GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HIS PEOPLE

Joshua 1:1-9

February 19, 2006

Pastor William Underwood

The book of Joshua is more than a historic record about Israel. It has a much deeper meaning. It is a record of God's dealing with His redeemed, released People to bring them into a life of REST. But the rest can only be realized by FAITH and by EFFORT. The Old Tesstament is an example but the New Testament describes this life in Ephesians. God has a purpose and a plan for every believer who wants to follow Him. Now we will see what God's Word has to tell us.

I - THE MISTAKE
1-Jordan is NOT death and Canaan is NOT Heaven.
2-Canaan was a place of warfare and conquest- NOT a place of peace and quietness.
3-Canaan was full of enemies - heaven has no enemies.
4-Jordan was a barrier--a type of the crisis in the Christian's life that leads into the life of Victory in Christ.

II - THE MEANING
1-Canaan was God''s GOAL for His redeemed People.
2-God has something more for us beyond Salvation.
3-He brought them out to bring them IN.
4-They came out of Egypt to get in to Canaan.

III - THE METHOD
A- The LAW could not get them to Canaan - vs.2
1-In Romans 7 another law in me wars against the God's Law so I cannot enter into His Promised Land.
2-The life of REST requires CONQUEST of the enemy that stands in our way of victory.
B- A Representative was to lead them into the Land -vs.2
1-God chose Joshua to lead them into Canaan.
2-All spiritual blessing is in Christ and we must claim it only in HIM.
3-He has all power to give us authority over the power of Satan who is our constant enemy.
4-Christ holds everything that God has for me BUT I must claim my inheritance in HIM.

IV - THE MEASURE
1-The whole land belonged to them but they had to claim it to possess it.
2-They did not have the land until they claimed it piece by piece.
3-Christ is mine at Salvation - but I only have as much of Him as I can claim by faith.
4-Fromthe whole generation that left Egypt, only Caleb and Joshua entered the Promised Land.
5-Many are saved but they never experience all the blessing that God has promised them.
6-This "deeper life" is not free of enemies or conflict.
7- Read - Ephesians 6:12-13
8-This life of holiness is available to every Believer - but only those who are willing to battle the enemy will ever experience those blessings.

V - THE MANNER by which we achieve this life.
1-FIRST, we must ENTER the land.
2-SECOND, we must CONQUER the enemies by CONFLICT.
3-THIRD, we must POSSESS the conquered territory.

The key to success is in the phrase, "Everything in Jesus, and Jesus everything."