01 THE MESSAGE
Take Charge
We give God the praise for helping us thus far from the first part of this series to the last part. We started with "All in All," "The Weary and the Worry," and last week we talked about "Confronting Your Giant," and today by His grace, all roads lead to our series for the month—titled "Take Charge."
Let somebody say, "It is my month to take charge."
What does it mean to take charge? To take charge means to have control, to dominate, to have lordship, to rule and reign, and this rulership is what God has given us the mantle for, from the beginning of the ages.
To take charge means to command, to step up and lead, to be responsible, to take over a territory or a situation and bring it under control. It means to be proactive, to be a fixer and to make sure others become blessed by the blessings God has given you the ability to take charge of.
When men were created in God's image, God created everything and lastly created man to take charge of everything He has created—an opportunity that many has taken for granted today, and that is why we do not have control or the mantle to take charge again. But this morning our mantles will be restored in Jesus' name. Amen.
This morning, we are looking at the word "taking charge" from the perspective of God giving you His blessings to have control upon, and that is why we will look at a man of faith called Abraham, a man who God handpicked to take charge of a portion of what He created as His ambassador.
What we mostly do not understand is that when God gives us access to have control and dominion over a portion of what belongs to Him, it is to be His representative to that portion. The portion may be your children, your home, a jurisdiction, a city, a company, a portion of land, your body, among many.
God gave them to us out of His abundance to let the whole world know that He is King and He still rules in the affairs of men. And that is why those who do not know God are always worried and envious—that is why children of God are the ones getting the best of what God releases to men.
And one thing about God, whatever God releases to take charge of, either a small portion or a big portion, God does not want any other folks or spirit to share in the blessings, but rather He makes sure that it belongs to you and you alone.
And that was what happened here in the book of Genesis 13. Even though God told Abraham to leave his house and his people in Genesis 12, bringing Lot along with him could not give God the room to apportion what He was willing to give to Abraham as his share.
Not until when Lot departed from him. Sometimes, the reason why we have not yet gotten what God wants to apportion to us is because of those things that we bring along with us in the journey of faith we've embarked on, and until we depart from those things and they depart from us, we may not be able to have full release and control of God's blessings that needed to be apportioned to us.
For God told Abram to leave, and He did not ask him to bring anyone along, but he did bring Lot anyway for a reason known to him. So God was like, "I am not revealing what I want to give to you yet, until Lot's departure."
And that makes me say, what if we are the ones that are hindering what God wanted to do? What if all God is waiting for is not to bring along what He expects us to leave behind? Hence the reason we must do our best to meet the expectation as God wants it so that He may reveal and release to us His blessings according to our capacity.
God told Abram, "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are. I am giving you a portion of the earth, to you and your descendants forever," and in Genesis 13:17, God said, "Arise, walk in the land through its lengths and its widths, for I give it to you."
In other words, take charge of it. It is now in your care. You will be responsible for it. No one must take it away from you. You must not be careless about it. Till it, secure it, dwell there. It is your territory. No one must take it from you, for I have given it to you.
One thing we must know is that every blessing God released to us must be accounted for. He put them in our care to manage them well, and we must not put God to shame by not guarding and allowing enemies to trample upon or take over what God wants us to take charge of.
Hence the reason, beloved, this morning I want you to reminisce on all God has put in your care, but it is no longer under your care because others are controlling them for you. Because you did not see a sign that it belongs to you anymore. Because truly, your name is still on it, but others are the ones using it up as their resources.
That said, this morning I am here to let you know that the grace and power for restoration will be released unto you in Jesus' name.
And for those who are yet to know what God has apportioned to them, I can assure you that there is no one who God created that He has not apportioned a territory for, most especially we that respond to His call by becoming obedient under His authority.
There is a portion we need to take charge of—a city, souls, homes to take charge of—as an intercessor, as a solution giver, as a problem solver, as an ambassador. And the expectation is for us to move into that promise to make it a reality for us.
Because it is one thing for you to know God has given you a portion; it is another thing for you to grab what has been given. The Bible says in verse 18, "Then Abram moved his tent and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord."
Some received the word, but are yet to take charge, become responsible for where God apportioned for them. They see it. It is around them. But they are yet to take charge. The potential is inside of them but they are yet to take charge. Innovative ideas, projects, kingdoms, cities, health, connections, links God dropped inside of you—it is inside of you to take charge of.
Perhaps it is because of the lack of faith, lack of strength to push through, lack of power, lack of wisdom, the spirit of procrastination. No matter what it is, God release you from their bondage and you will take charge in Jesus' name. Amen.
If God did it with Abraham, He can do it again with you. If God did it with Joshua, He will do it again with you. If God did it with disciples by telling them, "Occupy till I come," He is still in that business, and He is telling you to take charge till He comes.
Take charge, somebody, for the earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof, take charge, somebody, and seek after the lost souls. Take charge, somebody, and have dominion over your marriage by telling the devil that he has no say over your marriage. Take charge as the fixer with the help of the Holy Spirit living inside of you and make every crooked way in your life straight.
Have control. Dominate. Have lordship. You and your spouse and Jesus must take over again. The mantle is there, but you must grab it, somebody. It is time to command. It is time to step up and lead. It is time to be responsible and take over that situation and bring it under control. It is time to be proactive and become a blessing with the blessings God has given you the ability to take charge of so that you can dwell peacefully and build an altar to worship the Lord your God.
Rise up and pray: "I receive the power to take charge, the wisdom, the mantle to take charge in Jesus' name. Amen."