From Struggle to Triumph: Part 4
From Struggle to Triumph: Part 4 || Day 2
Joshua 1:2-11 NKJV
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “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.’ ”
Heaven places a demand on our faith because it’s the only way we can receive what heaven is promising. That’s why He tells us in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” And in Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” And in Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” And in Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
This verse lets us know that the way Enoch walked with God was by faith, because without faith we can’t please God. His testimony was that he pleased God and God took him and he was no more. Faith causes God to bring us to where He is. This is why when Jesus returns, faith is what He will be looking for. Faith is what causes Him to bring us to where He is.
When God speaks to you about increase or more of your family being saved or you walking in greater power. When He speaks, heaven begins to put a greater demand on your faith. How you respond to that demand has a lot to do with what you will receive. If God speaks to you about increase and financial overflow, heaven will issue a demand for a seed of faith to match it. If God speaks to you about walking in more power in ministry, heaven will issue a demand on your faith to match it. If God speaks to you about your family being saved, heaven will issue a demand on your faith to match it. Because when God speaks, heaven places a demand on your faith.
When hell sees a demand placed on your faith it begins to attack your faith. This is an attempt to plant seeds of deception, doubt, and discouragement in your life. Hell does this to get you to doubt what God has said to you. Hell knows that if God says it, then you believe it, and your faith responds to it; then it will come to pass and there is nothing the devil nor anyone else can do about it!
God speaks to the children of Israel on one side of the Jordan River, and the promise is on the other side of the Jordan River. He tells them to GET UP and go over this river and GO UP into the land. The problem is the Jordan is overflowing its banks. In the natural there is no possible way for them to cross this river. God says, “Joshua tell the priest to GET UP and cross the river.” When their feet touch the water, the river dries up and they are able to cross over.
They had a word from God to possess the land. However, if they would have waited for the river to DRY UP, they would have never GOTTEN UP and therefore they would have never WENT UP into the Promised Land. But because they GOT UP, the river DRIED UP and they WENT UP!