Take Back the Hill
In a stirring sermon titled "Take Back the Hill," the pastor delivered a powerful message on the importance of reclaiming the ground that God has promised us, even when that ground is filled with giants, fortified cities, and seemingly insurmountable challenges. Drawing from Joshua 14, the narrative focused on Caleb's unwavering faith and tenacity, which saw him standing at the brink of the Promised Land, declaring, "Give me the hill country."
The Context: A Journey of Faith
The sermon began with a reminder of the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness due to their disbelief. Despite God's promise of a land flowing with milk and honey, the majority report from the spies was that the land was unconquerable. Only Joshua and Caleb believed otherwise. Forty-five years later, Caleb, now 85 years old, stood as a testament to faithfulness and strength, ready to claim what God had promised him.
Prophetic Expectation
The pastor emphasized the idea of "expecting the unexpected and believing for the unexplainable." He called the congregation to prepare for God-ordained moments that defy human explanation. Just as Caleb prepared for the hill country for 45 years, we, too, must live in expectation and preparation for God's promises to manifest in our lives.
Fighting the Good Fight
One of the sermon’s key points was the concept that entering into God's promise doesn’t mean an absence of battles. Even in the Promised Land, there were battles to be fought. This was a wake-up call for those longing for a season of peace and prosperity. The reality is that these very seasons come with battles that we must be prepared to fight and win.
Caleb: The Epitome of Bold Faith
Caleb's words, "I am as strong now as I was on that journey and still travel and fight as well," served as an inspirational mantra. Here was an 85-year-old man, not weakened by years but emboldened by them, ready to take on new challenges because he knew that God’s promises were sure.
Divine Strategies to Overcome Strongholds
The sermon also introduced four divine strategies for tearing down demonic strongholds:
Use Your Prophetic Voice: Every believer has the power to prophesy, to declare God’s promises over their life. The pastor encouraged the congregation to speak life, to declare victory and God’s promises over their own lives and over their community.
Believe and Prepare for God's Promises: Belief in God's promise must be coupled with action. If we aren’t preparing for God’s blessings and promises, why should we expect them to come to fruition?
Hold Your Ground: Once you’ve taken the hill, don’t give it back. The analogy of Hamburger Hill from the Vietnam War illustrated the high cost of giving up the very ground we have bled for. We must hold fast to God’s promises and the land He has given us.
Rename Your Hill: Like Caleb, who renamed Kiriath Arba to Hebron, we have the power to rename our circumstances. This renaming is an assertion of God’s victory over the former giants that once ruled our lives.
A Call to Action
The pastor concluded with a prophetic call for the church and its members to recognize and reclaim the hills in their lives—for themselves, for their families, and for their communities. He envisioned a future where the church is multicultural, multigenerational, and spirit-filled, driving back the gates of hell with every prayer, praise, and act of service.
Final Words
"Take Back the Hill" wasn’t just a sermon; it was a call to reclaim our God-given promises with bold faith and divine strategy. It was a charge to refuse to settle for less, to fight for more, and to stand unyielding on the ground God has already promised. The season of complacency is over, and it’s time to arm ourselves with the prophetic voice and the unwavering belief that if God said it, we must do it.
