"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Josh. 1:8).

God's message to Joshua was "Keep My Word in your mouth. Meditate on it, get it in your heart - and then do it. That's how you will prosper."

When you hear and do, you make your way prosperous. You don't have to worry about it. You don't even have to really ask God to help you to prosper. Your obedience just naturally paves the way to success!

As soon as God finished talking to him, Joshua commanded the officers under him to follow the Lord's instructions (Josh. 1:10-15). Throughout his life, Joshua did whatever he was told. In fact, Joshua 11:15 says that Joshua "left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses."

Joshua is an inspiration. He was faithful. He was courageous. He was well trained. You couldn't shake him. He never stopped until he took all the land that the Lord had commanded him.

Well, we are the Jesus generation. We're going to be like Joshua. We won't leave any work undone that God has called us to do. We'll take all the territory that He tells us to take and win all the lost souls that He tells us to win. We're an obedient generation. We don't just talk - we hear and do!

Now let's look at the results of the Israelites' obedience to possess the Promised Land:

And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
(Joshua 21:43-45)

Everything God had promised Israel came to pass. The people possessed all the Promised Land because God finally had a leader and a people who would work together and do what He said.

They conquered enemies stronger than they were; they inherited houses they didn't build; they received rain for one good harvest after another. Just as Joshua left nothing undone, so God left nothing undone in the fulfilling of His promises.

Now, God's promises would have come to pass for Moses' generation if they had obeyed Him. But they refused to hear and do, forfeiting their right to their reward.

You know, if you will plant this message deeply in your heart, it will save you a lot of heartache and wasted time. You have to determine, I'm going to be quick to hear and quick to obey. I'm going to walk by faith!

And remember - every time God asks you to do something, He backs you up with His anointing and His power. He doesn't intend for you to be out there trying to do what He tells you to all on your own. He wants you to do what you are told and then let Him do the impossible.