The Promised Land

Promised Land people are a people of responsibility, discernment, and generosity. When we choose to become responsible, God’s blessing begins to rest upon our diligence in carrying out His will. It aches my heart to see so many Christians living a consistently irresponsible life, expecting those who live responsibly to solve their problems over and over. This is neither biblical nor healthy (2 Thess. 3:10).

The Problem

The problem often begins with a distorted view of grace and mercy. Some Christians have been led to believe that repetitively rescuing irresponsible people means we’re showing grace and mercy. While God did redeem us when we were irresponsible, He also refuses to leave us where He found us (Titus 2:11-12). In the wilderness, He gave us manna, but when we cross the Jordan, the manna stops so we can learn to cultivate the land He’s given us (Joshua 5:12)! There comes a time when we must call people higher and, as God does, refuse to enable repeated irresponsibility. Sometimes, it’s an act of love to let people learn from the consequences of their choices, especially if there’s a cycle of disobedience (Galatians 6:7-8).

God desires sons and daughters who will “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13), which means we must become wise, diligent, and hardworking (Proverbs 12:24). We must resist the satanic allure of victimhood that makes others responsible for our lives. Promised Land people understand that God has given us the tools to overcome any challenge. When our enemy seeks to rob us of victory, he starts by attacking our belief that applying scriptural solutions will work, no matter what!

Taking Responsibility

We may not be able to take responsibility for what others have done to us, but we can take responsibility for where we are. And when we do this, we receive power to sow again, knowing that harvest is guaranteed by the Word of God (Isaiah 55:10-11)! When we forgive, we sow for life-giving relationships. When we honor others, especially authority, we sow for God’s honor toward us. When we give, we sow for God’s blessing on all that we do. When we bless those who curse us, we sow for God to set a table before us in the presence of our enemies. When we pray for those who have hurt us, we sow for God’s healing power to restore our heart. This is what it means to take responsibility for where you are in life as a Promised Land person!

Discernment

Discernment is God’s gift to help us avoid enabling the dysfunctional behavior of others. Discernment isn’t about passing judgment; it’s about recognizing maturity levels and responding accordingly. When we entrust Promised Land blessings to those who are still in their wilderness, those blessings ultimately die in the sand. Loving people means calling them to cross their Jordan, inherit their share, and cultivate what God has given them according to His direction! Loving people doesn’t mean giving them the fruit of your land so they can live in the wilderness forever! Often, a word of instruction is the best thing you can give someone who’s living in the wilderness.

Generosity

The greatest opportunity Promised Land people have is the opportunity to be generous. God wants us to rid ourselves of irresponsibility so we can experience the prosperity of living according to His Word (Psalm 1:3). When we live responsibly, we experience harvest after harvest and end up with more than enough to share with those who are less fortunate. No matter how faithfully we follow God, there will always be people in need of a touch from Him (Deuteronomy 15:11). When God positions us to be generous, He gives us the chance to win people to Him by being a blessing.

This is why God wants us to become a body of believers who live responsibly—so we can live generously! If the Church continues to be a place where 20% of the people do 80% of the work, we’ll miss out on the explosive impact of what happens when we all learn to carry our own load and sow for a better future (Galatians 6:5). I believe the season ahead is one of Sonship and inheritance for the body of Christ. But let us not forget: “The willing and obedient shall inherit the good of the Land” (Isaiah 1:19).

Written by: Pastor Kyle Bailey