Possession of the promises is according to faith—but we ran into a problem. I did not have time to give you the three things that prevent our possession. Get ready.
Three Problems Preventing Your Possession of All God Promised
1. Slackness, Joshua 18:3
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
I did an etymological investigation of the Hebrew word translated, slack. It is comprised of corrupt ingredients. Can I give you three?
A. To be slack means to be slothful. It is when you are lazy, or just idle (check this: Prov 10:4, 12:24; 19:15).
This is the sin of old churches and old Christians. They become satisfied with what they gained earlier. There is no interest or energy in continual spiritual advance, and that grieves the Holy Ghost.
B. To be slack means to fall short of some stated objective (check this: Josh 1:5).
Failure is a word that should fill every Christian with fear. In Christ we have all power. So to fall short in the day of testing is the saddest experience in life.
2 John 8: Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
C. To be slack means to delay. You defer because you get deflected, so you put it off (check this: Exod 22:29; Deut 23:21; Prov 23:30; Eccl 5:4; Hab 2:3).
You know the problem with this third aspect? It implies a good intention. You talk about it, but you don't be about it. There is a second problem preventing your possession.
2. Compromise, Joshua 16:10
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Ephraim could have driven out the Gezers, but it was easier to sign a truce and take their profit. People get paid enough and they are always willing to let the enemy remain in the midst.
Watch! The Devil's attack on Jesus was three times a compromise. Compromise your confidence in God by making your own bread. Compromise your patience by jumping from the temple. Compromise your conscience by bowing to Baphomet. Jesus hurled it back in his teeth every time—no compromise!
Compromise is the besetting sin of postmodern Christians. Hello somebody! We spiritualize the world to make it compatible with us. Cardinal points of carnal compromise. A third thing prevents our possession.
3. Inability, Joshua 15:63 and 17:12
Manasseh “could not” drive out the Canaanites. Judah “could not” drive out the Jebusites. But it’s kind of like my momma used to say: “Can't” never did do anything.
The restriction was in themselves—in lack of faith, in faulty vision, in handicapping hope and therefore power. It is not the will of God that any sin in you should remain unsubdued. Why not change your self-talk in order to change your thinking? Just say,
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
““Let not thy hands be slack,” live not in vain;
Out on life’s lonely track men toil in pain.
Play thou a brother’s part, strength, love, and hope impart,
Bid thou the fainting heart
Look up again!
“Let not thy hands be slack,” haste to the fray!
Dream not of turning back: life is not play!
Gird thou thy armour on, fight till the battle’s won,
Then shall thy Lord’s “Well done,”
More than repay!
Let not thy hands be slack,” “Fear not! Be strong!”
Cease not to make attack on every wrong.
Press on for truth and right—
Hold high the Gospel light—expel the dirge of night
With heaven’s song!
“Let not thy hands be slack,” the days fly fast.
Lost moments come not back from the dark past.
Then be not slack of hand! Help thou the weak to stand!
Give all thou hast!
