Revelation snippets: The privileges of a soldier

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.” 1Cor 9:7-10

This passage caused me to ponder over the condition of a soldier last week and I’ve realised a few things that, if applied to our faith, can radically transform our daily life.

In any responsible army, soldiers are taken care of. They are fed, lodged, treated if sick and have transportation means. Their children’s school fees are covered. The wounded are never left behind at the mercy of the enemy and the dead are welcomed and accompanied to their last abode with military honours. It would obviously not benefit anyone if a soldier would have his or her mind cluttered by this kind of worries on the battlefield. Therefore, all these things are entirely taken care of by the army. Soldiers cannot waste time dreaming of the fast cars, massive properties or designers clothes and watches that they plan to acquire, as there is no room for luxury on the battlefield. It is only those who are on holidays or who have retired who can afford the “luxury” of such thoughts.

I am aware that in some countries, soldiers are badly paid, badly clothed and even sent to war with faulty equipment. However, I am talking about what happens in responsible nations; and the Kingdom of GOD is the most serious, caring and responsible “Nation” that one can think of. 

In other words, and this is the idea behind today’s passage, the one who truly serves the LORD, the one who is truly enrolled in His army, can rest assured that their needs will be totally met. All the earthly, celestial and submarine necessary resources will be mobilized to ensure that they have no other worry in mind than the Mission and the will of GOD. If you are experiencing lack – food, accommodation, clothing etc. – honestly ask yourself whether you are still part of His army or whether you have long deserted because of its tough conditions. However, if you are a true soldier of Christ, then worry about nothing: GOD is in charge of everything. Do not roll anxious eyes because of your rent, the school fees, utility bills or food. GOD is taking care of that (Mat 6:25-33). Just serve Him faithfully with the weapons of mass destruction that He has placed at your disposal.

Have an awesome week in CHRIST JESUS.

A few words on service

I am not going to be original this week. I just want to share something that I’ve heard in church yesterday during the workers’ meeting and which has truly blessed me. I have slightly expounded on what was said.

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12.26

After pointing out the triple occurrence of the word serve/servant in this short verse, one of our pastors highlighted three key points regarding service.

The rule of service: If anyone serves me, he must follow me. This means that there are some who serve without following. These are the ones to whom Jesus will say: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [i.e. have we not SERVED in your Name?] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” Mat. 7:22-23

So, the rule of service is that if we say that we are serving Him, then, we must also follow Him. And how do we follow Him? By obey His Word and commandments; by hearkening to the leading of the Holy Spirit; by imitating His example (love and compassion…); by clinging onto His cause (“…But for this cause came I unto this hour [the hour of Passion]. Father, glorify thy name…” Jn 12:27) etc.

The fellowship of service: Where I am, there will my servant be also. Hence the question: Where is Jesus now? Where is He so that I can be there as well, as his servant? Since Jesus is no longer physically with us, we need to look for a spiritual place. At the time, He was in a place of commitment and consecration. He committed His life and time to a cause. He was also in a place of constant communion and communication with the Father. He was so alert in His spirit that when GOD momentarily turned His face away from Him, on the Cross, He knew immediately. But many of us are seldom aware when GOD turns His face away from us. Are we sure that GOD is with us? And if yes, how do we know He is? Jesus was also in a place of peace and victory. If we truly are His I servants, that’s where we should also be found. A true servant of Christ should not stay in a place of defeat, prayerlessness, anxiety, lack of any sort, powerlessness or confusion.

The reward of service: If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. Many countries, if not all, have their way of honouring those who have rendered outstanding services to the crown or the nation. Likewise, GOD also has His way of putting His seal of approval on our service. Phil. 2:5-9 tells us that Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of a servant; He humbled himself and obeyed to the point of death; and as a result of this, GOD highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him a name that is above every name. There is something that comes after service. GOD is not unjust so as to overlook our work and the love that we show for His name in serving the saints (Heb. 6:10).

If we serve in this manner and with this mindset, we will not fail to find peace, fulfilment, achievement, success etc. in the place of service.

Have a great week in HIM.

Revelation snippets : The LORD needs it...

Mat 21:1-3, Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

The disciples obeyed and things happened exactly as foretold by Jesus. This passage contains an important key regarding provision. Indeed, if it is the LORD who needs what you ask for, the provision will never lack. “Bring them to Me. I need them.” Problems and lack only arise when we ask for things that are of no interest to the LORD. 

The fact that a church has initiated a project does not necessarily mean that it has the LORD’s seal of approval – Think of Mat 7:22-23: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” When the LORD calls/sends, He also equips. He is not a bad or irresponsible boss. He always gives us the means to accomplish our mission. If GOD is really behind something, one does not need any scheme to entice people to give. 

This works both at the collective and individual levels. If you want to do something for “the glory of GOD” and, somehow, run out of money, ask yourself some serious questions. Either GOD has truly sent you but you have not chosen the right path to get to destination, or GOD is not in your project at all, regardless of how “sanctified” they may look, and you are simply following your heart’s desires. In both cases, you have missed GOD. When the wine ran out during that wedding in Cana, there was an immediate supernatural supply because Jesus was at the party. As my pastor always says, “Do not ask GOD to bless what you are doing; but find what GOD is blessing and join in. Put your hands on that plough.” If GOD is truly in a cause, if He is really behind a project; if He is the One who has said “Bring that to Me; I need it”, then every system in the universe, be it physical or spiritual, must comply and will have to let go of the resources that you need. Think about this.

Have a wonderblessed week in HIM.