Gloves Up
Joshua 1:4
“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.”
Muhammad Ali was as famous for his bragging as he was his boxing.
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."
"I'm so fast I can run through a hurricane and not get wet."
"I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace I'm gonna set except me."
Like a confident boxer God declares the victory before it's a reality.
Israel’s future borders are outlined from south (the desert) to the north (Lebanon) then east (the Euphrates) to the west (the Great Sea). Joshua hasn’t even put the boxing gloves on and God already tells him how many opponents he’s going to knock out.
Jesus makes the same kind of bold claim when he initiates the church. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Unfortunately by the end of the book, Joshua and his soldiers have settled for a lot less than God's best. There is still promised territory unclaimed.
The IRS claims that they have 1 billion dollars worth of unclaimed taxes. Over a million people rob themselves of the taxes that the government owes them. Are we ever guilty of robbing ourselves of God’s best?
You have to fight for Gods promises, they are not automatic.
There are over 3,000 promises in the Bible and a majority of them are conditional. If you do this, then God will do this.
In every Marvel Avengers movie there's territory that they fight to protect. In the first movie of the series, it's New York. In the second movie, it's a country called Sokovia. In the not yet released next film, Infinity war, it will probably be the entire planet if not the universe.
What territories or promises is God wanting you to fight for?
Are your finances out of control?
Is your moral compass broken?
Is your marriage disintegrating?
Are your kids a hot mess?
Heroes don't back down from a fight, especially if they've been promised to have God in their corner. It's time for you to lace up your gloves and go a few rounds.
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