The Soldier's Guide
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Author: E A. |
The Soldier's Guide
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08/15/2008 |
For Prepare Ministries this issue of The Soldier’s Guide Blog marks a new beginning for a couple of reasons. First, this is the premier edition of this blog. The purpose of which is to help believers incorporate the realities of “spiritual warfare” with everyday life, thereby securing spiritual victories where they count the most – in the arena that God has given to us. You may be very familiar with the realities of battling the “evil spirits in the heavenly places” or this may be a new idea for you. We do know from scripture however, that we have an enemy, so, whether it be your own household or extended family, your city or even your nation, where God has you is your theater of conflict and where He also intends for you to see victory. What does this mean for me? In the days to come it will be more helpful to become a warrior in the army of God than to just talk about it. However, this publication is not a “how-to” manual on spiritual warfare. The contents of this newsletter are designed to help you become a soldier not just be more familiar with the terms. We will focus on articles that help us discover what the characteristics of a soldier are and how to incorporate these with everyday life.On the one hand, the scriptures say, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier” (I Tim. 2:4). However, the scriptures also say, “Now I (Jesus) am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you . . . I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one” (John 17:11, 15).So, how do we take this reality, that we are called to “wrestle . . . with powers and principalities", with us to the doctor’s office and little league games. The goal of every Christian should be to display the life changing power the Almighty in the routine of each day by tearing down the stronghold of the enemy. We do this by bringing life, eternal life with us everywhere we go. We do not fight to take lives but to restore them. The mission if you will is to give life, not take it. Seedtime and Harvest Another reason this month is a new beginning is because it is the culmination of several years of vision and preparation for me personally. The Lord began this work within me as a young man, namely the desire to serve Him and His household, but as is customary with the Lord, the fulfillment of that desire would not come until years later, in my case some twenty years later. We should not be surprised when God deals with us this way. Just look around, all of nature is a seed and growth process by His design. We do not give it a second thought when we observe plant life for example, because we know that plants begin with seeds and then grow. So basic is the reality that mentioning it here seems pointless, but we must understand that this reality applies to the calling of God as well. Several years ago, I had a vision of the Lord; we were sitting in a clearing of an expansive wheat field. Catching me off guard, He abruptly arose and said, “Let’s go”, then He disappeared into the field before I could respond. I realize now that was the invitation to follow Him but the growing and preparation process was next, not the commissioning. Even so, when the preparation time is over, it’s time to go! Begin God has planted the seed of a divine destiny in you. Whether you are a new believer or if you have been a Christian for 50 years, you have the same life changing power residing within you as all the great hero’s of the faith have ever had. Begin today asking the Lord what part of the Kingdom you are to build. Commit to hearing his voice and following Him daily. There is no prescribed waiting period, during which you must become a qualified Christian before you are allowed to minister in His name. Just keep humility as a mantle upon your thoughts and do not look to man for approval. Step out in radical faith believing that if the Spirit gives you the compulsion to act, God will be there to meet you.Finish You can finish as Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” 2 Tim. 4:7-8. It is God who has planted the seed to serve Him in you, and it is He who will bring for the fruit in due season. Your part is to say yes and co-labor with Him in His work. Nothing else in this life will bring you more peace and satisfaction than knowing you are fulfilling your destiny, so begin!v |
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