A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Rev. Don Kimball, President of World Ministry Fellowship)
Scripture for the Day – August 14, 2019
The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. (Psalm 115:14)
Progress…lose ground…regain ground…progress…lose ground… regain ground… It’s a pattern that seems imprinted upon the very DNA of human history. We speak about it in our sayings, “Four steps forward and two steps back”. It’s employed in most novels, movies and shows, exampled by the common theme of boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back and they live happily ever after.
We are thrilled when we see this pattern played out in our sports arenas, as when a team has the lead, then loses the lead and then comes from behind to win the game. Even in the Bible we read of many examples and lessons reflecting this pattern, such as: Isaac recovering the wells that Abraham dug; Israel recovering the cities their enemies had taken; the return of the Israelites to their homeland and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Wall and the Temple; the exhortation to break up the fallow ground; Jesus being sent to the “lost sheep of Israel”; the return of the prodigal son; Jesus’ rebuke to the Ephesian church for having lost their first love. The applications are wide ranging, from personal to corporate, from spiritual to physical, financial, relational and political.
“Reclaiming the Land” is more than just a theme for a ministry convocation. I believe that we are entering into a season when God is emphasizing recovering and restoring what has been lost or lying dormant for those in His kingdom. God wants to restore things in the believer’s life and in our churches and in our society. Reclaiming the land is often
strategic to future advancement.
Yes, this is something to shout about, but also by such we are challenged to make significant behavioral adjustments – from being cavalier and cocky to being sober minded and humble; from being casual and nonchalant to being more attentive, appreciative and reverent; and from being childish and reckless to being mature and responsible.
In order to be in step with God in this season we need to adjust our thinking. First, recognize that the driving force behind this season is not the desperation of our pleading or the exuberance of our praise, but it is God’s jealousy for what is His (His will, His Name, His glory, His Kingdom…). Read Zechariah 1:12-17; 8:1-17.
Let’s work hard to follow Him instead of trying so hard to emotionally move Him. Secondly, sometimes we will need to work harder to reclaim the land than when we originally received it. Though the work be hard, His Spirit will motivate us to set our hands to the task and empower us not to stop until the work is completed. Thirdly, once ground has been regained we must be far more responsible with what God has entrusted to our care. We must be better stewards of His kingdom – not as slaves, but as heirs of the kingdom, which is a much higher calling that requires a closer walk with Him.
Let’s work with God to reclaim the land!
