Who has not heard of property disputes?

In a broad sense, the whole world is engaged in a property dispute! China wants Taiwan, Russia wants Ukraine, North Korea wants South Korea, and Palestine wants Israel! Whew! When will this all settle down, becomes the lingering question of the common man. 

Did you know that the Lord is actively engaged in a property dispute as well??  

In the old testament, there were seven different nations that the people of Israel had to fight, to take possession of the land promised to them.

Have you wondered why God wanted his people  take “possession” of the promised land, and what that really signifies to us as believers?

We have been promised a land too!! An unbelievably glorious land!! Think of it… it has been PROMISED to us. No, I am not talking about the “place” called Heaven! It is much more glorious and more beautiful than that! 

It is the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST!!

True, the place called heaven has streets of Gold and gates of pearls, but what a frail comparison of beauty it is, when we compare it to the beauty of JESUS, our Lord?!! And that is our promised land – To be made into the image and the glorious beauty of Christ. And to this end the Spirit is at work in each of us.

You know sometimes I wonder why I ever open my mouth. 🤐🫢I have been extremely disappointed by the way I speak sometimes. Clearly no match to the gracious words that flowed out of our Lords mouth. While I was musing about this and whining to myself, my perspective suddenly changed.

“Be thankful to “see” the land that still needs to be conquered!”

“… to SEE… the land YET…to be conquered…”

God begins by 1. first showing us the land ( occupied territory)

A few months ago, in a Bible Study we did, we were discussing about the various forms of discrimination that exists in the church today. Our Bible study group was studying the book of James. I have never ever given a thought about me discriminating against another person. But as I kept re-examining myself in the light of scripture, I realized that I had discriminated too!

First, God made me “see” the land that was (unknown to me,) occupied by the enemy! So, it was great Grace that I could at least SEE it now!! Then step 2, he showed me “how” to take possession of that land – by prayer and praise.

From then on, I’m extremely careful how I see people! Doesn’t matter who they are or where they were born, they are still precious to God and with Gods help I will do everything I can, to not discriminate.

Let us talk about fear. Maybe God has allowed fear to come into our hearts for a season. Or Maybe God allows us to walk a difficult path. We must remember what God’s goal for us is. To be conformed to his likeness. Think of it. 

How can we conquer (the land) of fear if we do not come face to face with it? In order for the Israelites to conquer Jericho, they had to be first brought to that place. And then with prayer and praise and with Gods divine counsel, they were able to conquer it. It is the same with our fears as well. There is no weakness of the flesh in us, that CANNOT be conquered. 

To the young rich man in the gospels, Jesus did the best thing for him by bringing him to his land of Jericho. To make him AWARE of his own weakness of the flesh. Up until that point, he thought he was already conformed to the image of Christ, meaning he thought he had no flaw in him. But Jesus so beautifully revealed that area of his heart which was still being occupied by the enemy. 

When Jesus shows us the enemy that controls us, we must absolutely know that TOGETHER WITH GOD, we can absolutely defeat that enemy that lies within. 

Here’s what Jesus told his disciples after the rich young man left. Or should I say, the rich young man didn’t wait just a little bit longer in the presence of Jesus to find out how he could defeat his enemy within??!!! 

Always remember:

“With God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27

Rise up and Conquer!! 

God wants to move us from image 1 to image 2!!

Blessed day!!!!