Possess The Promise Together Joshua 1:10–18

• You were never intended to walk through life alone, on your own terms, disconnected from others. Walking with God has never been an individual endeavor.
• Yet many people have been led to believe they were saved merely for themselves, that their relationship with Christ can exist entirely on their terms, with little connection or responsibility to other believers. Or even a connection with a Church.
• They attend church when they want, but can have little care or concern for their fellow brethren. But that is not the picture we see in Scripture.
• Today we are going to see Israel moving forward to possess the promise, but they are going to possess it together.
• No tribe gets to say, We already have ours. No tribe gets to stay behind while their brothers fight. They need one another. They must cross over together. They must fight together. And they will possess the promise together. So today: How do we possess the promise together?

1. Prepare v11

• You can’t win the battles you don’t prepare for and they must be prepared together.
• 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ”
• God, in His graciousness, often gives His people time to prepare before the moment arrives.
• Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD.
• God told Noah before the Flood, Abraham before Sodom, Joseph before famine, Israel before Passover, Elijah before Rain, Jonah before Judgment Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins to prepare lamps, The wise man to build his house on the rock, the faithful servant to be found working, the watchful servant to keep his lamp burning, the tower builder to count the cost.
• All through Scripture, God prepares His people for what is ahead. But here, notice who He is preparing. Not one man. A people. This is a corporate endeavor.///
• The New Testament never replaces that corporate picture with isolated Christianity. God still works through a people, a body, a church.
• And for us as a Church, we can’t prepare for what the future holds if we aren’t together in it
• Mt 16:18. Christ will build His church, He’s building us together. Eph 5:25–27 The church will be presented to Christ glorious , presented together We all belong together..1 Cor 12:20 there are many members, yet one body. Col1:18 He is the head of the body, the church.
• Jesus did not save isolated individuals and leave them disconnected. He died to purchase a people, build a church, and make us one body under one Head.
• Ac 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
• How are you specifically preparing for the promise? Spiritually? Relationally? Practically?
• If Jesus returned, if persecution increased, if the economy tanked, are you promised prepared?
• Are you going to go it alone, or are you going to be so embedded in a Church that you are part of a community that will support and defend one another? You aren’t intended to go alone
• Are you praying? Saving? Teaching your children? Fasting? Investing in others? PREPARE.
• The individuals of Israel did not enter the promise alone. God was leading THEM not ONE

2. Remember the word v13

• As they are preparing, Joshua reminds them- 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ What was that which they were remembering?
• We have to go back a little bit- In Num 32 Reuben and Gad saw the land east of the Jordan and wanted it. they asked Moses if they could have it as their inheritance instead of crossing the J.
• Moses got upset, thought they were trying to get out of the fight.
• But they came to an agreement- They would build cities, but the fighting men would join w the rest of Israel to take the land. They would not return home until Israel got their inheritance.
• Joshua is reminding them– Hey guys. You said you’d fight for your brothers. Time to step up.
• They’ve already possessed their land. They don’t need to take the risk. They are secure.
• There’s a principle here though- You must not forget what was spoken to you and what you have agreed to. This isn’t just about the “word of the Lord” its about YOUR word as well
• Does not God keep his word? 1 Ki 8:56 There has not failed one word of all His good promise. Heb 6:18It is impossible for God to lie.
• And the greatest proof that God keeps His word is Jesus Christ. Every promise God made concerning redemption finds its fulfillment in Him. He saved and redeemed us like he said!
• 2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
• And the Bible says that we should keep OUR word Nu 30:2If a man makes a vow to the LORD, … he shall not break his word. Matt 5:37 Let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No.
• You cant possess the promise if you forget what God has said and you don’t keep your word.
• As we live, people will do anything they can do to get out of something that they agreed to.
• We get upset when a restaurant promises a deal they don’t, we are overcharged on a svc etc.
• But we agree to serve in a ministry and then back out or don’t show up on Sunday morning.
• “someone else can cover me” “its not that big of a deal” “no one thanks me for it”
• The principle is the power of your word.
• We want God to keep his word, we should keep our word as well. What good is it if we don’t?
• I lost a relationship many years ago because I held someone to their word. They said “God said” I wouldn’t let them out of it unless they publicly said they didn’t hear from God. Keep your word
• Do you remember what God has said about you and to you? Encourage yourself in the Lord!
• And furthermore, do you have a measure of self accountability to your word?
• When you say you’ll come, do you? If you’ll help? Be there? Do or not do something?

3. Fight for your brother v14

• Here’s a rock solid biblical truth: you can’t only fight battles for yourself.
• Christianity isn’t a selfish I got mine good luck for you don’t care about you religion. NO
• You notice in story, Rueben, Gad and half of Mannaseh had already possessed their land
• They made a promise to help the others, and they kept it. Just because they got theirs, they didn’t bail on the rest of their brothers. They were committed to the cause.
• If you already have yours, maybe your next battle is for someone who doesn’t have theirs yet.
• And nobody did this more perfectly than Jesus. He did not need rescuing. We did. He did not need deliverance from sin. We did. He entered our battle, bore our burden, took our sin, suffered in our place, and brought us into what we could never obtain for ourselves.
• V14But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them.
• All the mighty men, going out to battle to help their brothers gain THEIR inheritance.
• Aaron and Hur helped moses. Jonathan helped David. Silas Helped Paul. Who are you helping?
• Ro 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Phi 2:3–4 Look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others..1 Cor  12:25–26 The members should have the same care for one another. When one suffers, all suffer. When one is honored, all rejoice.
• This modern idea that I go to church for myself, by myself, whenever I want, is not biblical.
• How do blood bought Holy Ghost filled Christians become so self consumed with themselves?
• Have you been delivered from your sin and addiction? Are you flourishing in your walk? Is your family life strong and are you disciplined? Do you have strong friends on which you can lean?
• Good. Quit isolating yourself and your mini tribe and open your eyes to those crossing over
• You can’t stand on the East side of the Jordan and watch your brothers fight without you///
• Do you know why we push Go to the events and retreats? Be there for others. Help others
• If your heart is I don’t have the energy, the will, the heart you’re missing it.
• Whos on your list? Who do you call, reach out to, look for, follow up with. Not the easy ones
• God is developing us into a body. A whole. We grow. We assimilate. We can’t stop w others.
• Years ago after Army I was underemployed. Jim came, bought me lunch, practiced. 2x Job
• And just like it was for those tribes, it’s costly. It’s painful. But how can we look past our brothers?

4. Enjoy the inheritance v15

• We help others to receive their inheritance because we’ve received ours and rejoice in it!
• V15 Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it,
• What God was calling Joshua and Israel into was a blessing for them. Yes, God gets the glory, but there is blessing in walking in what God has given you, and it is right to enjoy it.
• Walking in the promises of God brings blessings READ Deuteronomy 8:6-10. Land, water, grain, fruit, sweetness, lots of bread, LACK NOTHING, eating and being FULL and blessing the Lord!!!
• And God will fulfill it. Israel will possess the promise and enjoy what He has given them.
• We have a saying around our house- The God life is the Best life. I love serving the Lord
• I love living by the precepts of God. My life has been deeply blessed by following Him.
• And I get it. People will push back and say ‘what about me’ I can’t answer your situation.
• Ec 5:18-19 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor this is the gift of God.
• When Crystal and I first got married living in our 950 sq ft house on Easy street we were blessed
• It wasn’t about what we had or did not have. We were walking with God, provided for, protected, surrounded by a community of faith, and blessed.
• Walking with God brings blessing, and it is not ungodly to enjoy what God has given you
• .James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
• And yes, this is not WHY we follow and worship God, but when you inherit what he gives? Enjoy
• Why should we be ashamed to enjoy what God has given us? Apologize for being blessed?
• But we don’t trust in THEM we trust in HIM 1 Tim 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
• By American standards, may not feel wealthy. Compared to the world, I live with access to clean water, sanitation, shelter, food preservation, heat, technology, info, and personal security.
• Sometimes the problem is not that God has not blessed us. Sometimes the problem is that we have gotten so used to the blessing that we stopped recognizing it and enjoying it. Enjoy it!
• And the greatest blessings are not material. In Christ we have forgiveness, salvation, the church, the Word, worship, fellowship, and eternal life.
• The greatest thing God has ever given us is not a house, money, health, comfort, or opportunity.
• The greatest gift God has given us is Christ Himself.
• Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
• Acts 2:46–47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God
• Enjoy what God has given you, but never confuse the gifts with the Giver. The greatest gift is Christ Himself.

5. Be obedient and strong v16

• These tribes knew the fight would be difficult, but they committed to it- 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.
• Strength and courage are necessary if you are going to walk in what God has called you to.
• It wasn’t going to be easy, but it was going to be worth it. They would fight and they would win
• And for us, the word is this: keep fighting toward godliness, faithfulness, and community.
• We are not strong because we are naturally strong. We endure because Christ strengthens us and because He has already overcome.
• John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
• Galatians 6:9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart.
• Let’s commit to God and to one another that we will not give up on each other.
• we will corporately continue in the ways of God, and help others ‘cross over’ and fight w them
• It’s hard because there are people here. We will disagree. There will be hard times.
• But if we remain strong, courageous, and faithful, we can keep moving forward together.
• We will possess the promise together as we prepare, remember the word, fight for our brother, enjoy what God has given us, and remain strong and courageous.