A Season To Grow - Claim The Land

Renewed Focus -

Where are we going? What land to we want? What are we willing to do to claim the Land?

Today as I was thinking about this church. I was sent a message that was so timely. Over the last several weeks I have struggled with wanting to give up. I have struggled with feeling not good enough. I have struggled with feeling like I can’t accomplish what God sent me here to accomplish. Was It my fault, was it other’s fault. To be honest none of that matters. What matters is that we have a RENEWED FOCUS and claim the land. When we came here I truly felt like I was sent here to not only grow this church but to see a gym and new sanctuary built. I have seen the both in the spirit. I have had confirmation of them and what they look like by others. It was then that I knew they would be built. The question to me wasn’t if I could do it. My question was would the church pull together and work as one to see it accomplished. Here is what I have seen in a vision about this church.

The gym would be connected by a short tunnel. It would be large enough for to regular sized courts going both directions. It would have a stage on one end and a large kitchen attached to a fellowship hall. We were pushing towards that when it seemed that things began to change and not for the better. I saw the kitchen able to put out big meals. I saw the fellowship hall that would overflow into the gym area to be able to feed 750 people at one time. I saw classrooms and this gym would be to where a school would one day host basketball and volleyball games with a scoreboard. The attached playground would be welcoming for all age children and a place where Moms and Dads could bring their children to play safely and without fear. The building would have solar panels on the top. It would be to ease the burden of utility costs. Again, connected to the current main building.

Next was the new Sanctuary building. It is to host 2-3K people. It has a glass foyer to connect the new and old buildings. The glass structure will be open and welcoming at all hours. The sun would shine in the day and the stars at night. There would be classrooms/Meeting rooms in the back of the building. The second floor would be a missions minded reaching the world type of center. Creating/Publishing and sending out video, literature and music to send around the world. I have seen the brick, I have seen the offices. Once this building is complete the current building will be for School/Daycare. Again, this vision was very detailed. The battle has been very intense. A year and six months into being here there was a change in a key person. I don’t know what caused the change but it happened. There have been times I have seen these visions repeated. Again the question is not will I, but will you?

Now, Let me take you to a message that I shared and a series of them will be coming to hopefully encourage you to be and Aaron or a Caleb.

“If your Church’s Dreams aren’t bigger than your Church’s Memories, then you are a dying Church.” Alton Garrison “A Spirit Empowered Church”

I have been really questioning God about these dreams and visions. I don’t want this church to die but to grow and thrive. Moses was in somewhat the same spot as I feel I am some times. Asking God When? How? Who WIth?

Numbers 13:1–2 NKJV

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”

The Heads of all of the tribes of Israel were there to make sure they represented their Family. We will scope out the land. We will claim our land with no problem.

Numbers 13:17–20 NKJV

Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

Check out the Land, Bring us back the fruit. Bring back all that you see. I am here to tell you that ask I walked alongside the float in that parade last Saturday I saw a lot of people who needed Jesus. People who needed a place to worship, a place to be welcomed, a place without drama and strife, but a place of encouragement, hope and strength.

Numbers 13:21–25 NKJV

So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there. And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.

Just one cluster of grapes they had to carry between two of them… They were gone 40 days… Have you ever noticed that God uses 40 days a lot. Rained 40 days, Moses fasted 40 days, now they are spying out the land 40 days. I would have thought that bringing back such a large cluster of Grapes would seal the deal. People would be wanting to get in and Co-Labor with Moses to take the land. No Spectators, No Helpers if you need me, Nobody holding back… I would have been chomping at the bit to get after those grapes. Let me share with you this morning...

There is a lot of low hanging fruit in the Kingdom of God right here in Dayton that is waiting for us to harvest.

It is MY JOB to Equip the Saints.

It is MY JOB to Preach to, Teach to and Train the Saints.

It is Your Job to Co-Labor with Me to Reach the People.

Be Of Good Courage - Spy Out The Land - Bring Back Fruit

Numbers 13:26–29 NKJV

Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

The Land, The Land, It is amazing! It is everything. It is flowing with Milk and Honey… BUT… The City is growing, there are people to reach, there are people to reach.... BUT...

Numbers 13:30 NKJV

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Thank God for Calebs.... Men who see God’s vision and are willing to Co-Labor, who are willing to take ownership, who are willing to plough through to see God move. The name Caleb means impetuous one. One who is always ready to take the land.

Let me tell a story of a church in Little Rock. They had a first time pastor. He had been an evangelist for 18 years, but this was his first assignment as pastor. He still traveled a little finishing up engagements he had already booked and the Vice Chairman of the Board was getting upset with him. So, during one meeting he spoke to the pastor. He said, I don’t like that you are making so much money off of your book and tape sales. We want you to just pastor. The Pastor asked him to unpack that a little more. The Vice Chairman went on to say how he was agitated that the pastor was making so much money outside of the church, then he went on to say “We brought you in here to Preach and we will run the Church.” When he was done the Vice Chairman asked that the other board members have their say. The Pastor said “Me First”… He said first of all you have the running of the Church all wrong. He Said “I’m the head of the church and you are called to Co-Labor with me.” “You aren’t called to run the church, that is my Job” said the pastor. He went further to state, “You aren’t here to help me, but to Co-Labor with me.” We are all called to be Co-Labors in this kingdom. Some are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. In the mix there are laborers, grounds people, helpers, cooks, cleaners, givers. Whatever it is, we are all called to be workers. If you come here you need to be working in some way or another. Check this out..

1 Peter 2:9–10 NKJV

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Listen to the difference between Co-Laborers and Helper. Co-Laborers take ownership and responsibility. Helpers are like a misfiring engine they work good some times.

Caleb and Joshua were Co-Laborers. They saw the promise and said… Let’s take the land. The rest of the people were helpers, they only wanted to show up when they wanted, they only wanted to do what they had to and most times they didn’t put their heart into. There is a warning if we don’t do what we are supposed to be.

Numbers 14:26-38 “And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. According to the number of the days …”

Are you willing to be a Co-Laborer?

Are you just wanting to be a helper?

Do You want the FULL Blessing?

Do You just want to skim into heaven?

I hear things like… I don’t want to be part of a Mega-Church… Big crowds freak me out… I’m not sure I would fit… What do you think Heaven will be like?

Are you part of the 10 or the 2?