Greater Works IV – Living out of the Greater Work of God in Christ

Greater Works IV – Living out of the Greater Work of God in Christ

As said in last weeks teaching, there is no greater picture of the deliverance and salvation of God than Israel. Israel was redeemed of Jehovah and brought to Him by His own right hand. His own power brought salvation unto Israel. Israel was then to live out of God’s provision and be a people unto God. God would be their God and they would be His people (Exodus 6:7).

With a stretched-out hand and mighty signs and wonders Israel came from Egypt into the wilderness. God had brought them out and was leading the way into the promise land. He was among them as Cloud by day and a Fire by night. However, with all God was doing among them, and all that He had done, Israel would not enter the land of Canaan. Twelve spies went into the land of Canaan. Ten came out and reported that the land was to hard to take. They saw through their own sight (Numbers 13).

Think on this. This was a people who saw God roll back the waters of the Red Sea. They saw the pestilence and plagues of Egypt. They heard God’s voice on Mount Sinai and saw the mountain shake with his presence and power. They were fed manna and quail in the wilderness and drank water from a rock. However, they would not enter the land that Jehovah had promised. Rather than proclaim the greatness of the LORD, who was among them. They looked through their own sight and declared there were giants in the land, and that they themselves were as grasshoppers.

In Numbers there is a stern warning for us all. Israel stayed in doubt, and God gave them what was in their OWN HEART. Numbers 14:28 “Say unto them, As I live, saith Jehovah, surely as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, that have murmured against me, 30 surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

As you have spoken so will I do to you. Rather than believe God’s word, Israel proclaimed OF THEMSELVES, it would be better to go back to Egypt. It would be better to die in the wilderness. They were seeing with their own sight. They would not believe the hand of the LORD. They would not believe the power of His might or the declaration of His Word. God had told them He would bring them unto Himself as a people He would plant them in the land of Canaan. In Canaan, they were to flourish and live in the supply of the LORD and be a people unto their God. However, they would not believe and enter in. They did not KNOW this God who was in their very midst.

I am concerned that we the Church are much like this picture. God has said we are His. We are a new creation. The old has passed away and all is new in Christ. He has told us of His fullness we have received. In Colossians 2, the Apostle Paul writes we are complete in Christ. Rather than hearing a voice of completion in the land much of the teaching and preaching is about some future day. Rather than seeing the work of God that has been done in Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, we hear of a future work that must be done. We hear we are not there yet. It will be better after a while.

The message of God must shift. The provision of God, who is Christ, must be declared. We must hear and see by the Spirit of God and enter that which God has given. This land of Christ Jesus is flowing with milk and honey through the richness of Christ Himself. This land is full of His provision and power. Through Him we are more than able to live in the promised land and declare His fullness. “At that day you SHALL KNOW, I am in my Father, you are in me and I AM IN YOU.” This must become the declaration of our lips. This must become our sight, all the fullness of God in Christ Jesus, and we in this land. Glory to God!