Sunday Sermon

Possessing the Possession
Joshua 1

It is said, “Possession is nine tenths of the law.”  What does that mean?  Some say … “It’s yours until someone legally proves different” … “If you have possession you have the advantage.” … “It’s an old wives tale.”

Regardless of what we might think it means, in the way of “grace” we possess “ten tenths” … that is everything!  And with that in mind let’s enter into the Old Testament book of Joshua this morning to experience, “Possessing the Possession.”

 KEY BACKGROUND:

• Moses & Co at Kadesh Barnea … Refusal to Enter In … Numbers 13-14
• The generation 20 years and older, except Caleb & Joshua die in the wilderness … Numbers 26:65
• 40 years of wilderness wandering.
• Moses dies only seeing Canaan … Deut 34

Deuteronomy 34:9 (ESV) And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Joshua 1:1-11

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joshua 1:11b (ESV) pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ”

KEY THOUGHT: Take possession to possess. 

• God’s deliverance from Egypt (bondage) would find fulfillment when they would enter, occupy and possess Canaan.
• They were brought out in order to be brought in. (by God’s hand)
• Canaan was the goal all along!

KEY TRUTH: The land could be possessed only when they walked in obedience to God’s Word. 

• They would have to learn to depend on God’s strength … not their own.
• The steps of “faith & obedience” would allow them to take possession.

KEY UNDERSTANDING: The land was theirs, but they would have to take possession by the appropriation of faith & obedience.

In like fashion we as Christians (the born-again) have been given, not by our own doing, every spiritual blessing … enrichment needed for spiritual life (Eph 1:3) and everything we need to live a life of godliness (2 Pt 1:3).

We too often live like poor people of the Kingdom … when God has given us great riches to sustain us, keep us, help us, build us up! 

• Romans 2:4 … presume on the riches of God
• Romans 9:23 … God makes known the riches of His glory
• Romans 11:23 … oh to know the depths of the riches of His wisdom and knowledge!
• Ephesians 1:18 … that we would know the riches of the glory the inheritance

• Joshua did not have to ask for the land … it had already been given.
• Christian’s do not have to ask for blessings & power to live the Christian life … it has been given!

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  (Key: Take possession to possess)

Miles J. Standford in the “Green Letters” speaks of … “two realities … to SEE what is already ours (in Christ) and to BE AWARE of our position, possessions and privileges in Christ.

“How often we simply admire and talk about truths the Holy Spirit reveals to us in the Word, whereas His primary purpose in giving them to us is that we might stand upon them in faith.” – Miles Stanford

So as God spoke to Joshua … “go in to take possession” … let us so do. 

1.       Possessing the Challenge

Joshua 1:2 (ESV) “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 

• Challenge of the Uncomfortable

“Arise, go over” (Get Up! Get Out! Get In!) … there comes a time in the believer’s life they must leave the shadows, the comforts of a mentor, leader, teacher and begin to walk on their own. 

• Challenge of the Untamed

The land is always occupied with those (enemy) who would just soon you not possess.  It means they must leave!  And the first act of entering would be crossing the Jordan at flood stage (3:15). 

1 John 4:4 (ESV) Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Getting up and going on is never easy, but needful and doable with “willing” hearts that trust in God. 

• Challenge of the Unknown

The land we desire to occupy, like with Joshua, is always filled with matters and fears of the “unknown.”  Not knowing what the future holds … not knowing what’s around the corner … not knowing what the day holds … However, we are called to live not by “sight” but faith (2 Cor 5:7) in the God who is calling us IN!

Possess the challenge and get up and go in with God.

2.       Possessing the Promise

Joshua 1:5 (ESV) No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Two-fold promise … No one can stand up against you and God will be with you.

On the first … What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 ESV)  It is not cockiness … but a “calmness” knowing … God is with us … the second fold.

I will be with you.  I will not leave you … reassuring presence of God. 

• Powerful Presence … no man shall stand
• Personal Presence … I will be with you (as with Moses)
• Permanent Presence … I will not leave/forsake you (not now, not ever)

Begin appropriating truth as you are possessing the promises of God.

3.       Possessing the Commands

Joshua 1:7-8 (ESV) Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

Take note of the language … “careful to do” … “do not turn from it” … “shall not depart from” … “meditate on it” …

Bottom line … there is NO SUBSTITUTE for obedience to God’s Word! 

• Obey Completely … no scriptural buffets!
• Obey Consistently … no stop gap measure! (right or left)

Deuteronomy 12:28 (ESV) Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.

What God said then, He continues to say today!

KEY TRUTH: The land could be possessed only when they walked in obedience to God’s Word.

“The Christian does not work up toward victory, he works down from it.” – Alan Redpath

Amen!

Outline (though changed) and subpoints are from a sermon by Michael Rochelle “How to Get From here to There” from Lifeway.com