Can you imagine the believers of today charging like warriors, scaling walls like soldiers?

A recent postcard inviting us to a meeting at another church says: "The bar is open—drinks are free. Take another drink." The background consists of champagne bubbles.

The Lord has come to us today in the spiritual fulfillment of the Blowing of Trumpets. He is ready to discipline us as soldiers in His army. Part of the discipline consists of the confession and renouncing of our sins. Another part of the discipline consists of learning to march in our line and not swerve from our course.

Because we are so immature in the things of God, so filled with the adamic nature, we do not march in our line. We swerve from our course. God desires total obedience to His Spirit. Every soldier in the army of the Lord will be sternly obedient to the Father, always listening for His voice in every decision that is made.

The Christians of today are far from being an army such as that described in the Book of Joel. However, Christ shall indeed have an army. There have been many saints throughout history and there are some today who meet the criteria announced in Joel.

Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. (Joel 2:8)

God's people often thrust each other. This comes from Satan who forever is attempting to sow dissension in the ranks of the believers.

The adamic nature is very prone to participate in suspicion, gossip, slander. How many Christian assemblies have been destroyed as the believers have thrust one another?

Satan is filled with envy. He passes this envy into the adamic nature of the believers. Therefore they are not content to walk in their own path, just as the priests and elders of Jesus' time were not willing to continue with their own responsibilities. As soon as they saw the popularity of the Lord Jesus they could not wait until He was killed. So it is in the churches of today.

The sword is the Word of God. The soldiers of Christ's army can fall on the sword and not be wounded. Why is this? It is because they already have been wounded by the Word and in place of their wounded adamic nature has risen the indestructible Life of Christ. The Word of God cannot wound the resurrected, incorruptible Life of Jesus Christ.

They have been crucified with Christ. Now they are eternally alive. The soldiers of the army of the Lord are dead-living people.

At one time they were alive in their adamic nature. Then they died on the cross with Christ. Now they are alive for eternity and the Word of God strengthens rather than wounds them.

It is an honor to be a member of the army of Christ. Let not the casual, halfhearted, lukewarm churchgoer of today suppose he or she is going to be magically transformed by dying or at the coming of the Lord and thus become a member of the army. It is not going to happen. These are a great people and a strong and include the saints of all ages.

To be continued.