ENTERING THE LAND NO. 4
     DEU 34:4 Then the \Lord\ said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see {it} with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." DEU 34:5 So Moses the servant of the \Lord\ died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the \Lord.\ DEU 34:8 So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping {and} mourning for Moses came to an end.
     This was a time of complete transition. Israel's leader for over 41 years was dead. This was a time of uncertainty and war. None knew how Canaan could be conquered. They had confidence in Moses and trusted him at last. Now this was a whole new undertaking, and with a new leader.
   God had been preparing Joshua to take Moses' place for over 40 years There seemed to be no doubt who was to lead. No one contested Joshua's leadership, which was in itself a miracle.
     The oldest of Israel's men were 60 years. Everyone older was dead. All these men were 20 years or younger when Israel failed to enter Canaan 40 years before. That first group of rabble rousers and complainers were all dead. When Moses took a census he found not one was left. Most of these men only knew the wilderness way of life.
     When Israel made that first transition from slavery to freedom a certain sense of security was lost. If you listen to what Israel said about Egypt, you sense a kind of nostalgia of good memories and pleasant times. They said " We were well off in Egypt."
     From our point of view that seems completely foolish because they were slaves in Egypt. They were treated with hatred and violence and worked from sun up to sun down under the terrible whip of task masters.
      People look back at times of security as good times. In times of insecurity, even bad times of security look good. I'm sure in this next advance there will be times of great insecurity and the temptation will be to look back like Lot's wife.
     We can still hear someone speak about the good old days of outside toilets, no plumbing, wood heat, oil lights and working from before daylight until after dark .
     Transition means insecurity and this was a time of insecurity for Israel. Israel's proven leader was dead. They were entering into a new land where everyone were enemies. They lived in walled cities. They had mighty armies. And Israel had a new leader.
     DEU 34:9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the \Lord\ had commanded Moses.
     Before there was no end to the criticism but now they wept for Moses for 30 days. Whenever everyone idolize their leader and fail to criticize, condemn and accuse him, they will ultimately destroy him with pride. We need to thank God for the criticism and bad mouthing. That keeps us alert and the adrenalin flowing.
     Can you imagine the wonderful things they were saying about Moses during the 30 days of mourning. If they push Moses up that would push Joshua down. But Joshua was getting his encouragement from God.JOS 1:5 "No man will {be able to} stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. JOS 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. JOS 1:7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. JOS 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the \Lord\ your God is with you wherever you go."
     God is about to open the door to Canaan. Things are changing fast. This is a new day. A new dimension. The promise of Canaan had been Israel's since the days of Abraham, but now the time of fulfillment is at hand. In all the 470 years of the history of Israel this is the first time they had come to this place or this opportunity. Joshua is God's man of the hour and the outlook is all positive.
     How could God have encouraged Joshua more? Before Joshua took the first step God told him he would be successful and give Israel the land. Now that is a prophetic word you can count on.
     Joshua's part was to be strong and courageous. But that was only part of his responsibility. He had to do exactly what the law of Moses said.
     There is always a requirement for success. God doesn't give automatic success. Exact obedience is always the requirement. If God told you to do something and you would be successful and you were not successful that can mean but one thing, you were not obedient.
     The requirement given to Joshua for success was strict adherence to the laws of God. How was Joshua going to guarantee success? JOS 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
     If Joshua meditated on the book of the law day and night, then when he opened his mouth the word of God would come out. The word of God shall not depart from your mouth. Then your way will prosper and you will have success.
     If Joshua had taken the first promise of God, " You shall give this people the land," but ignored the commandment to meditate on the book of the law day and night, he would not be successful.
     JOS 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the \Lord\ your God is with you wherever you go." God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous, but how can he work that up. You either have it or you don't. That is why God said he must meditate on the word day and night.
     Fleshly bravado and big mouth proclamations and claiming it by faith is much different than having God's word in your mouth. First we must know what God is saying and then speak what God is saying. That is the basis of success.
     This next restoration advance of God will require serious people who know what God's now word is and be obedient to that word.
     Israel's first trip from Mt. Sinai to Canaan was a clear example of wrong attitudes and an example of doing everything wrong. Now let us see the change of attitude this new generation had. JOS 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. JOS 1:17 "Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the \Lord\ your God be with you, as He was with Moses. JOS 1:18 "Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."
     This is the same consecration that we need for this next advancement of God.
     Joshua means savior. The Greek translation of Joshua is Jesus.  This is an important point. Our consecration is toward Jesus. The next restoration will end in the Kingdom of God. I'm not saying it will begin in the Kingdom but the Kingdom is certainly the goal. The King, Himself, will lead. I'm not personally looking for a man to follow, or a prophetic ministry. Thank God for the prophetic announcement. We need to hear what the prophets are saying, but then we must follow Jesus and not some prophet.
     The consecration part is most serious. Verses 16 - 17 - 18 is where we get into the restoration. This is the starting point. If we miss this consecration we may never catch up.
     This consecration is not toward men or organizations but toward Jesus. We have been speaking this same thing from the Tabernacle for a few years.
     Various groups have been instrumental in restoring the church to different progressive experiences up to this present time. Six outer court experiences have been restored up to this time. THE 7TH OUTER COURT EXPERIENCE IS THE CONSECRATION OFFERING. This is what Joshua 1- 16- 18 is about. Since this next advancement will not be centered in the professional ministry, consecration will be required of all the people of God who will participate.
     If you think this day is like all other days you are wrong. This is a new day. The door is opening. We are standing on the threshold.
     DEU 30:15 "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; DEU 30:16 in that I command you today to love the \Lord\ your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the \Lord\ your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. DEU 30:17 "But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, DEU 30:18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not prolong {your} days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. DEU 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, DEU 30:20 by loving the \Lord\ your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the \Lord\ swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. "