The war we find ourselves in is very real. I find it unfortunate when I hear people say, “the Christian life is like a battle” as if the battle is nothing more than a metaphor or intellectual construct. Yet, Jesus didn’t seem to be concerned with making sure the intellectuals of his day had a firm grasp on the reality of the inauguration of His Kingdom. Indeed the battle is real. Jesus said Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus also said He came to give life abundantly. Most of us who know Jesus find ourselves somewhere in between the destruction wrought by Satan and the abundant life Jesus spoke of. Why is this?
Most Christians fail to see what Joshua saw. In the same way that crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land did not mean possession of the Promised Land, neither does salvation assure the realization of the abundant life Jesus died to give you. Jesus died for our complete wholeness and restoration—mentally, physically, emotionally, relationally, and financially. Yet, many Christians fail to experience this amazing reality. Why?
Could it be because most of us stop at salvation? Fail to fight? Fail to press in? Stop short because of disappointment or misunderstanding? What if Joshua had stopped because it was hard? In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul exhorts Timothy to “take hold of the eternal life of which you were called”. This phrase “take hold” in the Greek can be further translated as to seize by force, intensely and aggressively, with focused resolve. This is a far cry from the passive Christianity most of us are used to.
Paul understood what Joshua understood. The land of Promise is not taken passively. That was as true for the Israelite standing on the edge of Canaan then as it is for the Christian today. We are called to enforce the victory Jesus secured at Calvary. My prayer is that Christians would awaken to the reality of the battle we find ourselves in. Press in for the full manifestation of the inheritance Jesus died to give you! Sound the shofars, put on your armor, sharpen you sword and allow the Spirit of God to rise up within you with a righteous indignation at the illegal encroachments of the enemy in your life, finances, and relationships! The Great Commission was a call to war because one kingdom cannot advance without another being displaced. We were made to advance the Kingdom of God! Refuse to be distracted, discouraged or deterred! He is faithful! We don’t fight for victory, we fight from it!
It took the Israelites 40 years to get to the Promised Land and still the journey wasn’t over. Rather, than strolling in and enjoying the many blessings God had promised them, they would have to physically enforce God’s victory and rule by displacing the enemy. They would have to possess the Promised Land. The first chapter of Joshua depicts God admonishing Joshua to be strong and of good courage as he prepared his men for battle. God needed Joshua to understand that the Promised Land wouldn’t come without a fight. The remainder of the Book of Joshua chronicles Joshua leading God’s people in battle after battle, victory after victory. This continued until God’s people had displaced the enemy to an extent they could safely take possession of their Promised Land.
Most Christians fail to see what Joshua saw. In the same way that crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land did not mean possession of the Promised Land, neither does salvation assure the realization of the abundant life Jesus died to give you. Jesus died for our complete wholeness and restoration—mentally, physically, emotionally, relationally, and financially. Yet, many Christians fail to experience this amazing reality. Why?
Could it be because most of us stop at salvation? Fail to fight? Fail to press in? Stop short because of disappointment or misunderstanding? What if Joshua had stopped because it was hard? In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul exhorts Timothy to “take hold of the eternal life of which you were called”. This phrase “take hold” in the Greek can be further translated as to seize by force, intensely and aggressively, with focused resolve. This is a far cry from the passive Christianity most of us are used to.
Paul understood what Joshua understood. The land of Promise is not taken passively. That was as true for the Israelite standing on the edge of Canaan then as it is for the Christian today. We are called to enforce the victory Jesus secured at Calvary. My prayer is that Christians would awaken to the reality of the battle we find ourselves in. Press in for the full manifestation of the inheritance Jesus died to give you! Sound the shofars, put on your armor, sharpen you sword and allow the Spirit of God to rise up within you with a righteous indignation at the illegal encroachments of the enemy in your life, finances, and relationships! The Great Commission was a call to war because one kingdom cannot advance without another being displaced. We were made to advance the Kingdom of God! Refuse to be distracted, discouraged or deterred! He is faithful! We don’t fight for victory, we fight from it!
