"HIS ARMY!"

Joel 2:11                                   (ESV)
"The LORD utters HIS voice before "HIS ARMY", for HIS camp is exceedingly great; HE who executes HIS word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?"

Much like the Jewish people in biblical times, modern day Christians are castigated because we have the audacity to believe that YAHWEH is to be praised and adored.  We will not necessarily be mocked because of who we are, rather about WHO we serve and recognize as YAHWEH!   Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Don't let the enemy change the focus of the battle!  We are only at war because of WHO lives in us, not because we are holy and righteous people.  Romans 3:22-24 reminds us that "the righteousness of GOD through faith in JESUS CHRIST for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of GOD, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS"

A friend of mine likes to use the analogy of believers being part of the army of GOD.  Well, for years I was enlisted, but ill-equipped to fight because of lack of training and preparedness.  The enemy didn't have to be too concerned with me being a threat as I was disengaged from the war.  Ashamedly, the vast majority of the Church (GOD's fighting force) is AWOL while a fierce battle is taking place.  Far too many believers are still in boot camp while the enemy forces are increasingly more mobile and lethal!

GOD is in control and one day SOON HE will give the signal for the archangel to sound the alarm (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).  The battle will be over and GOD's Army will be declared victorious, not because of the skill and fierceness of his soldiers, but because of WHO we fight for.  So when people start examining my life and how badly I live for HIM, I will have to remind them that it is not about how badly I live my life, but it's about the Army, "HIS ARMY", I serve in!