Four Keys

We are going to look at four keys to receiving the promises of God from Joshua 1:1-9.

The first key to entering God’s promise is to hear from God.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:” (Joshua 1:1) When David and his men arrived at their home, Ziklag, and found it had been burned by fire, their wives and children taken captive, and possessions stolen, the men talked about stoning David. And the Bible says “David inquired of the Lord.” (I Samuel 30:8) To whom do you inquire for guidance and information? The Bible says Moses turned aside to see the burning bush. (Exodus 3:3) God by His Spirit is calling us to turn aside from our daily activities and to seek His face and hear His voice. When He turned aside, Moses’ life was radically changed and God used him to deliver a nation in a demonstration of power. Just that word from God raises faith in our hearts to believe God for the impossible.

The second key to entering God’s promise is to take ownership of the promise.
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3) “Moses my servant is dead.” God is saying, “Joshua, this is not about Moses but about you.” For forty years Joshua had been walking under Moses. God spoke to Moses, and Joshua did what Moses told him to do. But now God wanted to renew his covenant with Joshua. Joshua could not enter the land of promise based upon what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joshua needed to hear the promise for himself. He by faith had to lay claim or take possession of the promise. You may hear a great sermon, receive a prophetic word, receive godly counsel but until it becomes alive in you, it is just a word from someone else.

The third key to entering God’s promise is that you have to know and live by the Book.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8-9) We can hear the voice of God, by faith lay claim to what he has promised, but fail to succeed because we haven’t done it by the Book. So often we use worldly methods to try to achieve godly results. God’s ways are so different than our ways. His kingdom is not of this world. He calls us to give, lay down our lives, love our enemies, be the servant of all, and die to ourselves. He must increase and we must decrease.

The fourth key to entering God’s promises is to realize that only God can fulfill His promises.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Before Joshua lay the land of promise, filled with giants, massive armies and walled cities. The people whom God had called him to lead and possess the land were bedouins living in tents with families and herds of sheep and goats. The task was overwhelming and by man’s standards impossible. God’s promises are always impossible to fulfill with our resources. God is the only one who can fulfill His promises. He calls us simply to launch out into the deep and to believe and obey.

We serve an awesome God with awesome promises. May you discover Him anew today.

Andy Clark