The Lord's Army

 

The Lord's Army

I grew up with a military influence in my life. As a child I played 'Army' with the other neighborhood children. When the weather was bad, I played 'Army' with my little green toy Army men in my room. My father served in the US Navy in Viet Nam. I learned near my high school graduation I was not eligible for the military because of something called "The last of a lineage" so I never got the change to join the armed forces. 

2 Timothy 2:3-4 

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Why an Army? Because we are at war and the battle lines were drawn long ago. There is a battle being waged for the souls of men and women…boys and girls. Just as our men and women are fighting to secure freedom for the people in other countries and to maintain safety for us against terrorists. We as the Lord's soldiers have been chosen to bring the message of freedom to people who are bound by sin. That message is the only way for people to be set free.

John 8:32 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

What is the truth? All have sinned…we are all under the sentence of death, but God loves us…He made a way for us to be set free from the bonds of sin. Jesus Christ is the Truth…He and He alone can bring true freedom. When we place our faith in His finished work on Calvary…we can be saved!

Romans 10:9-10 

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Our enemy is real and he has many names. He is a liar and a deceiver from the beginning. He wants to destroy mankind, and has done a pretty good job of it…look at the mess this world is in right now, but his days are numbered…Jesus is coming back and when He returns he will ultimately cast the enemy into the lake of fire for all eternity!

Revelation  20:10 

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

2 Timothy 2:4

 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him

Chosen by God...Drafted or Volunteers? Many were drafted into the service during times of war. Others willingly enlisted and chose to go to battle for their country. Once they became a part of the service…it didn't matter whether they had been drafted or whether they had volunteered. It didn't matter what they were in civilian life…now they were soldiers! 

God has chosen to save all who come to Him by faith. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are made a part of God's army whether we like to look at it that way or not…it is true. The Scriptures do not talk of two separate groups, Christians and Soldiers in God's army...rather those terms are synonymous! As believers, we are to put on the whole armor of God and stand against the attack of the enemy! So the real challenge is are we good soldiers?

Good Soldiers, a good soldier endures hardness. The apostle Paul serves as an example of a good soldier, he was stoned, shipwrecked, beaten, and placed in dungeons. All of this he called his "light affliction"

(2 Cor 4:17) 

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

Nearing the end of his life he makes reference the "Good fight"

(2 Tim 4:7) 

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

Too many in the Lord's army faint at first the hint of adversity.

A Good Soldier Enlists Others he is proud of his outfit. The recruiters are not men who hate the service…they are the 'lifers'. Andrew went to recruit Peter…and Philip brought Nathaniel.

What are we doing for the cause of Christ? Are we recruiting others? Soul-winning… inviting folks…bringing others. A good soldier will not collaborate with the enemy. The world hates the Christian.

(John 15:18)

 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

(1 John 3:13)

 "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

A good soldier cannot fight the enemy during the day, and then go to a party with them by the night. No soldier is more despised and disgraced than the one who collaborates with the enemy. A good soldier believes in the cause. No soldier gives their best if they are not convinced the cause is right. Politicians can debate whether or not the present war we are in is right or wrong, but the men and women who are there believe in what they are doing! They are convinced in the cause! The same is true for those in the Lord's army…to be a good soldier we must believe in the cause of Christ! If we are to make an impact on this world for the cause of Christ we must be convinced that He is the Hope of this world!

(Eph 6:12-13) 

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

The battle is not ours, but the Lord's. We are called upon to be God's agents on this earth to press forward with gospel claiming victory through Christ. We have been given our 'marching orders' by the Captain of the host.

This morning, do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not may I invite you to come allow me to share the Word of Truth with you that you might be born again?

Christians, are we serving as faithful and good soldiers in the army of the Lord? Or are we AWOL? Jesus promised,

My opinion of Jan. 6th, 2021

 If you call yourself a Christian and you were involved in or supported the actions of the mob mentality that took place of 01/06/21 or any of the other riots over the last four or so years, then maybe you should rethink calling yourself one.  Those actions definitely did not fit the "love thy neighbor" commanded by Jesus.

The Great Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Matthew 22:34-40)

The acts of the mob on that day and the rioters over the last 4 years or so really need to consider theirs actions as not only against men but the Lord himself as we're all created in his image.  I'll have some people say well the mob at the Capitol was worse because it was the White House which is a mute point in the context of which I'm speaking...I'm purely discussing the inability of people to act with any morality or godliness and call themselves Christians.  The facts are property was damaged and/or destroyed, laws were totally ignored and broken, people where beaten and injured...or killed.  All this in the name of a men that they treat and worship as idols or martyrs...men of flesh and blood and full of sin.  I only know one true idol that should be and deserves worship and at one time He was flesh and blood just like us, except He had NO sin and died for sin...ours.  Jesus did this for us because he loves us and far to many of us fail to return that love.  I'm not saying from a position of thinking I'm better than the next person, I'm not.  I just happen to know how some of these people think, because I one time I could have fit in with them real well. When Jesus found me (yeah, He found me because He wasn't lost...I was) I was in about a dark a place as a person can be.  I was full of hate, envy, jealousy, pride...I was egotistical.  I did have times where I wasn't that way, mainly at the races when I was running. When I go back out to run another runner in...I done it because I cared and hope to be able to do so again. The running family is one of the few groups that except you for what and who you are, but injuries began stacking up and I feel flat of my face with the running and my new found family to prop me up.  See I was relying on things of the world to support me rather that looking to God for my needs.  You may ask "Well, just what has Jesus done for ya? I see you still can't run and you still have to work for a living." I can only respond accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior does not mean your life is suddenly going to get easier.  It doesn't mean your not going to have storms in your life, it doesn't mean you're not going to have hurt and pain, that you're not going to suffer.  It does mean however that you're going to be reborn a new person...I'm kinder and gentler, I care more about people around whether they are friend or stranger. There's a difference in how I act, how I think and how I talk.  Do I still have my moments? Sure, my anger issues still just up and bite me on occasions...especially when driving in traffic.  Yesterday I found myself apologizing for something I said more times than I should've needed to.   All that to say if you consider yourself a Christian don't go to these things, don't support these things...pray for the people and the stuff causing it.  If you're not a saved, born again Christian I ask, implore you to hope your eyes and your heart to Jesus...He's just right there waiting on you ask Him to forgive you.  He already loves you.

This country needs some Jesus

 

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

The actions of people leading into and immediately following the 2016 Presidential election, the stuff that went on over the next 4 years and the events on January 6th, 2021 is proof positive this nation needs it some Jesus and bad...if the stuff that's went in this nation and the rest of the world in just that short of time ain't enough proof for ya that Satan exists and is running rampant in the world with his minions doing his bidding...I guess nothing short of a handshake would convince ya.

Ezra tells us in 2 Chronicles what we need to do.  Christians need to start acting like Christians or stop claiming to be one.  They're not talking like Christians by verbally attacking anyone that might disagree with...they publicly support the burning of buildings, cars and/or destroying private property belonging to incident people simply because it happens to be in the path of their demonic led rampage...they make idols out of criminals, politicians...they let the media, actors and professional athletes tell them what they should believe while making idols of them.  I'm just going to refer to them as group 1 and group 2, but I'll tell them I don't think Biden is the Antichrist and Trump ain't the second coming of Jesus Christ, as well Trump ain't the Antichrist and Biden isn't the second coming of Jesus Christ.  People need to take a good long hard look in the mirror and look beyond the mere reflection of their faces and stare deep within their souls and hearts.  We desperately need to remember the answer Jesus gave the lawyer in...  

Matthew 22:37–39 when he asked  which of the commandments was the greatest, He could have chosen any of the many commandments from the Old Testament, from the law of Moses, or from the Ten Commandments. Instead, He summarized all of the commandments in these two:

37 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 “This is the first and great commandment.

39 “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”

Christians and the church...as it is in Colossians 1:18...need to come together and act according the word of God as proclaimed in the bible.  A revolution needs to take place, not a revolution to overthrow the government but an Evangelistic revolution to grow the Kingdom of God. We are soldiers in the Lord's army.  

"and he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

 

(to be continued)

Alcohol & Drug Strongholds

January 1, 2021

This short in a nutshell blog is the second in the stronghold series.

Alcohol and/or drugs can devastate a person, they can destroy your relationships with family and friends, they can destroy your career and/or your future, they can destroy a home in ending your marriage and the love and trust of your kids.  They can and will block your relationship with the Lord. I know many of ya are probably thinking I don't drink or do drugs...a chemical stronghold which is what this is can be defined as a dependency on chemicals to address, cope with or find relief from the struggles and stress of life.  Did you notice in that definition the word(s) "addiction" or "addicted to" were no where in it? That's probably because many people don't really understand what an addiction to be and would quit reading because they're not addicted to anything and this isn't just about addiction it's about control.  Ever say something like "I just a drink at night to unwind" or "I just need a smoke to reduce the stress" maybe "I ugly until get my first cup of coffee"? All three of these say the exact same thing...I cannot be what I was meant to be until I ingest these chemicals. The problem comes in the attempt to get the physical world to provide the fix for what is really a spiritual pain, lack or emptiness. 

That drink, cigarette, pill, cup of coffee or drug - whatever it is you struggle with...IS NOT TO BE THE MASTER OVER YOU.  Because of God's grace.

Now, I can hear what you're saying, "it's not as simple as that. You don't know how deep my problem is. You don't know my people, my situation, my past, my regrets...they drive me to do what I do in order to cope. Friend, I Do understand because I've lived life too. I beat an addiction to smokeless tobacco that lasted for about 35 years. I quit drinking except for an occasional drink that carried on for as nearly as long as I dipped.  If I have a drink now it's because I want to have one and not because I need it.  The smokeless tobacco is a different story I completely avoid it because it was a true addiction that I used to deal with people rather than living a Christian life...I understand that your problems are what drives you, but what I'm saying is that it's driving you in the wrong direction. Where it ought to drive you can be found Ephesians. We read,

 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled instead with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) 

When live crashes in on you don't turn to _______, because that will be be a dissipation - a waste. Go to the lord in worship and be filled with the Holy Spirit instead.  Simply stated the Holy Spirits presence involves worship and needs to be visited on a daily bases and as often as possible. Worship (being in God's presence) includes several things:

Speaking His truth (I think it's important to have someone to talk with about Jesus...a spouse, your pastor, a Christian mentor or just a friend)

Singing (hymns/spiritual songs, I do this in private or my head...no sense in punishing others)

Meditation (This is my alone time with him with no music/TV/computer nothing but me and him for discussion and prayer)

Gratitude (Give thanks...I do it daily just thanking Him for giving me another sunrise if nothing else.  Just let Him know you appreciate everything He gives you, even the simplest of things.)

Being filled with the Holy Spirit means making worship a way of life. When the Holy Spirit's presence fills you, you will discover your cravings change. You don't have to live as a slave to what you crave, the Holy Spirit will set you free to be all you were created to be and to enjoy life.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was though the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

To repeat a story I heard Dr. Evans tell...

"I was once physically trapped in an elevator. Being trapped is an uncomfortable feeling, especially in a high rise in the elevator between floors. When it happened the immediate reaction around me was to panic. Some cried, some yelled for help and some started banging on the door. I stood there for a moment watching the reactions of the others  around me, until the elevator phone caught my eye. When I saw it, I simply made my way to the other side of the elevator, picked up the phone and waited for an answer. A voice at the other end said "Is there a problem?" I answered , "Yes sir, we are trapped. Can we get some help?"..."We'll be right there, sir" the man replied. It was as simple as that"

When you feel trapped in an addiction or by a habit, it's easy to forget that God has put a lifeline in each of our lives (prayer) and he's just waiting for us to pick up the phone and give Him a call. You don't even have to cry, scream or beat on doors...He can hear ya whisper. This is the best lasting way to do it in my opinion, but I've learned that programs like "Celebrate Recovery" or such a program my pastor does an FB Live course call "Recovery through Discipleship that I would suggest.

***If you fill as if you need help finding further direction or help do not hesitate to contact me through this forum or message me on Facebook if that's more comfortable for privacy reasons or you can text me at 501-514-7139 and I'll get back with you as quickly as I can. I may not personally be able to help you much further but I can put you in contact with someone who can and it's all as confidential as you want it to be. I'm currently going through his program as well as trying to help others.