We are here, today/tonight, because of those before us that have sacrificed and paved the way for the name of Jesus to be exalted. They were men and women from every different sort of background, ethnicity, and creed. They were sinners in the hands of a merciful God. They were instruments in the hands of the Great Physician.

The Church, including my church, was built on the backs of men as appointed by the Holy Spirit. I once heard it expressed this way that “we are here today because of the twelve who were obedient”. With twelve men the church was started and through the power of Jesus Christ it is sustained. This is His Church…and we do well to remember where its authority comes from as well as how it was built.

The Book of Genesis reminds us that, ‘in the beginning God’…and the Gospel of John follows this line of thinking with, ‘God created everything’. All of this points to ownership of the Church and the source of her power, beauty, and resilience. However, Jesus left His church in the hands of men, twelve men, and he told them to ‘go’ and continue to build…continue to overcome…continue to work diligently in making disciples by the telling of Gospel. This is how the church continues to grow…continues to make its way.

Jesus said this process wasn’t going to be easy. Jesus said that we would have to bear the burden of our own cross…where we die to our selfish wants and desires…and we take upon us His cause…being obedient to His call…preaching the Good News of salvation to the world. He told His disciples about a coming day that would hold persecution, hatred, and even death to those that follow Jesus…but He also told them they would overcome.

Overcome…now that is a word! We like that word…it’s a word that signifies that hard times will pass and that we will win the fight. The very word “overcome” means to defeat or to prevail. It is easy to like this word…but this word also signifies and I would even say it prophesies to us. You see, for us to “overcome” something we must first face something…fight something…battle something.

However, this also, has been a hidden truth for life since the beginning…

Genesis 1:28
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

The definition of subdue, according to Webster’s, is to overcome or to bring under control, possibly by force. God says we are to “subdue” the earth…we are to overcome the earth…we are to bring the earth under control…we are to conquer it…this is the mandate that God gave to Adam…and from the beginning until now it still stands as to how life is supposed to be lived.

How do we subdue the earth? By hard work and sweat! We subdue this world by placing our desires upon the cross, bearing the pain of our own selfish wants and desires, and submitting them to the will of the Lord. From the fall of Adam the easy road was taken away…and now the road less traveled is presented before us…it is less traveled because it is a road that has to be overtaken. It is the road less traveled because it will have to be conquered. It’s going to be a fight…it isn’t going to be given to you…you’re going to have to subdue it. You’re going to have to take it by force.

The greatest enemy that keeps you from subduing the earth isn’t the Devil…its laziness…and I can assure you that laziness will not be rewarded in this life or the next! Jesus warned about such things…

Luke 9:62
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus describes, in this scripture, the Kingdom of God as a field that is in constant need of work. In this field there are workers…these workers must work the field. This is God’s will…this is God’s plan. This is how to subdue the earth…by hard work and determination. It means getting up in the morning and giving everything you got…every hour and every minute. And Jesus is serious about those to whom He calls to this labor…He isn’t looking for those that have their mind in other things…He is looking for those that are willing to work…and in His grace, He is looking for those He can mold into workers.

What Jesus is telling us in this scripture, more than anything else, is that the Kingdom of God will be built with blistered hands and a sweaty back! The Kingdom of God is built upon those that determine themselves to overcome this world…it is built on those that are ready to lay everything down and follow Him…to the end…
The biggest lie that this world has to offer is that there is an “easy way”. That is a bold faced lie. There is no such thing. Everything worth anything requires hard work, time, and energy. There is only one way…and that way requires that you overcome…that you subdue…and that you conquer.

The first step in subduing the earth is realizing that you can’t do it alone…as a matter of fact you can’t do it at all. What? I know right? God gives you this command that you can’t do…and you can’t…because you were never meant to. You were meant to do it working with God…alongside Him…through Him…and as Jesus would say IN Him. God NEVER intended for you to ever be alone. God has always been there…with Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and the Apostles…even now God said He would leave us with the Holy Spirit to comfort us in decisions, choices, and actions. We are in Him and He is in us. This co-laboring partnership is unstoppable…and it’s the key to subduing this life on earth…

Galatians 2:2
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 4:13
For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength…

We will subdue this earth only one way…IN Christ! He alone is our strength…He alone is our wisdom…He alone is our power. Without Him nothing can be done of any progress…

How does this translate into your life?

It looks like this…what do you want to do in your life? Whatever that is…do it in Christ! That means serving others in love and compassion. It means loving others as Christ loves them. It means fellowshipping with others that believe like you. It means living your life in a way that leads others to Christ. It doesn’t matter what you do in life…go chase your goals…but chase them in Christ. Chase your dreams in a way that showcases your faithfulness to the God who has saved you!

There is a great misconception here, I believe, in the church in the way of our mandate of the Great Commission…we have bought the lie that the Great Commission of “go and make disciples” was meant only for preachers and pastors...but that simply isn’t the case. While God intended and calls out some to teach, preach, and pastor…the Great Commission is a mandate for ALL believers. We are to go and make disciples in our homes…in our work places…in our schools. This is our calling…This isn’t an OPTION!

In our efforts to subdue this life…this must be part of our daily lives. Subduing the earth won’t come by sitting down…it will only happen by “going”. We must move out…we must spread out…we must subdue and conquer.

I recently heard it expressed like this, “We are not an invading army…we are an occupying army! This is why Jesus said in Luke’s parables, “Occupy till I come”…

We are an occupying force…each field is different just as each person is different…Your field might not be like mine…but there is one thing that is certain for every field…that we are to subdue the ground…and overtake it…we are to occupy it, under the command of “go and make disciples”…

This is what we’ve been entrusted with…and this is our responsibility…but we can do it. We can overcome!

Deuteronomy 1:21
See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Luke 10:19
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

That last one sounds just like the Hill Country doesn’t it…snakes and scorpions?

In Deuteronomy, God says to “go up and take possession”…there is a big difference between getting something and taking something! Taking something is going to require work…it’s going to require effort…it’s going to be hard…possibly even violent…you might get hurt…but God is quick to remind you that He is FOR YOU…He is IN YOU…He says to “not be afraid…and to not be discouraged”!

Jesus just flat out tells you that He has given you “authority” to subdue…He has given you “authority” to conquer and overcome…and closes by saying “NOTHING can harm you!”

Paul concludes this from the words of Jesus and also in living a life of subduing the earth…

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.

So when times get hard…when there are blisters on your hands from holding on…and the sweat is dripping from your face…you can remember and lean on this truth…that the work your doing is not in vain. That, though there will be times were it will feel like you are being defeated…you are still moving forward…you are subduing…you are overcoming…even your defeats are working on your behalf.

Did you hear that? Even your defeats are working on your behalf!

How can you lose then? If it’s all working for your good, how can you lose? The truth is…is that you can’t lose. So it’s time to buckle down…it’s time to recognize your season…and it’s time to be obedient. Go and subdue!