MUCH LAND TO POSSESS
When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered. This is the territory that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites, and the larger territory of the Cannanites, extending from the stream of Shihor on the border of Egypt, northward to the boundry of Ekron. It includes the territory of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron…” – Joshua 13:1-7
It is with great excitement that we welcome you to the year 2025. The Lord has said to us that it is our year of ENLARGEMENT (Isaiah 54), and we judge Him faithful, who has promised.
It is not an exaggeration to say that, what the Lord has achieved in the pursuit of His purpose among the nations is beyond human comprehension. His wisdom and strategy in spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of His glory cannot be found anywhere in the world. His ways are beyond our ways, and pass finding out. How best could we respond to this greatness of our God, than to bow in humble adoration before His majesty?
We cannot stop thanking God for all that He accomplished through the life and service of Pst. Joshua Okpanachi Adah, which continue to find expression through us today after ten years of his murder. In these ten years, hundreds of souls have come to know and submit to the lordship of Jesus. Hundreds have come to pledge their commitment to the mission of God on earth. More mission minds have been made in the past ten years. God has also increased and strengthened our workforce within these ten years. This is why we can boldly testify that it has been ten years of God’s faithfulness.
At this point, we are convinced that God has not even started with us yet. He has said that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard… what the Lord has in store for us. God’s desire for Moses was to bring the children of Israel to the promised land. The land that is flowing with milk and honey, promised to their ancestor long time ago. Joshua eventually became the hero that brought the Israelites to their inheritance, what a great achievement! A feat that a great and very anointed man of God like Moses could not achieve, was then achieved by Joshua. It is a feat sufficient enough to celebrate, for a lifetime. But there was much more for Joshua to achieve, that either he was not aware of, or not ready for.
The exclamation of heaven to Joshua was shocking, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.” The description of the remaining land to conquer conveyed a very clear message that, 1. Man may not understand the scope of what God has decided to do, but God is very clear about His mission. 2. Whatever thing that man may think he has achieved, while giving glory to God and celebrating, he must be aware that, that is just the beginning of what God has purposed to do.
The job is not done! There is still more land to conquer. The mission of God is to ALL – Matt. 28:18-20. It is until all have heard. The progressive description of the unconquered land suggest to us that there is always something bigger to do and achieve for the Lord. It means that we may have to tell ourselves that while we are filled with gratitude to God for how far He has brought us, we may not yet seek repose. Definitely, we will need to look beyond, and see to the remaining unfinished task, “…all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites, and the larger territory of the Canaanites, extending from the stream of Shihor on the border of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron. It includes the territory of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron…”
As at the year 2020, there were over fifty Unreached/Unengaged People Groups in Nigeria alone. Today, this number has reduced to a little above forty, all to the glory of God. Yet, the job is still not done. It is until all have heard. Our Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for the salvation of all. Therefore, we cannot be satisfied or relax and rest, when the Lord Jesus has not gotten all that He paid for, with His blood. We cannot be tired because there are bigger victories ahead; there are larger boundaries and territories to take for the Lord.
Beloved, it is expedient for us to brace up and buckle up for the accomplishment of the remaining task. We must take advantage of the times and seasons for the accomplishment of the mission of God among the nations. The remaining and growing three billion plus must be given the opportunity to hear the gospel in an understandable way for a meaningful decision for the Lord. The God of mission is still at work, and He has commissioned His Church to join in His mission. If the God of mission is still on His mission, should His Church retire from the mission of God, or should the Church that is owned by the God of mission pursue a different mission?
In this year 2025, can we make a fresh and deeper commitment to the Lord and His mission on earth? Can we gather every momentum and resources and direct ALL, towards reaching ALL? Can we trust God on our knees, for more and greater gospel breakthroughs among the Unreached People Groups of the world? We do not have all the time, but we must reach ALL. Joshua was growing old and yet there was more unconquered land. We are gradually spending our time and there are still many more lands to conquer for the Master. May the Lord prompt our hearts unto meaningful and practical steps into the completion of the remaining task.
God bless you.
Get ready, get set, then OVERFLOW.
God bless you.