Episode 17: Taking Territory
When we become lovers of Christ, there is an immediate mandate over our lives. We’re meant to take new territory for God’s kingdom—not stay stuck in the territory we’ve previously lived in—or redecorating and obsessing about our current territory. Territory is marked by who owns the title and who resides there and as followers of Jesus, we are called to take spiritual territory in our lives and in the lives of others.
In Mark 5, we watch Jesus intentionally take new territory. He moves his disciples from one side of the sea to another coast that is unchurched. He chooses to land in a remote area filled with grazing pigs. As he gets out of the boat a demon possessed man runs to Him and bows at His feet saying, “What do I have to do with you Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you by God, don’t torment me!”
Jesus calmly says to the man whose been roaming the tombs, cutting himself with stones, and terrorizing the hillside with his violent strength, “What’s your name?” The demons name themselves Legion for there were so many of them they couldn’t be named in a single word. They ask if they can be sent into the herd of pigs grazing nearby, rather than leave the territory. Jesus says yes…knowing they were about to plunge off a cliff.
Following this story of Jesus, we were able to extrapolate three key principles in territory taking:
1. Territory takers must acknowledge what’s going on in a region so they can impact it.
The demons were comfortable in a region because they were unchallenged. Unless we challenge the demonic forces in an area, we will never take new territory for Christ. Territory can be as simple as mindsets and habitual patterns and as big as forces of evil (or good) that settle over a region. We must take note of the territory God has placed us in, whether it’s our workplaces, our neighborhoods, or places we dream to impact. When we understand and acknowledge what’s actually going on, we can begin to prayerfully make a difference.
2. Territory Takers care about what God cares about.
The herdsman in the region ran to town after seeing what happened to their livestock. Soon, the entire city gathered to see Jesus. Instead of being thrilled to see the crazy man healed, they were upset about the loss of their pigs which meant the loss of their revenue. They begged Jesus to leave them instead of thanking Him and inviting Him to move within their city. When we care about personal gain more than hurting people, we thwart the progress of taking territory.
3. Territory takers start with the people around them.
The newly healed man begs Jesus to allow him to go with Him as He leaves this region, but Jesus tells him to go tell his friends what’s happened in his life. This man goes to Decapolis (in Greek means Ten Cities) and shares the good news. Everyone who heard his testimony marveled and rejoiced. Now, this man is taking Kingdom Territory rather than living unchallenged with demons and that’s what we’re called to do in our own lives.
So ask yourself: What new territory am I meant to take? Acknowledge what’s happening in your territory, really care about it because God cares about it, and start sharing the good news with the people around you. Now go take that territory!
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