We recently concluded a series on obtaining spiritual victory, and we’ve learned quite a bit about how to stand our spiritual ground, and not allow a defeated foe to trample us under foot. It is a crucial lesson to learn how to stand and fight when it comes to spiritual battle and victory. It is equally important, however, to learn how to experience, enjoy and truly possess the victory once it is obtained.
Today we will be exploring the vital topic of possessing your inheritance in victory, through Jesus Christ, because this is what the spiritual battle is truly about. Let’s get started!
The Uninhabited Territory
There are several places which we could theoretically begin today, but the best possible place to begin is Jesus’ teaching about “uninhabited territory.”
Many of us are familiar with this parable, although we often don’t discuss it. In this story, Jesus describes a person as a house. This house has an evil spirit, a spiritual squatter that needs to be removed. Yet something very interesting happens after they are removed. Let’s read the parable now, in Matthew 12:43-45:
“ 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he said, I will return into my house from where I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation.”
Let’s spend some time to analyze what Jesus says here. Jesus describes an evil spirit leaving a person, and the “house” being cleaned-up and nicely decorated.
But Jesus also describes something else… the house is empty!
The evil spirit had left, but no other inhabitant occupied the newly vacant house. The result of the house being left uninhabited is that the squatter eventually returns, with reinforcements. And Jesus says that the final status of the person is worse than the beginning.
The lesson that we can learn from these details, is that it is not enough to remove the squatters, but something must be put in the vacant space. Otherwise the territory is free to be squatted all over again.
Possessing Your Spiritual Land
The implications of not inhabiting your spiritual territory is massive. We see a good example of this regarding Israel and the Promised Land in Hebrews 3:19-4:10:
“ 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
Right in verse 19, we can see that many of the Israelites, though while promised the land, were unable to enter and possess it, due to their unbelief. So we are clearly told that unbelief can stop us from entering and possessing our territory.
Most people stop here, however the thought does not end at chapter 3 verse 19, it continues on to chapter 4. Notice what verse 1 of chapter 4 says:
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Your Land of Promise
Let’s take some time to meditate on what this verse is saying. After the scriptures remind us of how the Israelites failed to enter their promised land due to unbelief, the scripture proceeds to warn us to not make the same mistake regarding our promised land!
Verse 1 is also quite specific about the one thing we should fear. It’s not sinful actions, as many would expect, but it’s actually failing to possess the promises God has given us!
Verse 2 continues by describing the context and nature of the promises that we have. For the gospel was preached to us, as well as to them, but the word preached didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith. At first this may seem a bit confusing, so let’s examine it a bit closer.
The scriptures are describing a scenario that led to a failure to enter a land that was already promised. It’s crucial that we understand this basic fact. The land was already promised to them by God, on three separate occasions! As far as God was concerned, the land was already theirs, and victory was assured.
Here’s the crucial point… even though they were promised the land by God, they allowed the giants, and the high walls to speak louder than what God had said. And this is what the scripture is bringing to our attention.
The good news of entering the land of promise and rest was preached to us as well as to them.
However they did not mix it with faith. They didn’t mix the promise of God with the information of God regarding the many things He had done in the past for them.
Remember that they had just completed a long journey, where God had been continually merciful, gracious and completely reliable to them. If they had considered that in light of the promise they were given about the land, they would’ve been strengthened and believed instead of shrinking back and falling away. The previous chapter of Hebrews 3:7-11goes into detail expressing these facts.
Possessing The Promises of God Today
Verses 9 and 10 of Hebrews chapter 4, encourage us to not leave our promise land uninhabited today. Verse 9 says there remains a rest for the people of God. This statement is significant because it directly contrasts with the account of the Israelites.
As verses 6 through 8 describe, as great as Joshua was during that time, he was not the one to bring ultimate everlasting rest; that distinction belongs to Jesus Christ alone.
So today if you hear the voice of Jesus Christ, if you hear the good news of what He has done, His character, and His goodness, do not harden your heart as they did in the wilderness.
Remember that even though they had the promise of God guaranteeing them victory, they failed to enter because they failed to mix that promise with what they knew of God. And what do we know of God today? Look at verse 10:
For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
The pivotal truth of the gospel, and the key to entering the rest of God is to cease from your own works. And understand that this is speaking spiritually. It doesn’t say to cease from all works, but specifically to cease from “your own” work. This isn’t an accidental tautology, but a specific detail. The verse is saying to stop trying to do things in your own strength and effort! Stop trying to earn the rest and blessings of God by your own hand and power! Cease from your own works, and let the work of God be enough.
So let this truth encourage and strengthen you today, that you have been given promises from God — you have been given victory — now receive it. Mix those promises with the faith of God that you have, and inhabit your promise land today.
Be blessed.