A MILITANT-LIKE SOLDIER: THE UNPARALLELED ARMY – The CHURCH of God in Christ Jesus stead!
“Thou therefore, my son, be STRONG in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same COMMIT thou to FAITHFUL men, who shall be able to TEACH others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, AS A GOOD SOLDIER of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that WARRETH entangleth himself with the AFFAIRS of this life; that he may PLEASE him who hath CHOSEN him to be a SOLDIER. 5 And if a man also STRIVE FOR MASTERIES, yet is he NOT CROWNED, except he STRIVE LAWFULLY” 2 Timothy 2:1-5
The Church of God, as an UNPARALLELED ARMY, is like a militant soldier who is daily at WAR in every aspect of doing life and living godly in Christ Jesus’ stead.
The Church of Christ is engaged constantly and continuously in spiritual WARFARE.
And everyone born of God’s nature in Christ Jesus needs to know it and be ready to engage whenever and wherever in this spiritual battle that has physical effect in our world, with resultant challenges to individuals’ lives, families, communities, nations, and more.
AND YOU ARE THE CHURCH THAT’S GLORIOUS, MILITANT-LIKE SOLDIER AND TRIUMPHANT IN NATURE IN CHRIST JESUS, BUILT-UP TO WIN AND TRIUMPH DAILY AS SET AND ASSURED
“But THANKS be to God, Who in Christ always LEADS us in TRIUMPH [as TROPHIES of Christ’s victory] and through us SPREADS and makes EVIDENT the FRAGRANCE of the knowledge of God EVERYWHERE, 15 For we are the SWEET FRAGRANCE of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15/Amplified Classic Edition.
“When He had DISARMED the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil OPERATING AGAINST us], He made a PUBLIC example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION], having TRIUMPHED OVER them through the cross” Colossians 2:14-15/Amplified.
The Church of God, in Christ Jesus’ stead, though engaged in constant MILITANT-LIKE spiritual warfare, is also a TRIUMPHANT Church.
Every warfare and battle defines, refines, refreshes, energises, rejuvenates, refires, and renews the Church; hence the Church is GLORIOUS in all, because its beauty is awesome despite satanic and cohorts’ efforts to fake, duplicate, pervert, and counterfeit these glorious attributes.
Therefore, get engaged and don’t watch from the sidelines or grandstand, else you become victim and prey rather than victor.
You are a WINNER in Christ Jesus’ stead any day and any way, everywhere, as long as you know and understand that you are equipped — being born of God and filled with His Spirit — to get engaged with the battles within and without.
Ephesians 6:10-20
The militant-like soldier — the Church of God in Christ Jesus’ stead — is at WAR with the FLESH within; and at WAR without, with the ENEMY and COHORTS that are against our FAITH in Christ Jesus; and at WAR with spiritual forces and PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS in heavenly and earthly places of doing life; and at WAR with man-made religious dogmas, denominational entanglements, doctrinal sectarian bonds, and traditional bye-laws and creeds in the name of God; and at WAR with many such like as may be identified by the Holy Spirit in the WORD of God as He leads the Church — you, local and universal.
[2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-20; Galatians 1:6-9; Jude 1:3-4; Philippians 1:15-18; Philippians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 5:8-10; Acts 8:10-25]
And this WAR and WARFARE is about our FAITH in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hence Apostle Paul says we should FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, indicating that some fights are uncalled-for, not good fights, not fights worth engaging in, and we should be aliens to them by every means.
Suffice it to know that the ENEMY and COHORTS are not necessarily after your physical possessions and wellbeing in their engagement of WAR and WARFARE against you.
They are actually using the things you think THEY ARE after as a distraction from the real deal.
Their main target is your FAITH — to make you GIVE UP on your faith in God in Christ Jesus.
Knowing that, as long as your steadfastness in God in Christ Jesus remains steady, you can ALWAYS recover all losses by winning and victorious FAITH, as Job did [1 John 5:3-5].
For Job recovered the more by taking the stand that the REDEEMER lives, in spite of all he went through with Satan and cohorts, friends, and wife against his stand in God — Job 19:25; Job 42:10-17.
“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” 1 Timothy 6:12
“Be SOBER, be VIGILANT (SMARTLY SENSITIVE, ALERT); because your ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR: 9 whom RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH, knowing that the same AFFLICTIONS are accomplished in your BRETHREN that are in THE WORLD. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, STABLISH, STRENGTHEN, SETTLE YOU. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” 1 Peter 5:8-11;
And because we ARE at war and warfare, it takes a spirited Militant-Like Soldier stand to win and triumph daily and always, as Apostle Paul admonished Timothy in the Holy Writ of 2 Timothy 2:1-5.
And to be a Soldier of Christ under the heavenly, wherein our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ is the Captain of the host of God’s unparalleled army on earth with the angelically assisted army, is a promise of full assurance of victory, triumph, overcoming, and such like. Joshua 5:13-15
And this rare privilege to be a Militant-like Soldier is made possible by the grace of God, and that gives us in the earthly sphere the right to be His ambassadors and representatives in Christ Jesus’ stead — 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
And as such, there is no room for errors and perversions in our walk in His stead. We need to war lawfully and obediently, otherwise we will be court-martialled and declared “PERSONA NON GRATA” for woefully defiling and disobeying orders as expected. [2 Timothy 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6]
Herein are some lessons to keep in mind as the UNPARALLELED ARMY — the Church of God in Christ Jesus’ stead — in order to avoid setbacks and set-ups, and to create a safety and security net that is WORTH doing to win in life and grace.
To begin with, WHAT IS A CHURCH?
A Church is you — an individual, the local, and the universal body of born-again Believers of God — on the WORD of God in Christ Jesus, filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, having under a Shepherd.
The reason why this CHURCH definition is important in the context of the Scriptures is because there are many loose individuals and local Believers out there who belong to no Shepherd, or rather are not under any Shepherd for reckoning, and as such are unaccountable to any under God as the Scripture has enjoined — [Hebrews 13:16-17].
Such Believers are vulnerable, positioned in a state of vulnerability knowingly or unknowingly — which is a state of ignorance, foolishness, arrogance, and stupidity due to zealousness without knowledge and understanding in context and perception.
For a while, my younger children have been watching a Netflix documentary programme called OUR PLANET. In the course of sitting with the children on a few occasions, I became curious about how the cat family — especially the Lion and Leopard — easily target their prey in order to feed and make a meal of them.
Most of the time, I discovered they are always looking to target a stand-alone prey from the herd. And once identified, in their chase they can corner that vulnerable stand-alone, and their day’s meal is set and made readily ready.
And it gives me a picture of how the ENEMY and COHORTS go about looking for that vulnerable stand-alone Believer in Christ Jesus — who is not keen to have a covering Shepherd over their head. They roam about as spiritual harlots, accountable to no one, and none can account on their behalf — Hebrews 13:16-17.
These Believers that belong to no fellowship, or local assembly, or attend any gathering of God’s precious and redeemed people are exposed as lone soldiers for the enemy and cohorts to PREY upon in challenging and difficult times.
DON’T BE A LONE MILITANT-LIKE SOLDIER, BELIEVER, AND MINISTER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST GOSPEL MINISTRY
When you think that because you can read the Bible and pray to Father God in Christ Jesus, and speak in tongues of the Holy Spirit, you do not need interaction, communication, and fellowship with other Believers of the same Father — you are knowingly setting yourself up as a lone soldier.
I have seen people who are so bound to their set denomination, doctrine, and sectarian setting that when they come to a new dwelling place and cannot find the same kind of local assembly they came from, they will not worship and serve God wholeheartedly in any new place of gathering.
And some will immediately form their own gathering as if that is the only mark to worship and serve God worthily and acceptably and make heaven.
And unfortunately, some Ministers are not in any way out of this hook, because they have so much indoctrinated people with denominational spirit rather than with the Gospel of the body ministry of Christ Jesus. As such, they use their opportunity to open up an extension of their denomination branch and immediately make such people Pastors overnight, even when the individuals know there is no call of God upon their life for such spiritual placement and position. Hence today there are all manner of confusion, schisms, perversion, and adulteration in the body ministry of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.
And it is of such like that Apostle Paul warns Timothy not to suddenly lay hands on any man for a spiritual high office, to safeguard the body ministry — 1 Timothy 5:22.
In my watching over natural national militant soldiers and interacting with a few to hear their respective storylines, one thing I have learnt and can conclude is that they never fight alone without team spirit and set back-ups, so that when there is an injury from the enemy and cohorts’ side, there is an immediate response to take their own out of the battle side, whether dead or alive, to preserve the honour, dignity, and integrity to SERVE as a soldier.
Unfortunately, in Church life over the years, especially where ignorance, stupidity, foolishness, and schism exist, I have seen from the grandstand where fellow UNPARALLELED ARMY are abandoned and left for the enemy and cohorts to have a full feed day upon, in the name of punishment or sectarian reasons.
Yet, the Commandant of the UNPARALLELED ARMY, our Lord Jesus, will not abandon and let His own be devoured, but will take them along as the good, Chief, and Great Shepherd of the sheep, to nurse His own and strengthen them so that they can recover speedily and live to fight another day, as David did against the Lion and the Bear that came for his father’s sheep he was shepherding — and he was able to keep the sheep safe, secure, and protected as the Scriptures recorded — 1 Samuel 17:34-37.
You ARE a MILITANT-LIKE SOLDIER.
You ARE THE UNPARALLELED ARMY.
You ARE the CHURCH of God in Christ Jesus’ stead.
Be wise to take your place and PUT OFF the civilian uniform and PUT ON the armour of who you ARE in God in Christ Jesus’ stead.
Amen. Colossians 3:9-15; Ephesians 6:10-18
BLESSED REGARDS IN THIS READ IN GOD’S BLESSEDNESS. AMEN.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest WAR A GOOD WARFARE; 19 HOLDING FAITH, AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE; which some having PUT AWAY CONCERNING FAITH have made shipwreck: 20 of whom is Hymenæus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” 1 Timothy 1:18-20.
“I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I have finished my course, I have KEPT THE FAITH: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his SWORD DRAWN IN HIS HAND: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as CAPTAIN OF THE HOST of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15 And THE CAPTAIN of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so” Joshua 5:13-15.
“Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16 Behold, I have CREATED the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an INSTRUMENT for his work; and I have CREATED the waster to destroy. 17 No WEAPON that is FORMED AGAINST thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise AGAINST thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the HERITAGE of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” Isaiah 54:15-17.
“And they OVERCAME him by the blood of the Lamb, and by THE WORD of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” Revelation 12:11.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL against it” Matthew 16:18.
“Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH in Christ, and maketh MANIFEST the savour of his knowledge by us in EVERY PLACE” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
“But thanks be to God, which GIVETH US THE VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 15:57.
“Nay, in all these things WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him that loved us” Romans 8:37.
“For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMETH the world: and this is the victory that OVERCOMETH the world, even our FAITH. 5 Who is he that OVERCOMETH the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5.
“Ye ARE of God, little children, and have OVERCOME them: because GREATER is HE that is IN you, than he that is in the world. 5 They ARE of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We ARE of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of ERROR” 1 John 4:4-6.
“It is true that I am an ordinary, weak human being, but I don’t use human plans and methods to WIN MY BATTLES. 4 I use God’s MIGHTY WEAPONS, NOT THOSE MADE BY MEN, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. 5 These WEAPONS can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding Him. With these WEAPONS I can capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ. 6 I will use these weapons against every rebel who remains after I have first used them on you yourselves and you surrender to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (LB).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not IMPUTING their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION. 20 Now then, WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
“Finally, my brethren, be STRONG in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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 ARMOUR of God, that ye may be able to WITHSTAND in the EVIL day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints . . .” Ephesians 6:10-20.
SUMMARY:
The message presents the Church of God as God’s UNPARALLELED ARMY — militant-like soldiers engaged in constant spiritual warfare, yet at the same time triumphant, glorious and victorious in Christ Jesus.
- BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR THE SOLDIER IDENTITY
Drawn from 2 Timothy 2:1-5, every believer is called to:
- Be STRONG in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
- Endure hardness AS A GOOD SOLDIER
- Not entangle with the affairs of this life in order to PLEASE Him who chose us
- STRIVE LAWFULLY so we can be crowned
Other anchors: Ephesians 6:10-20 — put on the whole armour. 1 Peter 5:8-11 — be sober, vigilant, resist the devil steadfast in faith.
- THE NATURE OF THE WARFARE
This is not physical war. The Church is at WAR:
Within — with the FLESH
Without — with the ENEMY and COHORTS against our FAITH
With spiritual forces, PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS
With man-made religious dogmas, denominationalism, sectarian bonds, traditions
The real target of the enemy is not your possessions. It is your FAITH — to make you GIVE UP on God. But like Job, victorious faith means you can ALWAYS recover all losses — Job 19:25; Job 42:10-17; 1 John 5:3-5.
- THE CHURCH’S TRIUMPHANT IDENTITY
Though in warfare, the Church is GLORIOUS and TRIUMPHANT.
- Christ has already DISARMED rulers and authorities and TRIUMPHED OVER them — Colossians 2:14-15
- God ALWAYS CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH in Christ — 2 Corinthians 2:14
- We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS — Romans 8:37
- The GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL — Matthew 16:18
Every battle defines, refines, energises and renews the Church. Satan’s attempts to fake and counterfeit cannot diminish her beauty.
- THE CALL: DON’T BE A LONE SOLDIER
A key warning: DON’T BE A LONE MILITANT-LIKE SOLDIER.
Using the illustration from OUR PLANET, lions and leopards target stand-alone prey. In the same way the enemy looks for Believers with no covering Shepherd, no fellowship, no local assembly.
Hebrews 13:16-17 is cited — we need to be accountable under a Shepherd.
Problems highlighted:
- Denominational bondage that prevents worshipping elsewhere
- People forming their own gatherings without calling
- Ministers making people Pastors overnight without God’s call — 1 Timothy 5:22
This creates confusion, schisms and perversion.
Like natural soldiers who fight with team spirit and back-ups, the Church must not abandon her own. Jesus as Commandant and Great Shepherd will nurse, strengthen and restore us to fight again — 1 Samuel 17:34-37.
- OUR PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Because of grace, we have the right to be ambassadors and representatives of Christ — 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Christ is the Captain of the host with an angelically assisted army — Joshua 5:13-15.
Therefore we must war LAWFULLY and OBEDIENTLY, else we face spiritual “court-martial”.
- FINAL CHARGE
You ARE a MILITANT-LIKE SOLDIER. You ARE THE UNPARALLELED ARMY. You ARE the CHURCH.
Put off the civilian uniform. PUT ON the armour of God. Be wise, be in fellowship, be under covering, and FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH — 1 Timothy 6:12.
IN ONE SENTENCE:
Because we are in a daily spiritual war, every believer must recognise they are part of God’s UNPARALLELED ARMY, fight lawfully and in community under Christ the Captain, guard their faith above all, and live as a triumphant, glorious Church that cannot be defeated.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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