"NO MAN WILL [be able to] STAND BEFORE YOU [to oppose you] as long as you live. JUST AS I WAS [present] WITH MOSES, SO WILL I BE WITH YOU; I WILL NOT FAIL YOU OR ABANDON YOU."
Joshua 1:5 (AMP)
• The Presence of God is what you needed to possess, get or gain the possession of your promised Land:
"FOR THEY [the Israelites] DID NOT GAIN POSSESSION OF THE LAND BY THEIR OWN SWORD, NOR did their own ARM save them; BUT IT WAS YOUR [God's] RIGHT HAND, YOUR ARM, AND THE LIGHT OF YOUR COUNTENANCE, BECAUSE YOU FAVOURED THEM" (Psalm 44:1-3 NKJV).
- God did promise to be with Joshua as He was with Moses. And He also promises NOT to fail him or abandon him (Joshua 1:5).
- For you to receive such a promise, that He, God, would be with you; you have to establish a relationship with Him.
- When you allowed God to have His Way in your life, His Presence would definitely be with you.
- You will need the Presence of God to overcome in Life and get whatever belongs to you.
- We live in the world of darkness where the devil rules and reigns, the Bible calls him, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4); thus, you surely need the Presence of God in your life to be whatever God has ordained you to be.
- If Joshua would prevail, conquer and take possession of the land which God has promised to give to their fathers; then the Presence of God is of paramount importance (Exodus 33:15).
• How to secure His Presence
I. You have to establish a relationship with God. If you have not been reconciled with God through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18), having God's Presence could be a mirage.
GOD would not promise to be with someone who does not have a relationship with Him, who habitually lives in Sin (Romans 6:1).
II. Build intimacy with God through the study of the Word, the Bible, and lives by the principles of it (James 1:22,25).
III. Lead a prayerful Life. The knowledge of the Bible that you acquired would help you in praying aright.
a. You pray for guidance, enquire from God on what to do, and the steps to take on whatever the issue of Life.
b. You receive God's support or backing, word of assurance, in the place of prayer.
IV. Also, If you do not have a strong fellowship or Communion with Him, having His Presence would be a mirage.
THE assurance of being with Joshua, which he received from God, was a product of intimacy or Communion.
V. When you chose to do His Will in-spite of challenges, difficulties, and troubles. You chose to obey God rather than men. You will not lack His presence and backings.
a. You should choose to make God your focus and not any man.
b. And also treasure His Word in your heart than any other thing.
• Admonishments
- God and His Word are superior to anything or anyone in your life. If you misses God or lost His Presence, you have lost all.
- The people of the world look for protection and help where there is no help. Help is found only in God through Jesus Christ:
(i) Let your heart and focus be fixed on God:
"YOU [God] WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU, BECAUSE HE [she] TRUSTS IN YOU" (Isaiah 26:3).
(ii) Love Him with all your heart:
"JESUS said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND" (Matthew 22:37).
(iii) Let Jesus be your Standard, model, do not compare yourself with any person:
"LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR [originator] AND FINISHER [perfecter] of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
(iv) Be flexible in God's hand, let Him have His Way in every area of your life. a. Do not restrict Him or give condition to Him on whatever He may want to do in your life.
b. Being meek in the sight of God is being bendable. God would only guide the Meek: "HE LEADS THE HUMBLE [the Meek] IN WHAT IS RIGHT, AND TEACHES THE HUMBLE HIS WAY" (Psalm 25:9 ESV).
c. A recalcitrant person, who is headstrong and difficult to control, would not have the best of God. Being heady is tantamount to pride in the sight of God. And He resists the proud:
"YOU younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY toward one another, BECAUSE GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT HE GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE" (1 Peter 5:5 New American Standard Bible).
READ: Job 22:29; James 4:6,10
• Christianity is all about walking with God.
- If you failed in your walk with Him, His Presence which symbolizes power or the anointing, would be farfetched.
- God would stand with you to take your Land of inheritance or promise, If you did allow Him to do it.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!