depending on how Joshua responded. God also knew that Joshua must fight one battle at a time. One of the lessons God was teaching Joshua through the Jordan River was Matthew 6:34. It reads,

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Joshua could not think about the Jericho's, the Ai's and all the other cities that needed to be conquered while trying to conquer the Jordan River. Jericho was for another day. Ai was for another day. But the Jordan was for today!

Do you let the worries of tomorrow drain your faith for today? Are you trying to control, rule and govern something that may or may not happen tomorrow when you're facing an actual faith challenge today? Or what about the failures of the past? Do they drain your faith today?

Faith in God's Rule
The lesson we must learn is that God is the awesome ruler of every day. He rules over events, circumstances and conditions of life. There is nothing that is above our God or surprises our God because God is all-powerful and all knowing. Every challenge we face God knows about it and has provided an avenue for victory. It's our responsibility to respond and obey.

God has an ultimate purpose for each one of us, therefore God has specific plans for each day and every day builds upon the next to fulfill that purpose. While God is above time and working in time, we are passing through time. Therefore what we learn and experience today will prepare us for tomorrow. For example, can you imagine a 3-year old trying to solve complex mathematical equations when he hasn't yet learned how to count to ten? He must be taught what numbers are and how to add, subtract, multiply and divide those numbers. There is a time for counting to ten and there is a time for solving complex equations.

Or what about a young man trying to lift 300 lbs. for the first time? He must be properly trained on how to lift the weights so that injury doesn't occur. He starts out lifting 10 and 20 lbs. correctly before he lifts the 300 lbs. There is a time for 20 lbs. and there is a time for 300 lbs.

So it is true in our walk with God. We must be taught and trained in the areas of faith and God knows the right time for each faith test. God knows what you're ready for today and God knows what it will take to get you ready for tomorrow. But if you try to live your tomorrows today, you will drain your faith for today and will not be ready for tomorrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. God knew if Joshua learned the lesson of faith today in crossing the Jordan, trusting God to conquer the "Jericho's" of tomorrow would be easier.

Faith is always about what is impossible to man but possible with God. Moses had his Red Sea experience, but Joshua had to have his own Jordan River experience. Joshua had to be taught by the word and trained by the process that this was the right time to cross over. What had failed in the past would succeed today. Faith is always about God proving His faithfulness. Whatever God speaks with His mouth His hand will surely perform!

Has God told you to move forward and all you see are impossible obstacles? Are you ready to cross that bridge from one season to the next but don't know how? Faith in the word of God is the key.

Abraham proved it.
Moses proved it.
Joshua proved it.
Many others listed in Hebrews 11 proved it.
And so will you.

You are a child of the king, a son of the living God, and called according to His purpose to declare His faithfulness in all the earth!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path! Proverbs 3:5-6