What It Means To Me To Take Hold Of The Land God Promised
What It Means To Me To Take Hold Of The Land God Promised
Numbers 34:1 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 1-16-12
“The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:”
In Numbers 34, the Israelites would soon enter the Promised Land. The land would be given to the Israelites as an inheritance, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. (Gen 17:8) “The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” God also gave the detailed boundaries of the land. This helped the Israelites visualize the length and breadth of their inheritance. It also reinforced the certainty of God’s promise. They did not need to fear the upcoming war, rather they could enter the land believing that God had already given it to them. The boundaries also helped guard against greed and pride when they experienced victory.
First, taking hold of the land, means serving our mission field through prayer and God has given us a land to pray for. The basic land if the NIU and the people of DeKalb. It also included the campus’ of the DEAR area, (DeKalb/Elgin/Aurora/Rockford) It is to co-work with the Triton and DuPage ministries in bringing the Gospel to the western suburbs of Chicago. Ultimately the Promised Land is the kingdom of God where Jesus, our leader is going ahead of us and conquering so that we may occupy that Good Land. What does it mean to conquer the land? Does it mean that we must have 500 Sunday worship attendants? Does it mean to have several UBF chapters scattered about the DEAR area? Ultimately I hope this does happen, yes. But more importantly, it also means one heart has been changed, that the Gospel is faithfully and clearly proclaimed. It also means that one person stands in the “land” and is determined to live by faith. Steve’s changed life is an indication that the land is being conquered. Steve is truly the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Our kids’ faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work. They all believe in Jesus and want to serve God. Praise the Lord. Julie and I are standing up as a “Jesus centered” house church ministry. We are building alliances with other Christians and other ministries. The kingdom of God is growing and expanding at the hospital and at the High School and middle school. We are co-working with one church and a couple and their music ministry. We are taking part in several Christian music festivals. There could be some future preaching at another church. There are so many doors opening. Praise the Lord in these things!
I thank Jesus who is going ahead of us. He conquered sin and death so that we may enter the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God. He fights the battle for us. Following Jesus means assured eternal victory. But we still have to fight to take seek first the kingdom of God. I had to fight for 5 years with persecution from those close to me concerning my Christian life. There is the fight to start a new life at Triton UBF. There was the fight to pioneer NIU UBF. There is the fight to grow our family as a house church. There is an inner battle to overcome the inner demons and trying to stay focused on Jesus and the word of God. There are the personal struggles between personalities who are part of my life. There is the battle to always take hold of the kingdom of God and seek that kingdom first, as of first priority. (Matt 6:33) These are all fights and battles to lay hold of the kingdom of God. Jesus has helped me through all of them. Jesus is going ahead of me. I have entered the kingdom of God and I am dwelling in the kingdom of God because of Jesus my commander general.
I pray that all of the people associated with our ministry here, can see the Promised Land and its boundaries being more vividly revealed. I pray that they may all follow their victorious general, Jesus Christ to the kingdom of heaven and dwell there with him. I pray that they may fight, with all of their hearts, the spiritual battles that come their way in order to seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness.
Interact with us using Facebook