Post #77(b) - Warriors Unite!

Our spiritual walk is kind of like being in the military. I served in the US Marine Corps, where we learned the importance of teamwork and having each other's backs - especially in combat. 

The concepts of camaraderie and brotherhood were an important part of the Marine Corps culture. Camaraderie promotes esprit de corps, and bonds Marines like brothers, making it easier to work as a team. 

This is what God desires for the church. That we love, bond, and unite with one another. That we fight for and alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ - not against them. 

We must realize that we are either in or preparing for battle. And that we've got to fight together.

So many people in the church are against one another - comparing, competing, judging - and are keeping the church divided.

Jesus prayed in John 17:20-25 that we, as believers, will be unified as one. That we would be one, as He and God are one. He wants us to be unified as witnesses to His love. To the truth and fulfillment of God's love for us.

But, we compete for the spotlight, saying it's God's will and that we are doing it for God. If that were true, we would be lifting our brothers and sisters up with us. Not putting them down because we see them as a threat. Because they have a similar gift as ours.

We are all fighting for the same God and for the same purpose - to advance God's kingdom. We should be fighting together to further this advancement, not tearing the church apart with our jealousy and division.

We are fighting the wrong enemy!!

We, the children of God, should be banding together as soldiers. Showing our love for one another. And fighting for the lives of our brothers on the battlefield.

When we see our brother or sister fall, we must lift them up with encouragement and prayer. When they are overtaken, we must fight to bring them back to Christ. Back to freedom.

We must lay our lives down for our brothers, putting away pride and envy. And realizing how much we need one another. Not thinking of ourselves as better than anyone, and not putting anyone above ourselves. 

Humility is needed. And the understanding that we are fighting a spiritual war. We need to recognize who our real enemy is, and know that it is not each other. Then we must think and act strategically, putting God first in our hearts and minds, and putting away division and hate.

We have to remember that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

We are at war! And the enemy is trying to corrupt our minds and steal our joy. He is trying to distract us from who we truly are, and who we are to one another. He is trying to destroy the church by keeping us divided, fighting against one another, rather than with and for each other.

We are warriors of God, and it's time we banded together in unity! We must pick up our weapons of prayer and the word of God, and fight the fight of salvation.

Together.

And we must never leave any ONE behind.