Joshua Generation

Are you part of the Joshua generation?

Or are you one of those faint hearted failures wandering around in the wilderness who wanted to go back to Egypt.

When Moses sent out 12 scouts to explore the land of Canaan, ten brought back a negative, pessimistic report, while Joshua and Caleb believed that God was greater than any obstacle or opponent.

“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it!”
Numbers 13:30

All the people of the community wept and grumbled in doubt and disobedience. Instead of trusting God and stepping out in bold obedience, they shrank back in fear. Rather than conquering the land promised to them by God, they preferred to go back to slavery in Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4)! Their unbelief and rebellion angered God and as a result that whole generation wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years until all the unbelieving generation had died.

By then God had raised up a new generation of dedicated and disciplined young people. Led by Joshua this new generation was destined to do what the previous generation had said was impossible.

The church today needs an army of Joshua’s Over 3 Billion people in the 10-40 window of North Africa and Asia remain unreached. This vast block of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Shintos and Animists much be reached with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In over 80 countries of the world Christians are facing persecution for their Faith – often violently. In many Muslim lands Christians are imprisoned, tortured , beheaded and even crucified. In Sudan the National Islamic Front government has declared “Jihad” (holy war) and is waging a scorched earth campaign to exterminate all Christians in the Nuba Mountains. How are we as fellow believers to respond?

Do you recognise that you are in a war? The enemy has enslaved millions to false religions and to sinful habits and addictions. The only hope for this lost world is Jesus Christ. He alone is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” No one can come to God the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

God has entrusted this life transforming Gospel to the Church. God’s plan is for Christians to be His freedom fighters in this sin-enslaved world. As God’s guerillas we need to be undermining Satan’s forces – the false religions, cults and sects, the inter-faith movement, communism, the New World Order and the Occult. The whole Church needs to be wholeheartedly involved in this war of liberation to free the whole world from the deceptions of the devil and the snares of Satan.

Yet, the tragic fact is that most of the members of the church prefers to retreat into its barracks to sing songs! We praise our Commanding officer – but we don’t obey Him. We know that He has commanded us to “Go . . . make disciples of all nations . . . teaching obedience . . .” (Matt 28:19-20), but we choose to stay at home and watch T.V.!

How tragic that so many of our generation are selfish, spoiled, self-indulgent, short-sighted, sloppy and soft. Like the unbelieving generation doomed to wander in the wilderness most of our generation is unwilling to endure hardship, confront evil and make the sacrifices necessary to obey God’s Word. The only reason that the devil is often winning is that the Church is so seldom fighting.

“Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7.

It’s time to repent of the curse of compromise and cowardice. The Bible makes it clear that the Christian life is real, serious warfare. We are Christians, people with a message - a message of life and death. Let us wake up to the urgency of a lost world in rebellion to God - going to Hell.

“Who will rise up for Me against the evil doers? Or who will stand up for Me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16

If we love the Lord, then we must obey Him (John 14:15). And if we love our neighbours then we should share with them the truth from God's Word.

"Everyone must die once and after that be judged by God." Hebrews 9:27

"If you do not turn from your sins you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

God's command to Joshua is His Word to us today:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the Law My servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful where-ever you go . . . Meditate on [the Bible] day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9

The response of the new generation was :

“Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.” Joshua 1:16

Rev. Peter Hammond

If you’re serious about loving, honouring, serving, and obeying God, then we want to hear from you.
Contact: United Christian Action for more Bible based teaching pamphlets and Gospel literature, for an order form of available books, tapes and videos or for details of upcoming Salt and Light Training Courses, Discipleship Training Courses or Reformation and Revival Seminars. Write to: United Christian Action, PO Box 23632, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa. Tel: (021) 689-4481. Fax: (021) 685-5884. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .