Taking Ground: So That His Kingdom May Come

Free Church
Sep 29
4 min read

So That His Kingdom May Come | Peter Molver | 28 September 2025

Taking Ground: So That His Kingdom May Come

Now, for those who don’t know me, I’m a die-hard Liverpool supporter. Yesterday wasn’t a good day for us fans, but that’s not the story I want to tell. I want to take you back almost 20 years, when I was a first-year student at the University of Pretoria.

Picture this: a lecture hall with 400 students, and my buddy Marco and I chatting about football non-stop. The lecturer asked me a couple of times to keep quiet, but pride got the better of me. Then came the call from the front: “Hey, you with the mohawk and pink shirt—shut up or get out!”

I walked out, chin high, mullet flowing, pink shirt shining. I thought I was cool, in control. But the truth is, I failed accounting that year. My pride cost me progress.

And here’s what I learned:

Soccer chats can always wait.
Don’t let pride get in the way of progress.
Think carefully before making decisions that affect your future.

That little moment of pride has stayed with me because it connects so deeply to today’s message: taking ground so that His kingdom may come.

God’s Invitation to Take Ground

Last week, Amy reminded us that God is always up to something and that we are invited to be a part of it. We get to say yes or no.

Today, I want to pick up on that and ask: What is the ground God is calling you to take?

Not necessarily in full-time ministry. But in your life, your work, your family, your influence. Where is He inviting you to move forward so that His kingdom comes more fully into the world?

To unpack this, we turn to Numbers 13 and 14—when Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land. Twelve leaders went to scout it out. They came back with a mixed report. Yes, it was a land flowing with milk and honey. But there were giants. Strong people. Fortified cities.

Ten leaders saw obstacles and spread fear. Two leaders—Caleb and Joshua—saw something different. They saw God’s promise. They saw God’s power. And they believed that, with Him, they could take the land.

Same promise. Same land. Two responses.

Four Lessons from Caleb and Joshua

Here’s what I see in their example:

1. See with God’s Perspective

Caleb and Joshua saw what God saw. They weren’t blind to the obstacles, but they chose to focus on God’s promise and power instead of their own weakness.

Maybe God is asking you to see something differently today—your marriage, your workplace, your finances, your health. What would change if you looked at it with God’s perspective?

2. Silence the Enemy’s Voice

When the ten scouts spread fear, Caleb silenced them. He didn’t deny the giants, but he put them in perspective compared to God.

Too often, we let the voices of others—or even our own inner critic—speak louder than God’s voice. Caleb reminds us to silence the noise so that God’s truth can rise.

3. Stand in Faith

God said Caleb had “a different spirit” because he followed Him wholeheartedly. That word means “to have your hands full of God.” What a picture! Fully surrendered, fully dependent.

Maybe your faith feels shaky. Maybe doubt or disappointment is your giant. Caleb reminds us: God’s presence is enough. Stand firm in faith.

4. Slay Giants

Finally, Caleb didn’t just talk—he fought. At 85 years old, he asked for the hardest territory, the hill country filled with giants. And with God’s help, he conquered.

What giants are you being called to slay? Fear? Addiction? Comparison? A critical spirit? Financial anxiety? Don’t settle for circling in the wilderness. Take ground

A Modern Caleb: Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A

This reminds me of the story of Samuel Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A.

He was born poor, with no education, no networks, and even a speech impediment. His first businesses failed. Twice, his restaurants literally burned down. Yet he pressed on.

Why? Because he believed God had called him to run a business differently—one that reflected Christlike values. That’s why Chick-fil-A still closes on Sundays, even though it costs billions in potential revenue. Cathy believed rest and worship mattered more.

Today, Chick-fil-A impacts millions of employees and families—not because Cathy had every advantage, but because he chose to see, silence, stand, and slay.

God is calling us—like Caleb and Joshua—not to waste our lives wandering in the wilderness, but to take ground, to slay giants, so that His kingdom may come.

Life Group Discussion Questions

See – Where is God asking me to shift perspective and see with His eyes?
Silence – What voices—others, the enemy, or my own—do I need to silence so I can hear God more clearly?
Stand – Am I following God wholeheartedly, with my “hands full” of Him? Where do I need to renew my faith?
Slay – What giants in my life is God calling me to face courageously with His help?
What ground does he want you to take in your life or sphere of influence, so that his Kingdom may come?
We each have a decision to make – Which life will you live, one of potential wasted in the wilderness? Or one of taking ground, despite giants, and prospering in the promised land?