Break camp, advance, occupy and possess!

"Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” - Deuteronomy 1:7-8

Last year, our Parish theme which was  taken from James 1:2-4.stated, "being perfect, mature , lacking nothing." The big question that we must prayerfully answer together is...After maturity, then what?

Am not quite sure whether all of us have matured, but I will leave that for personal assessment. To those who might have walked diligently with this theme, correct me if am wrong...Some of us God has matured through fire. Like the children of Israel we went round some place, because there are some people God wanted out of our lives.
This theme (perfect, mature lacking nothing), was preparing us to the next level of our liives where God is saying,  "enough of preparation, move on, I meant it for good, bear fruits, demonstrate your maturity.

To help us unravel this years theme, let's consider Deuteronomy 1 7-8 alongside Galatians 3:10-14.
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Parallels between the two texts
Moses and Paul were authorities in their time and season.
Both were talking to their people then.
Both were calling them to a higher standard of life:
Moses...go in and possess the land
Paul...leave the way of the law and enjoy the fullness of God through faith
The result in both cases was advance towards some blessings:
Moses....Abrahamic blessing
Paul...Messianic blessing.

For us to enjoy the unlimited blessing
We must defy some laws
We must demonstrate a four level of maturity.
Let us examine each one of them carefully.

1) Break the camp
Interrupt , course to stop, discontinue, sudden dash...
If we are really mature. We have to bring to an end:
Some old ways of doing things
Some old habits and bitterness.
Some old friends
Some old barriers....( l cannot achieve or get, I am not able, things never work out for me, etc).
Disregard the rules,
laws,
contracts,
promises
You are mature now!..i ( come out of the boyhood to manhood).
Demonstrate maturity... come out of the tent of feeling small and weak
Show that you have now come of age.
Separate yourselves from the lads.

2) Advance
Move from where you are
As an adjective....being ahead of time, or need.
As a noun...increase in price or value, progress or change for the better,
As a verb....move forward, give a promotion to or assign a higher position, obtain advantage, develop in a positive way.
Do things in a different way...You cannot continue using old ways and expect the same results. Don't just upgrade your phone, upgrade your commitment, change our prayer life for better.
Change your dressing,  demonstrate maturity.

3) Occupy
Advance into new territory, march aggressively for the purpose of conquest and occupation. (Pull out all the Amorites, Jebusites, Hittites, .....)
Take, fill...assume of position or roles.
I like it when we take our young men for the rites of passage, we emphasize on taking up responsibilities.
Some need now to be team leaders in prayer groups, stop being told you are tommorow's leader, claim it , it's your inheritance.

4) Possess
Have ownership or possession of
Enter into and have control.
Declare authoritatively that this is your inheritance
Start to build...the land is not for sale...engagement ring.
Mark your territory...go round it.

Conclusion
Fight for your residence in the Kingdom, ...

Declare your inheritance....you are Kingdom's sons and daughters. In Jesus name your status is changing.

Though the Kingdom did not belong to you  ...you were a Gentile:
You did not know anybody
You did not have necessary papers
You did not have the looks
You were past the age

But doesn't matter because  of Jesus who became the sacrifice. You will possess that which was promised to you by God.You are no longer an alien. After maturity you become sons ( just like how after circumcision the blood of the lamb was connecting people to the covenant).

May the Abrahamic blessing rest on you
May Isaac's blessing be your portion
May you be a heir in the Jacob's blessing
And most of all receive the Messianic blessing, that which Christ bought for you in Calvary.
He became a curse so that you can be a blessing
Walk in divine wealth and health
His is the Blood of the New covenant,
In Him there is:
No Jews , or Gentiles,
Male or female,
Tall or short,
Rich or poor,
Fat or thin,
Circumcised or uncircimsed,
White or black, yellow or green
Learned or unlearned,
Nor Kikuyu.  Luo , Kalenjin, Zulu ...
In Him we all belong....we are sons and daughters of the Lords kingdom.

Some of the areas that the lord is calling us to break the camp and advance specifically is in the area of following the law...Being mere religious
We must come out of the common , mediocre
We must do things by faith
This is our year of unlimited blessings ...go in and possess....

Prayer.
Teach me, O God, to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience.
Let me use success as material for thankfulness.
Let me use trouble as material for perseverance.
Let me use danger as material for courage.
Let me use reproach as material for long suffering.
Let me use praise as material for humility.
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance.
Let me use pain as material for endurance.

–by John Baillie in “A Diary of Private Prayer”

Deutronomy 1:7a,8a....break the camp, advance, occupy and possess...
The year of unlimited blessings.

In the name of God the Father, son and Holy spirit.
Amen.