Territory

It seems like the enemy is always trying to take back territory that God has blessed us

with, and he is good at it. It is up to us to keep God's promises as our stimulus for reclaiming or keeping that territory. Satan has one goal: steal, kill, and destroy! John 10: ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. We know this because Jesus told us, so why don't we listen? I think the reason I get lulled into not remembering this fact is because I forget that Jesus is my best hope and truly my only hope!! The writer of Hebrews says it this way in Hebrews 6:⁹ But, beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises.

Caleb was a great example of keeping your hope built on the promises of God, and Caleb never forgot the promise of God when they came into the promised land. When it came to dividing the land among the children of Israel, Caleb was right there ready to get his, and he did. Joshua 14: ⁶ Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses the man of God on account of you and me in Kadesh-barnea. ⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. ⁸ Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God fully. ⁹ So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘The land on which your foot has walked shall certainly be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God fully.’ ¹⁰ And now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. ¹¹ I am still as strong today as I was on the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. ¹² Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out just as the Lord has spoken.” ¹³ So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.

Caleb got his land from that meeting, but that land was inhabited by the Anak giants, so Caleb went to that land, ran the giants out, and claimed what was his. I love this man who was so unique in his relationship with God. Caleb truly believed in the promises of God and held to that belief, no matter how much time went by. Caleb was a "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it" kind of guy. Caleb could be that kind of guy because God is even more dependable than Caleb knew to keep ALL His promises.

I trust God's promise, don't you? Here is a great promise to start with: Romans 10:13: Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Let's try another one: Philippians 4: ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Here is one some people have trouble believing: John 14: ¹² Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

No matter your age, the promises of God are ageless, and He is still working His perfect will today, so don't get in the way of His power for taking back territory from the enemy, because God is faithful, even when we are not. Praise God for His marvelous mercy and grace. The only thing holding us back is ourselves, but praying for God to strengthen our faith is a great way to reverse the downward trend. Doubting Thomas said these words in John 20: ²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” How did Jesus respond to the doubt of Thomas? We see how in John 20:²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus leads us to a better faith that believes in what cannot be seen. Praise God we get to see Jesus show up again and again and undergird our faith for living this life "in the middle." Keep believing God's promises, no matter how long it takes, because God is faithful!!!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren