Obtaining Your Promised Land

God’s plan for you is greater than what you and I could ever imagine…

Make no mistake: you have a Promised Land with your name on it. Never settle for anything less than the plans of God for your life (Jer. 29:11-13).

God is the Dreamer who assigns us the dreams of our hearts. Often our personality, passions and desires get in the way, but God loves the challenge of bringing the unruly into the image of Christ.

Every human being has a divine destiny and Promised Land for their life. All of us have special talents, gifts, skills and strengths that God has given us to best serve Him and His good purposes.

Once we accept Christ into our life, we are connected to the God of our Destiny in life. Your Promised Land will in some way build the Kingdom of God – the ultimate Promised Land in Heaven.

In theory, it is better than what you could ever dream of. In reality, it’s going to take a lot of hard work, sacrifices, warfare and a huge personal cost to get there. However, there are a few key steps that will help you get there faster…

Coming out of Egypt

Exodus 12:36 And the Lord had given the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

Egypt is a type of the world with all its temptations and sin. Our society today is just like Egypt was to the children of Israel. Although not a physical location it is whatever we give our heart and loyalty too – the world, money, idols, the flesh or God.

Where they were slaves under Pharaoh, we are in slavery to the evil taskmaster of sin. Just as Moses was the redeemer of Israel, Jesus is our ultimate Redeemer and Saviour. He calls us to crucify the sinful nature and live in the freedom of the Spirit (Gal. 6:24).

Scripture adds that there were some believing Egyptians and other nationalities that went with them, drawn to the real God of miracles (Exo. 12:38). We are to bring others with us out of the worlds system and ways of thinking and bring them into our Promised Land!

The land of Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey – a place of abundance, wealth and prosperity! So what does your personal Promised Land look like exactly? Imagine: your highest potential, greatest success, favour with men and God, prosperity and abundance, blessed when you walk in and blessed when you walk out. You’re the head and not the tail in life and everything you touch turns to gold…

“These things happened as a warning to us…”

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 MSG These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else.

The children of Israel are symbolic of God’s people today. No generation in history saw the most signs and miracles of God’s power and deliverance first hand. God was Faithful again and again despite their selfishness for wanting their old life back in Egypt.

The distance from Egypt to the Promised Land would have only taken 10 days. So why did it take 40 years and a new generation for them to get there? A lifestyle of disobedience, lack of faith, complaining and rebellion disqualified them of their Promised Land. They chose fear instead of Faith, worry instead of Trust, sin over Holiness.

Today, too many Christians live in a 40/10 lifestyle – 40 years to achieve your dreams in what could have taken 10 days. Some think it's burdensome and difficult to live a good Christian life, and that obedience is a hard taskmaster. Actually, the opposite is true! Disobedience is the hard taskmaster - all of our problems usually come from not obeying God.

All of their mistakes and failures Paul writes, happened as a warning to us today. Let us take careful notice not to repeat their costly mistakes and failing to enter into their destiny...

Take the Promised Land!

Deuteronomy 1:8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.

When the children of Israel were ready to enter the Promised Land, it was a new and different generation. They were bold, prepared, and courageous to take what God had already given them. However, they could not just walk in and take it – they had to fight for it. Under their new leader Joshua, they had Faith that their God was bigger than the giants dwelling in the land.

Steps to Getting to your Promised Land:
1) Be Thankful
2) Obey Godly Leaders
3) Moving where God leads you
4) No Complaining
5) Obedience to God
6) Have Faith

Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.

God’s Promises are certain and always sure – it’s up to us though to take them and fully utilise our abilities and talents that He has given us. God has allowed us to figure stuff out, work through problems, be creative and amazing minds for a reason – to grow in Faith, in character and strength in all areas (wisdom, confidence, patience, experience etc.)

Don’t spend 40 years walking around the wilderness… be Faithful with what’s in your hands and step towards your Promised Land today!