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| Canaan is not a picture of Heaven, but rather the collective promises that have been given to us under the New Covenant |
The above speaks of the position we have in Christ by virtue of our identifying with His resurrection life.
Many believe and even rejoice in this fact, which is a great thing. It is wonderful for us to be joyful and praise God for His lavish grace that has brought us into such a position of being dead to ourselves and being alive in Christ and His life. This is indeed our position.
However, the Lord does want us to camp here and base all our life and doctrine on this principle. As we discussed before and we'll examine again here, discouragement and defeat can come about by settling on a principle which we confuse with experience.
Compare the above verse with the following:
Many believe and even rejoice in this fact, which is a great thing. It is wonderful for us to be joyful and praise God for His lavish grace that has brought us into such a position of being dead to ourselves and being alive in Christ and His life. This is indeed our position.
However, the Lord does want us to camp here and base all our life and doctrine on this principle. As we discussed before and we'll examine again here, discouragement and defeat can come about by settling on a principle which we confuse with experience.
Compare the above verse with the following:
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (
This speaks of our personal response to the position we have received in Christ. Notice the use of the word therefore. It is because of what was said there before. Since we have agreed that our position in Christ is one that denotes death, we now need to enter into a spiritual experience that corresponds to this position which we have received. This practice is again described here in the present tense. Daily putting to death everything that belongs to the earthly nature.
As we will continue to see throughout this study, the position is never a substitute for the practice. The principle never substitutes the experience. Instead, it forms the grounds upon which the person can enter into the reality of what has been given. When we pick up one end of the stick, we pick up the other.
As we will continue to see throughout this study, the position is never a substitute for the practice. The principle never substitutes the experience. Instead, it forms the grounds upon which the person can enter into the reality of what has been given. When we pick up one end of the stick, we pick up the other.
The Victory of the Cross
Another example on this subject is found in Colossians 2:15 which describes the victory that Jesus won for all believers through His death on the cross.
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Battles are always messy. Hence, there are those who argue on the basis of such verses, that there is really no need for us to wrestle or engage ourselves battling the forces of evil, seeing that this war has already been won for us by Christ. This is one theology that has brought about untold defeat and frustration into the lives of well-meaning people.
No wonder then, that those who partake of such an imbalanced presentation of the Gospel are later shocked when situations arise in their lives which cannot be understood from the natural because they are clearly a direct result of warfare being waged against them from the realm of the spirit. The irony is that it is possible to see defeat in the very areas His victory was supposed to make us triumphant.
So when the unexpected occurs, we should not question the character and promises of God, but rather these types of doctrines. Views and teachings of the New Testament that only center on position and fail to expound on practice, promote an attitude of comfort and ease, reducing those who are called to be soldiers of the cross to a complacent socializing group that is very unlike the church described in the book of Acts. Every person who believes this error fails to realize that by avoiding confrontation and ignoring the real battle, they are actually playing right into the hands of the archenemy who can now operate against them unchallenged!
No wonder then, that those who partake of such an imbalanced presentation of the Gospel are later shocked when situations arise in their lives which cannot be understood from the natural because they are clearly a direct result of warfare being waged against them from the realm of the spirit. The irony is that it is possible to see defeat in the very areas His victory was supposed to make us triumphant.
So when the unexpected occurs, we should not question the character and promises of God, but rather these types of doctrines. Views and teachings of the New Testament that only center on position and fail to expound on practice, promote an attitude of comfort and ease, reducing those who are called to be soldiers of the cross to a complacent socializing group that is very unlike the church described in the book of Acts. Every person who believes this error fails to realize that by avoiding confrontation and ignoring the real battle, they are actually playing right into the hands of the archenemy who can now operate against them unchallenged!
The victory mentioned in the above scripture is real and was won once and for all time. But as with the scriptures we have examined previously, there needs to be a proper, balanced understanding. When it comes to the word of God, Jesus warned us in Luke 8:18: Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him. Many have lost the glory of walking in the experiences clearly stated in the New Testament because of settling back on half the message - the sections that speak about position.
The above-mentioned victory does not exempt the believer from personally confronting darkness and violently maintaining his or her ground on a daily basis. This is the believer's response. Inasmuch as victory was won ultimately by the Son of God, it affords us who have come to believe in Him the basis by which we can enforce and maintain the conquest. His victory not only gives us cause to rejoice and celebrate, it gives us the principle by which we ourselves are to engage in spiritual warfare.
The above-mentioned victory does not exempt the believer from personally confronting darkness and violently maintaining his or her ground on a daily basis. This is the believer's response. Inasmuch as victory was won ultimately by the Son of God, it affords us who have come to believe in Him the basis by which we can enforce and maintain the conquest. His victory not only gives us cause to rejoice and celebrate, it gives us the principle by which we ourselves are to engage in spiritual warfare.
The Battle
This is how it the experience is described:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Needless to say, the emphasis on personal responsibility described here is overwhelmingly real. There is no contradiction with what we saw earlier in Colossians. The above text is discussing the practice of the believer with regard to the position he/she has received by virtue of identifying with the Lord's victory over darkness.
Remember the analogy of the telecast? Unless we are tuned to the channel, it will be as though the program was never aired. Similarly, if we do not enter into the experience, it will be as though the position was never there at all. All these unseen realities including angels, hosts, principalities and powers are present even though we do not see or sense them through our natural senses. The only difference is that they exist on a different frequency.
Religion postpones all that is invisible to the afterlife. It teaches that the natural is all what we have here on earth and spiritual reality only begins after you die. This is why Nicodemus, a devout, religious man could not understand the explanation of Jesus concerning being born of the Spirit and entering the Kingdom of Heaven while still on earth. In actual fact, both realms (natural and supernatural) coexist. Jesus taught that one could (and indeed must) be born of the Spirit while they are still alive physically. After being thus born in the Kingdom, they progress in pursuing their destiny and can pray for His spiritual government to manifest on earth.
Religion postpones all that is invisible to the afterlife. It teaches that the natural is all what we have here on earth and spiritual reality only begins after you die. This is why Nicodemus, a devout, religious man could not understand the explanation of Jesus concerning being born of the Spirit and entering the Kingdom of Heaven while still on earth. In actual fact, both realms (natural and supernatural) coexist. Jesus taught that one could (and indeed must) be born of the Spirit while they are still alive physically. After being thus born in the Kingdom, they progress in pursuing their destiny and can pray for His spiritual government to manifest on earth.
Notice that when Jesus described His followers, He did not refer to them as a religious system, but as an overcoming community.
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. (
There is a conflict of governments in the unseen realm and His army is fully involved. Their being founded on the Rock (which is not Peter, but the revelation of who Christ is) empower them to overcome the gates of hell. The leaders of a city in the Middle East used to sit at the city gate to negotiate issues that were affecting the society e.g. as in the case of Ruth and Boaz. These councils were in general referred to as gates. So in this context, gates refers to the league which is in charge of affairs in the headquarters of the satanic kingdom.
In the Old Testament, though it had been foretold to Abraham, the promised land demanded a generation of warriors. It required a people who were ready, having an understanding that the season they were in was a season of warfare. It demanded the right people prepared for the right time. Israel was destined to be that nation. However, when the appointed time came, the kairos moment, they were not prepared for war. Doubts and fears made them shrink back and thereby they lost the window of opportunity provided for them to move in and take over. The result? They moved back to a life of routine - continuous wandering in the wilderness.
The Promises
Abraham is known as the father of faith and the promises that were given to him concerned God's plan to bless the nations of the earth and to make Himself known through his descendants. There are several promises that were given to this patriarch. One of them stated that his seed would possess the gates of their enemies. There has not yet been a group of people in the lineage of Abraham the who have fulfilled this prophecy on earth fully though the spiritual combat between light and darkness has been on for generations. Therefore it will not be Israel, but the Church who now bear this mandate on their shoulders.
The Lord overcame. Believers can also overcome. We are the Body of Christ. But we cannot fight effectively against an unseen foe and his kingdom within a realm we have just recently entered and do not fully comprehend. The enemy has been there for over 6,000 years. He has had a track record of deceiving millions of human beings over the ages. In order to win, we require more than a mental agreement or appreciation of our position. We need revelation that ushers us into the personal, practical experience of conflict and ultimately conquest.
In the Old Testament, though it had been foretold to Abraham, the promised land demanded a generation of warriors. It required a people who were ready, having an understanding that the season they were in was a season of warfare. It demanded the right people prepared for the right time. Israel was destined to be that nation. However, when the appointed time came, the kairos moment, they were not prepared for war. Doubts and fears made them shrink back and thereby they lost the window of opportunity provided for them to move in and take over. The result? They moved back to a life of routine - continuous wandering in the wilderness.
The Body of Christ has been taught concerning the promises of God which are far greater, and whose consequences are much more significant than the promised land was for Israel. These are promises rooted in the Kingdom of God and she has come to a place of possessing them.
However, just as it was with Israel, she needs to realize that these promises require a prepared people. These promises do not simply occur by themselves. They require a nation ready to move in, fight and overcome! Regardless how difficult the times we live in may seem, each one of these promises are accessible and attainable. However, many are now hesitating at the border, wondering if it is really the right time and if they have what it takes, and are in danger of shifting backwards to the years of meandering they have left behind.
However, just as it was with Israel, she needs to realize that these promises require a prepared people. These promises do not simply occur by themselves. They require a nation ready to move in, fight and overcome! Regardless how difficult the times we live in may seem, each one of these promises are accessible and attainable. However, many are now hesitating at the border, wondering if it is really the right time and if they have what it takes, and are in danger of shifting backwards to the years of meandering they have left behind.
Others are likewise at the same border, unwilling to move out of their comfort zone just as the manna which ceased to fall as soon as Israel crossed the border into the promised land - a sign that they were no longer spectators, they were now participants. They have an understanding of what is required for them to move into the full promises of God and they will have to let go of things in their lives they have been making excuses for. They have spent years wrapping up their weaknesses, even blaming people, circumstance and environments.
Caanan Revisited
This may sound like irony, but it is not always easy to let go of bondage or adversity if one sees themselves as a victim. Even Pharaoh when offered a way out of the plagues that were destroying his empire chose to postpone it. It is sometimes easier to cling onto a place where we have reasons to sympathize with ourselves. Another reason is that there is a responsibility that comes with overcoming and it may look easier to wallow in self-pity than to face up to this responsibility.
The person who would fight to overcome becomes duty-bound to maintain the victory he has attained, because responsibility demands discipline. Without responsibility, the promises will not work. So the person seeking to move from principle to experience, must also be prepared to discipline themselves in order to walk in the reality of what has been promised.
The land that was promised to Israel through Abraham was not a barren one. It was a productive one, teeming with abundance, flowing with milk and honey. However, the responsibility of inhabiting and drawing from all what the land had to offer required action, not arguments, contemplations or theories. The land was a promise that was given to them by God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, whose word is binding in all spheres of life. His words never pass away.
However, imagine what would have happened if they just sat contentedly along the banks of the Jordan, celebrating the promise and reminding each other of how wonderful it was to be in the position that they were in as descendants of Abraham! This is exactly what a lot of teachings today are promoting. The land that had been promised would only yield its produce to a generation prepared to take arms, forcefully drive out those heathen inhabitants and settle in.
The person who would fight to overcome becomes duty-bound to maintain the victory he has attained, because responsibility demands discipline. Without responsibility, the promises will not work. So the person seeking to move from principle to experience, must also be prepared to discipline themselves in order to walk in the reality of what has been promised.
The land that was promised to Israel through Abraham was not a barren one. It was a productive one, teeming with abundance, flowing with milk and honey. However, the responsibility of inhabiting and drawing from all what the land had to offer required action, not arguments, contemplations or theories. The land was a promise that was given to them by God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, whose word is binding in all spheres of life. His words never pass away.
However, imagine what would have happened if they just sat contentedly along the banks of the Jordan, celebrating the promise and reminding each other of how wonderful it was to be in the position that they were in as descendants of Abraham! This is exactly what a lot of teachings today are promoting. The land that had been promised would only yield its produce to a generation prepared to take arms, forcefully drive out those heathen inhabitants and settle in.
Now, I do not believe that the Canaan in the Old Testament is a picture of Heaven, because there are no strange inhabitants in Heaven who need to be driven out. Likewise, modern-day Canaan for the believer has nothing to do with acquiring earthly wealth and prosperity as some teachings falsely portray, which is simply another way of excusing ourselves from the real cost of discipleship. Canaan is a picture of all New Covenant promises to the believer. These include the walk of holiness, the mind of Christ, the triumph of faith, the purity of heart, the humility of wisdom, the renewal of the inner man and the fruit of the Spirit. This is our promised land.
Hence our battle is now against forces and influences, both within and without, which daily work to restrain us from experiencing this life. Christ stated the Kingdom is being taken by violent people (Matthew 11:12). It will be a great folly for us to assume merely because promises have been given to us or that we have received such a wonderful position, we will automatically see the reality of the Kingdom in our lives without much self-discipline and warfare. In Joshua's time, the latter was required to enter into what had been promised and thereafter to protect and maintain the conquered territory. The same is true of us today.
Hence our battle is now against forces and influences, both within and without, which daily work to restrain us from experiencing this life. Christ stated the Kingdom is being taken by violent people (Matthew 11:12). It will be a great folly for us to assume merely because promises have been given to us or that we have received such a wonderful position, we will automatically see the reality of the Kingdom in our lives without much self-discipline and warfare. In Joshua's time, the latter was required to enter into what had been promised and thereafter to protect and maintain the conquered territory. The same is true of us today.
