God's Army - Believers as Ambassadors of God's Kingdom on Earth
Embrace your role as an ambassador of His kingdom, protecting values and spreading His message with spiritual armor like humility, generosity, and being a salt.
In every generation, God has raised up an army. It’s not just a group of folks who believe in Jesus. No, this is a faithful army with a special mission!
When we talk about God’s army, we need to remember that His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus taught us to pray to the Father, "Let your kingdom come." To Pilot, he said, "My kingdom is not of this world". So we are living representatives of His kingdom in this world.
Think about it like this: every country has embassies in other nations. For example, India has embassies in places like Germany, France, and the United States. The people working in those embassies have a big responsibility. They spread the values of their home country and protect its interests.
In the same way, as representatives of God’s army, we are not of this world. We are ambassadors of God’s kingdom! Our job is to showcase God’s character and values in this world and protect the interests of His kingdom, which we can think of as the church we belong to. Now, to do this effectively, we need to know what God’s character and values are.
When you read the Bible, you discover that God created us in His image. That means we are all equal! There’s no room for discrimination in God’s kingdom. Paul reminds us that in Christ, there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. We are all equal! As we dive deeper into the Bible, we see that God’s character is loving and merciful, but also just. He keeps His promises, but He also holds us accountable. Those are his values.
As God’s representatives, our mission is clear. We need to share His message, protect His values, and live out our faith in a way that reflects His glory.
In this essay, I want to talk about:
- the responsibilities of God's army
- the qualifications to enter and grow in God's army
- the weapons of God's army
The Responsibilities of God's Army
Let’s dive into the responsibilities of God’s army, and you know what? It’s a lot like the duties of a typical army.
First off, what does an army do? Their main job is to protect the borders of their country. They patrol the land, and if there’s a sea, they keep on that too. Why do they do this? To stop outsiders from coming in and to make sure the folks inside can feel safe and secure.
Now, think about it! God is looking for people who will patrol the land. We should visit every house of our church, praying, worshiping, and encouraging others. When two or three are gathered in Jesus' name, he is there. When God's people speak, he listens. But we should patrol the land spiritually too. Every single day, we should pray for their safety and prosperity.
Next up, let’s talk about the best of the best in the army. These are the folks who protect the leaders of the country—presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers, you name it. Why do they do this? Because if something happens to these leaders, it can shake the very foundation of the nation. It’s the same with God’s army. We need to spiritually protect our leaders. We need to pray for our pastors and elders. We should pray for wisdom so they walk righteously as a witness for Christ in this world. Paul continuously requests every church to pray for him, so that he may be protected as well as speak boldly[1].
Lastly, let’s not forget about the rebuilding aspect. When disaster strikes, the army is there to help rebuild and restore. This is exactly what Isaiah 61 talks about, and it’s what Jesus emphasized at the start of His ministry. He said He came to bind up the brokenhearted and bring healing to those in need.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,”
In another place, Jesus tells us that when we take care of the least of the brothers and sisters, we take care of the King.[2]
It is in Jesus nature to not break a bruised reed or not to snuff out a smoldering wick. I'm sure we all have witnessed this nature in our lives at different times. As part of God's army, we need to exhibit the same to others. We should help our brothers and sisters rebuild their lives.
Joining and Rising in God's Army
When we think about what it takes to be part of God's army, there are two main steps to consider. First, we need to enter God's army, and second, we need to rise within it. Let’s break that down.
To enter God's army, there’s just one simple requirement: believe in and confess our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s it! We need to be washed clean by His blood, and our sins need to be forgiven. And the only way to do that is by accepting Jesus and declaring Him as Lord. No other qualifications are needed. It doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short, rich or poor, or where you come from. God welcomes everyone! Whether you’re a Dalit or an American, handsome or not, it doesn’t matter at all. God’s arms are wide open for all.
Now, when it comes to rising in God's army, we see that there are several prayers we can focus on. One prayer I want to highlight is from Philippians 1:9, where Paul shares three important things. He says we need to grow in knowledge, depth of insight, and discernment of what’s best.
Some folks might say that faith and science don’t mix, but Paul encourages us to grow in knowledge. Our love for Jesus should be rooted in understanding who He is. Did Jesus really come to this world? Did He grow up in the places we read about? Did He truly die and rise again? There are many questions out there, like whether His tomb is in Kashmir or if He visited Japan. We need to seek the truth and understand how the Bible came to be in our hands.
Paul was able to defend the gospel in-front of a king, lead a jailor to Jesus, as well as debate with scholars in Athens. It all requires multiple types of skills. As part of God's army we should seek and improve in those. We should always be ready with the right word to defend God's kingdom.
But it doesn’t stop there! We also need to deepen our insights in life. This means we should strive to understand more and more as we go along. And finally, we need to have discernment to know what is best at any moment. This wisdom comes from reading the Bible and applying it regularly. That’s how we grow in our understanding and insight.
Our weapons of warfare are spiritual
When we think about the tools we have in God's army, it’s important to remember that God has given us everything we need. Sometimes, we’ll use these tools to go on the offensive, and other times, we’ll need them for defense.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that we must put on the full armor of God. This isn’t just about our physical bodies; it’s about covering every part of our lives. Think about your home, your job, your family, your thoughts, and your everyday actions. Each of these areas needs to be shielded by God’s armor. Why cover every part?
In his famous battle with Goliath, David spotted an opening and took his shot. We don't want that to happen to us. We can’t afford to leave any part of ourselves exposed. We need to be fully covered!
Paul goes on to list the armor God has provided us in the book of Ephesians. He talks about faith, the Word of God, prayer, and righteousness. Each piece is crucial for protecting us from the devil’s schemes and for launching our own attacks against the enemy. These weapons aren’t physical; they’re spiritual. That’s where the real power lies!
When we rely on physical weapons, we lose that divine strength. So, if we want to fight in God’s army, we must pick up the weapons that are infused with His power. Without them, we’re just spinning our wheels. Let’s grab hold of God’s weapons, filled with His strength, and that’s how we’ll fight and win the battles ahead!
There are many sermons about the weapons that Paul lists. So I want to talk about other spiritual weapons in our armor.
- Being a salt
- Humilty
- Generosity
Being a salt
Jesus told his followers to be salt. Now, think about that for a moment. If salt loses its flavor, it’s only good for being tossed out. As Christians, we need to hold onto our essence, the values that Christ has taught us. When we, Christians lose our values, others will trample on us. Sadly, I see this happen in many parts of the world. This was foretold by Jesus.
Let’s take a closer look at salt. No matter how you treat it—whether you throw it on the floor, heat it up, or mix it with water—it doesn’t lose its essence. It stays salty! Similarly, no matter what life throws at you—whether you’re facing tough times or enjoying success—don’t lose your essence. Keep that Christian spirit alive!
Now, remember how salt was used in the old days to preserve food? Just like that, we Christians are here to preserve the values of God's kingdom in the world. We need to be the ones who stand up for what’s right, protecting the world around us. We may not always be in the spotlight, but we can shine our light through our actions and values.
And let’s not forget the flavor! Salt is also used to make things taste better. In a world filled with disappointment and despair, we have the opportunity to bring hope. There are so many people struggling with depression and failures, and we can be the ones to lift them up. We can share the message of Jesus, who can change lives and bring joy. Let’s preserve, protect, and sweeten the world together!
Humility
Let’s now talk about one of the most powerful tools that God has given us: humility. All the weapons God provides are spiritual in nature. They might not be physical things we can touch, but they have a way of making a real impact in our lives and the lives of others.
Humility is a word we hear a lot in Christian circles, but let’s clear the air. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s not saying, "I’m just a nobody," or, "I’m only a donkey." No, that’s not humility; that’s putting yourself down! And God doesn’t want us to do that. Remember, we are made in His image, and He wouldn’t want anyone to speak poorly of His creation.
Now, let’s flip the coin and look at the opposite of humility - pride. The Apostle Paul warns us against thinking too highly of ourselves[3]. Pride is what got Lucifer kicked out of heaven. He wanted to elevate himself above his intended place, and that’s the danger of pride. If pride is elevating oneself above all others, what is humility? Lifting others up.
Take a look at Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He wrote that letter from prison, and you know what? He didn’t dwell on his own troubles. He didn’t complain about being hungry or the dirty conditions around him. Instead, it’s almost like he was writing from a five-star resort! He said, "I have everything I need and rejoice in the Lord!"
What’s even more inspiring is that he was thinking of the Philippians[4]. He said, "Whenever I think of you, I give praise to God." That’s humility in action! It’s about thinking of others and lifting them higher than they might lift themselves. That’s what God expects from us.
So let’s grab hold of this weapon of humility and use it to lift others up. Let’s make humility our mission and watch how it transforms our lives and the lives of those around us!
Generosity
I’ve noticed that in our Christian circles, this beautiful act of giving seems to be fading away. But if we look at Jesus and God the Father, we see the ultimate examples of generosity.
The Bible tells us that God gave us His only Son. If He was willing to give us His most precious gift, don’t you think He will provide for our other needs? Jesus humbled Himself and gave everything for us. That’s the kind of generosity we should strive for today.
But what is happening around us? Even within Christian circles? As we gather more wealth, we often build walls around ourselves. We try to separate ourselves from others. But instead of building walls, why not build a longer table? Let’s invite everyone to the feast! That’s the essence of the Christian life: it’s all about generosity.
David said, "My cup runs over," and Jesus promised that if we give, it will be given back to us—multiplied, shaken down, and overflowing! [5] When God blesses us abundantly, we should let that blessing spill over to others. Remember Boaz? When Ruth was in his field, he told his workers to leave extra for her.
Today, though, we often see, even in churches, we want to keep every penny for ourselves. Corporations do it, never letting their profits overflow to their customers, focusing solely on profits accumulating more billions in their bank accounts. Unfortunately, this attitude is creeping into churches too.
We need to change that! We must be generous and set an example in a world filled with fear and scarcity. When we give to others, people will notice and ask, "How can you be so generous? Aren't you worried about the future?" And that’s when you can confidently say, "I know who holds my future! I believe in Jesus, and that’s why I’m not afraid. That’s why I can be generous!"
Let’s let our generosity shine, showing the world the abundance of God’s kingdom.
As members of God’s army, we have a high calling: to represent His kingdom, protect His values, and spread His message. Let’s take up our spiritual armor, walk in humility and generosity, and bring hope and healing to a world in need. Together, we can make a powerful impact for God’s glory!
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