The Army of God

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:   Joel 2:7-8 (NKJV) “They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; everyone marches in formation, and they do not break ranks.  They do not push one another; everyone marches in his own column.”

I.                  We are called to be the army of God

A.      A soldier can win a fight

B.      A troop can win a battle

C.      An army can win a war

D.      A soldier can take ground

E.      A troop can take a village

F.      An army can take a city and a nation

II.      It is time for the army of God to arise!

A.               It is time to MARCH!

B.                It is time to FIGHT!

C.               It is time to RUN!

D.               It is time to CLIMB!

E.                It is time to TAKE GROUND!

F.                It is time to TAKE THE VILLAGE!

G.               It is time to TAKE THE CITY!

H.               It is time to TAKE THE NATION!

II.      Everyone marches in formation

A.               “Formation” (Webster)  “the way in which something is formed or arranged;  structure;  an arrangement or positioning, as of troops.”

B.                The Hebrew word for “formation” is darak which means, “to tread”—to set foot on territory or objects with the idea of trampling them.

C.               “Formation” in the military senses is the arrangement or positioning of troops

D.               Every soldier in God’s army must walk in his or her assigned formation

E.                Our ability to walk in formation alongside other soldiers demands that we understand God’s own authority structure and how it works.

1.       1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NKJV) “We urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.  Be at peace among yourselves.”

F.                We must know our arrangement and position in God’s army

G.               We must honor God’s arrangement and position of others around us.

H.               We must march—take ground—through maintaining our position.

III.    They do not break ranks.

A.               As soldiers we must not overstep our position and authority. Otherwise we will be in pride and rebellion leading to bondage.

1.       Jude 1:6 (NKJV) “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”

B.                The Hebrew word for “rank” is orach which means, “a marked out course”.

C.               God has marked out our course in His army and we must not break away from that course to try being liked someone else.

D.               We must be faithful in our assigned course so that others are not forced to step in and fulfill our responsibility and function.

E.                We must allow those under us to function in their position in the formation.

1.       Ephesians 5:21 (NKJV) “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

F.                As soldiers we must walk in unity with those around us by honoring and submitting to those in authority over us in the Lord.

G.               We must not usurp the position and function of those under us except when the spiritual, moral, and physical safety of those involved is at stake.

H.               Issues of position and assignment should be clarified by the authorities who delegated your position and assignment.

IV.            They do not push one another.

A.               The Hebrew word for “push” is daraq which means, “to push, to crowd, to oppress, to harass”

B.                Pushing is applying pressure in order to move another out of their position and function illegally

C.               Pushing is competition for more position and authority

D.               Legitimate authority before God is granted, not taken

E.                We must be satisfied to operate faithfully in the position and function that we have been given in the marching formation

F.                When in doubt about who is in authority around you, always submit to the authority above you

V.               Everyone marches in his own column

A.               The Hebrew word for “column” is mesillaur which means, “highway” or “elevation”

B.                A “column” is a chain of authority

C.               Everyone in authority must be accountable to those in authority over them and responsible to serve those under them

D.               No one is authorized to meddle with those in a different column or chain of command. Each soldier will answer to the one who is over them.

V.      God’s Victorious Army

A.               Each soldier must remain in his or her assigned formation

B.                Each soldier must fulfill his or her assigned duty

C.               Each soldier must respect the position and assignment of other soldiers around them

D.               Each soldier must be accountable to the authorities above them

E.                When we are faithful in our assigned formation, rank, and column, then we will become a unified and mighty army to take the land!