Today you should read: 1 Chronicles 12
Last chapter, we were introduced to David’s mighty men. This chapter we see how God begins to use them to not only help David but to give us an example of what it looks like to fight for the Lord (not just physically).
To fight for the Lord we must be:
1. Prepared (v. 8)
Notice how the mighty men were experienced warriors, experts in weaponry and in condition (the only other person that I’ve heard compared to a gazelle is Olympian, Usain Bolt). These men were prepared to fight for their future king and what that king was fighting for, the restoration of Israel and God’s people worshiping the One, True Lord again. But they didn’t do this on a whim. They were prepared to do battle.
Are you prepared to fight for the Lord? Do you know the top idols of the age to compare and call out? Are you prepared in apologetics and in protection with spiritual temptation? Are you prepared to share the Gospel? Are you spending time with the Lord to be filled up with the Spirit to be sent out as a missionary? As great as your desire may be to fight for the Lord in the spiritual warfare around us, are you prepared to do so?
2. Loyal (v. 17)
David made it crystal clear that they would either fight for him (who was fighting for the Lord) or against him (in betraying him by befriending his enemies). Many times we have one foot in the world and one foot in the church, but that’s not what Jesus meant when He told us to be in the world but not of the world. While in the world, we are not to be participating in and befriending the world. We know that we will mess up, still sin and need grace but we must show our loyalty to the Lord the same way David’s mighty men were told to show loyalty to David.
3. Single-minded for the mission (v. 38)
Last of all, we see these men with one heart, with one mind and purpose, and that was to make David king. They knew that the mission they were fighting for was to put David in that position to lead Israel back to the allegiance of the Lord and they were united in that one-minded mission. Honestly, it’s hard to fight for anything if you don’t have others with you, fighting for the same purpose and passionate for the same cause. It’s why the current sermon series at CPC has been so effective as we remind everyone why it’s important for us to Be The Church by coming together to help take everyone we meet one step closer to becoming true disciples of Christ. We cannot accomplish this and advance the kingdom without the majority of people being on board with the mission.
What stuck out to you in this chapter? Are you fighting for the Lord in those above ways?
By: Erik Koliser — West Campus Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 