When kings go to war!

It's Springtime. Easter was a few days ago. Right now, nations are rattling their sabres and there are wars and rumors of wars. Like I always say, as it is in the spiritual, so it is in the natural. With that in mind, I believe it's time for we, the kings of the Army of God, to arise from our bivouac. 

Yes, Springtime is king time! As we read in 2 Samuel 11: "In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war..."

Perhaps you'll remember this famous Bible story: "David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem..."

What?!! David - the inspirational Warrior King of Israel - sent others to do battle while he stayed home?!! Impossible! What was he going to do with himself? Wait and see...

"Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath."

Was Satan setting him up, or what? His army is laying their lives on the line while their king is napping and gawking?!! He was about to take the bait...

"He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite."

Because he wasn't off doing what a king should be doing... making war... he chose to make love. He fell into adultery with Uriah's wife, conspired to have him murdered, and wound up with a child who died at 7 days of age.

We're talking about King David... apple of God's eye, man after God's own heart, slayer of Goliath, a mighty warrior... and an adulterer and conspirator.

Say it isn't so!

When kings spring into action

Why did the kings go to war in the spring? Better weather, I guess, though it's raining as I write. I've read about the effects of weather on the world's armies throughout history and it can be an awful deterrent. Disease, insects, flooding, footing, morale, mobilization, advantages lost... so, by waiting for good weather, a king increases his odds of success.

Who are today's Biblical kings? WE ARE! We are referred to in Scripture as being part of an army of priests and kings, a kingdom of priests, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We are a priesthood of believers.

What makes us so "kingly"? Frankly, it doesn't have much to do with us at all. The Anointed One - Christos, in Greek, the King who was actually anointed as such - is Jesus. Kings are born, not elected, or appointed. His Kingdom, basilea, in Greek, actually means "dominion." As Jesus said to the Pharisees, "the Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation." In other words, you can't see it. He finished by saying "the Kingdom of God is within you." That's where it's hidden.

If the Kingdom was in THEM, surely it's in YOU, too, right? Yes, that's true. What's more, according to Romans 8:11, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. Jesus is the Anointed Head (Christos) and we are His Body. He will never leave or forsake us (when was the last time your head left your body?).

Good enough for King David... how 'bout you?

What was it that made God refer to David as "a man after my own heart"? In Acts 13:22, we can read it plain as day: "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'"

That's it?? David would do everything God wanted him to do? As anyone can read about David, it sure doesn't look as though He did everything God wanted Him to. In fact, he made some pretty bone-headed decisions at times. Are we to believe that God could see David's heart's desire was to do all that was required of Him even when he chose physically NOT to do so? Is it all about one's heart and NOT one's physical actions? If I were to consider a quadriplegic, the answer would be 'yes.'

We would all have to admit total obedience is a pretty tall order. David was just a man and was unable to do what he really WANTED to do at all times. Based upon outward appearances, we can agree David seemed to miss the mark (we call this "sin") quite often. Fortunately, God, who is Spirit, looks inwardly, not outwardly. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, "Man looks at the outside while God looks at the heart."

Yes, David was WILLING to do whatever God asked of him, even though he fell short from time to time, just as we ALL do (Rom 3:23), but God knew his heart, just as He knows yours and mine. Because of the Blood shed at Calvary, we are now the righteousness of God IN Christ. In other words, God sees only Christ in us, NOT all the carnal, worldly things we do that once separated us. We remain separated from God only in our minds (Colossians 1:21).

The trouble with Grace? It's ours but we don't feel worthy of it.

I can hear many Christians now... "That's greasy grace! You're saying people have a license to sin!" Folks, we don't NEED a license; we're going to sin any way. As long as we walk around in these earth suits, sin comes naturally. Adultery (Jesus referred to this as lusting in one's heart), Murder (Jesus referred to this as hatred of another), Stealing, Gluttony, Pride, Word Curses, Doubt, Unbelief... we're good at being bad.

Here's a test: Try NOT to think of a glass bowl filled with green and red M&M's. Now, try not to sin. Get the point?

Even if I COULD stop sinning, I would likely get prideful about that and THAT is a sin too. "Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:24-25).

Yes, it's pretty obvious - I need a Savior! We ALL do. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 encourages us all: "...there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all..." We DO have a Savior! Our sins ARE forgiven! If that doesn't make us fall in love with God for His incredible plan for man, what will? Like David, yes, we are bound to mess up again. Fortunately, God sees only Jesus, the sinless One in whom we are hidden.

What don't we understand about God's grace? 

In a world where we are rewarded ONLY for doing good, we have difficulty relating to a life where the rule book has been destroyed. Reminds me of a friend whose home lies at the end of an airfield he owns. He told me I could drive fast as I wanted to all the way to his home on the runway because there was no legal speed limit. Get it?

I know. I know. Manmade Religion has devised all kinds of methods to achieve and ensure salvation - hoops for each Affiliate to jump through in order to confirm one's blessed assurance. What? The bloody cross wasn't good enough?! Believing in Jesus wasn't cutting it? Could it be that it takes something more than one's faith? Is it possible that even though so many of our manmade salvation techniques only serve to sow confusion and dissension, God allows them despite His hatred for anything that causes disunity (Prov 6:16)?

Nah!

It's time to go to war, kings... ALL of us, NOT merely the paid professionals and NOT with each other. In fact, of all those "one another" verses found in the New Testament, "KILL ONE ANOTHER" or "SPEAK BADLY OF ONE ANOTHER" are nowhere on the list.

Remember, we have an enemy and he's not US!

Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo, Founder, The Church @ Work