The kingdom of God is continually advancing. It is capturing the hearts of former rebels. It is bringing down spiritual strongholds. And it is occupying enemy territory, to the glory of the King.
The first battle assigned to Gideon was not to rout the Midianites, but to displace ungodly practices and shrines in his own family home. Biblically, if a leader did not have God ruling over his own family, then they were disqualified from leading God’s people. Leaders always begin their work at home.
God instructed Gideon to replace the altar of Baal with an altar to God. Now, instead of seeing the pagan monument, people would gaze upon a holy place constructed for the glory of the true God. God is systematically seeking to replace monuments devoted to sin and evil with holy shrines that testify to His glory. Whether it is in your home, your neighborhood, your church, or your workplace, God is seeking to reclaim territory that was once lost to the powers of darkness.
Have you built altars around your life and work, where God has used you to win victories for His kingdom? Or is your life currently surrounded by altars to Baal?