God Gives Us Boundaries

Text: Joshua 14-15 Theme: God gave specific boundaries to His children. Key verses: “Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan…Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.” (v. 1-2) “The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom…Their southern boundary started from the bay…(15:1-2) “The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea…The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. (v. 5) “The western boundary is the coastline…In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb…a portion in Judah…” (v. 12-13) What God said to me: Son, this is a very simple but profound concept. There are supernatural boundary lines that I have placed in your life and the lives of your family. This is not a popular topic. My people enjoy the thought of limitless freedom – and so they should. What they must remember at all times, however, is that their limitless freedom is confined within the barriers of obedience and surrender to me. Dwayne, pay particular attention to what I am showing you today. This is the beginning of several revelations regarding your boundary lines. I want you to write on this and teach my people the importance of the “goodly places” where your lines have fallen for you. You already have the idea for a book called, “Stay Inside Your Box.” That so-called box is where true freedom and joy is found. Yes, I expect my children to test those boundaries and survey their areas of creativity and movement. However, when I show my servants a clearly established boundary I expect them to heed it and not try to cross it. An example of a clearly laid boundary is adultery. That is a hard, dark line that you are never to cross under any circumstances. It is irrelevant whether you like such boundaries. This is my game. I make the rules. Find your lines, Dwayne and respect them. There is plenty of space inside to roam and create and frolic and prosper for a lifetime. What I said to God: Lord, thank You for speaking so clearly to my spirit today. I am getting excited about this book idea. I see now more than ever the validity and need for such teaching today. We talk so much about freedom. We want lives with no rules. But we need your rules. We had better follow your rules if we want to win at life. Forgive me, please, when I don’t want to follow or even appreciate your standards of behavior and your set areas of work and ministry for me. I long to live in your perfect and predestined will for my life – for all of my life.