We are in War part3

5. Our Canaan


• 1 Cor 10:1 FOR I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under {and} protected by the cloud [in which God's Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea, 1 Cor 10:2 And each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God]; 1 Cor 10:3 And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food, 1 Cor 10:4 And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ. 1 Cor 10:5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown {and} strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. 1 Cor 10:6 Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire {or} crave {or} covet {or} lust after evil {and} carnal things as they did. 1 Cor 10:7 Do not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink [the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at Horeb] and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity). 1 Cor 10:8 We must not gratify evil desire {and} indulge in immorality as some of them did--and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell {dead} in a single day! 1 Cor 10:9 We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did--and were killed by poisonous serpents; 1 Cor 10:10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did--and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). 1 Cor 10:11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish {and} fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period). 1 Cor 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].

• Deut 11:21 That your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

• I believe Canaan is not a type of heaven as some think

• In Canaan, there was war and fighting, there were giants & enemies, etc, that will not be there in heaven!

• ` Even today, Israel is still fighting to possess and defend their land!

• In our Canaan, we need to defend or stand against habits, sicknesses, failure, poverty, etc

• Canaan, I believe is the kind of life that God wants us to enjoy in this life before heaven.

• I believe Canaan is the life where there is success, prosperity, healthy, abundance, the best life where we live in His perfect will and our relationship is alright with God.

• A life of victory, Rom 5:17 For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

• Example, the process that Israel went through:

Bondage > Freedom > Wilderness > Possession

• Finally, they got the freedom with some riches but they still needed to get into their own land (Ex 12 v32-41)

• The process to Canaan took forty years, many could not make it there, but died in the wilderness

• What kept them long in the wilderness and what eventually lead to some dying was their attitude

• The enemy could not physically hold them in Egypt/ bondage but their minds were still bound (Num 11 v4-8)

• When things got tough, they remembered Egypt! (Num 14 v1-4)

• The process of the wilderness was basically to help them in change of mentality from slavery to freedom and then to possession

• They had to rely on God and lived on manna and water miracles, this among other things was meant to teach them dependence on God

• The bible says their clothes did not grow old; they were under supernatural provision and did not necessarily work for it! (Neh 9v5-21)

• The bible says what happened to Israel was for our learning/ example. (1Cor 10v1-13)

• In every area of our lives, we go through the above processes, whether in our spiritual lives, financial, health, etc

• The above processes cannot not be avoided, when one is missed, it will affect us in another level

• Wilderness process is difficult and takes a lot of mentality shift but easier that possession because it’s all under supernatural provision

• When we get to possession, we start the process of fighting, possessing and working

• Manna stopped coming when they got into Canaan, no more water from the rock, now they have to till the land! (Josh 5 v1-12)

• In Canaan they needed to fight to posses the land

• Their provision was now dependant on their working and obeying God.



6. We need to posses the land

• Josh 1:1 AFTER THE death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' minister, Josh 1:2 Moses My servant is dead. So now arise [take his place], go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, the Israelites. Josh 1:3 Every place upon which the sole of your foot shall tread, that have I given to you, as I promised Moses. Josh 1:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river Euphrates--all the land of the Hittites [Canaan]--and to the Great [Mediterranean] Sea on the west shall be your territory. Josh 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Josh 1:6 Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Josh 1:7 Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Josh 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe {and} do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely {and} have good success. Josh 1:9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Josh 1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Josh 1:11 Pass through the camp and command the people, Prepare your provisions, for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

• Josh 18:3 Joshua asked the Israelites, How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?

• Josh 17:18 But the hill country shall be yours; though it is a forest, you shall clear and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.

• Judg 2:6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the Israelites went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.

• Josh 14:6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart. 8 But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in.12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.13 Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 14 So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.

• Caleb was one of the only two people from the old generation to enter Canaan, but after almost five years, he had not received his promised inheritance, he had to go to Joshua and ask / demand his inheritance. At times we need to rise up and claim what is rightfully ours or else we will not possess it!

• Caleb said he had the same strength he had when he was 40, he says, “…give me this mountain, I will drive them out…” this is the language of a man of war!

• If you do not rise up to do something, nothing will happen, you will keep on crying and complaining.





7. Danger of weakness / laziness (as warriors)

• Prov 24:30 I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; Prov 24:31 And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. Prov 24:32 Then I beheld {and} considered it well; I looked {and} received instruction.

•

8. We need to keep the land / our possession

• 2 Sam 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.

• Stand your ground, stand in the promises or Word of God, and refuse to budge.

• To enjoy your Canaan, it is up to you, God have already given you the capacity.

• Example is:

 David versus Goliath, 1Samuel 17v45-51

 The woman with the issue of blood, Mark 5v25-34

 Moses also at the Red sea, Exodus 14v13-30.

 Paul in the sea on the way to Rome, Acts 27v24-27.

• In the above examples, they realized that they could do something themselves and the power of God will manifest, they did even pray!

i) Declare / Say it (promise)

ii) Do it, act. Do a corresponding action, move towards it, do something.

iii) Receive it / possess it.

iv) Tell it/ declare what you receives



 To keep the land / your possession, you need a resistant attitude / mentality

Jer 12:5 [But the Lord rebukes Jeremiah's impatience, saying] If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if [you take to flight] in a land of peace where you feel secure, then what will you do [when you tread the tangled maze of jungle haunted by lions] in the swelling {and} flooding of the Jordan?

Jer 12:6 For even your brethren and the house of your father--even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, even they are [like a pack of hounds] in full cry after you. Believe them not, though they speak fair words {and} promise good things to you.


• In the above scripture, God implies that we need to develop some muscle

• He is saying we need to be resistant and be able to endure challenges

• There is nothing good or great in life that will come easily

• Those that are believing for an easy life are mislead

• In other words, we need to grow in our resistant or fighting spirit

• We need to race with man, last year(s) we were racing with man, we had small challenges and victories

• The years ahead, we need to expect more, the higher you want to go, the more challenges you must expect

• We believe we are moving higher this year, the stake of challenges will be higher, we will now race with horses and not footman!

• We are moving from the secure land to the jungle of the Jordan.

• If you will move higher, there is more sacrifice, more battles, more resistance, more challenges!

• More reading, more studying, more discipline, more praying, more investing, more giving, more risks

• Invest more in line with your land, when you want to be a doctor, pursue medicine studies, have doctor friends / mentors, buy medicine books/ material, read more along those lines, prepare yourself even before you get the opportunity to actual go to college.

• Let opportunity find you ready and already in motion.

• Develop excellence and skill in your area.

• The higher the return, the higher the risks.

• This race is not for the weak or feeble, it is for the strong, so, train yourselves.

MLB 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be alert; stand firm in the faith; play the man; be strong.

ASV 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

KJV-R (Webster) 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Young's Literal 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand in the faith; be men, be strong;

Amplified 1 Cor 16:13 Be alert {and} on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men {and} be courageous; grow in strength!

The Message 1Cor 16:13 Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute,


• In our quest for success, growth, development, progress, etc, we need to: be alert, be on guard, watch, stand firm, play the man, act like man, be courageous, be strong, grow in strength.

• In cannot be business as usual, if you expect an extraordinary life, do the extra ordinary

• Your dreams will not come or be fulfilled easy, you will not move higher easily, take action, put more effort.

• We have realized to move higher, we need to take action and line up with that thinking, act like people who are moving higher, we cannot continue like everything in normal and expect a change!


Prov 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

• Do not just be weak, do not like quitting, be resistant

• Life situations, sin, the devil, failure, etc may knock you down seven times, but wake up, do not lie down!

• I did not say you will not face failure at times, but, do not stop there, rise up and continue.


1 Cor 9:26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air {and} striking without an adversary.

• Paul says I run, I box!

• There are times when your muscles will be sore, you will be bleeding, your face swollen, will be down and the enemy standing over you so to speak, but that is not the end, fight on!


2 Chr 15:7 Be strong, therefore, and let not your hands be weak {and} slack, for your work shall be rewarded.


Ezra 4:4 Then [the Samaritans] the people of the land [continually] weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled {and} terrified them in building


Neh 6:9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, Their hands will be so weak that the work will not be done. But now strengthen my hands!


Job 4:3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.

Is 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble {and} tottering knees.


Heb 12:12 So then, brace up {and} reinvigorate {and} set right your slackened {and} weakened {and} drooping hands and strengthen your feeble {and} palsied {and} tottering knees,

We are in Part2

1. We need to fight / Have a fighting spirit / attitude


 Have you ever asked yourself why did God start with the Old Testament and give all that history?

 Introduction, we need to realize that what happened in the Old Testament was a shadow or type of the time we live in or the New Testament.

 1Cor 10v1 &11, says those things happened for our example.

 Examples, there is Adam in Eden and there is Adam Jesus, Abraham had a child with Hagar and Sarah, Paul says Sarah is the mother of us all, Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael and Paul says Isaac is a child of promise like us, Many Psalms by David had to do with actual situations that David went through but they also had a prophetic insight or truth, the rock that gave Israel water in the wilderness is said to be Christ, Gal 4 v22-31, the Passover and deliverance of Israel from Egypt is also a type of our deliverance from sin, Moses before he died promised that God will raise another prophet, I believe he literally meant Joshua who is also a type of Christ, God promised David king son who I believe was literally Solomon but also a type of Christ.

 So, many things of the Old Testament are an example or type of what we are today, most of the Old Testament things were physical and in our case are spiritual!

 We need to realize that life is a process or a journey that will need strength, wisdom, hard work, fighting, etc

 We need to realize that life and success is not an event, but a process of fighting and consistency

 E.g. there is somebody that can look at me and think the little that I am, is or was achieved over night, materially, I have been gainfully employed for 13 years, of those years, 7, I have been an Accountant.

 I have been in church and mainly youth leadership for 15 years and in Lobengula l have been in different types or levels of leadership for 13 years.

 The “little” that I have seen and experienced was not prayed through in one day but years of seeking God and working, it’s a process!

• Judg 3:1 NOW THESE are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not previously experienced war in Canaan;

• 2 Sam 23:8-23, These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the Three [heroes], known also as Adino the Eznite; he wielded his spear and went against 800 men, who were slain at one time. Next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had departed. [Eleazar] arose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord wrought a great deliverance {and} victory that day; the men returned after him only to take the spoil. Next to [Eleazar] was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered at Lehi on a piece of ground full of lentils; and the [Israelites] fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory. And three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David in the cave of Adullam, and a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David said longingly, Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate! And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, to drink this. Is it not [the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives? So he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. Now Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against 300 men and slew them, and won a name beside the Three. Was he not most renowned of the Three? So he was their captain; however, he did not attain to the Three. And Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many notable acts, slew two lionlike men of Moab. He went down also and slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day. And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew the man with his own spear. These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was more renowned than the Thirty, but he attained not to the [first] Three. David set him over his guard {or} council. Asahel brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; then Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

• Neh 4:13 So I set [armed men] behind the wall in places where it was least protected; I even thus used the people as families with their swords, spears, and bows. Neh 4:14 I looked [them over] and rose up and said to the nobles and officials and the other people, Do not be afraid of the enemy; [earnestly] remember the Lord {and} imprint Him [on your minds], great and terrible, and [take from Him courage to] fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. Neh 4:15 And when our enemies heard that their plot was known to us and that God had frustrated their purpose, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work. Neh 4:16 And from that time forth, half of my servants worked at the task, and the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; and the leaders stood behind all the house of Judah. Neh 4:17 Those who built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand, Neh 4:18 And every builder had his sword girded by his side, and so worked. And he who sounded the trumpet was at my side. Neh 4:19 And I said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people, The work is great and scattered, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another. Neh 4:20 In whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.

 The above scriptures show us that Israel was a fighting nation / people and God was with them in fighting.

 There are things that you need to fight for and defend

 We need to be radical, resilient, and fight

 We should not just be docile and let things happen on their own

 People associate Christianity with weakness, laziness, failure, indecision, etc but the bible show that Christianity is power, strength, dedication, vision, commitment, etc

 There are situations that you experience to equip and strengthen you

 You produce after your kind, David was a warrior, he also trained and produced mighty man/ warriors, who you are attached to or relate to will either make a fighter or weak!

• Eph 6:10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Eph 6:11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies {and} the deceits of the devil. Eph 6:12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Eph 6:13 Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist {and} stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

• 2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh {and} using mere human weapons.2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds,2 Cor 10:5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

 Areas of war are spiritual, our flesh & our mind.

2. We need the skill in war

• Judg 3:2 It was only that the generations of the Israelites might know and be taught war, at least those who previously knew nothing of it.

• Ps 18:34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

• Ps 144:1 BLESSED BE the Lord, my Rock {and} my keen {and} firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight-

• Josh 6:1 NOW JERICHO [a fenced town with high walls] was tightly closed because of the Israelites; no one went out or came in. Josh 6:2 And the Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho, its king and mighty men of valor, into your hands. Josh 6:3 You shall march around the enclosure, all the men of war going around the city once. This you shall do for six days. Josh 6:20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and [Jericho's] wall fell down in its place, so that the [Israelites] went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Josh 6:21 Then they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

• Prov 21:22 A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.


3. Victory is certain

• KJV-R (Webster) Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. MLB Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not our Rock,our foes themselves so concluding. Young's Literal Deuteronomy 32:31 For not as our Rock is their rock, (And our enemies are judges!)

• 1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• 2 Cor 2:14 But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads {and} makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,