Stepping into the Promise: Embracing Transition and Establishing Victory

In life, we often find ourselves in seasons of transition. Some transitions may catch us by surprise, while others may be painful or exciting. As a church community, we have been experiencing a season of transition, and as we enter into the next phase, the word that resonates with us is "establish." It is a season of seeing promises fulfilled and inhabiting new places of victory.

Today were are going to explore the lessons we can learn from the book of Joshua and how they apply to our own lives.

We are going to be reading the first 9 verse together:

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Embracing Transition

Just as the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, we too must embrace the transitions in our lives. These transitions may separate us from what God has in store for us, but they also serve as opportunities for growth and learning. Like the Israelites, we must trust in God's guidance and step into the unknown with faith.

“3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses……..5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

Keeping who God is, and what He has said in-front of us.  Is the key to not just longing for something but stepping into something.

Overcoming Opposition

In our journey towards the promises of God, we will inevitably face opposition. It may come in the form of challenges, doubts, or even walls that seem impossible to break through. However, we must remember that God always uses what opposes us to teach us valuable lessons about His character and the workings of His kingdom. Instead of relying on our own strength, we are called to praise and worship God, knowing that our praise is the most powerful weapon against our problems.

And for the people of Israel in Joshua 1 that first bump they had to deal with was this raging river. But it was that river that separated them from what God had for them that was going to be a picture of who God was to them. He told them to have the priest carry the ark of the covenant, and the ark of the covenant is an old testament thing that is foreign concept to us.  Because through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus, the presence of God isn’t in a box we visit, it is in us through the Holy Spirit Jesus sent to us.

But in this part of the story of God, the Ark of the Covenant didn’t just represent that God was with the people, it was God with the people.  It was carried only by the priest and they couldn’t touch it, they had to use polls to carry it.  And it was brought with them everywhere and would sit in the holy of holies in the inner courts of the tabernacle, the place of where the people of God would encounter God through worship and sacrifice. God tells Joshua have the priest carry the ark of the covenant before the people and step into the river…and in Joshua 3:13 we read:

“13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

And in a fresh way the people learned as the faced what they thought was something that they couldn’t make it through, that when God goes before you, nothing can stand against you. 

Power of Divine Strategy

Just as God gave Joshua a divine strategy to conquer the city of Jericho, He also provides us with strategies to overcome the obstacles in our lives. These strategies may not always make sense to us, but they are designed to bring about breakthrough and victory. It is important for us to seek God's guidance, listen to His instructions, and trust in His plan, even when it seems unconventional.

Remember the two traps when can fall stepping into the new thing that God has for us, discouragement and fear.  Discouragement tells you, you can’t do this. Fear tells you shouldn’t do this. And Joshua and the people of God were looking at the city of Jericho that was ready to stop them, probably wondering what to do next.And God gives them a divine strategy. He tells them to pull the worship leaders together and all the fighting men and walk around the city. 

The most dangerous thing you can do to what you feel like is opposing you in your life, is surround that thing with worship. 

Grace of Delay and Opposition

Sometimes, delays and opposition in our lives are actually God's grace towards us. Just as David's time in the wilderness prepared him to defeat Goliath, our seasons of waiting and facing opposition can refine our character and strengthen our faith. It is during these times that we learn valuable lessons and develop the skills necessary to fulfill our purpose.

As we navigate through seasons of transition, it is essential to remember that God is with us every step of the way. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. By embracing the transitions, overcoming opposition, and seeking divine strategies, we can establish ourselves in the promises of God. Let us choose to praise instead of stress, knowing that our praise has the power to bring down the walls that stand in our way. May we step into the promises of God with faith, courage, and a heart full of praise.