Brother Stephen's ministry focuses on the book of Deuteronomy, emphasizing God's promise of a good land to the Israelites. He highlights the significance of the land, which is abundant in resources and blessings, contrasting it with Egypt's reliance on human effort for sustenance. The land is described as one that receives divine rain, symbolizing God's provision and care. Stephen explains that the book of Deuteronomy can be divided into three parts: a retrospective of God's guidance, a restatement and expansion of the law for a new generation, and a forward-looking perspective with warnings and blessings. He draws parallels between the promised land and Christ, asserting that Christ is our true inheritance. The message encourages believers to seek a deeper revelation of Christ, as He embodies all spiritual nourishment and strength. Stephen urges the congregation to recognize the fullness found in Christ, who is the source of all blessings, and to cultivate a relationship with Him to experience the abundance of life He offers.
Introduction to Deuteronomy and God's promise of a good land.
Contrast between the land of Egypt and the Promised Land.
Three parts of Deuteronomy:
Review of God's past guidance.
Restatement and expansion of the law.
Warnings and blessings for the future.
Christ as the true inheritance and promised land.
Importance of seeking a revelation of Christ.
Encouragement to experience the fullness of life in Christ.
10 For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: 11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: 12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. 13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.
7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;