FAITH, WORKS, VICTORY – PART TWO
Tuesday – May 29, 2018, Sivan 15, 5778
Greetings and welcome back to this wonderful study of the Word of God taken from the Book of Hebrews. Remember, with the exception of the Blood of Jesus there is nothing more precious or powerful anywhere. God is so good to us His precious children. Now, let us move forward with the very instructive account of Jericho. Jericho was an impediment right at the onset to the children of Israel possessing the land God had and was giving into their hand. The devil will always see to it that there is something in our way. Our obligation is to find out what God says about it and how He wants us to handle it, remove it. We have a Blood Covenant obligation and privilege to align with God allowing the Power of God to move through us. God through us can then accomplish what is best for the Kingdom of God, which will always be best for us as well. Again, let’s review our primary text from Hebrews.
Hebrews 11:30-32 (KJV)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Yesterday we reviewed the death of Moses and the period of weeping and mourning God gave His people before instructing them to move forward. God has reassured Joshua that He will not be treating Joshua any different than He treated Moses. God is no respecter of persons. As pointed out yesterday the children of Israel never occupied all of the Promised Land, the land to which God gave them title deed. Neither has the Church occupied all that Jesus has given by His death and resurrection. In the latter years of Joshua hear what he says to the children of Israel.
Joshua 18:2-3 (KJV)
2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
God through Joshua calls seven tribes of Israel slackers. I sure don’t want God to call me a slacker. I don’t want to be greeted in Heaven by “here comes David the slacker”. Recall that with the half tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh there are thirteen tribes. The tribe of Levi (priests) were prohibited from owning land so the land was dispersed among twelve tribes. Five tribes had not been slackers but seven were. All things manifest start in the spiritual realm, so, the manifestation of physical slackness has its origins in spiritual slackness. Said another way slackness represents a lack of reverence for God and unbelief. No love only fear. What did God tell Joshua was needful for success?
Joshua 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
I think it is interesting how the preceding passage starts with the word “only”. Let’s look at the same passage in a different translation of the Holy Word.
Joshua 1:7-9 (HCSB)
7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.
8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
In the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) we see a little more clearly that the Word of God is to be above all else, without exception. What do we see when we look at our own lives? If we are not having success wherever we go what would be the proper conclusion? The proper conclusion according to the Word of God is that we have turned to the left or to the right which took us out of the will of God and therefore out of His protections and provisions. Lord willing, I will pick up here again tomorrow. Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
3 John 1:2 (AMP)
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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