This Is Epic III: Christ's Warriors-The Church

 In the Lord of the Rings, a band of warriors were commissioned to protect Frodo on his quest to destroy the ring of power.  They were called the fellowship.  In France, a band of warriors were commissioned to protect the King.  They were called the Musketeers.  In the New Testament, a band of Warriors were commissioned to spread the gospel.  They were called the church.

Before Jesus returned to his Father, he gathered His followers and invited them to take part in His eternal mission:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.                     -Matthew 28:19-20

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.            -Mark 16:15

But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.                                                                                                                                                                                  -Acts 1:8

They had journeyed with their mighty Captain for three years.   They knew his teaching, they knew his passion, they knew Him, so they understood His final message clearly.  “I have set you free; go preach liberty to the captives.  I have opened your eyes; go give sight to the blind.  I have made you light; go push back the darkness.  I have given you power; go destroy the works of the evil one.”

Jesus left, but as He promised, He did not leave them alone.  He sent a Counselor and Guide, the ever- present Holy Spirit, who empowered them to carry out the gospel mission.  (We will discuss the Holy Spirit in depth in future posts!!!)

In just a short time, a movement began and spread like wildfire all across the world.  Led by the Spirit, the church preached, and captives were set free.  They performed miracles, and captives were set free.  They went on long journeys, and captives were set free.  They were persecuted, and captives were set free.  So much so, that the church was accused of turning the world upside down!!! (Acts 17:6)

 As the gospel spread, the church formed smaller clans.  Each clan, or “local church”, was a called out group of people who agreed to work together and took up the task of strategically spreading the gospel in their particular realm.  And the good news reached even more ears.

Jesus had promised his warriors, “…upon this rock (meaning Himself) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  -Matthew 16:18 (italics added)

Christ would indeed build His church, and hell could not defeat it.  But every word in the Word is important: “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Gates of Hell!  Interesting choice of words…especially gates.  Because gates are stationary.  Sure, they swing on a hinge, but they cannot progress or retreat.  They are fixed in a particular place.  You have never heard someone say, “Now where has that gate wandered off to?”
 

So what’s the point?  The early church understood that to accomplish the mission, to spread the gospel, to push back the darkness, they had to fight an offensive battle.  They had to keep moving forward.  No retreat!   No surrender!  And they stormed the gates of hell, fully armored, carrying the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God.

But, oh, how the evil one hates the church!  Almost immediately, he set up a counter offensive.  And for 2000 years, he has expended every last ounce of his energy attacking the church, both from without and from within.   Throughout history, blatant, unadulterated attacks have been hurled at the church from a world that is still held under the enemy’s power.  Of course, that was to be expected.  Christ had warned his followers about this on several occasions. But the evil one has also employed secret agents, who have infiltrated the church to distract , divide, confuse, corrupt, and even redefine the church and the gospel.  This is one reason why Peter told the early church, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”  -I Peter5:8

The enemy is on the prowl, and His mission is very clear, he wants to destroy Christ’s warriors, the church.  But don’t be lulled to sleep.  Don’t fall prey to His lies.  Don’t get distracted by lesser things.  Don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on this earth that will perish.  Don’t return to your prison cell.  Wake up!  Arm yourselves! Grab your sword and shield!  Attack!  Free the captives!  For you are the church, Christ is your Captain, and the gates of hell cannot stand against you!

THIS IS EPIC!!!