Inspired by Sister Talley (Pastors wife at Graysville Church of God )
“So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10).
We are all familiar with this passage here. The Spirit of the Lord brings Ezekiel out into a valley filled with old dry bones. The vast expanse of bones seemed to go on forever. God asks him: “Can these bones live”? To which Ezekiel responded: “Lord, you know”
What was going through Ezekiels head at that moment? The Lord God Elohim bringing him to a place of death, and asking him if the bones can live. And Ezekiels response was probably how I would have responded. Of course I wouldn’t have been able to articulate it as well as he did. It would probably be more like:
“Umm, uh…ummm… Y Y You… Kn n n Know.”
We know that Ezekiel was told to prophecy to the bones and God would:
- Cause breath to come into them,
- Put Sinews upon them,
- Put Flesh upon them,
- and Cover them with Skin
Then finally there stood “an exceeding great army”
So then the questions:
Are we as the children of God, called to be an exceeding great army? And if so, who is the enemy? And if we have an enemy, do we war, and how do we war?
I will try to answer these in order:
Army of God
If you have ever been in the military, or know someone who is, you will easily understand that when an order is given, it has to be followed or you will answer to someone. From day one you are to know the ins and outs of military life: Where to be when, what to do if…., When to salute, etc. There is a job for you and you are expected to do your job. You have a Commander-in-Chief, the President, and you serve your country.
In Christiandom it is similar. God calls each of us and gives us a job or ministry that we are expected to do. We aren’t to be “floaters” but God places specific talents and interests in us in order to help the Kingdom. If we refuse to do so, we will answer to God. (note, I’m not saying works save you). God will reveal his plan for us, if we will just ask. Our Commander-in-Chief is the Lord Jesus Christ, and we serve Him.
The Enemy is “What Now”?
We face problems in our day to day life. Some minor, some major, but problems nonetheless. We as “flesh” like to place blame on other people. If we are having a bad day, then it was the ladys fault who cut me off in traffic. We sulk and think hateful things about that woman, hoping she gets an infectious rash or something. If we get sick, we like to blame it on the food we ate prior, which could be the case, but we always tend to then blame it on the waiter..that he must have put something in the food cause he didn’t like you. Whatever the case, we like to make ourselves feel better by blaming other people.
Bottom line, and here is familiar scripture:
“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.” (Eph. 6:12)
Simple and straightforward, right? If you don’t understand, leave a comment and I’ll explain in more detail.
Warfare, You Say?
Yes, we have been equipped to fight the fight we learned about in Ephesians 6:12. How so, you ask. BAM! More Scripture! :
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6)
More War References:
Paul talked about it to Timothy - “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.” ( I Tim. 1:18)
“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” ( II Tim 2:4)
Who enlisted you? Do you want to please Him? Now go out there and war!!!!
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