In Numbers 13, even after the Lord told them repeatedly that it was a good land which He has given them, they still couldn't believe it. So the Lord let them send twelve spies to search out the place. It was sad that though the majority of them gave a glowing report of the land, they saw the giants living there. They said they were like grasshoppers in their sight and forgot all about how big their God was. They forgot that they didn't come out of Egypt by their own might but it was the Lord's leading. They forgot about how God drowned the Egyptian armies so that they wouldn't have to face these enemies again.
Only Joshua and Caleb saw their God bigger than their enemies. They said 'Let us go up at once to possess the land for we are well able to take it.' They had a different spirit from the rest. It was a spirit of faith. The rest said that they would die in the wilderness and God said it would be done exactly as they said. It was so sad. They were so close to the promised land but they refused to enter it because of fear and unbelief. They even said God hated them so much to bring them out into the wilderness to die. How cruel and untrue was that statement!
I heard a similar sermon preached by Pastor in end 2009. He also said that we were standing at Kadesh Barnea, the edge of the promised land. He said that 2010 was the promised land and yes, there might be giants to conquer, but God has already given us the land. The children of Israel were afraid of the giants who were afraid of them. God had gone ahead of us to prepare the way for us in 2010. He wanted us to labor to enter into His rest, a type of promised land for us today. When we rest, He works. God never made us to work hurriedly, at stress levels. We were designed to operate out of rest. Everything was a finished work. He is bringing us into a land flowing with milk and honey.
Even though we work, it's easy work, not hard laborious work. It is more like walking with God. God made man last so that man can enjoy all that God has prepared for us. He loves to surprise us. It gives Him great joy to see us happy, enjoying all that He has prepared for us. Everything in the promised land is a finished work. The Lord made the giants dig the wells, plant the vineyards etc. Deuteronomy 8:7-8 said 'For the Lord your God bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey'.
Israel refused to enter the promised land with God so He wandered with them for 38 years, as a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. Such love! When the Israelites didn’t believe God about the promised land, God waited for them to pass away and entered it with Joshua, Caleb and a new generation. In Numbers 15:1-3, Moses talked about when they come into the land. This showed that it is a matter of time before we enter our promised land. God will never change his original purposes. Where men failed, Jesus made good. So we come to the end of men and depend on God’s goodness through Christ.
Obadiah 17 says 'But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.' There is an inheritance, a blessing with your name on it, paid for by Christ. But you have to take it. I learnt from experience that facing and overcoming giants and fears is a must once you crossed over Jordan but you need not be fearful because the Lord is with you and He has promised victory. But you must still walk the path, tread the ground for every part of the land you tread on will belong to you.
This year Pastor will share with us how to walk with God. As we walk, we will possess our possessions. Not the OT way but the NT way. God knows the year ahead and wants us to lean on Him, draw from Him and enjoy His provision. We should no longer allow the squatter to sit on our land and not let another year go by without possessing our possessions. It is really about time, for us to possess our possessions this year. I don't know about you but I am like the Israelites who are sick and tired of circling the wilderness again. I can't wait to charge into my promised land to take back what rightfully belongs to me, already paid for by Jesus' blood.
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