"The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies."1
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, "In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord."2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross").3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him.
The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowing a "role" it is difficult for a soldier to fit into a team. In warriors term this role is an "operational specialty," in spiritual terms this is "workmanship" created in Christ. As a warrior is given weapons to carry out his operational specialty, believers are given "gifts" to carry out his workmanship.
"Indeed, of him we are workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that in them we should walk."4 This word for workmanship is poieó and means make, to produce; to make ready, to prepare. This is the idea of the military organization preparing soldiers, building them up for combat. Basic training lays a foundation, core principles, that are built upon. The Church is to prepare, build up soldiers for their role,workmanship, not to serve them.
You fight as well as you train, this a soldier knows. This is true for the warrior of God. Without proper training soldiers will be ineffective in combat. A leader knows that a team is only effective as its weakest link. If the guy that feeds your M249 machine gun is over weight then your machine gun will only be as effective as he is at delivering ammo. So this means extra physical training for the whole team, while not joyful, it is necessary to build up the weak link.
You train down. In other words you train to the level, of your weakest person, in my example the overweight ammo feeder, but it could be a new guy. Put another way you train him up to ther standards of the team. Of course you need standards, principles to guide by. The Church will only be effective as its weakest link. If it is without a member of the body, or lacks the "gift," the "machine gunner," the team is not at full speed nor will it be effective in combat. You train to this level, building up. "A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances."- General George S. Patton.
"Raise a war cry." Christianity seems to be like this imaginary land and oh, we are so good in this fairy land... Maybe we start raising the war cry by installing boxing rinks. Shout, arouse His zeal like a man of war. We need a fight, a crucible. A soldier is often tested, pushed beyond his limits, it begins in the classroom but comes to fruition in training, in the hands on application of the book knowledge, and ultimately in combat. This is the idea of our faith, without the application, the challenge to our faith, the crucible, it is only a classroom idea and knowledge of. The crucible builds bonds, a comradery that is created in the testing, of the crucible. In the Battle of Mogadishu, Jeff Struecker entered a crucible, his faith in Christ was crystallized and his life’s purpose defined.6 Crucibles create men.
"We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."7 This word for tribulation properly means pressure (what constricts or rubs together.) It is the idea that, "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another."8 This is a warrior's way, sharpening another. The Bible says Jesus is the refiner, like a silversmith heating up silver to remove impurities. There is a workmanship, a role on the team, that we are refined for so we too one day can sharpen others. "The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on." - Walter Lippmann.You train down. In other words you train to the level, of your weakest person, in my example the overweight ammo feeder, but it could be a new guy. Put another way you train him up to ther standards of the team. Of course you need standards, principles to guide by. The Church will only be effective as its weakest link. If it is without a member of the body, or lacks the "gift," the "machine gunner," the team is not at full speed nor will it be effective in combat. You train to this level, building up. "A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances."- General George S. Patton.
"Raise a war cry." Christianity seems to be like this imaginary land and oh, we are so good in this fairy land... Maybe we start raising the war cry by installing boxing rinks. Shout, arouse His zeal like a man of war. We need a fight, a crucible. A soldier is often tested, pushed beyond his limits, it begins in the classroom but comes to fruition in training, in the hands on application of the book knowledge, and ultimately in combat. This is the idea of our faith, without the application, the challenge to our faith, the crucible, it is only a classroom idea and knowledge of. The crucible builds bonds, a comradery that is created in the testing, of the crucible. In the Battle of Mogadishu, Jeff Struecker entered a crucible, his faith in Christ was crystallized and his life’s purpose defined.6 Crucibles create men.
"He will arouse His zeal like a man of war." The crucible proves character which produces hope, it produces zeal. This is why unity in the Church is important. We are in a war, it is not against flesh and blood but in authority and principalities in the spiritual realm, our bond is the love for our Commander and for each other. It is not some wimpy idea of manhood nor the worlds idea of it, more than ever men need identity in Christ. Which is not found in the externals; what I drive, the size of my member, how many women I sleep with, what I wear, how I shake hands, nor is it in a germ-x society that is afraid of getting dirty. The bond of brotherhood is found in the dirty, black and blues of the crucible. By such unity in Christ the world will know we fight for Him and that He is God. Leadership is a crucible, so man up. "Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way," said General George Patton.
"The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name." He knows the soldier's mindset; one of honor, duty, and self sacrifice. Self sacrifice is part of the soldiers way, our commander is our example, He faced the ultimate crucible taking on our sin on the cross, thus we are undeserving. He is wise and gentle in nature, the LORD is a warrior. We are to take up our cross and follow Him daily. We are to have this mindset of service and humility. The Bible says we are not to have a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind. Timidity and sacrifice, there is a fine line. Timid Christians will not fight for anything. Jesus is the Warrior, Teacher, the refiner. General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "you don't lead by hitting people over the head-that's assault, not leadership." Let it never be said Christians shoot their wounded. Soldiers do not leave their wounded behind, it is a matter of duty and honor and we are commanded so.
Honor is earned, a privilege to be regarded with high respect. To some leaders their soldiers are expendable, beneath them, the mission is more important than they, these leaders seek self honor. Those who honor the Lord understand the two fold purpose. To accomplish the mission and to care for each other. To follow Christ is to care for His soldiers, to feed them, the build up the weak link, the wounded ones, to fight for them, and to die for them. And it is to honor those who have fallen. A veteran of war knows what motivates one to fight; it is the person next to you. You fight for the soldier next to you. The crucible creates a bond of brothers. This is the concept I see in the Commander's command to love one another. He said there is no greater love, that one would lay down his life for a friend. For such sacrifice a soldier is deserving of Honor.