Joshua’s victory went far beyond his own ability. He continued to march onward to conquer every enemy with increased assurance. His successes would not come through human effort alone. He had become thoroughly convinced that he was
not limited to his own strength. Instead, he had access to God’s limitless power.
There were three underlying principles that brought Joshua from one victory to another. These simple principles can be keys for our own continued spiritual
advancement.
The first key to Joshua’s success was a heart of diligent commitment to do all which God had commanded him. He read before all of Israel the commandments
which Moses had been given. Joshua 11:23 says he did all that the Lord had said to Moses. He left nothing undone.
It is vitally important that we do not become slack in our pursuit of God’s lifestyle and direction. We must become diligent to take to heart the importance
of God’s dealing and direction in our lives.
God gave us His promise because He expects us to live in them. If we can approach God with the same heart of commitment Joshua displayed, we can be led
into the promises He has set before us.
We cannot be slack. We must determine to fulfill all that God has spoken. We must determine to live committed without compromise. To “commit” ourselves
means simply to deliver ourselves into another’s charge. God’s direction should have complete authority in the decisions we make.
Joshua learned to move into battle under the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The plans and strategies were not his own, but came through his communion with God. Our diligence to allow God to direct the details of our lives will
prove to be an important key to obtaining what has seemed unobtainable.
The second principle Joshua revealed was boldness to occupy new territory. We cannot allow the successes we have seen in the past to delude us into thinking
that we have come far enough. We must not yield to spiritual stagnation. Stagnant water may be peaceful, but it becomes a breeding ground for very
unpleasant growth.
Joshua went from victory to victory, and we are told to go from glory to glory. Second Corinthians 3:18 from The Amplified Bible gives powerful insight
on taking new territory in our lives:
“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being
transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the
Spirit.”
Our diligence before God to allow His Words to be absorbed into our beings brings continual change. We pass from one degree of glory to another, until
we reach our Master’s degree.
The question that Joshua asked Israel rings out to us today: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has
given you?” (Joshua 18:3). We must set aside stagnation and reach out to obtain fresh water and new territory.
