The Land Yet To Be Conquered
When Joshua was an old man, the lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered. (Joshua 13:1 NLT)
In the Kingdom of a God their is no retirement. As we grow weaker our reliance on God strengthens and greater works is He now able to do. We may do less but He does more. We are more prone to delegate, giving instructions to others, impacting them with the wisdom we've gained through the years. We live our days preparing an inheritance to pass on to others establishing our eternal legacy.
Faith Is What Makes Us Strong
I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the lord said.” (Joshua 14:11, 12 NLT
If we follow through exactly as God has commanded we will receive all that He has promised.
What God has promised though can be hindered for a time due to the unbelief of those around us but if we stay trusting and believing living totally for God the opportunity will come again to take hold of what God promised.
And here I am today, eighty-five years old! I'm as strong as I was the day Moses sent me out. I'm as strong as even in battle, whether coming or going." Joshua 14:11-12.
Caleb said regarding the Anakimites and their great fortresses in the way of his inheritance, "If God goes with me, I will drive them out, just as God said."
Child like faith keeps one's physical strength renewed despite becoming old. Age should never be a determining factor for what we can and cannot do, faith is what moves mountains. Our faith is what makes us strong.
Promised Rest
So the lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. (Joshua 21:43-45 NLT)
God has promised us rest, so why do we often struggle? Faith is the factor. We must believe Him in every area.
The enemy has a foothold wherever fear and unbelief reside.
We must allow God to deliver us from all. If we abort the process then we give the enemy the right to our own inheritance.
God desires above all else that we prosper, the reason it is hindered is by the words that come out of our mouth. Our words either re-enforce God's promises or re-enforce Satan's lies. They either advance us closer or push us further behind.
Leaving A Legacy
But as surely as the lord your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely destroy you from this good land he has given you. If you break the covenant of the lord your God by worshiping and serving other gods, his anger will burn against you, and you will quickly vanish from the good land he has given you.” (Joshua 23:15-16 NLT)
Joshua's success was because of his faithfulness to what God commanded. Now as he approached death he passed on the same commands. To be alert, strong, courageous, and to obey every detail of the revelation given to Moses. He warned them of what would occur if they were unfaithful.
True success goes beyond lifetime, it is determined by how we effect the generations to come.
We must learn to think like relay runners always looking for those who we can pass on the baton of revelation God has entrusted to us.
Inter-Generational Continuity
Joshua 24:15But if you refuse to serve the lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the lord.”
The people of Israel served the lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the lord had done for Israel. (Joshua 24:31 NLT)
History not learned is bound to be repeated. What we learned in our lifetime needs to be shared or the lessons we've learned can't be built upon by others.
Christ has not returned because the earth is not ready, why? Lack of progression due to generational disconnection.
The older we get the more we should be discipling youth or our life will be soon forgotten.
Why do the older generation's complain about the younger yet do nothing to impact them?
Once a youth grows up without the loving correction of adults their hearts are bound to rebellion.
We must model commitment to God while in relationship with the younger generations to expect them to follow our example.
Joshua spoke into the lives of elders but not into youth and therefore Israel after his death shortly abandoned God and began worshipping idols leading the nation into destruction.
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