Through the year 2025, I believe the Lord has called us to occupy the territory He has given us. Has He given you new responsibilities this year? Has He increased your influence and reach? Has your ministry grown in the natural or have you been elevated to new positions? Do you feel an increase in His Presence in your life and a new power in your intercession? These are all signs of His leading the way and bringing you into new territory. So what does He call us to do, when He takes us into new territory? (Based on Exodus 34:10-14 and Joshua 1)

1. Be strong and courageous! Why? According to Joshua 1:7 so that you can keep God’s ways and follow Him. Then according to His word, you will prosper. We need His strength and courage to follow in His ways. He asks us to meditate on His word, so we know what we should do. Take time to read scripture. Pray asking the Holy Spirit to fill you with His strength and courage daily, so that you can spend time in His words and keep the ways of the Lord!

2. Remember to give first fruits! This is an act of trust. When we give the first of what He has given us back to Him, we declare we are trusting You for the rest! This is why in Joshua, He asked for all the spoils of the first city they took. It released the way for a full measure of the rest of their inheritance! Another topic for another day, that we will dive into deeper. Just know, there is a principle of first fruits and inheritance at play here. Trust and give.

3. Watch yourself! This is a word of caution to take heed from Exodus 34:12! New territories mean new giants, new temptations, new idols. He is doing the awesome work, we are called to be sober and vigilant. Remember the basics of walking with Him. Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land – it’s a trap! What does that look like practically? It comes down to whom you believe set you up for that increase or promotion. Was it God or man? If you believe it was man, the fear of man will set a trap for you. In order to keep what you think you earned, compromise is inevitable. Think of how Solomon who was gifted with Wisdom, wealth and power married many foreign wives in order to solidify his kingdom in the natural instead of trusting God to do what He said He would do. How do you avoid this trap? Trust God instead of man and follow Him. Be content as Paul was, in plenty and in lack. Be content within the boundaries of what He has given you and He will give you rest.

4. Deal with Idolatry!! How do you do that?
i.) Destroy their altars and break their sacred pillars, or I like to colloquially say, it’s time to shoot some holy cows. Pray for the Spirit of Discernment, so that He can show you where there are altar to other gods built in the land He is giving you. And they will be there, so expect them. Altars built to other gods defile the land and have to be removed so that He can restore the land and give you rest within its borders. Be fierce in your pursuit of restoring the land. This is why He brought you to it and trusted you with it.

ii.) God’s Name is Jealous – “In My name Occupy” ! As Christians we are called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. We are called to have no other gods before Him. He loves you intensely and passionately. Having other gods would be like inviting a third lover into your marriage bed. Take inventory across the landscape of your own heart and ask Him to show you if you have built any other altars before any other idols. These will surface in areas where you do not trust Him. And in His mercy as He shows you, eject them and repent. Trust Him.

To read the word to Occupy the land in Gods name click here

Exodus 34:12-14
Watch yourself, and make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, or they will become a snare among you. Instead you must break down their altars, smash their pillars and cut down their Asherah poles. For you are to bow down to no other god, because Adonai is jealous for His Name – He is a jealous God.

To download a PDF lesson handout click here: