The Promise, The Presence, and The Peace of God
Joshua 1:1-9
From the beginning, God has made promises—not just to individuals, but to generations, to nations, and through them, to the entire world. When God called Abraham, He was setting in motion something far greater than a personal blessing. He was preparing a people through whom the world would come to know Him. That promise passed through Isaac and Jacob, and ultimately to the people of Israel, whom God led into a land of promise.
What was the purpose of the land? It wasn’t merely to provide comfort or national identity. It was to be a place of worship, a place where God’s people could dwell with Him, where they could live in peace under His care—a land of shalom. More than the absence of conflict, shalom means wholeness, fullness of life, a world made right under the reign of God.
But God’s promise wasn’t just about geography. It was always about relationship.
I. God Fulfills His Promises
God promised a land set apart for His people—a holy space where He would dwell with them. He called them to be a nation of priests (Ex. 19:6)—not simply blessed for their own sake, but so that through them, all the nations might come to know the God who saves. And the heart of that promise was peace—shalom—that would come only as they walked with Him.
Today, as believers in Christ, we are inheritors of an even greater promise. Through Jesus, God has called us, His church, to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). He has not merely given us a land. He has given us His very presence. Through Christ, the presence of God now dwells not in a temple or a country, but in our hearts, and in the community of faith we call the church.
II. God Is With Us and Will Not Forsake Us
From Abraham to Joshua, from Moses to David, and through Christ to today, God has never abandoned His people. The words spoken to Joshua ring just as true now: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)
He is with us wherever we go. Not just when the road is easy, not just when we feel strong—but always. In failure and in faithfulness, in fear and in courage, He is with us. Jesus, echoing this very truth, said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
III. God Calls Us to Participate
But God does not fulfill His promises while we sit on the sidelines. He called Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous, to obey His Word, to meditate on it day and night, to act upon it. Why? Because God’s promises are not passive gifts—they are partnerships. We are called to live into them.
We are not idle observers in the story of God—we are participants. God has given us His presence and His promises so that we might go with Him to establish His Kingdom in the world. That means living obedient lives, but also living missional lives—going out, proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, teaching others to obey everything Jesus commanded.
IV. The Church: A People of Promise and Peace
So what is our inheritance?
It is not merely heaven someday—it is His reign in our lives today. It is the peace of God made possible through the death and resurrection of Christ. It is the joy of sharing that peace with others.
Our role is to make disciples, to baptize, to teach, and to live out God’s kingdom in every corner of this world. And we do not go alone. Christ goes with us, in us, through us.
This is holy work. This is kingdom work. And it belongs to all who call Jesus Lord.
V. A Call to Respond
If you do not know this peace—if you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ—let today be the day. (For guidance to make this decision go to: https://swbchurch.com/the-way-of-salvation/)True peace, lasting peace, only comes when we are made whole by God through Jesus. Give your life to Him. Enter into His promise. Join the people of God and become an heir of the inheritance that never fades.
And for those who already follow Christ: Don’t delay. The world is broken and longing for the peace we carry. There are people around us who may not have another day. We cannot afford to wait. We must go, proclaim, teach, and invite.
The promises of God are sure. His presence is real. And the peace He offers is meant to be shared.
So be strong and courageous.
Go with God.
Go for God.
And make known the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
Pastor Mark