Possessing the Land

Happy New Year all! We have just returned from a great holiday in SA with family. What a time of rest and celebration - it was our first time back together in 20 months. There were a few tears on departure as we said our ''till we see you again's'', and there have been a few tender moments since returning; but, we are super excited at what Father has for us as a family of faith in 2010.
Toward the end of last year God clearly spoke to me about what He has and is going to do. He clearly stated that '09 was a year of Position (and how we feasted on our Position in Christ much of that year) and that '10 would be a year of Possession! Being positioned securely and surely in His love, grace, person, and presence will always be our past and present foundation that we revel in, but this positioning has set us up to take our God-given inheritance without losing sight of who our Amazing Father is. There is no point in gaining much without His presence after all. Anyway, He is our first and matchless inheritance!
However, in moving into our inheritance, the Spirit sparked a question in me : what does a church look like that gains her inheritance? Many answers come to mind, but the Lord led me to the account of Joshua and I would like to leave one thought with you as you ponder the manifold dimensions of that question ...
Joshua 4:19 - 5:12 This is remarkable - after first crossing a river in full flood by the miraculous hand of the Lord (and what a great welcome mat to an inheritance that was!!) the many enemies of the people of God were crippled with great fear at their arrival (5:1). It says that at that time the Lord crippled His people, in fact all the mighty warriors, through circumcision (5:2)! What? They were incapacitated until all the fighting men were healed, and how long would something of that nature take to heal? They were open game for their enemies, and yet that is what God was wanting to show them - trust not in your own abilities to conquer, lean heavily on Mine!
If we are to be a possessing people we need to be a surrendered people - fully reliant on Him alone. Only great faith ventures require great relinquishings of self effort and reliance, and I believe that this is one of the trumpet calls for us, and indeed the churches, throughout the earth! Ps 44:1-8 is key especially vs3 'it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You love them.' His love revealed in the glory of His Presence and the wonder of His Power will move mightily as we become crippled regarding our own feat of arms by humbling ourselves before Him. Humility and being 'poor of spirit' (Mt5) will allow us to inherit God's specific promises over us. It's time - time for the substance of the promises, and time we become adequate receipients of His good gifts.
Let's fall on our knees church and revel in the might and magnitude of our Good Father as He leads us into His promises for us.

Love,
Ryan