The Art of War
The Art of War
Unity of the troops
I.
Know your assignment
a.
Boot Camp
i. From
what I am told when one enters boot camp this is a time that the military
breaks you down and trains you. People are in a holding tank unable to engage
in war activity until your time is up. I think about the movie Glory where the
soldiers were constantly asking when they were going to fight. Luke 24:49 speaks of waiting time that the
disciples had to go through until they had power poured on them. The author
A.B. Simpson stated “these waiting days were necessary to enable the disciples
to realize their need, their nothingness, their failure, and their dependence
upon the Master. They had to be emptied before they would be filled.” (Empty me
Oh Lord!)
ii. Boot camp is a time that the enlisted are broken down, their identity stripped, and
redefined. I looked at my boy Stormy who went to the Marines. The last visit
was kinda sad for me because I saw how much the military changed him. I missed
the innocence that he had. I miss the wholesomeness but I understand it is part
of the process, part of “becoming a man”.
iii. “Basic
Training – often called boot camp – prepares recruits for all elements of
service: physical, mental and emotional.(Wow) It gives service
members the basic tools necessary to perform the roles that will be asked of
them for the duration of their tour. Each of the Services has its own training program, tailoring the curriculum to the
specialized nature of its role in the Military.” (Militarytoday.com)
iv. A
person cannot go into the military thinking the know everything. In the movie
Glory the country boy was a sharp shooter but the minute the Colonel added
pressure by yelling at him he got shaken up. But when he put a gun to his head
he did not know what to do. We are sharp shooters, when we are in our comfort
zone but the time is coming when the fight is being even more intensified and
the gun may very well be put to our heads and it will be asked (Joshua 24:15)
Choose whom you will serve. We must be able to handle the pressure. Right now
we are just being shaken up but will we be able to with stand? Will I be able
to withstand? Will my children be able to withstand?
v. Too
often we get saved, and have a natural zeal for our new found freedom in
Christ. We think we are ready to jump from boot camp to Colonel and all we got
was a buzz cut on the first day.
vi. The
Author of Waiting on the Holy Spirit stated “us missionary (as we all are
missionaries) types are usually highly motivated self-starters. If we were not
we would not make it past all the obstacles.” I personally can relate when he
goes on to say “we are highly motivated, we look ahead, we look at the big
picture and we look to accomplish long list of objectives. The temptation is to
take off on our own power mistaking it for God’s assignment. Then we have to
pray and ask God to bless our mess.” (Lord I am guilty of this) Often times God
does show us what he wants us to do but not intended for that time. I have shared
with a select few of assignments that God has showed me that I am to do, one
being books to write. Like a zealous saint, years ago I tried to jump right
into the task but learned through the mentoring of others that the time was not
upon me. Now looking back I can see how things are being lined up for when that
time comes. I need to finish the training and preparation. When I think of this
task, I see how Moses felt on that mountain. Exodus 4:10-17 You all have seen my emails where I miss
spell or mess up grammar, or what not. I look now and say Lord how? How am I
going to write a book, when I can barely handle emails? But he has assured me
he will equip me, if nothing else he gave me a husband who loves to edit. But I
have to humble myself and not take editing as a sign of not being good enough.
Part of our training is learning who we really are.
i. If
we stop and fulfill our time in boot camp we will leave equipped to handle what
is out there in this war. A war that is going to be gruesome and many will not
make it through. Boot camp helps to curb the burnout that would normally happen
from long nights in the trenches of prayer. Boot camp helps to instill patience
I need when dealing with those in the flesh that come against us or even
patience with myself. If I find ourselves going off, getting your feelings
hurt, jumping from ministry to ministry, prematurely exhausted, mad at the
Pastor, First Lady, Executive Pastors, and Elders because they say No, wait, or
even sit down then we need to go back to boot camp. We are not ready (yes, We).
Their No’s or their corrections are there to help equip us for the long haul of
battle.
1.
I presented my calendar to Bill, Sharion, First
Lady, and Pastor. They significantly cut it. I went in ready, excited, and
prepared after long hours of working on it. My flesh wanted to be hurt and
upset. I can handle it I kept telling myself but the spirit kept reminding me
to be humble and open to the input. I remember the training I had from my Papa
and Elder Relf. Now looking back there was protection in their cutting. Because
of it I was able to sustain during the demands of the play, holidays, and
everything else. We need to understand the art of peace be still.
ii. Luke
11:13- Stop questioning God’s will; Stop questioning God’s direction, Stop
question God’s correction. For all things work together for the good of those
who love God and are called according to His
Purpose. Romans 8:28
iii. I
had to accept the cutting and the counsel. I now find myself saying
Bill/Sharion “I need your brain”. Pastor “I have a question”, First Lady
“Help!!!” The trust is there in knowing they are preparing me. And though I
still do not know what all God has in store for me, I trust God and thus trust
those with authority over me.
iv. Acts
1:1-8 emphasis on verse 7 It’s not for you to know the when that you are done
with boot camp. It’s for us to trust God and our leaders. Stop questioning all
the time. There is something about trust it is scary and liberating all at the
same time. We learned in marriage fellowship that part of trust is being
vulnerable.
v. How
to wait in boot camp
1.
Be Quiet 1 King 19:11-13 we do not always have
to have something to say. Everything does not have to come in flashiness, with
an audience, or needs to be said at that particular time. God did not speak to
Elijah in the earthquake, the fire, the hurricane, but in a still soft voice.
If we are always wanting and looking for the shaking and quaking, we could miss
a true Godly encounter. Furthermore, in holding our tongues God is preparing us
for when he uses our tongue for His ministering to the broken. He then knows
that he can trust us with the task under his anointing. A flashy, wild out,
loose tongue when someone is broken and hurting can cause more damage than it
does ministering.
2.
Seek out truth about yourself……..yourself. This
is to me is a very uncomfortable step. Ask God to look into our deepest crevices
for anything not of him…. ANY THING. When in battle satan will take these to
use against us. So deal with them in boot camp. The last thing we need is to be
deep in battle and loose due to a hidden weakness.
3.
Yearn to Learn
a.
Get in our word
b.
Surround ourselves with wise Godly people.
c.
Embrace the correction, crave the wisdom, crave
to know more and to go deeper. Hebrews 12:11;
b.
Hardwired
i. We
are hardwired for greatness (Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 43:7 Psalm 139:14)
1.
When something is hardwired it is mounted with
the intention of not being easily moved. Often times we take for granted the
expertise of our creator and how he has hardwired us. The Bible has scriptures
that constantly remind us that we weren’t made by just any ole body. We were
actually made by the head creator of all. And each of us has a unique and one
of a kind design. Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:4
2.
God knows our design in detail, the most
intimate detail, yet we struggle in our lives to find our “purpose”, “passion”,
or “calling.” We must understand that God has hardwired us and he knows how he
did it, why he did it, and what he intends for it to be used for. We must tap
into God to find out what we are hardwired for. Nothing of this world will
gives us that true insight. This is a time when we cannot let that cloud our
heavenly calling.
3.
In seeking God for the truth of how we were
hardwired there is a great chance that we will begin to see how everything in
our lives (good and bad) are actually lined up to fulfill God’s ultimate
design. We look back on things that we said, did, or happened to us and see a
connection. The abuse that we encountered we will be able to see the blessing
in what God has been able to take what was meant for our demise and make it for
our good. We will be able to look at satan and say you thought you had me but
God has a plan all along. [DS1]
a.
One day I was at work at KinderCare and was
struggling so hard between what I was being asked to do by “company standards”
and what I knew was the right thing to do. I called my mom hidden behind the dumpster
balling my eyes out. I normally do not get along with my mother but this time I
knew I had to call her. My mother told me Davida, you are struggling because of
how you are hardwired. You have a heart for compassion for children. She told
me about the friends I would make that would make her skin crawl and how I just
wanted to save everyone. How when I was three she walked into her room to me
balling that they put nails in Jesus’ hands.
4.
When you understand your hardwiring it brings on
clarity to how valuable you are to God and your true identity in God. We will
no longer jump from thing to thing to find our place in life. We will no longer
compare ourselves to each other or mimic the latest ministry on the market. You
know your hardwiring, you know your identity, thus your true value to the
Kingdom, to this family, and to the fight.
5.
When we are hardwired we will fall in love with
seeing our sisters and brother’s success in the ministry. We will not be
envious or competitive.
c.
We will be able to stay in our lane.
i. A
person’s DNA is unique to them. Only identical twins have the same DNA….but
there are no identical twins in the Kingdom. Then why are we jumping trying to
be in every ministry and be like every good minister, pastor, evangelist,
prophet, singer, musician that we see. I remember hearing people say I have to
get a new suit like T.D. Jakes to preach, I need to be able to walk in heels
like Juanita Bynum when I speak, or have my nails done like Paula White. Stay
in your lane. God has called us for a unique ministry and will select how he
wants us to do it according to how he has hardwired us.
ii. How
each of us are hardwired compliments how we minister. Also, it complements the
other ministries in the church thus compliments the church. We do not need to
be like everyone else or try to jump in a ministry that we “think” is better
for us. God gave Jonah specific guidelines of where he wanted him to minister
but Jonah did not like that assignment. It was not what Jonah felt he should be
doing. Jonah wanted God to destroy Nineveh. God could be saying Davida I want
you to clean the church toilets but I feel no that is not my job. That I need
somewhere else that is more suitable for my talents. And like Jonah, we flee
from what God has sent us to do and jump ship to the yacht that looks better.
But in us trying to jump ship we mess things up for those on the yacht because
we are not supposed to be there. As a result we cause a storm to come that
didn’t have to be. We call that DRAMA!! What was meant to be a peaceful trip
for these fisherman turns out to be a big ball of drama. But those fisherman
had sense to kick him off their yacht.
iii. Then
there are the Son’s of Sceva Acts 19:13-18, we would not want to be trying to
flow in a ministry that is not of ours. We must stay in our lane. We all complement
each other. We are one big puzzle with many pieces, we connect and make a
beautiful picture when we are in our place. Yes, we support each other but we
are not to try lead every ministry. I was always taught where there are holes
than I am to help fill those holes. I am to do this by asking How Can I Help?
Not lead but help. Be a support not come in a try and out shine or take over
the lead but help. Don’t worry we will shine in our humbleness.
iv. What
is our motive?
1.
When we understand what God has hardwired us, we
are more likely to stay focused in our lane working in the ministry that God
has for us and also with the right heart. This is because we understand who we
are, who’s we are, and our true value in what he has designed us for. Galatians
1:10 ask the question of what is the motive? Is it to please man or God? Looking
1 Timothy 1:5-7 shares that the law is made out of love and is to be administered
with love. And the evidence of love are
1.
A pure heart
2.
A good conscience
3.
A faith unfeigned or sincere faith
2.
Matthew 5:7-12 tells us what happens when we
come at this fight with the right motives. Having the right motives, as a
product of knowing what you are hardwired for, will give the sustainability to
withstand the fire from the enemy. When the enemy comes against us (when we are
where God has called us and with the right motive) our test may be great but we
are able to be steadfast in what God has called us to do. This is because we
understand better and our heart is in line with God. We can look at satan and
say I will not be a part of any mess. James 4. Who do we think we are? Really?
We try to take ministries that are not ours, for reasons that are so far from
representing God, his pure and perfect love but yet we wonder why we suffer and
don’t have peace among ourselves. We walk around smiling but it can be seen in
our eyes and actions our misery. Do we not understand how amazing our God has
made us? We are to rejoice in each other’s calling from God because just as
unique and wonderful their ministry is, the one that God has wired in us is
also. But we don’t get it.
3.
Additionally we are not running off of our own
fuel when we are under the covering. It has been heard me saying that I am
running of Heavenly fuel or that God is fueling me. There is a difference. We
can run a block on our own strength but with God we can run ten miles. Like
with a water hose, being in line with God and understanding out hardwire in him,
takes the kink out of the hose so that power and energy is free to flow. And
flow free of mess and drama.
The Uniform looks good but are we truly ready for the fight.
II. We are in a war
There have been many wars fought in
this world some have lasted hundreds of years and the others thousands of
years. But there is no war that has last as long as the one going on between
Heaven and hell over the souls of people and the ultimate power. This war is
raged in our physical bodies, in the content of our minds, in our homes, on our
jobs, in our every encounters as we are going throughout the day, and even in
our churches. Yet one advance that we have as saints is the knowledge of the
genuineness of this war and it’s source. The world takes the battle between
good and evil very lightly. It is a cliché term that is used and often depicted
on T.V. as a good and bad image of yourself on each shoulder. This spiritual
war, like those that have been fought in history, is not joke. It takes lives,
kills families, cost time, resources, is exhausting, and can cause PTC of
saints. The day that we turn our lives over to Christ, we have volunteered to
become enlisted in God’s troops. As a solider, you are then part of the war but
just now on the winning team.
War
is not meant to be glorious. Often times Hollywood depicts war as a heroic
thing of honor where the soldier ride off in the sunset with his lady and his
victory. Though there is the honor and heroics of battle of being a solider I
do not believe it was meant to be a red carpet event.
a.
War is gruesome – Revelations 19 (I Love
Revelations)
i. This
chapter clearly depicts a war that is not your typical Hollywood staged war.
Just even the description of Christ leading the troops illustrates someone who
coming to fight and means business. His clothing was dipped in blood.
ii. Starting
from verse 17 it talks in detail about the fowls of the air to come and eat of
the flesh of those who are against Christ. Also to clear up the gruesomeness of
this Revelations 14: 14-20 emphasis on 20 – and the winepress was trodden
without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse
bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furloughs.” Or 184 miles space
worth of blood. GROSS!!!!
iii. In
History there are not wars that are fought and won as one just simple war. Wars
are fought through smaller battles with in a war. So the gruesomeness of the
wars is not just one set event, they are series of gruesome battles stretched
over time. We are dealing with battles with in the War of All Wars. Davida
Faint Not.
iv. So
we cannot be pansy soldiers. We cannot be cry baby soldiers, we have to be able
to endure. War is not for the weak, especially spiritual war yet we must
understand that there is absolutely no way that we can be the strong solider
that we need to be without Christ and each other. Christ is the only one that
can equip us and mature us into that soldier that we need to be. 2 Corinthians
12:9-10
b.
Calling in the Cavalry Rev. 19:11-14 (according
to Dakes notes) Christ has an army that consist of Christ and his Heavenly
Army. Yet satan will have Israel on one side, satan’s angels and satan’s demons
on another side, as well as earthly armies under the antichrist on another
side. It would seem we will be
outnumbered to one who does not understand.
i. The
cavalry of heaven consists of all those who are redeemed and resurrected
saints. According to the Dakes notes I read this includes ALL AGES. So my
questions is why do we take children’s ministry as lightly as we do. Those have
heard me say that this ministry is not a babysitting ministry. We are not
simply here to babysit children so they do not bother parents in service. These
children need to be trained. These children need to understand about salvation
so they too can be part of the Heavenly army. I want my baby with me in that
Heavenly army. I want to see your babies’ faces in that Heavenly army. Also, so
they will be able to withstand their salvation here on earth. As the song says
“There is an Army rising up.” They are part of that army and my heart yearns
for them to understand, be confident, and empowered soldiers in that army. The
plays we do, the games we play, the fun that we have is a learning tool used to
help:
1.
Present the material in a way the children can
understand and
2.
Meet the different learning needs of each child
(regardless of age or developmental level)
Remember the
enemy goes after the weak first. So how are we to be strong but leave our
children out there unprepared?
c.
Battle lines
i. A
tactic that was originally used when fighting in flat lands, allowed for troops
to fight in unity. Without covering of building and trees, etc. using the
tactic of battle lines brought additional power. When everyone fired at once
the impact would be greater than having random firing. Furthermore, standing
together decreased the chance of one of us running in defeat. We motivate each
other. We support each other. We one of us are wounded we are there to help and
fill in the gap until they are back. It bothers me to hear that LFM went
through a year where those who lead the battle lines needed time to regroup,
rest up, heal wounds and when that happen others in the battle lines where
either not will or not equip to help carry on. In 2014 we all have to do better,
we have to be armor bearers for one another. We cannot allow the enemy to gain
ground we have to keep the battle line moving forward.
d.
Flag Bearer:
i. In
the closing of the movie Glory (a movie I obviously enjoyed), the colonel ask
if this man should fall in battle who of you will be willing to pick up the
flag and press on. The flag bearer can easily be over looked as an insignificant
part of an army. But the flag helps to rally the troops. When we are deep in a
battle about ready to give up being able to get glimpse of that flag out of the
corner reminds of who our commander is. Seeing that flag helps to rally the
troops to not give up to push on in the fight. It unites us. And to think of
the strength that it takes to be the flag bearer. They do not have a cannon, or
any short of gun. They simply hold the flag (Nece, wow) and motivate us into
battle. Not from the back from the front close marching next to our commander.
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