Hello Promised Land

We have crossed the Sea and we have crossed the River. Jordan lies behind us. The Promised Land is the Christian Life here on the earth. If you retain the belief that the Promised Land is only Heaven, let me persuade you differently. Heaven will have no walls to march around or battles to win. The Promised Land is now! Walk it, accept it, occupy it and enjoy it.

As we adjust to the transition, our minds must be renewed. We have not come to a place of no activity but a place where we find joy in labor. As the Israelites crossed over the Jordan, they came to a land much different than the brick-yards of Egypt. It was different from the wondering days of the Wilderness in which most of them had been born into. Now they would walk in, not only easier labor, but purposeful labor…. with joy.

I have had this ongoing vision lately of an old Israelite looking out over the Promised Land. He stands there for only a moment and then begins to run out into it. He flings his hands and arms wide-open as he looks out over the fields knowing the possibilities of this land are endless. It’s new soil. It’s fertile. It has been drenched with the rains of Heaven. It is expectant. It is producing new crops and new harvest. In the vision I never see his face again because he never turns back towards me, but keeps his eyes on the Promised Land.

From the circumcision camp of Gilgal, the Israelites with Joshua would soon see the walls of Jericho come tumbling down. They would see the rescue of a woman trapped in harlotry set free to become a prominent lady with kings in her lineage. They would become a kingdom and the nations would stand in awe. How did these travelers adjust to such a transition? Was it easy or did they spend lots of time teaching and training the people?

It sounded rather simple as Joshua plainly told them to “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5) One way to consecrate our-selves is to decide to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. (Luke 10:27) To love Him with all our mind is to give up our own rights to think our own thoughts. This will require some cleansing of our own thinking and opinions. It will require discernment to let go of past teachings and indoctrination that might hinder us in this season. Even past experiences can hinder us as we build monuments to the past and refuse to enter the experiences of the future. So, consecration of the mind involves a surrender of the mind to think differently, thereby allowing us to experience new things and go in new directions as Father leads.

The labor of the Promised Land was different. The results were different. They adjusted to taking ownership. Conversations were different. There was a complete atmosphere change. This is what is taking place here in the Appalachian Mountains. There was a time I wanted to get out of these mountains. Now, I feel a new ownership – a new love for these mountains – a new pride for the heritage, and yet the joy of awakening to the dawning of a new day. There is a remnant of people experiencing this transformation and it is contagious.

Amos tells of the days that are coming, when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes will overtake the one who sows seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved. Amos 9:13 says the Lord has declared it. The Message Bible interpreting this scripture in a contemporary style says, “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up… everywhere you look, blessings! Like wine pouring off the mountains and the hills…” Amos continues with the theme telling us that this is when we will rebuild ruined cities (like Manchester, Kentucky, which is going through transformation even now) and plant vineyards, drink good wine, work our gardens, and eat fresh vegetables. Amos concludes with the statement that the Lord will “plant us.”

Hello Promised Land! As the Lord asked Ezekiel when he was walking in the river, “Son of man, do you see this?” (Ezekiel 47: 6) If we don’t see what we are currently “in” and as long as we put everything into the future we will never have the faith to rise up now. This is crippled faith. There comes a time when we say, “It’s now!” One of the saddest times in the life of Christ was when he stood on the hill looking out over Jerusalem weeping because they didn’t know the time of their visitation. Let’s not let Jesus stand on these mountains and weep because we failed to rise up and accept the call of our times. The mountains are dripping with sweet wine.

It is not a secret that addiction has reached epidemic proportions here in the Appalachian Mountains. The Body of Christ – the Church – has the answer for that problem. In II Peter 1:3, Peter tells us that grace has been multiplied and we have been given all things needed that pertain to life and godliness. Peter continues to tell us that it comes thru revelatory knowledge. Present truth is coming to believers almost faster than we can download it. The scriptures are opening up in a fresh and new way. Therefore, we offer the sweet wine of Heaven for those in addiction. For those whom rehabs have been unsuccessful…. we offer the sweet wine of Heaven. For those who feel the fight is hopeless because of failed attempts in secular programs…. we offer a banquet of sweet wine from Heaven. Church, we have the wine! What are we reserving it for? Heaven? There is no shortage of wine there. We need this wine now. I am ready for the sound of a cork flying thru the air. The bottle opens. Son of Man can you see this? The effect of drugs cannot compare to the dripping of sweet wine from Heaven.

The enemy has perverted the use of the towns in these mountains too long by making them drug havens. It’s time to take the towns and cities back. As David lived in the Promised Land he came up against the Philistines in battle. One time he knocked the giant down with a single stone and ran to him and cut his head off with his own sword. It is time for the drug dealers in these mountains to surrender to Christ or it is time for the drug dealers to be exposed. The swords with which they have divided our families must be taken to their own heads.

Those in high places that have teamed up with the drug dealers need to take notice – a higher Sheriff is in town and He marches to a different drum-beat. We are preparing to march and everyone must decide to which drum-beat they will march.

When the Philistines came against David again, he asked the Lord for guidance. The Lord gave him a simple strategy. He was to wait under the mulberry trees until he heard the sound of the wind in the tops of the trees. David waited and moved with the wind and celebrated victory. Simple strategies are coming as we wait in the secret place. These strategies will discomfit the enemy. They will fall upon the rock (Jesus) or the rock will fall on them. I prefer they fall upon the rock. It’s just easier and not so messy. The wind is blowing in the tops of the trees…. Gentle at first…. Across the mountains it blows…. Down into the towns and cities…. Holy Spirit is moving…. Gentle at first…. Across the mountains He moves… down into the towns and cities….