There are already pioneers in God’s kingdom, but we also live in a time when many new pioneers will rise up, giving birth to new initiatives and kingdom projects.
2 Kings 6:1-2, And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.” (PIONEER)
Isaiah 54:2-3, Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left.
Pioneering isn’t always easy because you’re actively venturing into new territory, and adversaries will strive to hinder your progress. While you may have a specific vision, it doesn’t guarantee that others share it to. Don’t expect the whole world to support you from the start. In reality, you often start alone or with a small team—which is also one of the reasons why many do not start at all, or they start but they do not finish.
That’s why 7 things are important when it comes to pioneering:
1. It must be born of God. It’s crucial that you understand this because, as previously mentioned, there will be challenges. Knowing that it originates from the Lord is vital; otherwise, doubts may arise, allowing the enemy to make you stop. It is also not unimportant to know that if something is not the Lord’s, God does not have to bless it, and if God does not build the house, the builders labour in vain. First birthing then building.
2. Clear vision: A clear vision is the core. You need to know what you want to achieve or were you are going. This is also important to get others involved. If it is not clear to you, it will not be clear to others and you will be busy but not get anywhere. Busyness is not the same as productivity. Write the vision down and make it plain.
3. Solid planning and strategy: A well-developed plan is essential. Your strategy outlines the steps toward realizing the vision. After all, you have to start somewhere. It is also important not to want everything at once. This is always at the expense of quality. Progressing step by step requires patience and that is sometimes a challenge, specifically for visionaries. The vision remains constant, but the strategy can be adapted if needed.
4. Resources: The Bible emphasizes the importance of counting the costs before starting something new. If you don’t, you might start but fail to finish what you’ve begun. The key, therefore, is to ensure that you have the necessary resources, whether it be finance, technology, human capital, mental capacity, or other necessities to achieve your goals. Of course, the provision also proceeds step by step, because it remains a journey of faith.
5. Team: When God sends, He often sends a team because ultimately, you can’t accomplish it all alone. Building happens through shared wisdom, as no one possesses all wisdom. That’s why we need each other. The prerequisite for team members is their knowing of God’s calling for their participation and to have a level of stability in their lives. Otherwise, the enemy will exploit this vulnerability. If he can’t discourage the visionary, he targets the team.
6. You start with the foundation: You start with the foundation, then proceed to build upon it, and you’ll witness growth, as seen as a pattern within Isaiah 2: The mountain of the Lord’s temple will be ESTABLISCHED (foundation) as the highest of the mountains; it will be EXALTED above the hills (building up) and all nations will FLOCK TO IT (growth). The foundation shares the vision, strategy, core values, and action plan and then start building.
7. You must have a pioneering spirit: The pioneering spirit requires a specific mindset—a go-getter and a trailblazer mentality. This is crucial because, as previously mentioned, there will always be challenges, arriving in different phases, as illustrated in Nehemiah 4:1-4.
But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was angry and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these weak Jews doing? Will they strengthen themselves? Will they make sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Tobiah the Ammonite stood by him and said, “Whatever they build, even if a fox stands on it, he will tear down their stone wall.”
The questions they ask uncover the tactics the enemy is using:
What are these weak Jews doing? The enemy aims to sow confusion when it comes to your vision. Casting vision is a spiritual act that intertwines with warfare.
Will they fortify (start) themselves? When you discern God’s will, it’s crucial to initiate without delay. Many delay due to procrastination. We break this pattern in Jesus’ Name.
Will they offer sacrifices? Many refrain from starting something new because they’re unwilling to pay the price, consequently remaining at a stagnant level.
Will they complete it in a day? Will they bring the stones from the rubbish heaps, stones that have been burned, back to life? At the start, everyone is filled with motivation, but eventually, there comes a moment when you recognize the need to make sacrifices. It’s common to witness many people drop out at this stage. In God’s kingdom, many start but only a few finish. Remember, we face challenges at the beginning (snake’s poison at the head) and end (scorpion’s poison at the tail).
Tobiah the Ammonite stood beside him and said, “Whatever they build, even if a fox climbs on it, it will tear down their stone wall. As a pioneer, you not only have to deal with spiritual warfare, but also with people who don’t believe in you, or what you are starting, which often leaves you alone in the beginning. However, persist because over time, it expands, and you frequently find others eager to join. This is the fate of every pioneer.
Those who pioneer are at the frontlines for God—and although it’s not always easy, understand that if God has called you for this, then He has also anointed you to start, build and to finish. This is the OX anointing, which is a ploughing anointing that will empower you to do the job. Know that you have the capacity, and the capability to endure and persevere when needed.
As Pioneers, our refusal to settle for the present pleases God. It makes Him proud and when we make God proud, He responds.
Pioneers, go, birth, build, multiply and occupy!
