Joshua | Week 4 | Pastor Ben Pierce
Welcome to an in-depth exploration of faith and perseverance inspired by the powerful message from Pastor Ben Pierce of Generation Church in Jupiter, FL. This article delves into the profound lessons from the book of Joshua, specifically chapters 15 through 23, revealing how the faith that brings us into God’s promises is the same required to sustain and finish well in those promises.
Pastor Ben’s teaching challenges us to move beyond simply entering new seasons or blessings in life and instead embrace a lifestyle of ongoing faith that fights, guards, remembers, and remains anchored in God’s Word. Whether you are seeking purpose, battling obstacles, or desiring to occupy the promises God has given you entirely, this message is a timely reminder that faith is a continuous journey, not a one-time event.
Introduction: Moving Forward with Faith
The Book of Joshua is a remarkable blueprint for moving forward in life, taking on new territory, and appropriately appropriating God’s promises to each of us. As Pastor Ben explains, every believer faces stages in life where God has something “next” for us: a new blessing, a new challenge, or a new purpose. Joshua’s story is not just about entering the Promised Land but about how to live in it, fight for it, and finish strong.
Often, people think they can relax and rest once they’ve reached a milestone, whether it’s a spiritual breakthrough, a healed body, a restored relationship, or a career achievement. But the reality is that the faith that got you there is the faith that will keep you there and take you further. This is the heart of a faith that finishes nicely.
1. The Faith That Gets Us There Must Keep Us There
Joshua and the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River and defeated their enemies, including the infamous walls of Jericho. Yet, as the story unfolds, we see they didn’t fully dislodge all the land’s inhabitants. Some adversaries, like the Jebusites in Jerusalem and the Canaanites in Gezer, lived among God’s people.
This incomplete victory reveals a crucial truth: the faith that brings us to a new place must be sustained to be fully possessed. It’s not enough to enter the promise; we must continue to push forward and overcome obstacles that linger in our lives.
Pastor Ben shares a poignant insight about how sometimes we “enslave” our pain and problems because they have become part of our identity. God desires to free us completely, but we must be willing to fight the ongoing battle of faith to walk in complete freedom.
The Challenge of Determination
Joshua 17:12-17 tells us that some tribes could not occupy their allotted towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay. Pastor Ben points out that the enemy’s determination to keep us from God’s fullness often surpasses our determination to claim it.
Our response must cultivate a more determined faith than the obstacles we face. God’s promise is complete, but it requires our active faith to possess it fully.
2. Faith That Finishes Well Continues to Take Ground
One of the key lessons from this message is that faith is not a one-time weapon but a lifestyle. It is a continuous fight to take new ground and not settle for partial victories. Pastor Ben emphasizes:
“A faith that finishes well doesn’t just stand around; it continues to take ground.”
Taking a break or even becoming complacent after achieving a breakthrough is tempting. But faith demands that we keep moving forward, pressing into new seasons and promises.
He shares a personal testimony about praying for his wife Melissa’s pregnancy after years of infertility struggles. The journey of faith didn’t end with conception but evolved into new prayers for their children’s health, purpose, and destiny. This progression highlights how faith must adapt and continue as we face new phases of life.
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 10:35-39 not to throw away our confidence but to persevere, for the righteous live by faith. This is a call to maintain a faith lifestyle, continually growing and trusting God through every season.
3. Guarding the Ground Gained
It’s one thing to take new ground by faith, but another to hold onto it. The Israelites faced skirmishes even after conquering the land. Some tribes lost territory but fought to regain it, like the Danites, who attacked and reclaimed Leshem.
Pastor Ben warns against partial obedience and compromise, which allow the enemy to nibble away at what God has given us. He encourages believers to fight the good fight of faith daily, guarding the victories God has granted us.
The Battle for Relationships
Relational struggles often threaten the ground we have gained. Pastor Ben observes that no meaningful relationship is without conflict. The key is maintaining unity and faith through the fight, gaining partners who will stand with us through thick and thin.
He shares a cautionary note about spiritual uprooting, leaving a church or community every time conflict arises, highlighting that spiritual nourishment requires deep roots, not shallow, shifting soil.
In Joshua 22, a misunderstanding between tribes almost led to civil war over a monument built as a reminder of their shared victories. Thankfully, dialogue and unity prevailed. This story underscores that faith that finishes nicely holds the ground in unity.
4. Remembering God’s Faithfulness
Faith that endures is anchored in the memory of God’s past victories. Joshua reminds the Israelites of all God has done from parting the Jordan River to the miraculous fall of Jericho and beyond. These memories build faith and confidence for the battles ahead.
Pastor Ben references the Passover tradition, where the Hebrews recount God’s saving acts, saying, “If He had not done this, it would have been enough.” This teaches us to cultivate a faith acknowledging God’s faithfulness at every stage, even when future promises seem delayed or difficult.
When disappointment or unanswered prayers arise, this perspective helps us respond with trust rather than frustration. If God has saved us from sin and death, cleansed our hearts, and brought us this far, that is enough foundation to keep moving forward in faith.
5. Anchoring Faith in God’s Word
In a world flooded with information and misinformation, Pastor Ben stresses the importance of rooting our faith firmly in the Word of God. Joshua’s final instructions were clear: obey the law of Moses without turning aside, avoid alliances with remaining nations, and hold fast to the Lord.
Our faith must be anchored in biblical truth, not cultural narratives or shifting opinions. Just as an anchor secures a boat in turbulent waters, God’s Word secures our faith amid life’s storms.
A Personal Illustration of Anchoring Faith
Pastor Ben shares a vivid story about renting a boat with his young sons and anchoring it in a strong current. Despite digging the anchor deep, a powerful wave from another boat dislodged it, causing it to drift. This experience illustrates how easily our faith can be unsettled if not deeply rooted.
Similarly, if our faith is anchored in societal trends or personal experiences rather than Scripture, it will not hold when challenges arise. To finish well, we must continually immerse ourselves in God’s Word, letting it shape our values, decisions, and confidence.
Practical Steps to Cultivate a Faith That Finishes Well
- Keep Taking Ground: Don’t settle after a victory. Stay active in faith, seeking new growth and deeper trust in God.
- Guard Your Victories: Protect what God has given you by resisting compromise and diligently fighting spiritual battles.
- Maintain Unity: Invest in relationships and community, working through conflicts with faith and grace.
- Remember God’s Faithfulness: Regularly reflect on God’s past works to build confidence for present and future challenges.
- Anchor in God’s Word: Make Scripture your foundation, read, meditate, and obey it consistently.
Conclusion: A Call to Fight the Good Fight of Faith
The journey of faith is not a sprint but a marathon. The same faith that brings us into God’s promises is the faith we must live out daily to possess, protect, and expand those promises.
Pastor Ben Pierce’s message from the book of Joshua reminds us that faith is a lifestyle that requires perseverance, determination, unity, remembrance, and steadfastness in God’s Word. It challenges believers not to become spiritually lazy or complacent but to continually fight the good fight of faith so that we can finish well and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Whether you are facing new challenges, seeking purpose, or desiring to deepen your walk with God, let this message inspire you to hold fast to your faith, press forward, and walk in the fullness of all God has promised.
Invitation: Embracing the Faith That Finishes Well
Today is the perfect time if you have not yet experienced the life-transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith begins with a relationship with Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins and offers us eternal life and a new identity.
Pastor Ben invites you to surrender your life to Jesus, receive forgiveness, and commit your days to God’s purpose. This is the most excellent decision you can make, one that starts a faith journey with a God who is faithful to finish what He begins in you.
May you be encouraged and empowered to cultivate a faith that will get you to the next place and carry you through every season, strong and unwavering, to the very end.