God's War Plan: Commander in Chief

[ previous: "Battle of Shechem" ; main INDEX]

God’s war plan is not like men's war plan. An army, in our natural battles would never rush forward immediately without proper reconnaissance. This goes against most standard world rules. In the same way if you are lead by the Holy Spirit and go forth you'll have the best possible advantage.

The Holy Spirit is described in some passages, particularly in the Amplified Bible, as “The Commander of the Lord’s Army”.

“As commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

MANY HATS

What does a commander (in war) do? He does not fight. He announces the head of state’s (President, Prime Minister, etc.) directives for the war and puts them into an operable military plan. The commander transfers these instructions to the army officers, following a chain of command, and they, in turn fight the battles. The commander also has access to useful information and can see, as much as possible, the totality of the optimum battle plans, dispositions and information on the enemy. The commander also has the responsibility to raise the troop morale.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit can announce God the Father’s perfect will for any situation and can tell us how to carry it out. He transfers the instructions to the heads of the church (which is the body of Christ) following the spiritual hierarchies. For instance, the Spirit gives revelation to a certain world ministry and the pastors of churches under the spiritual authority of that ministry receive an impartation from them which they in turn make known to their church body. The Holys Spirit has access to all information and can see totally into the spirit realm in order to tell us the perfect plan of action and anything about our enemy. This is why he is also known as couselor. The Holy Spirit also raises our morale and is thus called comforter and strenghtener.

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

OUR ROAD MAKER - The INWARD WITNESS

The inward witness is the primary way the Holy Spirit leads us.

As a child of God we have a right to be led. If we are not being led we may not be exercising our rights.

[14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God
and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The Holy Ghost bears witness that:

First: I am a child of God;

Second: That I am His heir.

We don't need to be reminded that we are children of God every day but we need to be reminded of out inheritance every day. Our inheritance is so deep and beyond human comprehension that the reminding of it becomes a lifelong journey.

We are to be led by the spirit, not by our ambitions or fears. We are not supposed to make our own plans. We have to trust that God has the best path for us, that the Holy Spirit will guide us and that there are angels assigned to assist us.

[3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

After God has delivered us from the death which comes by living in the flesh, what sense does it make for us to stay in the flesh after salvation? Our life is no longer our own. It has been purchased by the blood of Jesus. If we repeatedly and ultimately reject the Messenger, which is the Holy Spirit, then we blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

For we are God's own handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.

To illustrate, in war, the rejection of the commands often results in a court martial.

Even when the times are tough, faith always overcomes difficulties. We must build up our faith.

WE HAVE the ADVANTAGE

This work analyses every major conflict from the dawn of history and shows how, in every instance, God’s plan came to pass.

[19] So as the result of the Messiah's intervention they shall reverently fear the name of the Lord
from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives.

Banners were used in ancient military tactics for communication. The spirit of God lifts up the war banner in our spirit man for us to have strategic advantage in the fight.

The best speed the Devil has is slow speed. Our power is fast moving, stronger and better than the enemy. If we speak right then he doesn't even show up. All translations of Isaiah 59:19 have a weak adjective to describe the enemy’s rising waters and a strong adjective to describe the spirit of God. After all, God is in control and success is often up to us. It is up to us to relinquish our control to God.

[ next time: "Family Breakup" ]

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