HOW DO I CLAIM GOD'S PROMISES?

JOSHUA 17:12-18:1

March 26, 2006

Pastor William Underwood

Israel began to conquer and to claim the Promised Land as soon as they entered it. Six chapters tell of the conflicts and conquests (6-11)that took about 7 years. Yet, after all that, there "remained very much land to be possessed." And many enemies to be driven out. Like Israel, we do not win all the battles we fight nor do we fight all the battles there are to be fought.Read-Phil.3:12-14 There is always some new area to conque rand always new enemies to defeat. I want you to think about five principles for possessing what God has promised to us.

I - Possession is by CONFLICT - 17:14-18
A- Lessons to learn from this passage.
1-The children of Joseph claimed to be "a great people" and complained that their portion was not enough.
2-Joshua told them if they wanted more they should take it from their enemies by conflict - vs. 15
3-They complained that the enemy had "chariots of iron" and they were numerous - vs. 18
4-Joshua told them they had to drive out the enemy in spite of the odds against them - vv. 17-18
5-The did NOT drive them out but made them servants - Judges 1:27-29
B- Our character is determined by our actions.
1-Names and labels mean nothing--faith and dependence on God are all that matters.
2-We must meet God's conditions if we would enjoy the promises He makes.
3-The more we claim from God, the more we must fight to secure it.

II - Possession is by PROVIDENCE - 14:2 ("lot") A- The word "lot" occurs 25 times from here to end of book.
1-Israel "cast lots" to determine the will of God.
2-By this method, God gave each tribe a portion of the land that He entended for them to have.
3-WE only need the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to determing His Will for us today.
4-Rom. 8:28 - NO "luck" nor "chance" for the believer.
5-Abraham and Lot = Abr. believed in God and let God choose for him; Lot chose for himself and lost it all
6-One walked by faith - the other by sight.

III - Possession is by REQUEST - 15:16-19
A- God's liberality is limited only by our longing.
B- A Christian does not have to settle small blessing.

IV - Possession is by CAPACITY - 17:17, 19:9, 47
A- "Not enough" - "Too much" - "Too little"
1-Children of Joseph said "not enough" and claimed more but were not prepared to fight for it.
2- Judah's portion was "too much" for them so Simeon had their inheritance in Judah's borders.
3-Dan had "too little" so he conquered more - 19:47
B- Spiritual capacity is our ability to hold all God has for us.
1-Ephesians 3:18-19 What is YOUR capacity?
2-Your capacity can expand by stretching.

V - Possession is by FAITH - ch. 14
A- At age 85 Caleb claimed what had been promised 45 yrs.
1-Ten spies saw big giants and a little God--the two spies had a BIG GOD and little giants.
2-Joshua spied out the land and now claims it.
B- For 45 years he had built his life on the promises of God.
1-The Bible is full of "great and precious promises" for the children of God - II Peter 1:4
2-We do not believe what God promises so we do not claim them.
3-Our faith will effect our conduct. We will live only what we believe.

Conflict - Providence - Request - Capacity - Faith