A prophetic call to rise up and boldly advance the kingdom of God - part 2 in a 2 part series from Steve Uppal's Rousing The Warriors

Steve Uppal

Let All the Fighting Men Draw Near and Attack

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1 John 3:8)

It is time for us to attack the enemy just like Jesus did. The Bible tells us that this was the purpose for which he was revealed. Jesus destroyed the works of the enemy wherever he went. If we are to be like him, we too must destroy the works of the enemy. Christians have put up with the enemy and his works and devices for too long. Whether it is in our personal lives, marriage, family, work, or church, we should not put up with the enemy any longer. We have been conditioned not to fight but to accept the place where we find ourselves. We do not question "why?", or ask whether the situation could change. It is time for the fighters to draw near and attack. You were not just called to defend and hold onto ground but to attack and advance. Remove the enemy and then establish the Kingdom.

It is not about being liked or being acceptable. Since when is Christianity supposed to be acceptable and nice? Too many Christians are always trying to be nice and accepted by man. The truth will offend people. Jesus went against the normal acceptable behaviour of his day; people were offended and upset with him all the time. The balance here is that Jesus never offended people because of his personal habits or bad attitude. The truth offended people. He was true to the word and his calling above the culture and religion of the time. We too must be true to biblical culture above our earthly culture, true to the truth of God's word. You are first Christian and then Indian, English, African, Polish, or any other culture. The greater the freedom you walk in, the more influence you can have in bringing freedom to others.

Beat Your Ploughshares into Swords and Your Pruning Hooks into Spears

This passage from Joel talks about turning the tools of farming (maintenance and survival) into weapons of warfare (advancement and invasion). Many have been good at surviving and keeping things at an acceptable level, but have not taken any ground or affected their world for Jesus. We are not called to keep things at an acceptable level, and simply please people with our life and church. Maintenance is good for a season, but you cannot live there or you will die there. We have been maintaining in prayer, vision, planning, evangelism, and even in our personal lives and walk with God. It is time to move out of maintaining to advancing, from surviving to invading.

God has not called you only to hold the fort but to go out from the fort and beat the enemy and take more ground. We should take back what he has stolen and kept in captivity, and establish the Kingdom of God. Advance! It will take courage, boldness, faith, and a pioneering spirit to advance, but this generation of warriors has these qualities, and will advance and pioneer a new way. Though this may be new to us, it is not a new thing. The early disciples lived this way. They were not settlers but pioneers. They were not men pleasers but God pleasers. They were not serving themselves but serving Jesus. They turned the world upside down in a few short years, advancing the Kingdom and destroying the works of the enemy!

Come Quickly All You Nations and Assemble There

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light". (Romans 13:11-12)

We must wake up from our slumber and realise the urgency of the hour in which we are alive. There is a challenge to come quickly, to respond immediately. This call is coming from our Lord and master Jesus not from an earthly man. Yet, in the Church, we have often been slow in our obedience to the Lord. Many have lived with a false delusion that they have all the time in the world to obey the Lord. They have the intention that "one-day" they will do what needs to be done. But one day never comes. It is always some time in the future.

I recently challenged one of the people in my church about their commitment and obedience to the Lord. The Lord was asking certain things from this individual in lifestyle changes and there was a challenge for them to walk in their calling. This challenge had been going on for a number of years. Their response shocked me. They said that they were not worried about it, and that it would all work out in the end. So many have a false sense of security. However, walking in disobedience is a dangerous thing. It results in many wasted years that could have been filled with productivity for the Kingdom. Today is the day you need to respond to the prompting and voice of the Holy Spirit.

So, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:7-8).

We need to move with him when he is moving and change when he shows us that which needs to be changed. Many take the grace of God in vain, thinking that they can do just what they like and God understands. God does understand, but he expects obedience from his children. Yes, he is patient with us and a loving father, but Proverbs 29:1 tells me that a man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be broken and that without remedy! You have to decide to do something about the apathy and the complacency in your life. This army will also be correctly assembled. There will be no jostling or taking another's place. Each will know their place and stay in their place. They will realise that being in the right place brings greater fruitfulness for them and allows them to be a blessing to all around them. Some have wanted other people's roles or jobs and caused much trouble and striving in their own flesh to get them. Stop struggling and striving, manipulating situations and people. Move to where the Lord has put you.

The first step is always one of surrender. Not my will but your will be done. I believe the fastest way to get God's attention and become fruitful in the Kingdom is to surrender yourself to him. Give him wholehearted devotion. Like the Apostle Paul said:

"I have become crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

The trumpet has sounded...the call has gone out...the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. Will you join this end-time army of warriors? You have a responsibility to respond to this challenge. Maintain or advance? Survive or invade new ground? Live for now or live for eternity? The choice is yours.

You can buy Rousing The Warriors from Cross Rhythms Direct for £7.59.