The Promised Land

Ross · March 09, 2016, 04:18:01 AM

Interesting, for me, about the spies who reported on their view of the promised land.
They saw all these fearful problems. There would be giants bigger than them.
Numbers 13;28 " The promised land is abundant, HOWEVER, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified."
vs 31 " But we cannot go up against the people because they are stronger than we are!"
So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted;
" The land we passed through to explore is one that devours the inhabitants and all the people we saw are in it
are men of great size. We even saw the Nephilim there". [ the offspring of Anak were descended from Nephilim}
" To ourselves we seemed like the grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them."

This all seems remarkably similar to the opinions of many religions. They claim to have visions of the future yet are overwhelmed with fear because of the magnitude of the current occupants.
I.M.O this speaks volumes of current spiritual warfare where the teachers of this concept are trying to beat angels for territories and rights.

Plus; those who were not afraid of this at all were rejected by the people; even though they expressed the future as totally achievable under God's provision.

Numbers 14;6-10 " Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community;
" The land we passed through and explored is extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us He will bring us into
this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and GIVE it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not be
afraid of the people of the land, FOR WE WILL DEVOUR THEM. THEIR PROTECTION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THEM, AND THE LORD IS WITH US. Don't be afraid of them."

While the WHOLE COMMUNITY threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting."

I.M.O this is like the ecclesia in this age; there is a glorious future to come which has positive outcome and every aspect of entry is provided by God; His works. He is pleased with us through Christ. [ Romans 8;38,39]
Yet many churches are in fear of rejection as well as fear of the " Bad " angelic community which is currently more powerful than we are. To protect those beliefs the leaders throw stones/accusations at the ecclesia.
The statement;
" the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting."
Seems so similar to the return of Christ actually sorting out those who are currently afraid of tomorrow.

Makes sense of how the whole plan had been declared right from the beginning and is being demonstrated through the ages.
Pretty amazing really.
H.A.N.D

Ross · March 09, 2016, 07:25:29 AM

Also interesting;
Deut 9;4-6 " When your Lord your God drives them out before you, do not say to yourself,
' The Lord brought me here to TAKE possession of this land with my righteousness.'
Instead, the Lord will drive out these nations before you because of their wickedness. You are NOT GOING TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THIS LAND BECAUSE OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS OR YOUR INTEGRITY.
INSTEAD THE LOD WILL DRIVE OUT THESE NATIONS BEFORE BECAUSE OF THEIR WICKEDNESS,
in order to keep the promise He swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people."

Seems to be talking about the flesh; the flesh attempts to enter under it's own steam instead of recognising God's provision.

Then there seems to be a reference to heaven;
Deut 11;10-12 " For the land you are entering to possess is NOT like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated by hand as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are entering to possess is a land of mountains and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. it is a land the Lord your God cares for; He is always watching over it from the beginning to the end of the year."

* Egypt, the flesh, the land to enter, heaven, the spirit.

C.U

Lazarus Short · March 09, 2016, 07:25:34 AM

You simply must be ready to let go of your current miserable situation...

Ross · March 09, 2016, 07:32:38 AM

:thumbsup: " for once you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord."

rosered · March 09, 2016, 01:08:11 PM

Yes !!! focus on the things ABOVE :HeartThrob:

Col 3 Put on Christ
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God....

\Phil 4 Think on These Things
8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. :dsunny:

I have considered that God deals with mankind though natural disasters throughout the Word ..

There was burning bushes with Moses and parting seas and tornados with Elijah and Job , earthquakes at the cross and asteroids hitting certain places in sodom , the earthquake that caused Fukushima to crumble and open disaster in the ocean floor that cannot be contained , all the pestilence famines poisoned rivers etc .

We have a major earthquake in Yellowstone that when the Lord says it is so it will devastate and send outer darkness for many years as one super-volcano that will effect everything in its time ...

"This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the person who trusts humans, who makes flesh and blood his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD

Be ready and willing and able to always trust in God for every thing and every need keeping your hearts door open the receive His instruction and speaking to Him now more than ever . :HeartThrob:

ps was reading Isaiah chapters 24 -33 wow ! all about trusting in God though the Son only !
The old testifies and speaks of the coming of the Son , the new testifies of the old of God the Father .

sheila · March 09, 2016, 02:53:50 PM

Amen..head for the mountains..and be comforted by His sure Blessed promises of deliverance..and His unfailing love. :HeartThrob:

Shev · March 09, 2016, 08:01:57 PM

Great thoughts, Ross!

I feel as though there is a connection to the transfiguration here. I believe Peter, James and John to be a type of the remnant. While the other followers of God remained in the low places, wrestling unsuccessfully with the demon, Peter, James and John ascended with the Lord to a higher place, where they saw His glory unveiled. Peter testified of this experience later, in his second epistle:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1: 16-18)

These three men had, in a sense, seen the true promised land - the glory of Christ that we are all being conformed to, and Peter brought back a good report of this mountaintop vision.

sheila · March 09, 2016, 08:35:28 PM

:thumbsup: when He was delivering His people from Egypt..and spoke of this promised land..He siad..'it is not as the land you are

acquainted with in Egypt..that is watered of the river..and seed is sown..but it is a land of hills and mountains that I myself water."

so,too..this kingdom of God and heaven that we inherit through Christ.

Ross · March 10, 2016, 06:12:57 AM

Quote from: Shev on March 09, 2016, 08:01:57 PM
Great thoughts, Ross!

I feel as though there is a connection to the transfiguration here. I believe Peter, James and John to be a type of the remnant. While the other followers of God remained in the low places, wrestling unsuccessfully with the demon, Peter, James and John ascended with the Lord to a higher place, where they saw His glory unveiled. Peter testified of this experience later, in his second epistle:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1: 16-18)

These three men had, in a sense, seen the true promised land - the glory of Christ that we are all being conformed to, and Peter brought back a good report of this mountaintop vision.

:thumbsup:

All this highlighting the declaration of God which has been on-going through all generations.

Isaiah 42;9 " The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they happen."

Isaiah 44;8 " Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told it to you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any God but Me?
There is no other rock; I do not know any."

Isaiah 45;21 " Who predicted this long ago?
Who announced it from ancient times?
Was it not I the Lord?
There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and a saviour; there I no one but Me!"

Knowing the truth removes all wavering.
Interesting reading some of Josephus history, especially the start where the whole point of what is going to happen for mankind is related to Adam from the beginning. Also Abraham has a revelation about the coming flood, then the coming fire which is all in the plan.

God lets us know in advance so that no man can take credit for what has happened.

eaglesway · March 10, 2016, 07:38:18 AM

And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. Is 25:7

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. Heb 12:22-25

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ross · March 10, 2016, 09:51:07 AM

Quote from: eaglesway on March 10, 2016, 07:38:18 AM

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

"' That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

:banana: :dsunny: :cloud9:

rosered · March 10, 2016, 12:06:47 PM

We can speak the truth and all that but without LOVE it is meaningless

LOVE is the greatest thing over everything

Love lifted me , Love lifted me
When nothing else could help LOVE Lifted me .
Now that old song has some true meaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=let1QJbtkM0

marie glen · March 10, 2016, 05:57:29 PM

:goodpost: 's all!! And very good thread! I've often pondered and wondered if our Father's dealings with Israel isn't a microcosm of His dealings with mankind.. from slavery (to sin and death its fruit/result) to the promised land of plenty (and ultimately perfection/paradise restored after this trial/learning) ...where "love" will be the ruling force.. (within and without! :banana: )

Cardinal · March 10, 2016, 06:21:26 PM

Quote from: marie glen on March 10, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
:goodpost: 's all!! And very good thread! I've often pondered and wondered if our Father's dealings with Israel isn't a microcosm of His dealings with mankind.. from slavery (to sin and death its fruit/result) to the promised land of plenty (and ultimately perfection/paradise restored after this trial/learning) ...where "love" will be the ruling force.. (within and without! :banana: )

YES, you've got it! But the world is the macrocosm, and WE, as individuals, are the microcosm. If you were baptized (HG) into the Head, then the outer court ones (water baptism only) are your body. So you can look at "your body" and literally see what needs to be cleansed from your heart (heart of the priesthood).

This is why He said if you have hate in your HEART, it's the same as murder. Most people will say, but I've never murdered anyone so I have no hate. Shall we call the Lord a liar? He rebuked the Pharisees so harshly because they, as the Head, had not cleansed the INSIDE OF THE CUP (heart), TOO. So the people's sins remained, because the cup (Head and body) was ONE.

The principle is, the body can only do what it's head does. So if we hate our brother IN OUR HEART, they (the body) go out and murder theirs. We are our brother's keeper, and so this priesthood at present, will receive a greater judgment. No one loses their salvation, but there IS a loss of rewards and a loss of garments. My :2c: Blessings....

eaglesway · March 10, 2016, 08:07:59 PM

"Today if you hear my voice"

There is a lot in Hebrews about entering the promised land which is described as the "rest" and the "finished work".

Ephesians has a lot in it about coming to a corporate realization of this. "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"

the key to it is (imo) found in Romans 12:1-3, Phil 2:5-12 and many other places, but Ephesians, to me, describes the corporate embrace of the promised land in tremendous detail.

If we realize why we are the first to hope in Christ, if the eyes of our hearts are enlightened, if we are rooted and grounded in love, if we are clothed in the full armor of God, if we love the body like a husband and love the husband like a bride.

If we are lowered and emptied so that we can be lifted up and filled up to all the fulness of God.

Come Quickly Lord Jesus.

eaglesway · March 10, 2016, 08:39:15 PM

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

For me the seed within the seed within the seed is Christ in you the hope of glory- Christ and Him crucified.

The promised land is being conformed to the image of the son of God. This is also the promised for the whole creation, and if read properly, Verse 18 begins a unified thought that concludes in verse 30.

The seed within the seed within the seed.

Christ crucified in me. We are crucified for one another. Together we are crucified for the whole creation- many sons unto glory. The glory is Christ crucified, through which all are reconciled. The work is abiding in the crucified one, which makes all things possible.

The reason "believing" in the promised land is so important is that if we do not see the promise of God in faith we will not pursue it. we will mock it. Scoff at it.

Me walk as Jesus did? We live as the first disciples did? That was then, this is now, God isn't doing that anymore.

Actually He is. But only the "believers" can see it, as Abraham did from afar, as Joshua and Caleb did through the eye of faith.

"For this reason, since I heard of your faith....I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened to know...

the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Seed within a seed within a seed.

We eagerly await Him, as the whole creation eagerly awaits us.

"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you..."(Gal 4)

yet,

"the whole creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God"(Rom 8), but we eagerly await it with perseverance.

1Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

The elemental things(stoicheon) are being consumed by fire.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Bingo! :o)

Promised land! A new heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells, the divine nature tabernacles, the character of Christ rests freely and flows like a fountain out of dry ground changing the desert into a paradise.

If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creation, old things pass away- elementary things are consumed in the fire of the glorious liberty of the children of God- that perfect law of liberty, the well-spring of love from Christ "in the Spirit".

He who "believes" in me, out of His innermost being shall flow rivers of living water....

For the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given us.

Looking for the baptism of the Spirit and Fire?

Look for love, "and they were all as one soul"..."by this the world will know you are my disciples"

tid-bits of power like tongues and healing and casting out devils and prophecies- they will cease!

Love is the measure!

Till we all attain to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...

Rooted and grounded in love, filled up unto all the fulness of God-

Now there is some promised land for ya :o)

marie glen · March 11, 2016, 05:19:22 AM

...amen! ..and it will, ultimately, be in every one..!

and i can't help but think, what a contrast! :cloud9:

Is there any thing better? now, than resting in His finished work? (am i ever happy, my receiving the promise (land!) doesn't depend upon me! but depends upon Him. It is a finished work. :gguitar: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.. oh what a fore~taste of glory divine.." :smile: )

rosered · March 11, 2016, 11:48:27 AM

Quote from: marie glen on March 11, 2016, 05:19:22 AM
...amen! ..and it will, ultimately, be in every one..!

and i can't help but think, what a contrast! :cloud9:

Is there any thing better? now, than resting in His finished work? (am i ever happy, my receiving the promise (land!) doesn't depend upon me! but depends upon Him. It is a finished work. :gguitar: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.. oh what a fore~taste of glory divine.." :smile: )

Amen :thumbsup: :HeartThrob:

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The Promised Land