Positioned for Battle

Positioned for Battle (1 Samuel 17: 20 – 26)


There are references in the Bible which speaks of God as the Lord of Hosts / Jehovah Sabaoth.

In 1st Samuel 17: 45 David the shepherd boy said "... I come to you in the name of the Lord our Hosts, the God of the army of Israel. Hannah cried out to the Lord in weeping because she was barren in 1 Samuel 1:3; Other references to Jehovah Sabaoth are 1 Samuel 4:4 and 17:45. Also the Lord is known as captain of the Lord of Hosts (Joshua 5:13-15) and Revelation 19:11-16 where it is stated that Jesus will come back soon on a white horse and prepare for war! The word Jehovah Sabaoth is a powerful word and a name of God. When we are in trouble, this is another mighty name to call upon. When the Lord is the God of Army, we are his soldiers and the church is the Army for God. Soldiers are called for a mission and they have to be prepared at all times for battle. The battle of a Christian is not with flesh and blood but against the dark and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). In other words we are fighting against things that our naked eyes can’t see or may not realise.

As soldiers and as an army of God there are characteristics we are to abide and follow.

1). The church is the Army of Living God. A soldier must be a disciplined person. Do what is right and avoid wrong at all times. We have to be obedient and honest. As the body of Christ we are to live together and NOT against each other. Compare the tiger and the lion. If one tiger fights against one lion, the tiger wins because the tiger is created to fight alone. However when a group of tigers fight against a group of lions, the LION wins most definitely because the Lion was created to move and live in groups. The Lord is the LION of Judah! We are the Army of the Living God. Our God has called us to live with unity and one accord. We are the body of Christ. We have to fight together with the Lord against the enemy.

2). I am a soldier prepared for Battle (2 Timothy 2:3) Timothy was a soldier. A soldier needs to be alert at all times. They must know their mission "Luke 4: 18 - 19 -The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" "Acts 1 : 8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"

3). Soldiers have been properly trained for Battle (Matthew 16:18 - And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it). In ministry too, servants of God are trained for battle. We come across people who have the personality to do ministry but they do not last for a long time in a church. But a true soldier remains till the very end. It is important to give training to those in the ministry and not simply place anyone to aid God's work. A pastor must train and equip those assisting him in ministry. Or esle the aide may leave after some time without reasons or cause problem to the ministry. Training is necessary for both Christians and servants of God. It prepares us mentally, physically and emotionally to fight with the Devil. I hear church members often complaining about their pastor who didn’t shake hands with them or the pastor reprimended them. As soldiers we cannot have a "cry baby" nature but toughen up for the Lord.

Genesis 4:7 - Sin is crouching at your door. Temptation can be found everywhere today. We have to be prepared for battle with Satan and know when the enemy is going to strike. In our lives, we do not realise that Satan is tempting us with offers. But a soldier must remain alert and smart to restrain the enemy's "charm".

4) Soldiers develope an agressive and offensive mindset. (Matthew 16:18)

A soldier moves ahead with the aim to win and not lose. Today we see Christians giving in to Satan's work because they get weary and tired of fighting. A Church must be Offensive and NOT defensive. We are attacking the evil one in hell together with the Lord. Members of the church and those active in ministry should not be having a laid back attitude. I am sure we notice that a church service may start at 8.30 am, yet members of the church walk in after 8.30 am as a routine. And there are some churches, where the church is to start at 8.30 am but the service would start at 9 pass. We have to wait for the Holy Spirit and not the other way round. We need to come early and be in prayer for the service. We are disciplined at work and in our studies yet when it comes to Church, Christians have a laid back nature. If we have a relaxed nature in our everyday life, it is so easy for the devil to enter our life and make us weak. Devil can not only attack us but the church as well.

5) Signing up (2 Timothy 2:3 - Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus)
Dear brothers and sisters after reading the message above, I hope you understand how important it is to be a soldier and not just a Christian. This Christmas, lets confess the Soldiers Pledge below:=

I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct, Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit– trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday school to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn I’ll be there. He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has, and will continue, to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army and I’m marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier marching, heaven bound.

God Bless You…