TERRITORY TAKING

We are expected to take ground, we are expected to take territory.  Throughout scripture this is a given for us.

 

Jesus in his last words says in John 17:4

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

Jesus had a task to do and He had ground to take.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

We are the called and being the called we are expected to shine light in the dark places.  We are expected to take ground.  We need to look at going out and taking the ground for the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Territory taking is light penetrating darkness

We are here for a purpose if we choose to step into it and part of that purpose is taking Kingdom ground for the Lord.  We are expected to act.

James 2:22

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

If we don’t do something then we aren’t achieving, we are giving nothing to the Lord to work with.

There is a way to take territory.

It is not just a matter of going out there and just going for it as you will soon get shot down by the enemy very quickly.

Acts 17:26

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

We have a territory to take that He has prewritten for us at an appointed time.

If you jump into territory that is not yours to take or jump in outside the appointed time then you will have problems.

So often I see people get a word from the Lord or hear His voice tell them something about their future and then they just jump in.  I have done this and I know how bad the results can be. Understand His timing and He may be telling you this word as he is about to take you on a preparation journey so you can achieve it.

Deuteronomy 7:22

“And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

He is a very practical God and He loves you so he doesn’t want to put you where you haven’t been prepared or you aren’t ready to handle yet.

A prime example of someone getting outside their territory was Amaziah.

2 Kings 14

Amaziah did what was right in the sight of The Lord.

In this story he killed 10000 Edomites and he was in victory.  He was in his territory and calling he was given.

He was on a high as he had victory.

He then took on Jehoahaz and was given a warning from The Lord through Johoahaz but he still carried on.  He stepped out of his territory and was defeated and never got back in where he should have been in the Kingdom.  He didn’t listen and obey.

When I was reading this scripture the Lord talked to me and said it is extremely important that I stay in the territory of my calling and I don’t step out from this as I will be open to the enemy.  I am tasting a victory and this is a dangerous time now.  He will tell me when to step into the new territory he wants me in so I need to pray, listen and obey.

So notice here that Amaziah felt the need to take territory. This was a given but what he didn’t do was listen to the Lord.  You may feeling the same need now and just want to go and take ground. I encourage you to pray, seek the Lord’s wisdom and timing.  If this then feels right then go.

2 Samuel

When David allowed Absalom back into Jerusalem did he go to The Lord and ask about it? No.

This action came back to bite him through rebellion in the land.

2 Kings 19

When Hezekiah was facing the Assyrians he went to The Lord through Isaiah.

He got victory.

The difference in the two approaches is clear.  Territory was lost when the Lord wasn’t approached and it was won where he was approached.  Pretty simple.

 

Paul clearly has a message for us in the following verses.  Understand you have a sphere of influence you can impact.  Don’t step out of it, don’t step into someone else’s territory to take it.

2 Corinthians 10:13

We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us–a sphere which especially includes you.

14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labours, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

We are expected to take territory, but it is a given territory for us not just us going where we want to go and do what we want to do.  Paul is clearly warning us about staying in the Lords territory written for us to take.

BUT when you go to take territory understand it is a battle and you need to stay firm.  You can’t go in with doubt

Deuteronomy 7:17

“If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’–

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

You can’t doubt God you must press on and know that he can do anything.

Genesis 18:14

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

 

Joshua 23:3

…for The Lord your God is he who has fought for you.

Verse10

…for The Lord your God is He who fights for you as He promised you.

When you are aligned and doing what He wants you can rest in this position that he is doing the work.

But you must give Him something to work with.  He needs your actions to work with.  There is a balance here of you stepping out but knowing he does the work.

Hebrews 6:12

that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Let’s understand territory taking requires work.

It also requires endurance and preparation

Jerimiah 12:5

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,

Then how can you contend with horses?

And if in the land of peace,

In which you trusted, they wearied you,

Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?

I love this message.  When I am taking territory and it is a hard place I say where I am supposed to be? Am I running with the horseman or the footman here? Am I being prepared for bigger territory taking?

If I am a King in the land then I had better be prepared to be prepared and I had better know who my God is.

When you take territory you will have to be one with God, you will have to be focussed, you will have to be in faith, you will have to endure and you will have to be prepared.

2 Thessalonians 1:4

so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

Enduring is because we walk right and Gods righteous judgement gets us through the trials and tribulations.

He gets judgement for us as we have put ourselves in a righteous position, we have repented.

We need to walk right and as he has made us to walk. Give Him grounds to get this judgement for us. Walk well.

 

I believe our ability to take territory grows as our oneness with Christ occurs and we have been prepared by Him.

When we go home to heaven one of the things we will be measured on how we went on the territory taking versus what we were supposed to have done.

Seek Him now and ask Him what territory it is that He wants you to take.

Shine His lightness through you so that the darkness is taken back and the territory is the Lords. Whether it is just you taking your own personal ground back or taking a wider territory it all counts and no matter where you are you can be doing this.

You may be starting with a one meter territory space around you that you hold for now and then that will grow once you are comfortable with this ground.  Whatever it is it all counts for the Kingdom so don’t underestimate that the Lord wants to use you for territory taking.