Joshua 13:1 “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”
Joshua had been the leader of Israel as they moved into the promised land, and for many years afterward. They saw many victories and had conquered much land with God’s help.
Near the end of Joshua’s life, God reminded him that his job was not finished. The tribes, although capable, had not driven out the people of the land as God had directed. It was not long after Joshua died that the people that were not driven out had begun turning away the Israelites around them from God to serve idols.
As Christians, there are some battles we also must fight to gain ground in our lives for God. Most believers today have also not claimed the power and blessings God wants to give them, and they may die without ever having victory in those areas of the Christian life. Here are some of them.
I. The Promise of Victory
It is a great joy to learn how to get the victory in the Christian life through the power of Christ. Instead, their lives are not much different than the unsaved. It is a great joy to wear the armor of God and see Satan’s darts rendered ineffective.
II. The Power to Witness and Win the Lost
The greatest joy any Christian can have – after salvation – is to bring someone to Christ. It is the primary reason the Holy Ghost came at Pentecost (Ac. 1:8) and it is why we are still here.
III. The Joy of a Daily Walk with God
It is a tremendous comfort to know that you are doing exactly what God wants you to do through the day. By being yielded to His will and loving God, you have the assurance that nothing will come your way but that He planned it (Ro. 8:28).
IV. The Blessing of Understanding God’s Book
For many, the blessed Book that God gave us remains untouched – physically and spiritually. What a blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit teach you what His Word means. By neglecting it, the power of the promises is not claimed, used, and enjoyed. David loved its pages more than gold and so did Solomon.
Christian, have you really entered the promised land? Are you getting all the spiritual blessings that God wants you to have? There are battles to be won by faith – the Promised Land is not a place of rest but a test of what you are made of. Will you start claiming it for yourself and tell God you want all that He wants you to have in service for Him?