“How long are ye slack to go to possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”, Joshua 18:3. Scripture records how the Lord challenged the children of Israel, through Joshua, to go forward and claim the inheritance of the land God had made available for them. God had done everything necessary in provision from His side, but the Israelites now had the responsibility of going into the land of God’s provision and claiming their inheritance.
Does this scripture apply to me? Is the Holy Spirit witnessing and challenging me with the words of the ancient challenge to God’s chosen people: “How long are you slack to go in and possess the land that the Lord God HAS given you?” No matter what stage of my spiritual journey I am at, there is always more land to possess and enter into. Through the finished work of Calvary, Jesus made a way for all who receive His priceless gift of salvation, to receive His resurrection life of abundance. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price, “once for all“, (Hebrews 10:10), and made a gateway for us to claim our inheritance – all the fullness of God!
The fullness of God is not some rare, to be hoped for experience. Through Calvary, it is offered to me. It is my birthright! I forfeit my inheritance when I hang on to the right to myself. This is demonstrated by hanging on to my self will, pride, fear, unbelief and my human understanding. In order to claim my inheritance I have to empty myself of all of these. They are excess baggage that has no place in God’s kingdom. Surrender is the key – always! As I repent and surrender under the guidance and mighty hand of the Holy Spirit’s leading, the royal exchange takes place. Hallelujah! I trade my dirty rags for a royal robe, all glory to Jesus! Clothed in His righteousness, I can go forward and possess another portion of my inheritance of His divine fullness. This is my birthright.
God’s plan is to conform us to the image of His dear Son, Jesus. Ephesians 4: 13-15: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the head, even Christ.”
God requires us to take up the challenge, leave the shallow, safe waters we have paddled and trusted in, our comfort zone, and discover His vast ocean of waters to swim in – abandoned to Him. Here is where we discover the “much more” of our inheritance in Christ. Choose this day! Take a step forward, by faith, into the Promised Land of your birthright. Allow the resurrection life of the Indwelling Christ to flow out through you in demonstration. Don’t block the flow, just surrender to it and enjoy your journey into fullness. Expect the unexpected!
