4/3/13

From Gary V. Womack... THE CHURCH, GOD'S ARMY




THE CHURCH, GOD'S ARMY



Judg. 7:1-23 Gideon's army of 300 defeated 
          135,000 Midianites

NOTE: [vs. 21] "And every man stood in his place all around the camp..."
Together, by following God's instructions, they were victorious.

JESUS' KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD - NOR ITS WARFARE

Jn. 18:33-36 If an earthly kingdom, His servants 
                    would physically deliver Him.

2 Cor. 10:3-6 Our weapons of warfare are not 
                      carnal.

Eph. 6:10-18 Our warfare is against spiritual 
                     hosts in a dark world.

                    Our armor is designed so we can 
                    stand against this enemy.

                    NOTE: This armor not intended for a 
                                soldier to fight by himself.

THE CHURCH IS GOD'S ARMY - HIS KINGDOM

Eph. 1:20-ff "...according to His mighty power" the 
                    church is his body

THE KINGDOM = THE BODY = THE CHURCH 

(Remember Dan. 2:44)

Col. 1:13-14, 18 "He has delivered us from the 
                           power of darkness and translated 
                           us into the kingdom of the Son of 
                           His love. [14] in whom we have
                           redemption through His blood, the 
                           forgiveness of sins. [18] And He is 
                           the head of the body, the church
                           who is the beginning, the firstborn 
                           from the dead, that in all things He 
                           may have the preeminence."

"Church" - A collective noun (A noun, which in the singular form, denotes a collection of individuals.)

EXAMPLE: Soldier Soldiers Army Christian
                  Christians Church

                   Acts 26:28 Acts 11:26 Acts 2:40-ff

WE ARE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER

Rom. 12:3-5, 9-16 The church: many members in 
                             one body, individually 
                             members of one another.

Eph. 4:7, 11-16 God made provision for His army 
                         to be joined & knit together 
                        
                         Every part to do its share.

Acts 9:26-29 Why Paul tried to join himself to the 
                     church at Jerusalem.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ONE ANOTHER       Don't avoid this!

Eph. 4:1-3 We are to endeavor to keep the unity 
                  of Spirit in the bond of peace.

Heb. 10:23-24 Let us hold fast. Let us consider 
                       ONE ANOTHER

THE LORD NEVER INTENDED HIS PEOPLE TO BE LONERS

Eccl. 4:9-12 This is seen in the wisdom of 
                    Solomon.

HE INTENDED THEM TO BE "A PEOPLE"

Deut. 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the Lord 
                your God; the Lord your God has chosen 
                you to be a people for Himself, a special 
                treasure above all the peoples on the face 
                of the earth."

1 Pet. 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen generation, a 
                     royal priesthood, a holy nation, His 
                     own special people, that you may 
                     proclaim the praises of Him who called 
                     you out of darkness into His 
                     marvelous light; [10] who once
                     were not a people but are now the 
                     people of God, who had not obtained 
                     mercy but now have obtained mercy."

AS SOLDIERS, WE MUST BE WILLING TO ENDURE HARDSHIP     Don't try to avoid this!

Judg. 8:4 "When Gideon came to the Jordan, he 
                 and the three hundred men who were
                 with him crossed over, exhausted but still 
                 in pursuit."

2 Tim. 2:3-4 "You therefore must endure hardship 
                    as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4
                    No one engaged in warfare entangles 
                    himself with the affairs of this life, that 
                    he may please him who enlisted him 
                    as a soldier."

WE ARE TO WAGE A GOOD WARFARE - TOGETHER, SIDE BY SIDE

2 Sam. 11:8-11 Uriah was an honorable soldier, 
                         refusing to enjoy the pleasure
                         of home while his men 
                         encamped on the field of battle.

BUT SOME DEFECT - THEY RUN

1 Tim. 1:18-ff Hymenaeus & Alexander were 
                      deserters of the faith.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, DEFECTORS WERE SHOT. WHY? BECAUSE:

They put their fellow soldiers at risk
They put their women & children at risk
They dishonored those who died in battle who did not run.

Heb. 3:12-15 Warning not to be guilty of running.




INVITATION

Heb. 3:16-ff Don't be guilty of unbelief as            
                    Israelites at the threshold.

2 Thess. 1:3-8 While some faithfully endure, 
                        others fail to obey.

SAUL REPENTED - FROM PERSECUTOR TO DEFENDER

Acts 22:16 "And now why are you waiting? Arise 
                   and be baptized, and wash away your 
                   sins, calling on the name of the Lord."