Boots on the Ground - Part I
8/24/08
Luke 10:1-ff
Introduction:
- In four more weeks we will step into a very interesting conference situation. This will be our sixth In the Mantle Conference. This one is unique in that it is being billed as a Regional Conference, Lead by Regional Speakers for Regional impact. That is what makes it unique. We are not pulling on big name speakers for big crowds. We are pulling on regional speakers who know our territory, calling, and purpose as a church and will challenge the local church to enter into that purpose.
- "Boots on the ground" is an all-purpose term used to describe ground forces actually fighting in a war or conflict at the time of speaking, rather than troops not engaged or being transported to the fighting.
- The uniqueness of this title is our heavenly Father urging us to take responsibility for our region and to get out of the seats of safety and engage the enemy.
- It may sound today as if I oppose big conferences—I do not. Big conferences bring in people from all over the place to be equipped to do the work of the ministry. Big conferences do not affect a region unless the people of region are impacted by the conference to get involved in Kingdom work.
- We have held five successful and big conferences in this region. God has prophetically spoken many things over us but unless we remember them and fight for them in the place of prayer with faith and action it will most likely never come about.
- Today I want to preach into targeting and taking a region for Jesus Christ.
- Read. Luke 10:1-ff.
1 What is a region?
A Webster 1828 Dictionary. Notice the scripture he uses with his definitions. You will not find dictionaries today that include scriptures with the definition or that use scripture to illustrate the definition.
i A tract of land or space of indefinite extent, usually a tract of considerable extent. It is sometimes nearly synonymous with country; as all the region of Argob. Deut. 3. He had dominion over all the region on this side the river. 1Kings 4.
ii The inhabitants of a region or district of country. Matt. 3.
B Regions—are defined by territory and/or inhabitants
i States have regions—south, north, west, east, central, city regions
ii Counties—n,s,e,w, central Brevard
iii Ctities have regions—North Melbourne, South Melbourne, EauGallie, University and Lipscomb.
C Significance of Regions
i No one knows a region like the people who live there.
1 A region may be known of by those outside of it but can never be known as well as those inside of it.
2 Ie. Great Hunters—the famous ones hunt all over the different regions of the USA and abroad. But, they always hire a guide (someone who is familiar with the region) when they go into those regions to hunt. Why? Because they are not familiar with it.
3 No one knows our region like we do.
(a) Yes, you can go to sleep in your region and accept things as, “that is just the way it is” but not us. We have been given to much insight, and understanding into our land by the Spirit of God and by the historical research we have done.
(b) We are familiar with the daily activities of our region. We know where strongholds are and what they are. We know where sin hides in our county. We know where prosperity resides. We know our county!
ii Regional thinking puts the responsibility for the region back on the people who live there.
1 Pastors if they are not careful lose sight of the region and just end up focused on their people.
2 Ie. Another hunting illustration. When I was a boy, pheasants were plentiful in east central Il. But I saw the time when hunters would come and surround a field and literally kill every bird in an area in a week’s time. We would never have done that because we were responsible with the land we were given. We respected it enough that we would not kill all the game. We assumed responsibility for the land.
3 In the Movie “Braveheart” you will remember the crazy Irishman, He said of Ireland, “It’s my Island!”
(a) We have to think that way! It my county! It’s my city! The responsibility for a region must rest up on the church. We have to carry that weight! That leads to number 3…
iii No one will carry the responsibility for a region like the people who live there. Luke 4:37 The surrounding region is your sphere of influence. News of Jesus spread to the all the surrounding regions.
1 To Jesus regions meant people
(a) Mt 19:1 Region of Judea beyond the Jordan
(b) Mt 16:13 Region of Caesarea Philippi
(c) Mk 1:28 All the region around Galilee.
2 In Nehemiah, Nehemiah stationed the people along the wall according to family. Why? Because he knew they would work hardest to finish their region of the wall for safety sake and that they would fight hardest when their region of the wall was under attack. No one carries the responsibility of a region like those who live their.
iv Regions define us Lk 4:26 Elijah was not sent to Hebrew widows but to a widow in the region of Sidon.
2 Why do a Regional Conference?
A To bring the church of the region together.
i It is not about Freedom Christian Center—It is about us being servants and doing our part to allow God to do His part in this region.
ii We are called to be a conference center. It has been prophesied. That means we have to look beyond ourselves and realize our service to this area is to become that.
B To remind the church of what we have heard.
i Bob Jones said it best, “This region doesn’t need another prophetic word until it walks in the ones it has been given.” Boots on the ground is about walking in the words that have been spoken over us as a church in this region.
C To renew a commitment to the region.
i IE. It is my county! Each one must come to this conclusion.
ii When Dutch Sheets stood on this platform last year and brought the pastors forward and re-commissioned us to pick up the word that Cindy Jacobs gave us in 97, it was to renew our commitment to Christ who commissioned us and told us what he wants to do here.
3 What Makes this Conference Different?
A We will hear from regional speakers.
i Ken Malone—Apostle Ken is from Orlando. He has spent the last few years of his life pasturing and crisscrossing the state of Florida, stirring prayer, envisioning the church, releasing the decrees of God. He knows our area. He has ministered here, prayed here, and he and I have spent many hours praying over our state, driving back and forth across this state praying.
ii Roger Hackenberg, pastor of Hope Community Church in Titusville. A powerful man of God in the place of prayer. Zeal for the Lord regarding our county especially the region of the north Brevard. He has pastured in Melbourne. He was part of renewal in 1995. He and I have prayed for years together while he was in Melbourne and two years each Thursday while in Titusville.
iii Stuart Greaves-is on staff at IHOP. He answered his call to ministry here. He is from this area—Church on the Rock. He was part of a crazy group of men who for a year got up at 4 a.m. every morning to pray. We called ourselves “Real Men Pray”. Who would have dreamed that when we were doing that God would be preparing him to lead the night watch at IHOP!
iv Tim Franklin--
B We will go to regional sites—together as a church of Brevard. Many camps—one voice!
i Prophetic declarations or decrees will be made.
ii Dream teams will go out.
iii People will be witnessed to.
iv We will be going to our region for the purpose of making an impact.
v We will pray for the sick where we find them
C This conference will be about picking up the words we have been given and going out to activate them.
D It will be about cooperating with one another/other churches to combine our efforts to see the Kingdom come.
i This will not happen in two days but it will give us taste of what can be
ii It will open our hearts to one another the region is bigger than just area we live in or attend church in.
4 What is the Regional Message?
A Jesus is coming! Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. NKJV
i Jesus sent the 70 to the cities and regions where he himself planned to go.
ii What if, on September 26, and 27 we went out from the conference each afternoon with the mindset that Jesus was sending us out ahead of him because He intended to show up there.
iii There would be zeal in our hearts, faith beyond measure, and passion to touch as many people as possible.
iv That is the message—Jesus is coming! The Kingdom of God has come near to you.
B From Scripture:
i Peace—Luke 10:5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ NKJV
a We are not going out to condemn. If that is your style, you stay home on the 26, 27 of September.
b People are already tormented by busy lives, stressful lives, complicated relationships etc. They are looking for peace—Not as the world gives, Jesus said, but as I give.
c People are looking to be affirmed, encouraged, and blessed. If there is one people on the face of the earth who should be able to do that it is the church right here in Brevard county. Our region! It is my region!
ii Heal the sick vs. 9
a Remove the limitations that the enemy has put upon people.
b In Redding Ca, Bill Johnsons church, people go out regularly and find sick people to pray for. The testimonies are amazing of the number of people who are healed! Not in the church but on the street, in the malls, and in restaurants.
c This has opened many hearts to the Gospel!
d I believe that when God called us to Florida it was to see a move of God in this region! A move so big that each church would be required to move in it in order to contain/facilitate it.
iii Preach the Kingdom is near.
a It is about the Kingdom. Not about the church. It is about His Kingdom advancing, His Kingdom expanding, His Kingdom influencing our region.
Conclusion:
- Give an invitation to the lost to join us.
- Commission people to their region by anointing with oil.
- Encourage the people to sign up. $30/person until August 31. After that it is forty person.
- When the budget is covered all offerings will go to the poor.
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