SAM, 2-10-08, CLC

Possessing the Promise

We have to possess the promise.  God does certainly have big plans for this area, but we are going to have to possess the plan / promise. We do this not by natural means, not by flesh and blood, but by spiritual laws. So as we learn about them, they seem strange to our minds.  When you go into the military, they spend time changing the way you think and act.  They have to make you into a warrior.  You no longer think of things the way you once did.  You no longer act the way you once did.  So too, are the things of God.  They’re not natural, we don’t learn them naturally.  Most things naturally are contrary to the Law of God. 

Psalms 1:1-3

1 ¶  How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Isaiah 55:6-11

6 ¶  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

7  Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

His ways are above our ways, His Way is his Word.

Zechariah 4:6-7

6  Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.

7  ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"’"

This was a prophecy for Zerubbabel who was charged with rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem after they had been carried away in captivity.

The way we are going to have our possession is the same way, by the Spirit of the Lord, His way.  His way is the way of Love.

His way is the way of confession, He speaks it out, and it happens.

Exodus 23:22-30

22  "But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

23  "For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them.

24  "You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their sacred pillars in pieces.

25  "But you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.

26  "There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.

27  "I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

28  "I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you.

29  "I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

30  "I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land.

Victories come according to what we’re able to possess.  He’ll never give us more than we can handle. 

Lu 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

Pr 10:22 ¶ It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.

We’re going to have to learn to be faithful with what we have before God will ever give us more.  His way is for us to grow into our possession.

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 ¶  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

15  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

16  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

4  for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

5  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Jas 3:4-5

4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

We can have what we say!

Pr 13:2  From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

Pr 18:20  With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

If you don’t like what you have, change what you’re saying!

To possess, you must confess.