Taking Unclaimed Territories

The Bible is full of promises that God Himself has given and guaranteed. We know that what He says is the absolute truth and He is more than capable to do even far greater than we can imagine. His ineffable word confirms it all. But wonder of wonders is that very few lay claims to the promises that He has given. Few chase these promises whose eternal consequences are far reaching. One of such promises is Psalms 2:8 “Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possessions” (AMP)

Put in the context of missions, the nations refer to the unreached. Those countries and people groups that have little or no access to the saving gospel. And God is confirming what Jesus taught in Luke 11:9-10 “ask and it will be given to you…” That when we ask He will indeed give to us. He encourages us to ask and indeed we will have what we ask. But how many ask for nations? How many pray and fast for souls? How many intensively plead with God on behalf of the lost, the unreached? These are personal questions which each believer should answer. Praying is the least a disciple should do. It is by praying that we stake a claim to the nations. We make our intentions to take over a given territory known. 

It is not true that God gives conquered territories, that all we need to do is ask. Asking is good but not enough. If all we did was asking for nations in prayer and didn’t go out to collect the inheritance of nations, then the enemy will continue to occupy territories which are rightfully ours. A good case is that of the Israelites, God promised them a territory flowing with milk and honey. This promise was sure it could not fail whatsoever. All the Israelites needed to do was just go get what God had promised them. But it was not handed over to them on a silver platter. They had to fight many battles as recorded in the book of Exodus and the book of Joshua.

Kingdoms and nations advance by conquest. The Bible has many records of wars and battles that kingdoms engaged in their quest to expand their territories. One of the reasons the Israelites asked for a king was because they needed someone to lead them in battle. The nations which are our inheritance will not be collected without conquest. This is the reason we have missionaries at the frontlines of missions engaging the strongholds that have enslaved the people of God. They deploy weapons of warfare with an aim to see every knee bow to Jesus. They expand the kingdom territory by making disciples among the unreached. It is good that I emphasize that this is not physical warfare. It does not mean slaughtering those who are not followers of Jesus. It is working towards walking with them on a journey of discipleship, to help them see the Truth and escape a Christ-less eternity.

God is ready is to give us nations, His desire is to do so. The desire to see “the knowledge of His glory filling the earth as the waters covers the sea” remains a promise He is willing to see come to pass. He will give nations to those who are willing to get out there and contend for souls. Those who will dare to dream big. Those who will step out of the normal and take possession.

A Joshua generation must arise. A generation that is set in their hearts to see every land and nation God has promised under the control of the Almighty. A generation of fighters who will drive out the giants. Theirs will be the Kingdom, they will surely inherit it. I stand to be counted among those who will engage God till His promises of giving us nations comes to pass. Why should it be that what our God has given remains uncollected yet I’m here? Jesus paid for the salvation of nations but He is yet to receive it. By His grace I will do my part.

****Peter Kale (not his real name) is a missionary serving among an unreached people group in Northeastern Kenya