Deuteronomy 1:1,6-8 "These are the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River. 6 “When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. 8 Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’”
I’d like to summarize Moses’ first challenge with these 3 words: Take the land!
This idea of the people of God expanding the influence and representation of God into the world is a part of the story-line of the entire Bible:
• Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it."
• Genesis 12:2-3 "I will make you into a great nation. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
• Isaiah 49:6 “You will do more than restore the people of Israel…you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
But this idea of taking the land in the name of God is heard most clearly in the words of Jesus:
• Matthew 28:19 "As you go make disciples of all the nations."
• Acts 1:8 "You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He gave us great power and authority to make this happen:
Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
To take the land means to:
• Change everything in the name of Jesus.
• Launch a revolution.
• Bring all things under the rule of God.
There was a moment in our history, early on, where this church rose to the occasion and decided to take the land…the CoMission.
I believe that spirit is still in us. So…
Who of you will go and lead people to Christ, and welcome a lonely person into your life, or come along side someone in pain, or take a stand against racism, or work to heal this physical creation, or give your life to fighting injustice?
Download the full sermon notes here: https://gracechurch.us/media/the-next-chapter-occupy-the-land
Subscribe to the latest sermons: https://www.youtube.com/gracechurchin?sub_confirmation=1
To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: http://gracechurch.us/giving/
'You Were Made for More' because God created you ON purpose FOR a purpose. This is the vision of Grace Church, led by Pastor Barry Rodriguez and based in Indianapolis, IN.
————————————
STAY CONNECTED
Website: http://gracechurch.us
Grace Church Facebook: https://facebook.com/GraceChurchIN
Grace Church Instagram: https://instagram.com/GraceChurchIN
Grace Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceChurchIN
