God’s Army

This last Sunday, Pastor Herk preached how it is important to remind ourselves about the importance of attending church, fellowshipping with other Christians. It is essential for the body of Christ to stay plugged in. We get distracted by so many things going on in this and world, bidding for our attention. If we are not walking in the Spirit together, growing and maturing, then we begin complacently weakening in the faith. We always strive to be good disciples of Christ, reaching out and sharing the “good news” of Jesus Christ as we reflect the light of the Savior of the world. But regularly, we need to come together as a mighty army of God in contending for the faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” 

 

 The army is in a constant state of recruitment, and so should the Christian church be. The fourfold purpose of church is fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism. Fellowship builds strength together as the body of Christ. As a country, America has failed to maintain its Christian heritage and secular humanism is an advancing ideology. We are at a time when we need to rebuild and reinforce the biblical foundations that made this a godly nation. The third verse of the great Christian Hymn, ‘Onward, Christian soldiers’, we read, “Like a mighty army moves the church of God. Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we. One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus going on before.” If we are going to grow as the corporate worldwide church, we are going to have to follow the principles set forth in this old hymn. 

 

When we say “grow”, we are not just talking about in numbers as disciples make disciples that make disciples, but also boldly grow in faith, in strength and undivided in the image of Christ. One in the hope of Jesus Christ, working together as a unit, like a disciplined army. For an army (as well as the church) to be affective, there must be a large group of men and women serving together as a team. Each member of the team has specific gifts and skills, trained in different areas to equip and use in order to support the rest of team in following the plan and purpose to reach the goal. We need to follow the plan of Jesus Christ; God’s plan. 

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 “For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one part, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But now there are many parts, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.

 

The current military recruitment slogan is “Warriors Wanted”. The Christian army can embrace that slogan. There is no such thing as an army of one. The church is multiple people using their gifts, experiences and learning to accomplish the Lord’s mission. Being a “Lone Ranger” Christian was never a part of God’s plan. The Christian church is one body with many parts in working in unity. Romans 12:4-6a tells us, “For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly.” God did not intend for us to work independently from one another. 

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on God's Army in the next post.

In Christ, Brian