Victorious Living預覽

CONQUERING THE PROMISED LAND

INTRODUCTION

Conquering the Promised Land talks about being a victor. In Genesis 12:1-3, God made a covenant with Abraham. He called Abraham to go out from his country to the place shown by Him, to a country which was full of milk, wine, wheat, and honey.

Abraham responded. It is important to respond to the Word of God. Abraham went to the Promised Land and the Lord kept reminding Abraham of His promises to Abraham that He will bless him and his descendants.

God has made a promise to bring us to the Promised Land (not in the literal sense), which is a place of prosperity and blessing. God blessed Isaac and Jacob. From Jacob, twelve tribes of Israel were born, one of them was Joseph. Joseph received a vision from the Lord. The Lord wants us to depend completely on Him. Joseph did not grumble during his difficult times. Joseph rose to become the second most important person in Egypt (Psalm 105).

Joseph was promoted because of his faith in what God had revealed to him in his dreams. Joseph understood that it was God’s given vision to him, therefore he did not give up when he had to experience the process.

God’s vision is not a human’s ambition. God’s vision will not die. Our vision for family, business, and ministry must come from the Lord. A vision is different from personal desire or ambition. A vision comes from the Lord, but when it is mixed with personal desires, people would justify many ways to achieve their goals.  The vision may look like from the Lord while in reality, it is just a personal desire or ambition that produces bad things.

Hold on, pray and live the vision that God gives to you even though it means you have to undergo many processes. Through it all, we will experience the greatness of God and the new things that God has provided for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

SHARING

It took 40 years to enter the Promised Land. There were 3 things that they had to do to enter the Promised Land:

1. HAVE COMPLETE TRUST IN THE LORD (Joshua 1:2-5)

We need to trust God 100% and not just 50%, 60%, or 80%. Christians are called believers. Trust Lord Jesus 100% more than our circumstances. We trust God through His word that will guide us in faith. Faith without deeds is dead. We believe in the word of God that will never hurt us.

Joshua was afraid and felt inadequate when he had to replace Moses. "Who am I, can I have the same spirit as Moses?". But the Lord told Joshua that he should not be disheartened and discouraged, for the Lord would be with him all his life.

“Be strong and very courageous”, let keep this word in our lives. Joshua had complete faith in God because of His wonderful deeds in the past and His miracles. Isaiah says that by believing and staying quiet lies our strength. Many Christians do not do this because they want to get the answers as soon as possible. God told Joshua not to turn to the right or the left nor use the Egyptian’s ways to lead this great nation. Moses was the supreme leader of God's servant. When he died, God chose Joshua, the servant of Moses, to be a man of God. When we believe in God 100%, God will give His favor to us.

Some of us might say,” Who I am? I cannot do anything.” If we believe and have the desire to do His word, the great things / our great visions will surely be fulfilled.

Do not worry and hesitate, because the Lord will be with us and will not leave us.

2. OBEY THE WORD OF GOD (Joshua. 1:7-8).  

God tells us to meditate on the Word of God seriously if we want to be successful and prosperous. It was not easy to cross the Jordan river. There were many obstacles and hindrances. If Joshua did not hold fast to the word of God and obey the Lord, it would be impossible for them to cross the river and occupy the Promised Land. There are God’s rules and laws that need to be obeyed by those who want to enter the Promised Land. 

In 1 Peter 2:9, we are reminded that we are God's chosen generation, the royal priesthood, and a nation holy to the Lord. As a royal priesthood, it is important to know how to worship and enter into His presence.

The purpose of our life is to be with Him and to be like Christ. The journey to Heaven is not easy. Lord Jesus says that the path is difficult and narrow, but we will surely arrive in the Promised Land with the Lord.

Obey the word of God, then our journey will be successful and fortunate.

3. SANCTIFY YOURSELF (Joshua 5:2). 

Those born in the wilderness must be circumcised before entering the Promised Land, so that they may have new hearts. We also need to circumcise our hearts.

In 1 Pet. 3:15a—But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Lord Jesus is 100% holy God and 100% man. He has no sin and transgression. 

John 17: 17-19 – Sanctify them by the truth; your word is the truth. We are sanctified by the word of God. 

1 Cor. 6:11b – But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

2 Timothy 2:21 - Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work. We are sanctified to serve the Lord.

Let us experience and enter the Promised Land which the Lord has given to each one of us. Cleanse ourselves of worldly influences and the things that may prevent us from focusing ourselves on Christ and His word.

DISCUSSION

1. What is a "Promised Land"?

2. Do you know what your "Promised Land" is? If you do not know yet, pray to the Lord to give it to you this year.  

3. For those who have already had it: what are the things that you have to prepare to conquer and occupy that "Promised Land"?

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b)