Becoming a Mighty Army of the Lord (Part 1)

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

2 Timothy 2: 1-3

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

Remember this old Sunday School song?

“God's got an army we’re marching through the land

Deliverance in our songs and healing in our hands

Everlasting joy and gladness in our hearts

And in God’s army, I've got a part.”

Our times are perilous, but God has an both a heavenly army and an earthly army. Our Commander-in-Chief has issued a call for us to join Him. Yet, many Christians are sitting on their blessed assurance, fearfully complaining as they await the coming rapture.

The rapture is coming. It is coming in God’s timing. Jesus told His followers in Acts 1:7: "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

This is not a season to wrap ourselves in the rapture. It is a time to go to war. It is the mission of the Church, the earthly army of the Lord, to be about our Father’s business until our Lord returns. Our mission is to preach the good news of deliverance, healing and everlasting joy that comes through a covenant relationship with God that has been purchased and sealed by Calvary.

It is a time to decree Psalm 144:1-2: “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle, my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge.”

Paul describes the battle we are facing in Ephesians 6:12-13: “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

This is an evil day. Are you ready and willing to withstand?

Eph 5:15-20: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

How are you speaking to yourself?

God is training His army today just as He has done in the past. In the wilderness of Sinai, He changed a generation that had been born of fearful people operating in a slave mentality. He changed the children of those people who had often desired to be dependent upon their oppressors. He changed that new generation into a conquering powerhouse.

He can do the same for us.