Entering the Promise Land

Slide 1: Entering the Promise Land The Christian’s labor and trials before entering the promised land of rest. Hebrews 4:1

Slide 2: Introduction  God promised a heavenly country to those who love Him and glorify Him.  That is why people of faith desire a better country than this world. Heb. 11:16  Until we enter the promise land of rest, however, is a land of toil, heartache, and trouble to all who long for this heavenly place.

Slide 3: Introduction  In this lesson:  We shall see the shadow between the life of God’s people from Egypt till their inheritance in the land of Canaan and that of God’s people under the New Testament.  Ultimately, we’ll see the necessity of faith and trust in God to make the transition from this land of struggle to the eternal land of rest.

Slide 4: The Wilderness of This World  There are many who groan under the weight of sin.  Like the oppressed under Egyptian bondage God promised deliverance. Rom. 7:24-25  God delivered us from the bondage of sin and has lead us through the Red Sea of baptism.  And, like the Israelites of old, we too must be tested for forty years. Dt. 8:2

Slide 5: The Wilderness of This World  Though delivered from sin we too wonder in our world of wilderness.  The Lord tests us in this life to humble our lives in learning to depend on Him, for our good. Dt. 8:16  He wants us to learn to trust in Him and obey Him through this wilderness of trials. Exo. 23:20-22

Slide 6: The Wilderness of This World  Thus, this world is a time when/where God tests our faith.  Like the Hebrew people, our faith is tested through various trials. Exo. 15:25  We must depend upon God for our spiritual nourishment. Exo. 16:4  We need to depend upon Him for our spiritual security. (again Exo. 23:20-22)

Slide 7: The Heavenly Country  Canaan served as the land God promised Abraham and his descendents.  The descendents were recipients of the promise as they entered a land flowing with milk and honey. Dt. 6:3  This land inheritance represented a place of rest and comfort. Dt. 12:10  God fulfilled His promise to the Israelites.

Slide 8: The Heavenly Country  Spiritual Canaan is our heavenly home. Heb. 4:1  Heavenly Canaan is the true place of rest and comfort all of God’s faithful.  We are assured that God will give to us the heavenly Promised Land. Heb. 11:15-16  God’s fulfilled promise to the Israelites is but a shadow of what He will fulfill for spiritual Israel today.

Slide 9: The Heavenly Country  Our future Promise Land is our motivation to live by faith through the earthly wilderness.  Knowing that God is faithful we should sojourn through this world with confidence as we head toward Canaan Land.  All the trials that we must endure for the cause of Christ make it worth living for the Lord.

Slide 10: Conclusion  God’s promise is available to all who groan by the bondage of sin.  May all who hear this message respond to the Lord’s promise of eternal salvation.