Reclaiming Territory for the Kingdom of God
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of taking back territory for the Kingdom of God, both spiritually and physically. As we approach the upcoming presidential election, it's crucial to be informed and vote with a heart aligned with Jesus' teachings. I encouraged everyone to utilize resources like biblicalvoter.com to make informed decisions that reflect our faith values.
We also discussed the importance of bringing Jesus back into our schools, a mission that has been on our hearts for years. Through the ministry of Collective Kindness, we've been able to provide for children in need, fostering relationships with local schools. This has opened doors for us to introduce a new initiative called Campus Life, which aims to bring the love of Christ into schools through volunteer efforts. This is a call to action for our community to step up, volunteer, and be a part of this transformative work.
The metaphor of dirt was central to our discussion, illustrating how God uses the seemingly insignificant to achieve His purposes. Just as dirt is essential for growth, we are called to plant seeds of faith in our communities, trusting God to nurture and grow them. This involves taking back territory from the enemy, who seeks to claim ground through deception and division. We must be bold and strategic, like King David reclaiming Jerusalem, to advance God's Kingdom.
Our mission extends beyond schools to our workplaces, families, and communities. We are called to plant seeds of faith everywhere, allowing God to work through us to bring about change. This is not just about physical territory but also about reclaiming hearts and minds for Christ. As we engage in this mission, we must ensure our own hearts are fertile ground for God's work, ready to receive and nurture the seeds He plants in us.
Finally, I invited those who feel called to participate in these efforts to step forward, whether through volunteering, prayer, or simply being open to God's leading. Together, we can make a significant impact, taking back territory for the Kingdom and bringing the light of Christ to those who need it most.
Key Takeaways:
- Informed Voting: As Christians, it's vital to vote with a heart aligned with Jesus' teachings. Utilize resources like biblicalvoter.com to make informed decisions that reflect our faith values. This is a way to take back territory for the Kingdom by influencing our nation's direction. [18:29]
- Bringing Jesus into Schools: The initiative to bring Jesus back into schools through ministries like Collective Kindness and Campus Life is crucial. By volunteering and supporting these efforts, we can plant seeds of faith in young hearts, impacting future generations. [30:53]
- The Significance of Dirt: God uses the seemingly insignificant, like dirt, to achieve His purposes. We are called to plant seeds of faith in our communities, trusting God to nurture and grow them. This involves reclaiming territory from the enemy. [39:30]
- Boldness and Strategy: Like King David reclaiming Jerusalem, we need boldness and strategy to advance God's Kingdom. This means being proactive in our communities, workplaces, and families, planting seeds of faith and trusting God to bring growth. [49:00]
- Personal Readiness: Before we can plant seeds in others, we must ensure our own hearts are fertile ground for God's work. This involves being open to His leading, seeking prayer and support, and being ready to receive and nurture the seeds He plants in us. [57:57]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [0:15] - Upcoming Election and Informed Voting
- [18:29] - Importance of Voting with Faith
- [19:45] - Introducing Collective Kindness
- [22:30] - Impact on Local Schools
- [30:53] - Campus Life Initiative
- [36:53] - Call to Volunteer
- [39:30] - The Significance of Dirt
- [43:00] - Planting Seeds of Faith
- [44:23] - Taking Back Territory
- [49:00] - Boldness and Strategy
- [49:55] - Engaging with Students
- [50:59] - The Power of Prayer
- [53:49] - Community Outreach Opportunities
- [56:24] - Personal Growth Through Service
- [57:57] - Ensuring Our Hearts Are Ready
- [01:02:55] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:1, 11
2. Genesis 2:7
3. Isaiah 64:8
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of dirt in God's creation according to Genesis 1:1 and 11? How does this relate to the sermon’s metaphor of planting seeds of faith? [39:30]
2. In Genesis 2:7, how does the creation of man from dust illustrate the idea that nothing is insignificant to God? How was this concept used in the sermon to encourage taking back territory for the Kingdom? [40:47]
3. How does the story of King David reclaiming Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 5:6-10 serve as an example of boldness and strategy in advancing God's Kingdom? [49:00]
4. What role does Isaiah 64:8 play in understanding how God molds us for His purposes? How was this applied in the sermon to the idea of planting seeds in our communities? [43:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of dirt and planting seeds challenge the way we view our role in God's Kingdom? What does it mean to plant seeds of faith in our communities? [39:30]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that reclaiming territory for God involves both spiritual and physical actions? How can this dual approach be applied in our daily lives? [45:20]
3. How does the sermon connect the idea of informed voting with taking back territory for the Kingdom? What implications does this have for Christians participating in civic duties? [18:29]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of personal readiness and ensuring our hearts are fertile ground for God's work? How can this readiness impact our ability to plant seeds in others? [57:57]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your voting habits. How can you ensure that your decisions align with Jesus' teachings and contribute to taking back territory for the Kingdom? [18:29]
2. Consider the schools in your community. What practical steps can you take to support initiatives like Campus Life that aim to bring Jesus into schools? [30:53]
3. Identify an area in your life where you feel called to plant seeds of faith. What specific actions can you take this week to begin this process? [43:00]
4. Think about a situation where you need to reclaim territory from the enemy. What strategies and bold actions can you implement to advance God's Kingdom in this area? [49:00]
5. Evaluate the condition of your heart. Are you ready to receive and nurture the seeds God plants in you? What steps can you take to ensure your heart is fertile ground for His work? [57:57]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of saying "away with you, Satan" into your daily life to resist the enemy's attempts to claim territory in your heart and mind? [47:09]
7. Consider your involvement in community outreach. How can you actively participate in initiatives that aim to take back territory for the Kingdom, such as volunteering or supporting local ministries? [53:49]
Devotional
Day 1: Voting with a Heart Aligned to Jesus
Informed voting is a powerful way to influence the direction of a nation, especially when done with a heart aligned to Jesus' teachings. As Christians, it is crucial to engage in the political process with discernment and wisdom, ensuring that our choices reflect our faith values. By utilizing resources like biblicalvoter.com, believers can make informed decisions that honor God and advance His Kingdom. This is not just about casting a vote but about taking back territory for the Kingdom by influencing the nation's direction. As the upcoming presidential election approaches, let us be prayerful and intentional in our voting, seeking to align our hearts with the teachings of Christ. [18:29]
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that your voting decisions are aligned with Jesus' teachings and reflect your faith values in the upcoming election?
Day 2: Bringing Jesus into Schools
The initiative to bring Jesus back into schools is a mission that has been on the hearts of many for years. Through ministries like Collective Kindness and Campus Life, believers have the opportunity to plant seeds of faith in young hearts, impacting future generations. By volunteering and supporting these efforts, we can foster relationships with local schools and introduce the love of Christ to students. This is a call to action for the community to step up and be a part of this transformative work, bringing the light of Christ into educational environments. [30:53]
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to support initiatives that bring the love of Christ into schools in your community?
Day 3: The Significance of Dirt
God often uses the seemingly insignificant, like dirt, to achieve His purposes. Just as dirt is essential for growth, believers are called to plant seeds of faith in their communities, trusting God to nurture and grow them. This involves reclaiming territory from the enemy, who seeks to claim ground through deception and division. By being bold and strategic, like King David reclaiming Jerusalem, we can advance God's Kingdom and see His purposes fulfilled in our lives and communities. [39:30]
"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel insignificant, and how can you trust God to use you for His purposes?
Day 4: Boldness and Strategy
Advancing God's Kingdom requires boldness and strategy, much like King David reclaiming Jerusalem. Believers are called to be proactive in their communities, workplaces, and families, planting seeds of faith and trusting God to bring growth. This involves being intentional and strategic in our efforts, seeking to reclaim territory for the Kingdom and bring about change. As we engage in this mission, let us be bold and courageous, knowing that God is with us and will guide us in our efforts. [49:00]
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to be bold and strategic in advancing God's Kingdom in your community?
Day 5: Personal Readiness
Before we can plant seeds in others, we must ensure our own hearts are fertile ground for God's work. This involves being open to His leading, seeking prayer and support, and being ready to receive and nurture the seeds He plants in us. As we engage in the mission of reclaiming territory for the Kingdom, let us first examine our own hearts and ensure they are ready to receive and nurture the work God wants to do in and through us. [57:57]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: How can you prepare your heart to be fertile ground for God's work, and what steps can you take to nurture the seeds He plants in you?
Quotes
1) "There's something that the church in general I feel has been praying for for years and that is to get Jesus back in the schools amen I mean it's an open prayer we've heard about it we we see statistics that show such a change in schools when they took the Lord out of it and all that stuff and so we've been praying for an opportunity of what can we do we need to be able to get Jesus back in the schools and we need to have an awesome ministry here called collective kindness if you haven't heard of it melissa land it came from her heart and it's a ministry underneath our church and it's really opened some doors up to the schools in our area." [21:00] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "And so God can take something as insignificant as you might think is dirt or mud on your shoe and do incredible things with it. Amen. And the word tells us in Genesis 1 .1 that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He separated the water and the land. Amen. And he created dirt. Dirt on this earth so that he could grow everything we need. So that we could eat and live. and survive. Amen. I mean, it's a purpose. It's a process. And he tells us that in this next verse on verse 11, then God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herbs that yield seed and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself on the earth. And it was so." [39:30] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "And so you need to be deciding right now if you want to participate in this, if you have the time, if you can give the time to it. But make sure you talk to them before you leave. Give them some information so they can contact you. And all that good stuff. But I want to get into a message. And this message this morning is just to stir your heart on a little bit of what we're talking about right now. And that's taking back territory. Amen. We're going to take back some territory. So what is important to God? What are some things that are important to God? Now, I know that you know you are important to God because we read in the word last week that you are his prized possession, right?" [36:53] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "And when we plant that seed, God will start to mold those things, those other people that start growing. something out of them as well. God will start to shape and mold that. But I want to remind you something that the word says, there's some seed. Now listen to me, there's some seed that you'll scatter out there and it won't even take root. Some of it you'll scatter, it will burn up. And some of it you scatter and it will be choked out. But the truth is, it's not about if you should plant the seed or not. You shouldn't be worried about the condition of the soil. You're called to plant seed. Give the seed and let God do the work of what needs to happen next. Amen." [43:00] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "And that's what we're talking about today. That's what this whole message is about. Is are we willing to go out and take back the territory that the enemy is trying to take from us? And now I want you to understand something, the enemy, all of his cares about is taking territory. He wants to gain ground. He wants to manipulate everything and take it over by lying to it and treating it differently. So it thinks that it's about that thing and not anything else. That's his vision. He's going to take it over and take it back. And that's what we're talking about. is to do that, is to continue to take territory." [45:20] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "But he went to take that territory because of the promise of God. And that that belonged to the Lord already. Amen? Just like these students belong to the Lord. And we have an opportunity to take back territory. And there's two things we need. We need strategy. And we need boldness. Now today, church, we've been presented strategy. We have a way. To go. To go to the schools. And to start speaking into these students' life. So the second part is boldness. Are you bold enough to volunteer? Can you come and just cook pancakes? Can you come and be there on a regular basis to sit in one of those groups. And listen to those students. Ask you those questions that they feel like that they have nobody. They can talk to you about." [49:55] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "And we need to vote because we need to take back our country because it's about Jesus Christ and celebrating who Jesus Christ is. Amen? We need to go after our communities in this area and start planting seed in these areas. I have an event coming up. It just kind of came out of left field on Saturday, November 2nd. Okay, so listen up. If you want to volunteer, I want to give you an opportunity to volunteer. This pet clinic contacted me and said, Hey, we want to do free shots and spay and neuter for pets in the trailer parks right here behind us. And we need a place to set up. Can we set up at your place? I'm like, yeah, absolutely. Come and check it out. They're going to use the storage over there. But I always see that as an opportunity to share Jesus." [53:49] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "And so, if you're not able to serve, make sure you're praying for this invasion of the Holy Spirit into the schools. Amen? And celebrate who he is. These doors have been opened to us. Let's take advantage of it. Let's be a church that's getting into the community and sharing the gospel. Let's be a church that's getting into the community and sharing the gospel. Let's be a church that's getting into the community and sharing Jesus. Pastor B will be up front to share a little bit more about that if you want to get involved. I mean, I just hope he's here until like 1 .30, signing everybody up. I really hope that happens. But Pastor Seth is going to be spearheading this. He's been meeting with him, and they're going to be working together on this." [56:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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