What does it mean to be in Gods Army?

               If we would enlist in the US Army, we would sign our lives over to the government, They would then take us and train us night and day to be a soldier.  We would be ready to defend our country or war against another country at a moments notice.  We would go to where we were sent to complete the assigned mission as we face real enemies in this world.  We would be given the authority and the weapons and body armor needed  to carry out our mission.  We would free those who were captured by the enemy  We destroy the enemies capabilities to hurt us as we are hated by many.  I've sung this old familiar hymn countless times growing up, never truly understanding what it was talking about until now.  It is called Onward Christian Soldiers and here is verse 1, "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,  with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;  forward into battle see his banners go" .  When we accept Jesus as Savior by making him Lord over our life, we have signed up to be in Gods army, to be a soldier for Jesus Christ.

               There is a spiritual battle that rages every day.  We Face a real enemy as the enemy tries to oppress us, take captives, deceive us, steal from us, inflict pain and suffering on us and kill us.  1 Peter 5:8 says," Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"   John10:10 says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." and John 8:44 says," Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

              In Revelation 10:9,17 it says" And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. ¹⁷ And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

            Jesus came to earth in human form for a purpose.  This purpose is shown in the following verse, 1 John 3:8b, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."  Hebrews 2:14-15 also shows this ," Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."  Jesus came to destroy the devils works and the power over death, to reconcile us to him.  Jesus destroyed his works by forgiving sins, healing all the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and so much more. This was attacking the enemy head on by destroying the enemies’ works.  Before Jesus ascended to his father, he said in John 14:12,” Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”   We are to do the same things that Jesus did.  We have been recruited, the mission has been made clear, we are to war against the enemy by doing what Jesus did.  He doesn’t say its not going to be hard, but he said to have faith that we will overcome.  2 Timothy 2:3 says,” Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 

            We are fighting a spiritual battle and an enemy that we cant always see with our eyes.  Ephesians 6: 12 says,”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  How do we fight an enemy that we can’t always see? It may be difficult and there will be attacks against us, but we need to be prepared with the armor and weapons that God has given us for warfare.  Ephesians 6:7-13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”  All of these things are for defense except for one.

God gives us a sword, which is the word of God.  “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Jesus used the word of God as his weapon against Satan when he was being tempted by him.  Jesus did everything for our example.  Jesus even died like a soldier, John 15:13-14 says,” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ”  I am Jesus’s friend. I will do what he has commanded me to do.  I will put on the whole armor of God and renew my mind to grow into Christ.  I will be his hands and feet on this earth to go and do his works.  I am Gods son, mans servant, and the devils master.  Jesus became like me so that I could become like him. Are you his friend?