Minister: Pastor Seyi Osanyinbi
We have been talking about the characteristics of people who will be members of God’s army. Every Christian is expected by virtue of the new birth to be a member of God’s army but this is not the case presently. We are presently at the point that is similar to where the people of Israel were in the book of Judges, when there was no king and the people did whatever was pleasing to themselves in their own sight. However, the church is expected to be an army that will fight for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. We are designed to be an army but we are not that yet. There are individually skilled soldiers but we have not formed an army. Very strong armies are useful for expansionary programs. This is the context in which God spoke about the church advancing and the gate of hell not prevailing against it.
The present problem of the Church is how to interpret the truth. An army can function either as an offensive or a defensive unit. However, the church as an army is to be offensive. Many look at that scripture with an understanding that it is the gate of hell that is moving against the church. But gates do not move! Therefore, the gate of hell is positioned like a fortress around encampments and it is the church that is advancing towards it. We truly must understand this doctrine if we will be effective as God’s army.
At the level of the church universal, our main objective as a true army needs to be checked, that is, there must be an agreement on what The Faith is and what is supposed to be its accomplishment. Until leaders agree on what the purpose is, there will be no progress in the body (church). Let us take a look at two armies in the bible and learn from their characteristics.
- The Army of Gideon (Judges 7:1-7)
The men of Israel were afraid to fight against the Midianites until God raised Gideon. Many were afraid to die and were told to go back home. Out of 10,000 that were brave, God found only 300 to be qualified to go into battle. We need to understand that God does not use just anybody. He uses men who meet up with his specifications. All the men that God had used over time have specific attributes that God was interested in. The conditions and requirements of God for men He is going to use will not be lowered in this generation. Those who have pioneered many moves of God have been erroneously referred to as ‘generals’ but the correct designation is ‘servants’.
- The Army of David (1 Chronicles 12)
David was qualified to be king of Israel amidst his brothers through his daily acts which were unknowingly been monitored by God. God tests us through simple instructions before releasing certain gifts or anointing to us. The army of David consisted of men who were focused. Members of God’s army must be men whose focus is to finish what God has assigned them to do. These men were skillful. Their skills had been developed before they came into battle and were not developed on the battle field. This means we too need to build our capacities during ‘peace time’ and not when battles face us.
We all are not gifted alike but we must learn to identify and develop in our areas of strength. There are differences in our callings and we must understand and appreciate each other’s calling and strength. The men of David were men of might (verse 8) and of stable mind (verse 33). They were men who kept ranks. To keep rank means to know what you are called to do and do just that. You must also learn more about your calling and develop yourself in it. The army in Joel 2 was also constituted by members who kept their rank (Joel 2:7).
Let us see other lessons we can learn from some other warriors in scriptures.
- The servants of Abraham were skillful. They were trained and ready for battle (Genesis 14:14-15).
- The centurion in Matthew 8:9-10 was a good soldier because though he was a man of authority, he was a man under authority too. No one can wield authority without being under authority themselves. There is a need to understand the dynamics of authority so as not to make a shipwreck of what we are suppose to do (Mark 13:34).
2 Timothy 2:2-5 – To be a soldier requires you to live a life of focus. Civilian living is a disorderly living. Civilian pursuits make you deviate from your true calling.