Title: Let's Step on the Land of Canaan!!
Contents Ladies and gentlemen, our church is in a transition period. We are required to actively respond to and overcome changes in challenges and responses. Toynbee, the British historian, said, "Creation takes place in the encounter of challenge and response." That's right. Today's difficulties can become tomorrow's hopes. If we respond well, it can become an opportunity for a phone call.
Today's text is also the word of God given to Joshua, who was at a turning point. Through these words, we want to learn how to respond in the face of the challenges and trials given to our church in the transition period.
1. We have the land of Canaan to conquer. (Verses 1-2)
After Moses died, God gave Joshua a mission. What was Joshua's mission? This is verse 2. Joshua and Israel are commanded to go to the land of Canaan. Joshua made this God-given mission his vision and goal. And the mission was accomplished.
Dear brothers and sisters, what is our vision and mission? What land of Canaan should we enter? What land of Canaan should we conquer? What land should we go and tread? There may be several land of Canaan that we must conquer. The purpose of the church that the Lord gives to our Adventist church is the land of Canaan that we must tread. What are the purposes of the Lord? It is to glorify God through worship. It is to become like Christ through education and training. It is through communion among the saints that they become one. Serving the world through service and mission. Our Advent Church wants to be a church that exists for this purpose.
Dear brothers and sisters, in order to fulfill the purposes of worship, education, fellowship, service, and mission, our church must first be healthy. Without a healthy church, the purposes of the Lord would not be fulfilled. Therefore, brothers and sisters, to establish Advent Church as a healthy church, we must conquer the land of Canaan. But, dear saints, what is the situation of our Adventist Church? One day, we plan to request our church to a professional organization for diagnosis. If we evaluate our church honestly, how about ours? In short, our church is very weak.
Our church lacks human resources. Two trained and dedicated teachers are needed in elementary school. Haven't been appointed yet. Last year there were 58 districts. More than half of it was an unfamiliar area. So this year, we reduced it to 29. Some districts do not have a district chief to lead them. There are many weavers, but the workers are scarce. What is the state of our church's material resources? I have to provide a private house for the manager's family, but I can't. What is the spiritual condition of our church? Evaluate our church in terms of faith, hope, and love. It is a spiritually poor church.
Dear brothers and sisters, our church is weak and weak like Israel. Although we are weak and lacking, we want to be established as a healthy church that fulfills the purpose of the Lord. I believe this is Canaan that we will conquer.
2. Let's conquer the land of Canaan by believing in God's promise. (Verses 3-6)
Israel was weak to conquer the land of Canaan. God was well aware of Israel's weakness. In order for the Israelites to occupy the land of Canaan, they must first prepare their hearts. Weak Israel had to have a strong and courageous heart.
So God encouraged Joshua by giving him a sure promise. What promise did God give Joshua?
The first is the promise that God will surely give the land of Canaan. Dear saints, the land of Canaan is the land that God has promised and guaranteed. Verse 3 says, “As I said to Moses, I have given you everything that the soles of your feet tread.” This is a PERFECT VERB in Hebrew, which means that the land has already been given to you and is in a given state. At the time God gave the covenant to Abraham, the land of Canaan had already been given to Israel.
But, dear saints, the land of Canaan was already given by God, but Joshua and the people of Israel must tread on it in faith and take it. God had already given it as a gift, but Israel had to fight and win it. So God promises to give the land of Canaan to Israel through victory over the enemy. Verses 5 and 6. “No one will be able to stand up to you all the days of your life…you will make this people inherit the land.” It is a promise that Joshua will overcome the enemies he meets and fulfill his mission.
Second, it promises the presence of God. God promises this in verse 5. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life, just as I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” In verse 9, God promises again. “Wherever you go, the Lord your God is with you.” God's presence guarantees the conquest of Canaan through victory over the enemy.
Therefore, God says to Joshua in verse 6, “Be strong, be courageous.” Verse 7 again says, “Be strong and extremely courageous.” Also, God says in verse 9, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.” What do you mean? It is a message to conquer the land of Canaan with strong and bold faith. It is a message to tread on the land of Canaan with bold faith and take it.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is also true of our church. We have the land of Canaan to conquer. The Lord promised in Matthew 16:18. “I will build my church.” It is a promise that the Lord Himself will establish His own church. I hope you believe in the promise that the Lord will establish our Adventist church. Believe that the Lord has already given it to us. But, saints, I want you to remember that it has already been given to us, but it is nevertheless made us through the victory of the spiritual battle.
May God trust us to triumph and conquer. Trust that God is with us to fight, conquer, and tread upon. In Matthew 28:20, “Look! I will be with you until the end of the world.”
3. Let's meditate on and obey God's Word. (Verses 7-9)
Brothers and sisters, how can we be bold in our hearts? Can you be strong and bold? How can I have strong faith in God's promises? Verses 7 and 8. “Only be strong and very courageous, so that you may keep and do all the law that Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn to the left or to the right, so that you may prosper wherever you go. Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; Observe and do all that is written in it, and your way will be smooth, and you will prosper.” When Joshua meditates on and keeps the law of God, he will prosper in all things.
That's right. In order to act boldly in faith, we must read and meditate on the Word of God. We must keep the word of God. In Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Faith comes when we hear the word of God. When we meditate on the Word of God, our faith is strengthened. When we read, meditate, and obey God's Word, our church will be established as a healthy church. When we love and obey God's Word, we will prosper. Please believe that we will conquer the land of Canaan when we are trained in the word of God.
Dear believers, our Adventist Church is now in a transition period. The land of Canaan given to us at this point is to pay off our debts and build a healthy church. As the head of the church, the Lord is building it into a healthy church. The Lord works through us. May you be strong and courageous. The Lord is with us. May you conquer our Canaan by faith. Let's go forth in faith to conquer the land of Canaan.