Bible Studies

Possessing Our Territory

by Terry Barlow
07/22/20
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The Book of the Law was not to depart out of Joshua's mouth until he had meditated upon it, so that he could observe to actually do it. (Joshua 1 v8) This would lead to prosperity and success, (about the only time this word "success" is used in the Bible, and it is described as "good" success.) but as the Bible defines it not as the world defines it. This tells me that it is best not to talk about a Biblical truth that you have not meditated upon or thought about at some length or depth. What we ponder in this way we are far more likely to act upon or apply. In fact, anything you have reflected on in this way will eventually be acted upon, it is inevitable.
   Earlier in the first chapter of Joshua (in which Joshua is exhorted four times to "be strong and of good courage" ) it tells of possessing every place "upon which the soul of your foot shall tread."  The word tread implies literally treading out the 🍇 grapes of a winepress. In this sense truly possessing out territory means causing it to produce some positive result, some fruit, in this case, the product of 🍷 wine, and the finer the better. This means having something beneficial to show for having possessed it and having walked there. At least one of the things that wine represents spiritually is the joy and fullness if the Holy Spirit. 
   When Jesus said in the 10th verse of John 10 (easier to remember that way) that he came that we might have life and have it in more of a fullness or have it more abundantly, he wasn't talking primarily about temporary material blessing, although that is not to be excluded. He was talking about abundance that is permanent and eternal  in  the realm of relationship, first in our relationship with Him and then flowing out of there with regard to the many others He would be bringing into out lives for His own wonderful, sovereign purposes. And He is talking about a certain quality of relationship. That is the chapter of the Good Shepherd after all. Consider that when a shepherd carries a lamb against his chest he cannot get a single inch closer to that lamb or that lamb to him. That's exactly where we are as believers, as His flock. His shed blood has brought us near, says Ephesians 2 v13. We can't bring ourseves any nearer than the shed blood of Jesus has already brought us. Additionally there is no place more secure and protected than that place of nearness on the breast of the Good Shepherd. That's as secure as it ever gets! Praise God for that! With that as a foundation and fountain for all our other relationships, no wonder Jesus says that life will be more abundant for us!