Today’s reading: Josh 19:10–20:9, 2 Cor 12:11–21, Ps 57:1–58:11

Today’s theme: Stand in faith

We learn today that we should not lose ground to the enemy by not standing in faith on God’s promises. Be encouraged that God will bring his purposes to pass in and through your lives as you trust in him.

Joshua 19:10–20:9

Just stand in faith

When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem. After capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor. Joshua 19:47 (ESV).

The full account of the tribe of Dan’s taking of the city of Leshem is found in Judges 18. Although it seems good that they did not settle for being run out of their allotted land and so moved to the far north and took the city they named Dan. The reality is that they should have stood their ground in their own allotted inheritance and should not have lost the ground to the enemy.

The problem is that the people of Dan did not hold onto their inheritance because it was not held in faith, they did not truly put their trust in God.

We can learn from this today that we should not lose our inheritance and end up setting ourselves up in some halfway house of compromise because we do not have the guts and faith to fight the enemy. No, we should stand and fight and having done all we can just stand in faith as mentioned in Ephesians 6:13-17.

2 Corinthians 12:11–21

Willing to be spent

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 2 Corinthians 12:14–15 (ESV)

In a day where the perverted prosperity gospel is spreading across the world with it’s focus on paying for breakthroughs and millionaire preachers. It is refreshing to read Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians, he is not seeking their possessions but seeking them, their very souls and allegiance for the sake of Christ.

Paul also says he is willing to be spent in full for them. We should have this same attitude as we serve the body of Christ today to the glory of God.

Psalm 57:1–58:11

God fulfils his purposes

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2 (ESV)

We can boldly put our trust in God. He will see his purposes fulfilled in us Philippians 2:13.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition OR Desiring God on 2 Corinthians 12

Today’s reading: Joshua 18:1–19:9, 2 Corinthians 12:1–10, Ps 56:1–13

Today’s theme: Sovereign over our trials

We learn today that God is sovereign over our trials and has provided an abundance of grace to help us in times of need.

Joshua 18:1–19:9

Continuing effort

So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? Joshua 18:3 (ESV)

I have the following note in my bible “The Christian life is always described in continuing effort… Pilgrimage, war, a race – Pastor Dennis Greenidge”. This is so true, as God’s children we need to avoid falling into the trap of procrastination and instead learn from both the attitudes of Judah “to go first” and Joseph “to work and expand”.

2 Corinthians 12:1–10

What is your thorn in the flesh?

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

In this ultimate conclusion to Paul’s argument in this letter, Paul gives us two accounts which he attributes to God. One is his rapture and vision of heaven, receiving such revelation that some could not be shared. The other is the thorn in the flesh or messenger from Satan that God allows to help him stay humble. In both cases God remains the ultimate orchestrator and sovereign.

There has been much debate throughout church history regarding the identity of the thorn. The most likely option being some form of illness but attempts to identify it miss the point of Paul’s intended ambiguity in using this sort of figurative language. Forcing a single meaning to this sort of language misses the point, which is that it remains open so that the lesson can be applied in all circumstances in every age.

God’s grace is sufficient

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

Paul’s main point here is not the identity of the thorn but its origin (from Satan yet given by God), it’s cause (the great revelations) and its purpose (to keep Paul from conceit). The climax is that no matter what we are allowed to go through and the reasons behind it, God’s grace will give us the strength we need to endure. God is glorified when we persevere through difficulties and challenges in humility before Him.

This verse embodies Paul’s entire argument. The Christian life is not marked by happy days of no suffering, bliss, wealth and health… No, our lives are marked by endurance and humility in the midst of adversity and persecution to bring Glory to God.

The vagueness around the thorn and the definite promise of sufficient grace (said in the present tense) means we can all take comfort from this promise for our own walk with the Lord today.

Psalm 56:1–13

Confront fear with trust in God

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:4 (ESV)

When we are afraid we should not ignore our fear but confront it with our faith in God’s word. We should come to the firm realisation that we can trust in God and His word and that nothing can happen to us as God’s children outside of God’s control. See 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 12

Today’s reading: Josh 16:1–17:18, 2 Cor 11:24–33, Ps 55:1–23

Today’s theme: Take the land

Today we learn about the need to have holy energy in our hearts to God in faith and work to take the land. We need to cut down the trees and expand, making our boast not in our efforts but our reliance on the Lord. We work from a place of rest because we cast all our cares on the Lord who cares for us.

Joshua 16:1–17:18

God’s just society

because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh. Joshua 17:6 (ESV)

The law set by Moses concerning daughters being given an inheritance when there are no sons was now fulfilled. Again this points to the fact that women were not to be treated with contempt or like possessions as the Pagan cultures taught.

Go clear tress and take the land

but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.” Joshua 17:18 (ESV)

Pastor Dennis preached a powerful message helping us apply this passage to our lives in Christ some years ago. The children of Joseph were not content to stay in a lot that was too small for their people, they boldly asked for more.

Joshua turned the request for more back on the people in the form of a challenge and a promise. The challenge was put forward in verse 15, which was to go and make a second plot of land in the wooded hill area to make room for themselves. The promise in this verse is that they will defeat the enemy despite the enemies power.

Today we should take this attitude in our walk with the Lord. Matthew 11:12 says we should take the kingdom by force. We should boldly go to clear the trees (wood speaking of the flesh) and take the land (God’s promises and kingdom). We need to pray and very actively work to advance God’s kingdom as a church and individually. We must avoid the lazy idea of sitting back and leaving it all to God, let’s go and clear trees and take the land.

2 Corinthians 11:24–33

Boast in relying on God

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

Paul does not boast about the things he has achieved or done well, he instead boasts in his weaknesses which cause him to rely on the Lord and bring God glory. His critics say his life should be characterised by blessing, but according to Paul’s teaching and life a Christian’s life is characterised by suffering for Christ. It is further characterised by God being glorified in the Christian’s constant service, witness and perseverance.

Psalm 55:1–23

Cast your burden on the Lord

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Like we read in 1 Peter 5:7 we can cast all our cares on the Lord. This brings balance and comfort with today’s other readings where we saw our need to take responsibility and work in the book of Joshua and our call to endure hardship in 2 Corinthians.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 11

Today’s reading: Josh 14:1–15:63, 2 Cor 11:16–23, Ps 54:1–7

Today’s theme: Wholly follow the Lord

The overarching theme of today’s readings is that we should wholly follow the Lord and so avoid the pitfalls of self deception, as we call upon God’s name to deliver us from the giants that want to defeat us. Wholly trusting in the Lord will cause us to see the armies of apparent giants coming to attack us, fall defeated, as we approach God with bold faith in prayer.

Joshua 14:1–15:63

Wholly follow the Lord

But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ Joshua 14:8–9 (ESV)

Caleb is a great example to all of us, showing us that we should boldly put our trust in God. His account should also encourage us that God rewards our courageous faith in His service.

The word translated as ‘wholly’ is worth meditating on. It is from the Hebrew word ‘Mille’ and in this sense means “to follow fully” which is a verb meaning; to accept and follow leadership or guidance to the fullest extent.

The word itself carries the meanings: be full, filled, fill, complete, finish, fulfil, perform, to satisfy and carry out. It also carries a subtle meaning in this context of “eagerness to engage in some activity or event” (eager desire).

When we consider the meaning and root of the word “wholly followed”, it should help us to reflect on our attitude and heart towards God and His work, remembering Jesus’ greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-38.

An army of giants defeated

Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war. Joshua 14:15 (ESV)

To put this into context… the Anakim were a race of giants, but even giants are no match for God and His people! When we wholly follow the Lord, we can claim the victory over the greatest giants. See Matthew 17:20

Boldly ask in faith

She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. Joshua 15:19 (ESV)

Caleb’s daughter, like her father, is full of faith and zeal, she boldly approaches her father to ask for more than her original allotment and received a good response to her request for a blessing.

We can learn from Achsah’s example of bold asking, in faith, as Jesus affirms in Matthew 7:7-8.

This also shines a light on the fact that women had rights and were treated with dignity in Israelite culture, as opposed to the many Pagan nations where women did not enjoy these freedoms.

God’s heart for his daughters (and sons), is that they boldly come to Him directly in prayer and make their petitions clear, in faith. See James 1:6-8 and Matthew 21:22

The land of Israel

Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coastline. Joshua 15:47 (ESV)

By this account, today’s Gaza strip really belongs to Israel. To find out more about God’s promises to the land of Israel, watch CHOSEN by the Ezra Foundation, available on the WWMF App today.

2 Corinthians 11:16–23

Self deception leads to further bondage

For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 2 Corinthians 11:20–21 (ESV)

Paul gives a reluctant summary of his ministry which he intends to shame his critics into silence. There is a note of irony running throughout this passage and it is well illustrated here. The sad truth is that bondage to sin will lead into further bondage under manipulative and evil leaders, in all areas of life including the church.

The church in Corinth were bound by pride in their supposed maturity, to such an extent that they had unfounded confidence in their ability to discern and so were squarely deceived and exploited by false, self seeking, charlatans who led them into further bondage, through bad teaching and practise.

We must stay on our guard that we do not unwittingly open ourselves up to this type of self imposed abuse and oppression through either, misplaced confidence in ourselves, or in laziness, allowing ourselves to be manipulated as we follow the crowd’s popular consensus, rather than the bible. We must wholly follow the Lord.

Psalm 54:1–7

Call upon the Lord’s name

O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. Psalm 54:1 (ESV)

Verse 1 and verse 6 mention God’s name as a means of salvation and as the one that thanks will be given to. The name of God is manifested in Jesus, the eternal Word.

Names have power throughout the scriptures and in the world today. When an ambassador or messenger speaks in the name of a king, the full force of the kingdom is with him, just like the full force of the law is behind every police officer calling out stop or pull over.

Peter used the name of the Lord Jesus in Acts 3:6, making the power of Jesus present for the man’s healing. We can call upon the name of the Lord today, knowing His power is made present to save, heal and to deliver. See Romans 10:13

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 11

Today’s reading: Josh 12:1–13:32, 2 Cor 11:7–15, Ps 52:1–53:6

Today’s theme: The daily battle

We have a cross to bear and battles to fight every day. We need to identify the kings that need to be defeated (like laziness, frustration, anger, selfishness etc.) and defeat them each day. We need to realise that we are at war whether we like it or not.

The gospel is under attack and we need to defend it. We need to do something with the victory that God has won for us through the gospel, today.

Joshua 12:1–13:32

A daily battle

the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings. Joshua 12:24 (ESV)

The longest month we can have is 31 days long, if we think of each day as a king to be conquered, the application would be that we have a battle of some sort to fight every day.

Jesus said “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” in Matthew 6:34. He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” in Luke 9:23.

Do something with the victory God has won

all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.” Joshua 13:6–7 (ESV)

God fights for His people and will drive the peoples from the land for them, but He will not divide the land for them as this was a task that He had given to Joshua, as the leader of the people. God has won the victory for us too but like Joshua, we are called to follow His commands in regards to using what God has won for us. See Galatians 5:1

2 Corinthians 11:7–15

We are at war!

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (ESV)

Ever since this time, there have been false Apostles who pretend to be servants of God, but they are inspired by satan, satanic teaching and are full of hypocrisy. Showing one face to the people and another in private, they harbour evil doctrine and their core driving force is self exaltation, through manipulation and deceit just like satan.

This is evident all over the world, from established apostate institutions like the Roman Catholic Church, through to Word of Faith Prosperity Preachers on TV. Like Jesus said; we should not be deceived by their schemes, we should submit to our true shepherds (Pastors and Elders) and stay on our guard against the deceivers, submitting to the guidance and truth of God’s word and the Holy Spirit.

We need to fight for the true faith, against the perversions and lies of satan’s servants. We are at war.

Psalm 52:1–53:6

Trust in God

“See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” Psalm 52:7 (ESV)

We need to avoid the trap of trusting in our wages and possessions, we should put our faith in God.

All men are sinners

They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Psalm 53:3 (ESV)

Paul also picks this up in Romans, to prove that all men are under the condemnation of sin, Romans 3:10-12. This is why we needed a saviour in Jesus.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 11