The Church in Action

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The Church in Action
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Lesson 10
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Lesson TextLuke 1121-23
Luke 1121-23 21 When a strong man armed keepeth
his palace, his goods are in peace 22 But when a
stronger than he shall come upon him, and
overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour
wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23
He that is not with me is against me and he that
gathereth not with me scattereth.
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Lesson TextRomans 1312, 14
Romans 1312, 14 12 The night is far spent, the
day is at hand let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness, and let us put on the armour
of light. . . . . . 14 But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ.
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Lesson TextII Corinthians 104
II Corinthians 104 (For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strong holds)
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Lesson TextEphesians 610-13
Ephesians 610-13 10 Finally, my brethren, be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.
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Lesson TextEphesians 610-13
12 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. 13
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.
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Lesson TextEphesians 614-17
Ephesians 614-17 14 Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness 15 And your feet
shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
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Lesson TextEphesians 614-17
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God.
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Focus VerseMatthew 1112
Matthew 1112 And from the days of John the
Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force.
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Focus Thought
The early church rose as a militant force that
should continue to function as a victorious army
of believers advancing the kingdom of God on
earth.
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Matthew 1112
Introduction
Jesus did not call His disciples soldiers or
warriors, and He did not attempt to establish His
kingdom by the force of war. Jesus answered, My
kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom were
of this world, then would my servants fight, that
I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is
my kingdom not from hence (John 1836).
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Matthew 1112
He did, however, describe the power of His
kingdom as an unstoppable force in the earth and
in the world to come. And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it (Matthew 1618). The
kingdom of God involves an invasion of truth and
light rather than troops and explosions. He told
His disciples they were salt and light in the
world. Both salt and light are aggressive
substances that penetrate and infiltrate whatever
they touch.
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Matthew 1112
And from the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force (Matthew 1112).
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Matthew 1112
In his commentary Matthew Henry states, The
kingdom of heaven suffereth violencebiazetaivim
patitur, like the violence of an army taking a
city by storm, or a crowd bursting into a house,
so the violent take it by force. Old Testament
prophets prophesied concerning the kingdom of
Jesus Christ. For instance, Daniel characterized
the kingdom as a huge stone that would crush the
kingdoms of the world.
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Matthew 1112
John the Baptist came preaching in the spirit and
power of Elijah, declaring the coming of the
Messiah, and his powerful message shocked his
generation to attention. (See Malachi 45-6.) He
opened the door to a kingdom not from this world
but with authority over the entire world. The
Messiahs kingdom is still available to the
hungry, the aggressive, and the desperate.
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I. A Vigilant Army
A Vigilant Army
A. Good Soldiers
1. Endure Hardness. Thou therefore endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No
man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier (II Timothy
23-4).
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A. Good Soldiers
The apostle Paul used the commonly known image
of a soldier to good advantage to instruct
Timothy, his son in the gospel. Paul expected
Timothy to dedicate himself at all costs to the
cause of propagating the truth he had committed
to him. Paul knew that a soldier often must
endure severe deprivation in the execution of his
duties. He may have to suffer separation from
family and friends exposure to cold, heat, and
storms living on meager rations fatigue and
injury in battle.
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A. Good Soldiers
If soldiers are willing to endure and even die
for their nation, then surely we should be
willing to do the same for the Lord and His
kingdom. To enter into the work of the church as
believers with any less commitment would be an
opportunity for abject failure. The military
trains soldiers to take orders from their
commanders and act immediately as they are told
without question, even if it involves danger or
possible death.
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A. Good Soldiers
Some believers have tried to negotiate the
minefield of Christian service without the
training or commitment needed to succeed, and
they have failed miserably. A soldiers life is
not a life of ease, and the life of a believer is
one that requires complete dedication to the
cause of Jesus Christ. Partial obedience is
disobedience! God demands total obedience. King
Saul tried to substitute sacrifice for obedience,
but God would not accept the substitute (I Samuel
1522).
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A. Good Soldiers
Jesus told a story about two sons who were given
orders by their father, and one of the boys
substituted words for obedience (Matthew
2128-32). His words were not accepted. In His
parable of the talents (Matthew 2514-30), Jesus
told about a one-talent man who tried to
substitute excuses for obedience, and he was
judged unacceptable. There is no tolerance for
disobedience. There is no substitute for complete
obedience.
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Revelation 210
Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison, that ye may be tried and ye shall
have tribulation ten days be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life
(Revelation 210).
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Revelation 210
When a soldier is called up for active duty, he
recognizes that engaging the enemy may result in
casualties. His focus, however, should not be on
the possibility of death but on the mission at
hand. There is no reward for the half-committed
or the faint at heart. Those who leave the battle
in fear or because of other distractions lose
their reward and the opportunity to defend a
cause greater than themselves.
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Revelation 210

Living successfully for the Lord is an endurance
contest. But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved (Matthew 2413). When
the apostle Paul knew his term of service had
come to a close, he wrote, I have fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing (II Timothy 47-8).
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Revelation 210

The final testimony of the saints in glory will
be that they were overcomers who were faithful
unto death. When counting the cost, they believed
the cause was greater than the cost. And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony and they loved not their
lives unto the death (Revelation 1211).
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Revelation 210
2. Remain Focused. In Pauls epistles, he used
the word together thirty-nine times the word
appears eight times in the general epistles and
in the Book of Revelation. God intends for us to
have unity. We are connected by the common cause
of the gospel, by the blood of the atonement, by
the name of the Savior, and by the Spirit of our
God. The military trains soldiers to fight as a
unit with everyone functioning like a well-oiled
machine with the same plan and purpose.

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Revelation 210
As each one accomplishes his mission, it advances
the common goal of the unit. As a result of the
different skills of many soldiers in a company
all working together in harmony, their combined
efforts enable them to complete the task of their
mission. In the same way, the New Testament
church should work together in one accord. The
gifts of the Spirit all work together to edify
the body of Christ. They function in love and do
not compete for recognition (I Corinthians
131-8).

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Revelation 210
Further, Jesus Christ gave five gifts of ministry
to His church to equip believers for edification
(Ephesians 411-12). He gave to the church
apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and
evangelists they do not compete, but complement
one another in accomplishing the work of God.
It is impossible to be on the field of battle
fighting a war and also taking care of the daily
necessities at home. There are the problems of
the distance from home to battlefield and the
distractions of dealing with the enemy.

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Revelation 210

We cannot think effectively about two distinctly
different worlds at the same time. The soldier in
battle must trust the details at home to the care
of a responsible person. To be effective on the
battlefield, a soldier must focus on his present
task or his life and the lives of others are at
risk. His distraction in combat could ultimately
cause the loss of the entire mission.
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Revelation 210

Jesus warned His disciples, Therefore take no
thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What
shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be
clothed? (For after all these things do the
Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things. But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness and all these things shall be
added unto you (Matthew 631-33).
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Revelation 210
For this reason, Jesus taught His disciples not
to spend excess energy worrying about the
necessities of life (food, clothing, and
shelter). While we are distracted with worry over
the things God has promised to supply, the enemy
has the opportunity to slip by us and take
advantage of our distraction. We either trust God
to supply or we do not trust Him. A soldier may
have a hundred pounds of gear in his field pack
and hanging from his shoulders, depending on his
position and responsibility.

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Revelation 210
He never knows when he will need any one of the
items he is carrying. To prejudge the necessities
of the battle and remove some things could be a
costly decision. He does not need, however, any
unessential burdens. In similar fashion,
believers need to divest themselves of
unessential burdens that sap their strength
(Hebrews 121). The shortest distance between
two points is a straight line. However, the
spectrum of a human life rarely, if ever,
consists of only a straight line between two
points.

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Revelation 210


Every life encounters times when life veers away
from the straight line and meanders through
distant and unfamiliar points. One could call
these times detours. Detours in life can be
interesting, even exciting the end result,
however, can be costly. Some detours in life are
designed by God while others are the result of
the curiosity of the wandering human spirit.
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Revelation 210


Jesus had several opportunities to ascend to an
earthly throne in a temporal kingdom. However, He
refused because His kingdom was not of this
world. He set His face as a flint toward
Jerusalem and the purpose for which He was born
(Isaiah 507 Luke 951). Like a soldier and
his need for his basic gear, we must never leave
behind the basics of the Christian life.
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Revelation 210

If we are to be successful and effective as
believers in Jesus Christ, we must settle in our
minds whose kingdom we are advancing and not
allow ourselves to be distracted by the
enticements of the enemy of our soul. In John
Bunyans Pilgrims Progress, the main character,
Christian, was besieged by distractions of every
kind. For the believer, the most attractive
temptations are often the ones that offer to
shorten the journey or to save costs.

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Revelation 210


It appeals to the flesh readily because the flesh
is basically lazy. However, there are no
shortcuts in the development of character.
Character is developed in the mundane duties of
life by consistently making the right choices. In
the heat of battle, we are exposed to death in
all of its raw reality. This is where we find out
whether we have developed the character to
instantly and instinctively make the right
decision.
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Revelation 210

The source of disunity in a body of believers
can often be found among those who are murmuring,
complaining, and arguing with authorities. Often
the issues that are brought up are not the real
problems. The root often involves ones
difficulty of submitting to authority. One of the
five major sins of Israel in the wilderness was
murmuring. The others were lust, idolatry,
fornication, and tempting God. Paul warned
believers to learn a lesson from the destruction
suffered by Israel in the wilderness because of
their sins (I Corinthians 105-11).


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Revelation 210



The lack of unity in a church can result in an
inward focus that clouds the real purpose of the
church. We must not allow ourselves to be
distracted by petty issues that cause dissention
and break the unity of the Spirit in the church.
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Revelation 210



People of the world around us often justify
their behavior by what they see happening in the
church. When believers behave as ungodly people
outside the church, we give them an opportunity
to blaspheme the name of the Lord (II Samuel
1214). If we are to be the light of the world in
a crooked and perverse generation, we must
demonstrate the light of Jesus Christ
(Philippians 214-15).

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B. Equipped for Battle
B. Equipped for Battle
The kind of weapons used in a battle are
determined by the factors of location,
combatants, and timing. Choosing the appropriate
weapon for the battle often will determine the
outcome. Paul the apostle observed that we live
in the natural realm of flesh and blood, but the
location of our battle is in the spiritual world
of human and demonic spirits (II Corinthians
104).
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B. Equipped for Battle
We are fighting against a spiritual system that
opposes the knowledge of God. We can observe this
system at work through the fallen nature of human
flesh and through the devil. This ungodly
spiritual system is our enemy, but sadly, many
peopleeven some believershave been convinced
that their enemy is another human being. Our
fellow man is not the enemy.

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B. Equipped for Battle

Fortunately, we have an arsenal of spiritual
weapons and armor specially designed for the
spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. Paul
said our weapons are mighty through God and will
destroy demonic strongholds, refute carnal
arguments and philosophies, and take captive all
kinds of wrong thinking.
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Ephesians 610-11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and
in the power of his might. Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians
610-11).
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Ephesians 610-11
It is essential that we take advantage of the
weapons God has given to us and learn to use them
effectively.
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
C. A Strong Advancing Army
1. Disposition is aggression. Jesus Christ
commissioned the New Testament church as an
unstoppable force in this world and in the world
to come. The church is not only maintaining a
position of defense it is storming the very
gates of hell. Jesus assured Peter that the gates
of hell shall not prevail against the church
(Matthew 1618). In other words, hell cannot
repulse the onslaught of the church. We are armed
with the armor of light (Romans 1312).
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
We belong to the kingdom of light, and the
kingdom of darkness cannot resist the invasion of
light. (See John 15 Colossians 112-13.) In
the same way David ran to meet Goliath on the
battlefield, we can run toward the enemy and
defeat him wherever we see him at work. Jesus
gave the church the power to bind on earth
whatever has already been bound in heaven and to
loose on earth whatever has already been loosed
in heaven.
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven and whatever you bind (declare to be
improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is
already bound in heaven and whatever you loose
(declare lawful) on earth must be what is already
loosed in heaven (Matthew 1619, AMP). Moreover,
the Lord has given the believer power over the
enemy at every level, and we have no reason to be
fearful. If we fear God, we need not fear
anything else (Mark 67 Luke 1019 Matthew
1028 Romans 1620).
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
The strong man in his palace that Jesus spoke
about in Luke 1121-23 illustrates the devils
stronghold in some individuals lives. The Lord
is the stronger One who overthrew the strong man
and took his armor and all of his goods.
Believers should understand that the New
Testament church does not operate on the premise
of placating, negotiating, or conceding to the
enemy. We are confronted by an enemy who is our
sworn adversary. His plan of attack is to steal,
kill, and destroy.
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
We operate from the authority of complete victory
already won for us by the battle in Gethsemane,
on the cross, and through the Resurrection.
Whatever Jesus did in His ministry and whatever
He empowered His disciples to do in their
ministry, we also have the authority and the
power to do today.
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
2. Position is advancement. The New Testament
church is built on the foundation of the
apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ the chief
cornerstone (Ephesians 220). It resolutely
affirms and proclaims the truth on which it
stands. Paul exhorted believers to put on the
whole armour of God so they could stand against
the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 611).
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
In the days of the prophet Elisha, the king of
Syria sent an army to find the prophet and arrest
him (II Kings 614-17). When the army arrived at
Dothan, Elishas servant was overcome with fear.
Elisha told his servant, Fear not for they that
be with us are more than they that be with them
(II Kings 616). Elisha prayed for the Lord to
open the servants eyes so he could see that the
mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire
around Elisha.
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I John 44
Ye are of God, little children, and have
overcome them because greater is he that is in
you, than he that is in the world (I John 44).
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C. A Strong Advancing Army
Someone asked the question, What would you
attempt for the kingdom of God if you knew you
could not fail? The church is designed to
advance even in the face of the enemy. We have
nothing to fear because our Lord is our commander
and leader. When God has given the command to
advance, who are we to countermand Him? God told
Moses at the Red Sea to tell the people to go
forward (Exodus 1415). The New Testament church
has no reverse gear it is made to move forward
and advance.
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II. A Versatile ArmyFlexible and Mobile
A Versatile ArmyFlexible and Mobile
A. Regardless of Enemy Tactic or Attack
No weapon that is formed against thee shall
prosper and every tongue that shall rise against
thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their
righteousness is of me, saith the LORD (Isaiah
5417).
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A. Regardless of Enemy Tactic or Attack
No weapon, vessel, instrument, or deceptive work
of the enemy can succeed against us despite the
fact that the devil is the master of disguises.
He is the original thief, the first murderer, and
the father of liars. He is called the accuser of
the brethren (Revelation 1210). Even when he
transforms himself into an angel of light, we can
be aware of his deceit because we are not
ignorant of his devices (II Corinthians 211
1114).
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Isaiah 5417
The Spirit of God searches all things, including
the deep things of God (I Cor-inthians 29-16).
It reveals the mind and the wisdom of God, the
spirit of man, and the spirit of the world. When
we listen to the Spirit of God, He always will
lead us in the path of righteousness. The enemys
greatest power is the power of suggestion. He
works in our thoughts with suggestions, but he
cannot read our minds.
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Isaiah 5417
We have not been given the spirit of fear to come
under its bondage, but we have been given
spiritual power, Gods love, and a sound mind (II
Timothy 17). Fear has torment, but the perfect
love of God will cast out all fear (I John 418).
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Luke 1019
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt
you (Luke 1019).
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B. Regardless of Battle Intensity
B. Regardless of Battle Intensity
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have
Jesus Christ in us (Romans 89-11 I Corinthians
316 Colossians 127). We have been filled with
the Spirit of the almighty God, and we also are
led by His Spirit (Romans 814).
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Isaiah 5919
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the
west, and his glory from the rising of the sun.
When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the
Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard
against him (Isaiah 5919).
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Isaiah 5919
Our great Commander is on the battlefield with
us. He was manifested in flesh, condescending to
the level of His troops. He is a faithful leader
and commander. Jesus promised His disciples that
He would never leave them or forsake them.
Whatever attack the enemy chooses to employ
against us will fail. The Spirit of God will rise
to meet the onslaught and give us His battle
plan.
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Isaiah 5919
The same Spirit that leads us will rise up in us
against the enemy and he will flee from us. James
wrote, Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
(James 47).
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III. A Victorious Army
A Victorious Army
God initiated the program of redemption for the
human race in the Old Testament with the promise
in Genesis 315. God knew the end from the
beginning and set in motion the factors that
ultimately would consummate the drama (Isaiah
4610). He did not plan for defeat. What He saw
was what He declared would be.
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Isaiah 5919
In the Old Testament, God brought Israel out of
Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand and needed
only one man to get the job done. God took the
wrath of man and forced it to praise Him (Psalm
7610). In the New Testament, the Lord stripped
death of its sting by the death of the Son of
God. He robbed the grave of its victory by
ascending from it. He broke the power of sin by
fully satisfying the righteous demands of the
law, and He brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel (II Timothy 110).
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Isaiah 5919
Our great God does not use the language of defeat
because He has never been defeated. Jesus
purchased our salvation at the price of His life.
Our eternal destiny in the church is a settled
issue. We are overcomers now and also in eternity.
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Transparency 3
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II Corinthians 214
In the bright light of heavens accomplishments
on our behalf, what choice do we have but to
rejoice? The Lord from glory has declared that
His church will never suffer defeat, will never
be lost, will never be confounded.
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II Corinthians 214
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us
to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the
savour of his knowledge by us in every place (II
Corinthians 214).
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II Corinthians 214
Conclusion
The apostle Pauls view of the church in a
military setting was of an army equipped with
supernatural weapons for spiritual conquest. The
commanding officer was the Lord from glory, and
He has never been defeated. The sworn enemies
of the church are the world (Mark 1313), the
flesh (Mark 1438), and the devil (Ephesians
611-12). The enemy promotes the works of
darkness using many disguises and forms of
deception.
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II Corinthians 214
The church wears the armor of light, and as long
as the believer is covered by the armor and uses
the sword of the Word of God, the darkness has no
power over him. Paul admonished us to cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the
armour of light (Romans 1312). We can live
victorious, triumphant lives in this present
ungodly generation because of the power of God at
work in us. The believer is not to live in fear
of the enemy or in fear of failure.

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Jude 24, AMP
Now to Him Who is able to keep you without
stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present
you unblemished (blameless and faultless)
before the presence of His glory in triumphal joy
and exultation with unspeakable, ecstatic
delight (Jude 24, AMP).
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Jude 24, AMP
The New Testament church is equipped, empowered,
and predestined for victory. Regardless of the
attack of the enemy, we can rest assured in Gods
ability to preserve, to protect, and to present
us without fault before His throne.