A Spiritual Fight for Territory

Joshua 1:2-9 (NIV)
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. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up 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 forefathers to give them. 7 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. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."


Introduction: God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham. But when they were coming out of Egypt with Moses and Joshua after 430 years of slavery, God did not allow the Israelites to possess Canaan easily. So it is with us. God has given us thousands of kinds of grace through the redemption of Jesus Christ, but we have to fight against the devil and occupy the territory.


1. A commandment to Joshua.
　　1) Know your territory (Jos 1:4).
　　2) The power of victory belongs to God who is with us (Jos 1:5).
　　3) Firm decision (Be strong and courageous) (Jos 1:6).
　　4) Live with the Word of God, and the book of the Law.
　　5) God who prospers us (Jos 1:7-8).


2. A commandment to us.
(Mt 28:18-20).
1) Know our territory.
ⓛ Fivefold Gospel. ② Threefold Blessing (3Jn 1:2).
2) Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18; Ac 4:31).
3) Do not shrink back (Heb 10:36-39).
4) Always follow the Word of God Ro 10:17; Ps 119:105).
　　5) Keep your dream about our good God (Mt 7:11; Ps 84:11).


3. Our battlefield.
1) Thoughts (Pr 4:23).
　　2) Dreams (Ac 2:17).
　　3) Faith (Mt 17:20).
　　4) Words (Pr 18:21).


Conclusion: Our fight will never end as long as the devil?our enemy?exists. A spiritual fight is inevitable, because we are trying to keep our blessing, while the devil is trying to take away our blessing. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed, because our victory has already been guaranteed.