Lord, I pray God speak to us today. You Help us Father, in Jesus name, amen. I'm going to entitle this message possessing our Promised Land. Of course, the term Promised Land comes out of the Old Testament, where God promised the nation of Israel and land, a land that was impossible for them to ever receive on their own land, a land inhabited by literal giants, great armies, a land when they finally got to the border of it, there was a massive flood the river was a mile wide, and God said cross it. But what does it mean to us the Promised Land is that place that God wants to give us, whether it's our marriage, our family, our life, our career, our health, that without God's help, it is impossible to ever possess. corporately speaking, what might that mean? Like what is the promised land of this church? Right here, whether you've been here decades coming like me, or it's your first Sunday, we feel called to influence the greater Washington DC area. We're planting sites of this church all over the Washington DC area. We also plant churches across the nation. But the mission that burns in our heart is to spread the gospel and the influence of Christ through this area. We also feel called to influence our country and share a common sense, that is God has intervened in American history, time and time again. Some scholars call them religious awakenings, some call them revivals, you see them before the Revolutionary War before the Civil War. You see them at the end of the Civil War. You see them before the two World Wars. You see them in the 60s, time and time again. As America enters a crucible, the Holy Spirit has renewed God's people, touch God's people, and touch the culture. And we find ourselves there again, I'm going to subtitle this message, learning to walk in strength and courage. Why would I say that? Because if we are going to fully possess what God has for our children, if you're married, our lives, our careers, our faith, our country, it will take great strength and great courage. Remember dropping off an amazing young leader and in a country far away? I mean, she said, She's impoverished because there's just no way I can do this job. They're all multiplied to greed. There's no way I can ever rise to leadership. I said, if you could on your own, it's doubtful, it's God. God typically calls you to do something that you can't do on your own, because it's designed to create need in your heart for him. If you just have a human size challenge, I fear for you. He'll bring a god sized challenge into your life to draw you close. It's interesting when young Joshua, well, not young, he was probably 60 By this time, but he was one of the oldest people in his generation left was getting ready to lead them across the flooded Jordan to the Promised Land. Here's what God told him over and over, Be strong and courageous. You causes people to inherit the land, I swear to their fathers, only be strong and courageous. Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous? And oh, by the way, don't be frightened and dismayed, I'm with you. Why would God say that? Because typically, when God is getting ready to move, it's just a scary time. I mean, when Jesus says, the fullness of time, what was that, dominated by the Roman Empire, slaughtered enslavement, crucifixion, decades away from being destroyed, the world rising under the male fist of oppression? What would God say to us today? Let's set some context and go into this message. Like where do we find ourselves?