Are You Possessing Your Promised Land (Intro)?
(1)“Now, Isra’el, listen to the laws and rulings I am teaching you, in order to follow them, so that you will live; then you will go in and take possession of the land that ADONAI, the God of your fathers, is giving you…(9) Only be careful, and watch yourselves diligently as long as you live, so that you won’t forget what you saw with your own eyes, so that these things won’t vanish from your hearts.~ Moses to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 4:1,9) CJB
One can easily gather that we are certainly UNBELIEVING of these NEW WORKS in us simply because of the way we behave in MORE HIGHLY TREASURING and FAVORING the ‘new things’ this world offers over and above the NEW (EXCITING and FULFILLING) WORKS of the LORD. (You might want to read again to ensure proper digestion!)
Some of us have been sitting so long in our church pews without a SURE and CHANGING touch from our ABBA YHWH that the glazed over eyes of complacency, busy-ness in ministry (as opposed to effectiveness in His Spirit) and apathetic misery has widely become the face of Christianity today.
Meanwhile, the sheep starve…are you one of them? There is hope!
Sitting in a church service one day, my heart was leaping inside me with the message ‘GOD IS NOT BORING…so why is my church?’.
Where are the BELIEVING faces of joy as we sing His praises in the great assembly? (Choirs and ‘praise teams’ across the world, the pew-sitters are looking for you to lead out in praise! Their spirits want to know that it’s not only ok, but expected to worship in Spirit & Truth!)
Why do we oftentimes look as if we have been sucking on pickles instead of our hearts’ overflowing with glorious praise and lifted hands?
Are you believing what you’re singing? Have you really thought about the words you sing? Was your heart stripped bare and prepared before your bottom ever hit the church pew?
This message is not meant to consist of merely blows to your head or hammers to your toes…this message is to TELL the Children of God that…
HE doesn’t necessarily want something FROM YOU near as much as HE wants something FOR YOU…LIFE OVERFLOWING!
Throughout the coming days, we will explore amazing Truths of the Scriptures by looking into the correlations of the Old Covenant Israelites in the book of Deuteronomy and today’s New Covenant Followers in the Mashiach (Messiah).
Theirs was an ABUNDANT LAND flowing with milk and honey! Ours is ABUNDANT LIFE flowing with Simchah and Shalom (joy and peace)!
Because the LORD is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) – His Message is unchanging…and we have GREAT and RELEVANT TRUTHS to be learned from an ancient stiff-necked people. Lest you think, ‘How moronic were they?”, may I remind you that we all are cut from that same Adamic cloth. We are just like them, repeating their mistakes, aren’t we? Yes, we are ‘dressed up dirt’.
I must warn you: If you are not serious about TAKING POSSESSION of your Promised Land OR if you are easily provoked…you may not want to take this particular journey! But, I hope and pray you will!
Seriously Sisters! Put on your Gospel Shoes and let us set out together to not merely ‘look upon’ the Promised Land…but to TAKE POSSESSION OF IT!
HALLEL-U-YAH! Sing praises to His Name!
Are You Possessing Your Promised Land?
click below for each week’s study!
October 23, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
I have enjoyed reading your blog. It is full of spirit and life. Bless You!
October 24, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
Oh, amen, amen, again I say, “AMEN!”
Why are there so many joyless Christians when “the joy of the LORD is [our] strength” (reference Nehemiah 8:10)? Well, of course we know why. The enemy is out to oppress us and steal our joy.
I’ve been meditating upon Jeremiah 31 this morning; the Lord’s promise to Israel is restoring my own heart as I focus on His merciful restoration and everlasting love.
Just as a side note, too, since you mentioned praise and worship, I’ve always loved to sing, but I’ve never been confident of singing on-key. About three weeks ago, the Lord impressed upon my heart to show up not only for choir practice but also for our church’s praise and worship team … right on Sunday morning without any practice! Our praise team is small, so my voice could be heard. The Lord graciously gave me the gift of beautiful melody and harmony … but not until I stepped forward in faith and joy. What a wonderful and joyous surprise! He loves us so …
October 24, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
sucking pickles! lol couldn’t have said it better myself! lol
What a blessing you are Carmen. I think Kathryn said what’s been on my heart for the past few weeks Nehemiah 8:10!
I just want to Praise Him! and I can tell you my heart has never felt so light as it does the past bit since I’ve been feeling Him around me.
October 27, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Carmen, My heart leapt as I read your entry! Today I also addressed the idea of entering the Promised Land-but from another vantage point. So glad I dropped into your study to deepen my own thoughts and once again be enriched by your comments.
August 5, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
I am just beginning this study in August 2009. I desire to travel to the Promised Land and take possession. I pray my heart be steadfast, my feet surefooted, and my eyes and ears be focused on the LORD.
~ linda