Possessing What Is Ours

God delivered the people out of the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt and brought them into their own promised land. But, Israel just stopped short of possessing all of the land God gave them.
God urged them to take full possessing their land because He knew the trouble they would have well into their future if they didn't finish what they started.  God spoke to Joshua,

"How long will you put off entering in, to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God  of your fathers, has given you?" (Joshua 18:3)

Israel's story is also given to us for our instruction.  God has given us, as His children, an incredible inheritance when Jesus brought us out of the kingdom of darkness into God's Kingdom of light.  Everything God has promised us through Christ, in His Word is ours:

• Salvation
• Freedom from bondage
• Victory over sin
• Authority over the devil
• The ability to live a holy life through the indwelling of the holy Spirit 
• Faith that overcomes
• His strength to be able to do all things
• Divine love and forgiveness for one another and our enemies
• Christ's humility to be a servant of all 
• The mind of Christ to become obedient
• The authority to pray in Jesus name 
• Spiritual gifts to serve

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES?   To often we remain happy with what we now have, satisfied with our salvation as it stands, with the knowledge that we will go to heaven when we die.  So we sit back and enjoy God's blessings instead of growing up in Christ.  As Ephesians 4:11-15 states, we must become fully equipped to serve Him, as it is the will of God our Father.  

• We will have little or no power to overcome 
• We will remain immature and not be able to take responsibility
• Our marriage and family will not have the good testimony it should have
• Our children will not learn from us what is means to serve God in Faith, Holiness, and obedience to His word.  
• We selfishly pursue blessings and have little concern for the lost world
• We can become a hindrance and a burden to the body of Christ
• We greatly delay God's plan and blessings for ourselves
• We rob God of the glory He is to receive from our lives
  

If this is you, how much longer will it take for you to  put off overcoming a sin, or forgiving someone, and begin walking in faith?  The Apostle Paul said it nicely,
"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which Jesus Christ has laid hold of  for me." (Philippians 3:12)