23 Dec HOW TO MAKE YOUR WAY PROSPEROUS AND HAVE GOOD SUCCESS
“This book of the law (The Bible) shall not the depart out of thy mouth (confession); but thou shall meditate therein day and night (meditation), that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein (total obedience): for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8)
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the infallible word of God,
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15)
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89)
If you do not study the scriptures the spirit of error will be in you, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Mathew 22:29)
Jesus Christ overcame the devil when He was tempted of the devil in the wilderness after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights because He knew the scriptures and the power in the word of God and said, “it is written”
CONFESSION
The book of the law is the Holy Bible which comprises of the law, prophets and the psalms When God instructed Joshua after the death of Moses, only the book of the law was in existence. According to Bible history Moses wrote the first five books of the old testament, “And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel” (Deuteronomy 31:9) He wrote from divine instruction, “And the LORD said unto Moses, write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and Israel.”(Exodus 34:27) and He also commanded him, ‘And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly’. These laws comprises of: Criminal law, Laws of property, Laws of inheritance, Laws of family life, Kings and powers of Government, Tax laws, Military laws, Court procedure, Laws of citizenship, Religious laws, Social security laws, Labor laws, Humane laws and Torts. A great scholar once said, “If a man-made law cannot be traced to a divine source, then not only should its effectiveness be questioned but, even more, its intent should be suspected”. The divine law was revealed to Moses for the children of Israel and to you for this purpose, “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgements, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say surely this great nation, is a wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:5-6). A Bible commentator said, “The divine law as revealed to Moses and taught by Christ, must be discerned spiritually and put into practice in our daily life. Wise decisions based on obedience to the laws of the Bible- so abundant in mercy and justice; bring about constant harmony and peace which can be ours.”
Many people say that the Old Testament laws do not apply to us today but Jesus Christ says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled”(Mathew 5:17-18) The rituals and ceremonial laws was abolished by Jesus Christ on the Cross, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree”(Galatians 3:13) However the moral laws are still valid today as it was in the time of Moses and Joshua. It was valid in the earthly days of our Lord Jesus Christ and it is still valid today. When one man came to Jesus and asked him what he should do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments and he asked which (Mathew 19:16-17) “He said unto him ,which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and thy shall love thy neighbour as thyself ” (Mathew 19:18-19) Though the young man kept all the moral laws right from his youth yet he lacked one thing- (verses 20-22) therefore he could not inherit eternal life.
As you look carefully at the instructions God gave to Joshua and also to you, one thing stands out – ‘shall not depart out of thy mouth’. We read with our eyes and not with our mouth, but God does not make mistakes, He was telling Joshua, as He is telling you today that as you read the Word of Life both in the Law and in the New testament, as you look at the precious promises of God you should confess them day and night “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee (studying) even in thy mouth (confession) and in thy heart (meditation): that is, the word of faith (the Holy Bible) which we preach (Old and New Testament)”(Romans 10:8). Confession is very important because the Bible says, “Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shine upon thy ways” (Job 22:28) and “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”(Mathew 18:18) Have you forgotten that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”(Proverbs 18:21)
Death: The Israelites failed at Kadesh Barnea because of their negative and fearful confession, “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”(Numbers 14:2-3). As a result of their faithlessness and negative confession God said to Moses and Aaron, “Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so I will do to you” (Numbers 14:28)
Life: (2 KINGS 4:17-37) Though the Shunammite woman’s Child died but she confessed, “It shall be well”(verse 23) ‘It is well’ (verse 26) and it was well (verses 35-36) Did Jesus Christ not say, “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou remove and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:23)
MEDITATION:
The Bible records that Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide (Genesis 24:63) and God wants us to meditate on His word day and night. You can take a particular verse of the scripture in the Bible and meditate on it day and night and ask God to show you if the things mentioned are found in your life. A particular verse of scripture will take you to other verses of scriptures as you search the scriptures. After that you meditate on it and apply it to your life Godward and Manward to see if you are walking perfectly according to it or not and to confess and repent if you have erred. For it is written, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the law is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8) Apostle Paul told his dearly beloved son in the Lord Timothy, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”(1 Timothy 4: 15)
TOTAL OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”(Mathew 7:24-25) That is the reason why Jesus Christ denounced the scribes and Pharisees, “Saying the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses table (teachers of the law) All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works: for they say, and do not.”(Mathew 23:1-2) and warned every believer of all Church age with this words, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven”(Mathew 5:20) As you look into the perfect law of liberty (the Holy Bible) and be a doer of the work, you will be blessed in your deed (James 1:17) and have good success. Good success simply defined in my own words is discovering God’s perfect will for your life in every situation and doing it at the appointed time without delay.
As far as Heaven is concerned Ananias, the disciple that laid hands on Apostle Paul so that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost was very successful because he acted in total obedience to the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ concerning that situation. In human wisdom which amounts to nothing he might not be termed successful because maybe he did not write books like the other disciples, but the truth is that God is pleased with him because he trembled at His word. Do not be like king Saul who lost the true anointing of God upon his life because like he told prophet Samuel, ‘I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people and obeyed their voice’. Have you not heard? Have you not read in the Scriptures that, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25)
Finally only by obeying the word of God as is written in the Scriptures will you make your way prosperous and have good success
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