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Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

Promised Land Symbolism

Posted in Experience, Explanations, Faith, Symbolism, tagged on June 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

[Y]e shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. – Joshua 1:11b

Israel’s entry into their “Promised Land” has long been seen as symbolic. The church has many hymns, like “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand“ equating the “Promised Land” with Heaven. But while Heaven is a promise, the “Promised Land” symbolizes something else.

In heaven our fighting will be over but in this life, as in Israel’s Promised Land, there are “giants” to defeat, crops to plant and harvest, successes and failures based on our obedience and partnership with Christ.

Taking over the promised land, driving out the sinful inhabitants, and occupying in faith is the same process of kicking out our old habits and sins, establishing Christ’s rule over our lives, and living for Jesus in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

See it that way as you read the biblical book of Joshua and it takes on a whole new relevance.

– fritz@langgang.com

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The Deciding Factor of Faith

Posted in Endurance, Faith, tagged on June 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The Message Bible captures what I believe is the deciding factor in whether a person endures in their faith

When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it. – 1st Corinthians 1:6 (Message)

– fritz@langgang.com

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How Abraham Became the Father of Faith

Posted in Abraham, Bible Characters, Explanations, Faith, tagged , on May 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The biblical story of Abraham’s sacrificing Isaac disturbs a lot of people. God finally gives him the promised child to make his descendants as numerous as the stars, then asks Abraham to sacrifice that child before he is old enough to have descendants.

Now, Abraham’s a rational guy! If Isaac dies before having children then God’s promise is toast! But scripture tells us about Abraham’s thought process on this.

Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son… Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. – Hebrews 11:17a,19a (MESSAGE)

Abraham’s obedience was more than an act of devotion, it was an act of faith – confident God would still follow through on his word even if it required Isaac to be raised from death.

So Abraham wasn’t lying to his servants when he told them on the way out that he AND Isaac would return from the sacrifice (Genesis 22:5) – he believed it and became the father of faith!

– fritz@langgang.com
Related Post: Swallowing Frogs – March 24, 2011

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