“Now David said on that day, ‘Whoever climbs by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain” (2 Samuel 5:8).
Two leaders who pushed boundaries and took territories in the Bible were David and Joshua. Today, we shall examine the boundaries David broke and the territory he took, and later, on Sunday, consider Joshua. We must ask for the anointing and wisdom to push boundaries and take territories the way these two men did.
In 2 Samuel 5:4-13, we find one Bible account that captures our theme. After securing his reign over all Israel, David moved his capital from Hebron, a southern city of Judah to Jerusalem. At that time, Jerusalem which was called the Stronghold of Zion, was held by the Jebusites. It seemed so impenetrable, that the Jebusites boasted that the blind and the lame would repel any attack from David. But, David sent men through a water shaft to capture the stronghold, and thereafter, he renamed it the city of David. Just as David dangled a carrot stick before his volunteers on who would go and defeat the Jebusites, Christ has challenged us to reach out to the nations with the gospel.
Some boundaries are set by God; while some are set by the enemy to limit or slow down our progress. God’s boundaries stretch our potential to where he wants us to reach in life or to extend his kingdom; while Satan’s boundaries limits our advancement. God said to Abraham, “For all the land that you see I give to you and your descendants forever” (Genesis 13:15). And to Joshua he said, “For every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you” (Joshua 1:3). God expands our territories; while Satan limits out territories.
Boundaries are defense systems or territorial limitations, which hinder our movement and advancements. Between you and the territories God has earmarked for you to possess are obstacles which you must overcome. The territories may be in the field of business, politics and governance, entertainment, sports, family, education, agriculture, etc. To take back a territory for Christ, you must be ready to fight. Never settle for anything less than what God has for you. Take back the territories God has ordained for you to possess.
There are different kinds of boundaries and they exist in every areas of life. These include the following:
- Invisible boundaries and barriers (Numbers 22:22-38).
- Territorial boundaries and barriers (2 Samuel 5:6-10; Deuteronomy 7:17-26).
- Spiritual boundaries and barriers. An example of this is found in Daniel 6:7-8.
- Financial or economic boundaries and barriers. Some people never progress beyond a certain financial or economic level no matter how they try. It seems the devil has consigned them to poverty and penury.
- Family boundaries and barriers. Satan has placed boundaries on some families limiting their progress and growth.
- Mental boundaries and barriers (Psalm 53:5; Proverbs 22:13). Some have a mindset that limits them from progressing in life.
In all of these, our task is to break and push beyond these boundaries. At the cross, Jesus destroyed all the boundaries, limitations and hand writings that were set against us (Colossians 2:14:16). Notice the strategy David used to break the boundaries of the Jebusites. We all need wisdom and the appropriate strategy to break boundaries and take territories.
CONTENTION OVER SPIRITUAL SPACE
The nation of Israel and her neighbors were always in contention over territorial boundaries. One of such occasions is found in Judges 11, when the Ammonites arose and threatened to take over the land of the Gileadites. The elders in Gilead had to invite Jephthah to defend their boundaries from being taken over by the Ammonites. In defending their territorial boundary, Jephthah had this to say to the Ammonites, “Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your God gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God takes possession of before us, we will possess” (Judges 11:24). In a similar manner, we are constantly in contention with the enemy over spiritual space or territories. Psalm 115:16, in the Message Bible reads, “The heaven of heavens is for God, but he has put us in charge of the earth.” God has put us in charge of the earth and the nations. We must ask God for the anointing to possess what belongs to us.
OPERATION REAP PROJECT
We must take back the boundaries of the nations God has given to us as a ministry. We are presently on a 5-year evangelistic campaign titled, Operation REAP. The goal of this campaign is to double our church membership every year for the next five years. To be successful in this project, we must have a paradigm shift to believe that our goals are attainable. We must believe that each one of us can win one soul each year for the next 5 years. We can possess every nation God wants us to possess as we spread the gospel. We must be ready to push boundaries and take territories.
THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS OF THE SOCIETY
God wants us to break through the barriers or boundaries of the Seven Mountains of our society. In Jeremiah 51:20-23, God used Babylon like a battle-axe against nations and the society. Similarly, God wants to use us to take over the nations and the Seven Mountains of the society.
We can take over territorial boundaries of nations (See Judges 11:23, 24)
We can over run spiritual boundaries the devil has stolen from us.
We can deal with the financial boundaries Satan has defined for us (Proverbs 6:4, 5).
We can deal with the family limits Satan has defined for us (Psalm 118:5-7; Nehemiah 4:13-14)
We can overcome mental barriers that limit our progress (Proverbs 23:7; Numbers 13:30, 31).
God’s anointing, which we already have releases grace for us to break forth and push boundaries in every area of life where we face limitations. Let us seek to possess the boundaries of nations for Christ. Let us arise and P. U. S. H into our destiny – Pray Until Something Happens.
