Fri.’s Devo - Possession and Authority

Read Numbers 32:1-33:39, Luke 4:31-5:11, Ps. 64:1-10, Pr. 11:22 The Israelites have just fought their first fight right before they were about to cross into the promised land. God gave them the victory over the Midianites which should have been a clue to them of how God planned their victory against the enemies in the land. The Reubenites and Gadites and half of the Manassites were farmers and saw the good land right outside the promised land and decided they wanted that land instead of chancing the land God had prepared for them in the promise land. I wonder what God thought of that. They promised to go over and fight for the other tribes and not come back till everyone had their possessions. God warned them that if they didn’t keep their promise He would find out. Yesterday, we read that if we make a vow to the Lord, we are to keep it. We find out later that they didn’t keep their promise. God allowed the two and a half tribes to stay in that land and they captured the towns and renamed them. That is what we do when we take over the devil’s territory. We give it a new name because it has changed ownership. “Depression” gets the name “joy”; “bitterness” gets the name “forgiven”, etc. Aaron died before he could enter the promise land. There had to be a new priesthood to enter the promise land. The New Covenant came with the new priesthood of Jesus’. In Luke we see the people following Jesus because of his authority. He actually knew what He was talking about and could prove it by works. The demons recognized Him and fled, He rebuked sickness, and creation obeyed Him. I’m sure that Peter, James, and John were glad they obeyed Jesus when He told them to put down their net again. It was enough to convince them that this man had authority over all. They left everything and followed Him. Let the righteous rejoice in You and consider what You have done. Let the righteous take refuge in You and praise You.