Possessing Our Possessions!!

Jerry begins by expressing gratitude for the Lord Jesus' victory over death through His resurrection, emphasizing that Jesus is a real, living King and Lord. His desire is for believers to see Jesus more clearly and to lift Him up in their lives. He prays for spiritual insight into Christ’s glory and the heavenly future awaiting believers, including the new Jerusalem. Using Joshua 1:1-3, 9, and 11, Jerry highlights God's promise to give the land to Israel, symbolizing God's full inheritance for His people, which belongs to Him and is for an everlasting possession. He explains that the physical promised land foreshadows our spiritual inheritance in Christ, as described in Ephesians 1:3-11, where Christ is our true promised land, filled with spiritual blessings. Jerry stresses that possessing our spiritual inheritance requires faith, trust, and a militant, determined attitude—like Joshua and Caleb, who trusted God's promise despite giants and opposition. He emphasizes the importance of a warrior spirit, being willing to fight spiritually, and walking the way of the cross—dying to self and flesh—through daily surrender and obedience. He underscores that overcoming fear and dismay comes from fixing our eyes on Christ, who has already defeated death. Jerry concludes by urging believers to be desperate for God's full purpose, to be united with Christ and each other, and to actively possess their spiritual possessions, ultimately contributing to the beauty of the church and the new Jerusalem, where Christ’s fullness reigns.

Outline of Main Points

• Gratitude for Jesus’ victory and resurrection, emphasizing His real and living presence.
• Desire for believers to see Jesus more clearly and lift Him up.
• Joshua 1: Promises of land as a symbol of God's full inheritance for His people.
• Physical promised land foreshadows our spiritual inheritance in Christ, as in Ephesians.
• Possessing our inheritance requires faith, trust, and a militant, determined attitude.
• Examples of Joshua and Caleb trusting God despite opposition and giants.
• The need for a warrior spirit, fighting spiritually to possess our possessions.
• Walking the way of the cross—dying to self and flesh daily.
• Overcoming fear and dismay by fixing eyes on Christ, who has defeated death.
• Encouragement to be desperate for God's full purpose and union with Christ and His church.
• Our individual and collective role in building the church and the new Jerusalem.