Opposition
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is becoming increasingly more intense. As the
Body of Christ, we are experiencing Satanic attacks of greater intensity. We
are preparing for all hell to break loose. Only God knows what is ahead!
However, He has promised to walk with us. Jesus said that He would never leave or forsake us, Heb. 13:5, “...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee.” And, we want Him to walk with us wherever we go! But, how many
of us will walk with Him wherever He goes? In the former, we seek God’s
blessing on the path we have chosen. In the latter, we seek God’s leading and
the path He has chosen. His blessings automatically follow. Sure, we want Him
to walk with us but what would our lives look like if we follow Him to where He
is going?
God
made a similar promise to Joshua as recorded in Joshua 1:5, “There shall not
any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with
Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” God’s
promise to Joshua provides a powerful example to those who would follow God to
where He is going!
God
had created the initiative to bring His people into this land of Canaan, where
they could worship and follow Him without the intrusion of the customs and
religions of other nations. For 40 years, they had been on this journey, and now
it was time for them to go in. It was God’s plan for Joshua to lead them in,
however, Joshua had to decide to follow God where He was leading. Joshua 1:2,
“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and
all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of
Israel.”
Why
did it take the children of Israel 40 years to get to Canaan? The obvious answer
is that they just were not ready. God had to teach them, grow them, and mature
them. Many died on the journey! But the core issue to all their problems was
that they would not consent to let God do the leading. They would not follow
God to where He was going! Their success or failure was based upon that very
simple principle.
Are
we so much different than they were? I submit to you today that we are not!
Every need that exists among men can be addressed by the power of God’s
presence. But we are forced to make the same decision that Joshua was
confronted with. Are we willing to let God do the leading? Are we willing to go
with God to where He is going? There lies the key to releasing the power of God
in our lives! (continued)