Joshua | Week 1 | Pastor Ben Pierce
Preparing to Step into God’s Promise
Every journey toward God’s blessing involves crossing a moment where faith meets the unknown, and stepping forward is the only path to a breakthrough. In this powerful message from Generation Church FL, Pastor Ben Pierce unpacks the first five chapters of the Book of Joshua, revealing how God prepares us before He places us and how we can navigate the barriers between us and His promises for our lives.
This article explores the timeless lessons from Joshua’s leadership and the Israelites’ journey and how those lessons apply to your life today. Whether you feel stuck wandering in your wilderness season or standing on the banks of your own Jordan River, this message will encourage you to take bold steps of faith and trust God’s plan for you.
The Journey from Wilderness to Promise: Understanding Our Seasons
Life often feels like wandering in the wilderness, a confusing, frustrating place where progress seems slow, and obstacles seem insurmountable. The children of Israel experienced this firsthand. Though God freed them from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, their journey to the Promised Land was not quick or easy. What was supposed to be an 11-month journey turned into 40 years of wandering.
Pastor Ben shares a vivid personal story from his youth to illustrate this feeling of facing an overwhelming barrier. As a teenager, he and his brothers attempted to raft across a river during a sudden rise in water levels, turning a gentle river into dangerous rapids. They were ill-prepared, using a lake canoe instead of a proper raft, and found themselves stranded on an island, unsure if they could make it to the other side. This story captures how we often face spiritual and life challenges: the blessing is on the other side, but the way forward seems impossible.
Like that river, the barriers in our lives, whether they are dreams, relationships, careers, or personal growth, can feel impassable. The Book of Joshua is God’s battle plan for crossing those barriers and stepping into His blessing. It shows us how to move from a place of preparation and learning in the wilderness to a place of victory and inheritance.
God Prepares Us Before He Places Us
The overarching lesson from Joshua 1 is clear: God always prepares His people before He places them in their promise. Joshua steps into leadership after Moses’ death, facing the daunting task of leading millions across the Jordan River into a land filled with giants, challenges, and uncertainty. But God’s charge to Joshua is powerful:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
God’s promise to Joshua is about the land and His presence. The same God who was with Moses will never leave Joshua. This promise is the foundation for courage and success.
Pastor Ben stresses that this preparation is not just for Joshua or the Israelites but for all of us. Before God places you in your next season, He is working in your heart, shaping your character, and equipping you mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Like Joshua, you are being prepped to lead, overcome, and inherit your promise.
Walking in God’s Word: The First Step of Preparation
Preparation begins by walking in God’s promises through His word. The Israelites initially lacked full faith because they hadn’t fully embraced or internalized God’s word. When they first sent spies into the Promised Land, ten brought back fearful reports, focusing on the giants and obstacles rather than God’s promise. Only Joshua and Caleb believed they could possess the land.
God commands Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law day and night, to keep it always on his lips, and to obey it carefully. This spiritual discipline is the key to success and prosperity.
Pastor Ben highlights that it’s not enough to know the word; we must be doers of it, living it out daily. He quotes James 1:22:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Faith without action is deception. If you hear God’s call to serve, tithe, or share your faith but never act, you limit your blessings. God’s commands often look like rivers too wide to cross, but on the other side lies blessing, whether in financial provision, unity, or impacting lives eternally. Taking steps in obedience activates God’s power in your life.
Keeping Your Eyes on God’s Presence, Not the Obstacles
When the Israelites camped on the edge of the Jordan River, it was at flood stage, impassable and overwhelming. There were no bridges or boats to ferry millions across. Yet God instructed them to keep a half-mile distance behind the ark of the covenant, the symbol of His presence.
Pastor Ben emphasizes the critical lesson here: to live in God’s promises, you must focus on His presence, not the obstacles. The ark led the way, and where God’s presence goes, the way opens.
This principle applies to our lives today. When you face a new opportunity or challenge, don’t fixate on the size of the problem or your limitations. Instead, ask:
- Where is God’s presence in this situation?
- What is His word saying to me right now?
- What guidance do trusted spiritual leaders offer?
- Where is the family of God moving?
By focusing on God’s presence, you gain clarity and courage to step forward.
Faith Requires First Steps, Not Leaps
As the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, the river stopped flowing, allowing the entire nation to cross on dry ground. This miracle began with their toes touching the water, a small but significant act of faith.
Pastor Ben makes a vital distinction between leaps of faith and steps of faith. The Bible does not teach leaps or strains of faith; those create “stains” in life. Instead, God leads through incremental steps of faith. Each step taken with God’s presence breaks down barriers and makes the path clearer.
In practical terms, this means:
- If God is calling you to start a business, take the first step by registering it.
- If He’s calling you to serve, sign up for a ministry or mission trip.
- If he’s leading you to a new relationship or forgiveness, take that initial step of love or repentance.
The miracle happens as you move forward, even when you can’t see the full path.
Remembering God’s Faithfulness Through Memorials
After crossing the Jordan, Joshua instructed the Israelites to collect twelve stones from the riverbed and build a memorial. This was a tangible reminder of God’s miracle and faithfulness.
Pastor Ben explains that memorials are essential in our spiritual journey. When facing future challenges or “rivers,” it’s vital to look back and remember how God has brought you through past obstacles. This could be through journals, testimonies, or simply recounting God’s goodness in your life.
However, he warns not to live in the memorial but to use it as a source of encouragement to move forward. Reflecting on God’s past faithfulness strengthens your faith for the battles ahead.
Renewing Your Identity Before Taking New Territory
Before the Israelites fought their battles to possess the land, God renewed their identity and covenant with Him. He rolled away Egypt’s reproach and called the place Gilgal, signifying a fresh start.
The manna that had sustained them through the wilderness disappeared as they began to eat the land’s produce. This symbolized leaving behind the old way of life, being sustained by God’s daily provision, and stepping into a new season of abundance and multiplication.
Pastor Ben reminds us that God wants to redefine who we are as we cross into new territory. You cannot take your promised land with an old mindset shaped by past bondage or limitation. The Bible calls us to “take off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Your identity in Christ is new; this renewal is necessary to walk in God’s blessing.
God’s command to Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy,” speaks to us today. The moment you stand at the edge of your new promise, it is sacred ground. God’s presence is there, waiting to lead you forward into purpose and destiny.
Taking the First Step Toward Your Promise
Many of us have circled the same mountain for years, stuck in the wilderness of indecision, fear, or doubt. Pastor Ben’s message is a clarion call to break free and take the first step toward your promised land.
Whether your barrier is a career change, a relationship, a spiritual breakthrough, or even salvation itself, God is ready to lead you. The power to move forward comes from trusting His word, focusing on His presence, taking faithful steps, remembering His faithfulness, and embracing your new identity in Christ.
For those who have never surrendered to Christ, this moment can be your Jordan River crossing from death to life, from slavery to freedom. Pastor Ben invites you to pray and receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, stepping into the abundant life God has prepared for you.
Prayer for Breakthrough
Father,
I pray for every person reading this who feels trapped by barriers and obstacles. I ask that You give them the strength to be strong and courageous. Help them to trust Your word and focus on Your presence, not their problems. Empower them to take the first steps of faith, knowing that You will make a way where there seems to be no way. Renew their identity in You and open the door to the blessings You have prepared. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Final Thoughts
The Book of Joshua is not just an ancient story but a roadmap for every believer facing the daunting challenge of stepping into God’s promises. Pastor Ben Pierce’s insightful teaching reminds us that God prepares us thoroughly before placing us and that preparation involves walking in His word, focusing on His presence, stepping out in faith, celebrating His faithfulness, and embracing our new identity.
As you reflect on your life journey, ask yourself:
- What is the Jordan River I need to cross today?
- Am I walking in God’s word and promises?
- Where is God’s presence leading me beyond my obstacles?
- What first step of faith can I take right now?
- How can I remember God’s faithfulness in my past victories?
- Am I embracing the new identity God has given me?
God’s promise is sure: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Step out with courage and expectancy. The best is yet to come.