Series: Four People and One Person
Part 2 – The City of Assignment
by Jack W. Hayford
Text: Read Joshua 1
We, the people of the Lord, are set in our respective cities at
this time for God’s purpose. So many people are in
places they wish they weren’t. Certainly there are things
wrong with every city, but I think it’s honest for a believer
to say first, this is where God has me right now.
The place that we have is uniquely His ordination. Second, we must
recognize that all power is given to Him.
The words spoken by the Lord to Joshua in verses 2-9 outline the
call to a mindset that perceives the place God has given
you to possess. The place must be “taken” under
the power and the purpose of God.
Joshua’s first strides in fulfilling God’s purpose
for him was an assignment to take a city. When we talk about the
people of God “taking a city” we aren’t talking
about dominating civil government. We are grateful for whatever
righteous influence may come by the people of God who serve in public
office. But when speaking of taking a city in the name of the Lord,
we’re always at risk of being mistaken as being on a political
crusade to ensconce a religious value system for some doctrinal
dominance, as the Church attempted in the Middle Ages, and became
so corrupted.
By Jesus’ own designation, the Church was never assigned
to control the world’s governments and kingdoms. It
was assigned to advance the power of God’s eternal
kingdom in the hearts of people. Wherever the people of
God are, we are called to influence the betterment of all
people through charity and good works, but the Church, according
to Jesus’ words, is not called to an earthly kingdom.
The Church is called to embrace a spiritual mission,
not so much the taking of control, as it is the taking up
of people with the arms of the love of God.
To draw them into the life of His purpose, into what it means to
have more than a “religious” experience—to have
a relationship with the love of God. Joshua offers
us a model for this.
“Moses My servant is dead” (v. 2).
Joshua already knew Moses was dead, so what was God saying to him?
The Lord is telling Joshua that it’s a new time,
and he’s been chosen. We live at a time in
history when your life needs to be gauged with a unique sobriety.
However small your part may seem to be to you, in God’s purpose,
as the collective body of Christ, the potential of your
influence is profound, especially when you pray.
The way that we “take a city” into the arms of the love
of God, and into the truth of God, begins with a praying
people.
Joshua was told specifically that his actions were deterministic.
There’s an unfortunate fatalism that infects the minds of
believers who only know half of the Word of God. That half incorporates
the broad, powerful truth that God is Sovereign of the universe,
He is almighty. The balancing reality to that grand ultimate truth
is that it is under His ordination that He’s put the affairs
of Earth into our hands that we would partner with Him.
The Church is the agency by which He not only extends the Gospel,
but it is through people who will seek His face
that His kingdom would come and His will be done in Earth’s
circumstance as it is in heaven.
“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread,
I have given you” (v. 3). This is the blend of sovereign
power with human participation and partnership. “This
Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth”
(v. 8)—it is the promises, principles and power of God’s
Word that enable us.
“Be strong and of good courage for to this people,
you will divide an inheritance”
(v. 6). God’s desire is that we would accept the place where
He has put us in our respective cities. The assignment He’s
given us is in order that He might divide an inheritance among people
who will otherwise never realize it.
God is wanting to raise up a people who declare there is an awesome
possibility when we find His way in our lives, and
when we partner with His way for our lives.
Suggested resource: Possessing Your Tomorrows
(8-cassette
audio album) or
(4 VHS video tapes)
Next: Part 3 - The Grace of
Redemptive Entry
Copyright © 2003 Jack
W. Hayford, Jack Hayford Ministries, Van Nuys, CA 91405
|
Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233