DCFC Online June 27th - Troop Inspection Time - Ps Lynda Hammond

TROOP INSPECTION TIME                                                                                     27-6-21

I felt like I heard God say a couple of weeks ago, “I’m about to carry out a troop inspection of My Church, in preparation for what is coming.”

While I’m on the subject of this prophetic image, quite a few years ago I saw a camp of soldiers who were caught unprepared as a sudden onslaught hit.  They were scrambling wake up,  to find their equipment, find their shoes, get dressed and so on. 

I imagine it would be the same before any major project, harvest, planting or whatever.  Equipment, staff, systems are checked to ensure we can do this without problems.

It is worth pointing out at this time that the use of the word, ‘troops’ does not represent aggression or any form of violence.  The word tells us that our wrestle is not against flesh and blood (unless its our own!) but against spiritual powers.  So we are not setting to win arguments with people.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

It also says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal…. But they are mighty!

2 Corinthians 10:4 ”For the weapons of our warfare are not ^[a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”

The purpose of a troop inspection is to check

• uniforms
• equipment
• attitude

UNIFORM – HOW ARE WE CLOTHED?

Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Part of any ‘troop inspection’ is examining the uniform and the weapons.  Here we find what the uniform of the troops of the Lord is… tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience! 

No Power Dressing here… it’s aprons and servant clothing.

These troops are troops of love, humility who remember that it is the MEEK who inherit the earth, not the belligerent.

The two most important words in the Bible are God and people.  God Himself is a fellowship of three, and the second half of the Great commandment is to love others as we love ourselves.  As Jesus looks at us, does He see individualism or community? 

There is the impossible dream of ‘the perfect church’…

America was founded on a group of people that wanted to establish the perfect church.  A pure Church based on the New Testament.

 A man named Roger Williams was a big part of this.  When he arrived in America and discovered the Church wasn’t as perfect as he hoped he began a new one… then left it and began another one… and so on!  He wound up being the solitary church of one….

“He was the first American who loved Jesus, but not the Church.”

But if we carefully look at the New Testament Church we see there were problems right at the beginning in Chapter 6, and then most of the New Testament was written to sort out problems!  No wonder we need to be clothed with mercy, kindness, humility and patience!

 

EQUIPMENT

Ephesians 6:13-20  . ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.^{[d] 19} And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.^[e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”

Shoes – peace that comes from the Good News.  The Good News is that Jesus is King and when turmoil hits, the fact that He is KING is something that brings peace.

Shield of faith – We need to hold up the shield of faith, but instead we sometimes hold up a shield of defensiveness and mistrust.

The Sword of The Spirit is the Word of God.  Has it been woven into the fabric of our personhood so that The Word is our first response?

ATTITUDE      

When a troop inspection takes place, occasionally the inspector will stop and talk.  This would not be idle chatter, he’s INSPECTING attitude. Is this soldier ‘in’?  Is he in sync with his troops, with his troop leader?

Matthew 6:33   ^“Seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” 

This means bringing Him as Lord into every situation, every relationship and every choice. 

It means having our minds fixed on The Spirit Romans 8:5-8 (The Common English Bible) People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. ⁶ The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. ⁷ So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. ⁸ People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God.

If our minds are always on ourselves, we spiral downwards.  If our minds are focused on God, as in Matt 6:33, we grow and live well. 

Bringing it back to ‘troops’…. If someone is out of sync, constantly wanting their own way, things will not go well…. And in the heat of battle could result in chaos and defeat. 

1 PETER 4:1-2 (NLT)  So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.^[a] 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

 

ATTITUDE

Selfishness and slackness has no place in His ‘troops’.  Imagine if Jesus had let his own nature and need for his own way usurp the purposes of God?  Remember this is not an individual thing, we are part of His community.

Philippians 2:1-8 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had ⁶ Though he was God,^[a] he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges^[b];  he took the humble position of a slave^[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,^[d] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

How do we come to a place where we are an encouragement and comfort as a community? When each of us adopt the same attitude as Jesus. 

I know we all sense that there is a major shift.  I think Covid has been a catalyst, but there is more to come.  We need to be ready, and if the troops are either asleep in their tents, or have the wrong mindset and uniform, or a blunt sword that we haven’t learned how to use, we will not be prepared!

As we stand on the brink of a new and different season, we need to be ready for whatever comes.

 

CONCLUSION.

Revelation 1:12-17 ‘Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 

Daniel 10:6 “His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in colour, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.”

His eyes like a flame of fire tell us that His gaze is penetrating.  Are we ready for His penetrating gaze?

 

Lets pray….