Tag: kingdom of Heaven

Take the Land!

Posted on by ascendthehill

The Kingdom of Israel’s History

In the book of Joshua at this point in Israel’s history, they were going to receive the kingdom that God had promised their fathers. God gave Israel the promised land, but we find out in Judges that they were continually being oppressed by the old inhabitants of the land. Even though God had said that they were to take the land, they never fully kicked out the old inhabitants. They ended up making covenants with them and not listening to the voice of the LORD.

“When the LORD your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and has cast out many nations before you…seven nations greater and mightier than you; And when the LORD your God shall deliver them before you; you shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; you shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them”

from Deuteronomy 7:1-2

Because Israel did not kick out the old inhabitants, they were continually being oppressed by them and leading them into sin. And Israel was constantly in distress. There was no prosperity in them, they would continually go back and forth. God would see their distress and, out of the love and compassion of his heart, help them. He would raise up someone to defeat the old inhabitants, they called them judges, but as soon as the judge would die the Israelites would go back to their old ways.

our Land Within Us

“The kingdom of God does not come with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

Jesus, The Messiah (from Luke 17:20-21)

The kingdom of God is within you, it’s not in some far away distant land. It is found within the believer of Jesus Christ. Even in Jesus’ time, the people misunderstood what the kingdom of God was and at one point they wanted to take Jesus by force and make him a king, but he hid from them (from John 6:15). His kingdom does not come with physical observation. You will not say here is the kingdom or look it’s over there. It is within you, beloved!

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

3 John 1:2

The Israelites would go back in forth and not prosper because the old inhabitants were still living among them. For us, our old inhabitants are thought processes or sometimes familiar spirits that have brought us into bondage and oppression. These old thought processes are attached to the old man’s (or old inhabitant’s) way of thinking. But we know that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new and all things are of God” (from 2 Cor. 5:17-18).

What Does It Mean To Take The Land?

When Yehoshua (Joshua’s name in Hebrew) brought the children of Israel into the promised land he had to take certain strongholds of the enemy. It is the same now when Yehoshua (Jesus, they have the same Hebrew name!) brings us into the promised land (Holy Spirit baptism) there are certain strongholds that need to come down.

When I say take the land ultimately I am saying mind renewal according to Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2

And when I talk about strongholds I mean it in the biblical sense of strongholds as found in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

If we want to walk in the fullness of what God has for us we must renew our minds to the truth. That is how we are transformed, by renewing our minds. By tearing down strongholds and taking every thought captive that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

It’s in you!

It’s in you believer. The fullness of God is in you. Why do we not experience the fullness? Because we have been deceived into thinking that the kingdom is far off and not within us.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:8-10

The fullness that is in Christ is in you! Religion and the traditions of people will have you begging for it when it is in you. Let’s press on to the fullness knowing full well that our Father has not withheld Himself from us.

The Lie of Denial

Was that not what the serpent deceived Eve within the garden? He made her think that God had withheld Himself from her. “You aren’t complete Eve. You are lacking. God has not created you in His image, but if you eat this fruit you will be like Him.” Was that not the lie from the beginning? That we were incomplete and lacking something? But what does the scripture say?

“[God] has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature…”

2 Peter 1:3-4

He has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should fall short of it” (Heb. 4:1). The promise is for us to walk in the fullness, not so that we cross the Jordan and be oppressed by our enemies! We are to take it by force! “…The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force!” (Yehoshua).

We have these promises to become like Him. God has already ordained that we should be like Him! As He is so are we in this world! Why is it not manifesting? Because we are not laying hold of the promises and following Yehoshua. “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Take the land with Jesus as our captain!

The kingdom of God is in you! Do you want the fullness? God has already commanded for us to come into the fullness. If you think you are walking in the fullness of what God has paid for you and you are not walking even as He walked then you are deceiving yourself.

Let’s take the land inside ourselves! And not be found on the other side of Jordan being crushed by the old inhabitants of the land because we did not believe God for the fullness. He has parted the red sea (water baptism) you have crossed the Jordan (Holy Spirit baptism) now take possession of the land! Kick out those old inhabitants (thoughts that do not align with the word of God) and bring honor to your King!

I love you guys!!!

"Ho, every one that does thirst, come to the waters, and he that has no money; come, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David" (Isaiah 55:1-3).

It’s free! He wants us to have it. He’s not withholding Himself from us. If you find yourself begging it’s probably because of a false idea of who you think God is (aka stronghold).

A quick recap of what was talked about:

  • The Kingdom of God is within you.
  • Our Father wants us to have the kingdom (Do not fear, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom, Luke 12:32).
  • The old inhabitants (old man’s way of thinking) will bring you into bondage and oppression.
  • Strongholds are mindsets that the old man can hide behind and defend himself from.
  • We need to completely destroy the old man’s way of thinking and not leave anything left alive.
  • We are made complete and lacking nothing.
  • God has given us everything we need that pertains unto life and godliness.
  • God has not withheld Himself from us.
  • To access the fullness we must renew our minds.

The Power to Subvert Kingdoms

Posted on by ascendthehill

Pointing out a problem without giving a solution always leads to one or more of the following: discouragement; anger; bitterness; hopelessness; fear; anxiety; helplessness; unworthiness… the list goes on. The thing is, pointing out a person’s problem doesn’t really help them, it just leaves them wanting. With no solution, facing these problems seems daunting and turns into fear and discouragement.

These problems scoff and laugh at us. They blaspheme the armies of the living God as we sit on the sidelines shaking in fear, too afraid to say anything against the insults and blasphemous slander. Just like Goliath, they stand in the way of God’s kingdom, openly opposing its advancement.

David believed in the Solution more than the problem. He didn’t ignore the problem and act like it wasn’t there. He addressed the issue by faith. He knew there was an issue, but he knew his God was bigger than the problem. David when looking out at this giant saw an enemy of God’s people and knew “if God be for us, who can be against us” (from Rom. 8:31). He gave his fear to the Lord instead of fearing this Philistine. He glorified the living God and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

When David looked out he saw a problem, but he did not shrink from it. He glorified God and knew the God who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear will deliver this Philistine into his hands. We look at David like he had courage in himself to do this great feat, but we so easily forget that David is a man just like me and you. His courage was not in himself, he just believed in God. It’s very easy to exalt a champion of the Lord’s, and they are champions indeed, but their victory didn’t come from themselves it came from believing in God. As we think about the great cloud of witnesses that went before us, let us be reminded that they accomplished everything through faith in the living God. So, we must be victorious through faith in the living God as well.

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”

Hebrews 11:33-39

Fight For Your Inheritance!

Posted on by ascendthehill

Good afternoon people of God! Today I wanted to share with you that sometimes faith looks like not taking no for an answer. If there is a promise of God, and there is something between you and the fulfillment of that promise, then we should not take no for an answer. Because “…all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (from 2 Cor. 1:20).

I was thinking about the Canaanite woman who wanted the Lord to deliver her child from a devil. The Lord didn’t speak a word to her except when his disciples came and asked him to send her away. At which point he told her that he was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and then compared her to a dog… She asked for help and he was resisting her at first, but she didn’t take no for an answer! Then Jesus recognized her great faith and her daughter was made whole. (From Mat. 15:21-28).

This woman did not have a covenant with God! She was not a part of God’s covenant people; yet, and the one who was the voice and representation of God on the earth told her that he was only sent for God’s covenant people and that it wasn’t right to give the children’s bread to the dogs! But she did not take no for an answer! She continued to seek for the healing/deliverance of her child despite what even Jesus (the word of God) had told her! This woman truly had great faith!

We are God’s covenant people, to whom belong the promises and mercies of our God. We are not like this woman who had no covenant. But we are the ones to whom belong the inheritance of the kingdom. So we are not in the same circumstance as she was. The reason why I am saying this is because our resistance is not from Jesus or our Father, it is from the devil. The uncovenanted Canaanite woman was not a part of the adopted inheritors yet, but I do believe she is now!

Whenever we have something standing in the way of our possession it is either a devil or religion that is resisting us! And we should not bow to religion or demons ever! That was one of the discrepancies that Jesus had with the Pharisees. They did not seize hold of the promises and hindered those who were trying to possess them. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Mat. 23:13).

God bless you guys fight the good fight for your inheritance!

“According as his divine power has given unto us ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and [valor]! By which he has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. That by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Pet. 1:3-4).

“Do not fear, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).