How long are ye slack to go to possess the land which the Lord God (Yahweh) of your fathers hat given you? (Josh.18: 3).
The reference, of course, is to the second generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt, and crossed over the Red Sea and came into the wilderness and camped at Shiloh. Four tribes of Israel had taken possession of their land. Levi did not have a share. Seven tribes were left.

It was just eleven days journey from Horeb to Kadeshbarnea, the doorway of Canaan. And when the Israelites got there Moses sent forth spies to spy out the land and search out the riches of their inheritance. Twelve spies went forth into the land and explored it for forty days. They knew the people would not believe what they found, so they cut down a branch of grapes in the valley of Eschol, and carried it between two upon a staff; and they also brought of the pomegranates and of the figs. "Surely," they testified, "It floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." And they showed them what they had found. (Num. 13:17-33). And if the first ripe grapes and the figs and the pomegranates are good--what must it be like to literally live in Canaan, to drink refreshing waters from wells which we have not digged, to eat the fruit of vineyards and olive trees which we planted not, and to inhabit houses which we built not.

And that is just exactly the position the Church of Jesus Christ is in today. We are still in the wilderness. It is true that God (Yahweh) has given us of His Spirit; but only as a "sample;" only as the means by which we might search out the depths of God, even as the spies explored the land of Canaan. God has even given us a little taste of the realm of the Spirit; for in bestowing upon us the Holy Spirit we receive "the earnest of our inheritance," or the "firstfruits of the Spirit" (Eph. 1:14; Rom. 8:23). That is the rest that remains for the people of God. It is entering into a place that has already been prepared for us by the Spirit. It is entering into this resurrection-life by the Spirit.

Israel’s mistake consisted in disobedience and fear, and hence in unbelief. Had they believed in their God, they would not have feared the enemy and their strongholds. They refused to obey God on the basis that they did not have the power and the authority to take it. We can compare ourselves to the generation of Israel. God has enabled the saints to reach out by the Spirit and explore the boundaries of their inheritance. But sad to say, this same generation has refused to claim the inheritance and so God has allowed them to perish in the wilderness like their forefathers in Israel. Thousands of Spirit-filled people have gone back to the old way of life because their blessing did not last, it was only a sample.
How gracious and wise is our God in all His ways! The children of Israel did not realize that they were really fulfilling an eternal purpose for the instruction of the Church. These things happened unto them "for ensamples" of us. Through their sin and disobedience, God is trying to teach us the path of righteousness and faith and victory. It gives us great boldness to enter into the new and living way which God hath now opened up for us through the veil. The wilderness experience has been bitter for those who have hungered and thirsted for God. But God has had a sovereign purpose in it all, that his hungering saints might now be prepared to enter into the land of rest. "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no" (Deut. 8:2).

The old generation who disbelieved God perished in the wilderness. And so it is that a new generation under new leadership arises out of the wilderness of modern evangelical circles, to succeed a dying generation. Moses died and Joshua led the people. The Law must give way to Grace. ‘The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus (Yahshua)’ (John.1:17). Joshua is the Hebrew word for Jesus (Yahshua). It means "Yah Saves." His generation is to be a conquering, a delivering generation. The former generation said it was all right to speak in tongues, or receive gifts of the Spirit, or heal the sick, or perhaps raise the dead occasionally, or prophesy, or sing in the Spirit--these things are all right, but you cannot have the "mind of Christ” so that you can actually think His thoughts, and say His words, and perform His works, and live His very own life.

Are we going to remain in the condition of those who have been saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit? Or are we going to rise from the dusty sands of the wilderness and follow our Joshua across the Jordan into real, triumphant, overcoming power in the Spirit of God?

‘Blessed be the God (Yahweh) and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah), who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Messiah).’ (Eph.1:3-7) He has given us everything we need to serve him. He has chosen us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him. We are adopted into the family of God (Yahweh). (1Jn.3:2) We are his sons and daughters (Rom.8:17). We have found favour in his sight and are accepted by the Father, we have been brought near to Him by the blood of Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah). (Eph.2:13) We have freedom, we are redeemed, set free from the bondage of sin by his blood. (1Pet.1:18-19). Our sins are forgiven, ’who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases’ (Psa.103:3). The blood of Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) cleanses us from all sin (1Jn.1:7).

Just think about the many blessings that he has promised us! And for the future, he has prepared dwelling places for us. In John.14:1-3 Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) says, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’. Every child of Yahweh has a home waiting for him or her in a city whose builder and maker is God (Yahweh) (Heb.11:10). Abraham looked for such a city and he found it.

When he saves us he begins the process of making us like him. He gives us life and helps us to lead a new life. If you are saved you are sealed by his promise. If you are sealed you are secured. If you are secured, then you can rest and rejoice in that truth.

How to get all these blessings? Be in Christ (Messiah). When you are saved you are placed into the body of Christ (Messiah). (1Cor.12:13) and then you can partake of all the spiritual blessings.

Thank God there is a new generation that has caught the vision. A few Calebs and Joshuas have survived the affliction and the famine of the wilderness, and are leading the saints in the power of the Spirit into realms of glorious victory. For God has promised the land is ours if we can only hear His voice and voice and obey: "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Heb. 4:7). There is only one real enemy, and that is Fear. But God has promised: "Be strong and of a good courage...I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee..."