Taking new territories and expanding the frontiers of God’s kingdom has always been God’s heartbeat. Adam and Eve were commanded to fill the earth: taking the earth for God. The Bible says, “Then God blessed them and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…” (Genesis 1:28). In our dispensation, God is all the more committed to territory taking: taking the nations for Him. The Lord said to His disciples and He is also saying to us today, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). The Lord did not say make disciples of one or some nations. He said all nations. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was to empower the disciples to be witnesses for Christ to the ends of the earth starting from Jerusalem: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This outpouring of the Holy Spirit and mandate to be witnesses for Christ from our localities (Jerusalem) to the ends of the earth was not just for the early disciples but for all whom the Lord will call as revealed in the Book of Acts, “Then Peter said to them, repent, and let everyone be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). Thus the gift of the Holy Spirit and the accompanying mission to reach the whole world was for all generations. It was not only for all generations it was also for all flesh; sons, daughters, young men, old men, menservants and maidservants. There is therefore no gender or age restriction on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as prophesied long ago by the prophet Joel saying, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God that I will pour out My Spirit on ALL FLESH; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy…. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:17-21).
God’s promise to pour His Spirit in the last days on all flesh involved:
- Sons
- Daughters
- Young men
- Old men
- Menservants
- Maidservants
The end result of this out pouring was for the salvation of the souls of men; “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. All flesh is called and empowered for the salvation of men in all nations. In the prophecy of Joel, there are six categories of flesh implicated in the last days for the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Out of the six, four categories refer to men: sons, young men, old men and menservants. Could God be saying that He is expecting more from men in territory taking? Is this a coincidence? Could it also be a coincidence that of the Twelve Apostles He called, all were men? There is no coincidence with God. God does not play gender sentiments. He is expecting more from men without necessarily expecting less from any other group He has called. How can men be involved in territory taking? The word of God furnishes us with a myriad of ways in which men have been and can be actively involved in taking territories for God:
Giving to the Work: The example of Barnabas. Before he became a traveling apostle with Paul, he sold his land and placed the money at the apostles’ feet (Acts 4:36-37).
Mobilizing for Funds Across Churches: Titus served in mobilizing for funding for critical needs of the work across churches. (2 Corinthians Chapters 8 and 9:1-5). In 2 Corinthians 9:5, Paul the apostle particularly mentions his exhorting of other brethren to be involved in the mobilization.
Intercession: Interceding for the saints so that Christ be formed in them (the ministry of Epaphras). Paul indicated that Epaphras was a brother like any other brother but served Christ by praying that Christ be formed in the believers not only Colossae, but also in Laodicea and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:12-13). There is also the call to pray for the doors of the gospel to be opened. Paul asked the churches to pray for him in this light (Colossians 4:3). Men can also embrace the praying for apostles in this direction.
Authors and Scribes: Some of Paul’s letters were not written by his own hand because he was in chains and in some cases, the books were co-authored with the likes of Titus, Timothy, Sylvanus and may others (Philippians 1:1, 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1, just to name a few). Luke the medical doctor, wrote two books (the Book Acts and the Gospel of Luke). Thus men were very much involved in producing the scriptures that we are benefitting from today.
Apostolic Aids and Teams: This ministry is critical. Men can go to places to meet critical needs which may be practical or even minister the word when the lead apostle is indisposed. Paul wanted to visit the church in Thessalonica, but Satan hindered them. Timothy was dispatched to take care of the ministry. This is circumvention of the devil and his attempts to hinder the work of the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:18, 3:1-2). If the lead apostle cannot be in a given territory because he is ministering elsewhere or hindered by the enemy, an apostolic aid can be dispatched to render that ministry. Paul, the apostle had many apostolic aids and they were dispatched to meet different ministry needs in different localities (2 Timothy 4:12 Paul sends Tychicus to Ephesus and in Titus 1:5, we learn that Paul assigns Titus to Crete). Paul and Barnabas ministered in a team: “Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also” (Acts 15:35).
It was Paul and Barnabas with many others also. It was a team of ministers. And many names formed this team: Luke, Mark, Silas, Tychicus and many others (1 Timothy 4:10-12).
Messengers of the Churches: Men who can be sent to deliver a specific message to a church or churches. Paul calls them the glory of Christ. This is wonderful (2 Corinthians 8:23). Epaphroditus was one of such messengers (Philippians 2:25)
Strengthening the Churches: The work of prophets; ministering words of comfort, encouragement and edification. Judas and Silas were prophets (Acts 15:32).
Taking a Territory for God and Opening Doors for the Gospel: Philip is an example of a man who took a territory for God. After persecution broke out in the church in Jerusalem, he went to Samaria and preached the gospel there with signs and wonders. There was great joy in that city. Philip was not among the Twelve Apostles. He was a disciple like any other, filled with the Spirit of God (Acts 8:4-25). Philip did not only take a city for God but God used him to open a door for the gospel to Africa. The Ethiopian Eunuch was led to Christ by Philip. Philip opened up many villages of the Samaritans and areas like Azotus and many cities including Caesarea for the gospel (Acts 8:25-40). Philip was a layman, but has almost a chapter in the Book of Acts.
Companionship and Comfort to an Apostle: Titus rendered this ministry greatly to the apostle Paul particularly in times when he was downcast. The apostle also needs ministry and companionship (2 Corinthians 7:5-6). In fact, Paul had to abandon a ministry opening when He did not see Titus (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). Epaphroditus was also a companion of Paul (Philippians 2:25)
Practical Needs and Errands of an Apostle: Paul asks Timothy to come before winter and bring his books and clothing (2 Timothy 4:13). Epaphroditus also ministered to Paul’s practical needs (Philippians 2:25)
Setting Order in Local Churches: Titus was sent to Crete by Paul to put things in order and ordain elders in the cities where churches had been planted (Titus 1:5).
Provide Accommodation for a Travelling Apostle: (Philemon 1:22).
There are many opportunities for men to serve and contribute directly and indirectly to territory taking. The need is great and the opportunities are calling. God is counting on organized men’s groups to arise and form a strong end time army. The task ahead will require coordinated efforts and not just fractured and isolated responses. This builds the case for organized men’s ministries in local churches where such do not yet exit, that see beyond the local church and are implicated in territory taking and global gospel efforts. For example, the church in Lagos, Nigeria has an organized men’s ministry or fellowship. This fellowship can find greater spiritual meaning by being implicated in the global gospel efforts in a distinctive and specific way: an active mission post can be adopted for prayer once a week or for financial support or an unpenetrated country can be adopted for prayer, so that God opens a door for the gospel. Local churches without an organized men’s fellowship are encouraged to put one up. This will meet the specific needs of men that may not be addressed in routine weekly meetings and also provide a coordinated platform for men to be implicated in territory taking in the nations.
WHY ORGANIZED GROUPS
Looking at the Bible, the Lord usually met the needs of people in groups. Even in physical needs of people, like bread, the Lord asked they sit in groups and in ranks as seen in the gospel of Mark, “But He said to them, how many loaves do you have? Go and see. Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in GROUPS on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and fifties” (Mark 6:38-40).
God addresses people in their different groups. In the Book of 1 John this is very evident.
“I write to you, little children…” (1 John 2:12).
“I write to you, fathers…” (1 John 2:13).
“I write to you, young men…” (1 John 2:13b)
The apostle Paul leaves Titus in the Island of Crete to set things in order (Titus 1:5). It is interesting to see this same pattern of ministry to groups repeated. A specific message to different people groups:
“That OLDER MEN be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience” (Titus 2:2).
“The OLDER WOMEN likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- That they admonish YOUNG WOMEN to love their husbands, love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands” (Titus 2:3-5). Older women are to admonish younger women to love their husbands, children and many other admonitions. The question is, how will this be done? In a church service? There will be gatherings where women meet and the older women will be sharing these things with the younger women.
“Likewise exhort the YOUNG MEN to be sober-minded……” (Titus 2:6-8)
“Exhort SERVANTS to be obedient to their masters……” (Titus 2:9-10).
In Jesus’ commissioning of Simon Peter, the reaching of people at their different levels and groups is clearly highlighted: “Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? ……”Feed My Lambs”…”Tend My sheep”….”Feed My sheep” (John 21:15, 16, 17) Thus in a given Church, all cannot be sheep or lambs. Thus some have to be fed while we have to tend some. This way all will be ministered to appropriately. The one-size-fits-all may not be the best approach to effectively minister the word in a given local church.
God recognizes different people groups in His house with specific spiritual and material needs that have to be addressed and met at that group level. While this approach is great for effective ministry to the Lord’s flock, this approach is also good in responding to the needs in the Lord’s work in local and global spaces. May we arise in groups and respond to specific needs of the Lord’s work globally in a coordinated and organized way. We look forward to seeing men’s groups and fellowships springing forth across the nations and meeting specific needs of the Lord’s work in an organized and coordinated way. Amen
Mbange Calvin Etongo
