Battle Engagement guided by the Holy Spirit, is one of the most important battle gear we need to possess before going into war against the enemy. You will not have success without it. In Acts 2:38 when the day of Pentecost was fully come, he said “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “I John 4:3-4, (kjv) states – And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Battle engagement can be likened to going to war in the natural. There are strict guidelines on becoming a soldier, and here are some from the prospective of the USA Army.
Speak with a Recruiter - who will guide you through the process.
Attend Basic Training – Ten-week journey from civilian to soldier – which teaches basic tactical and survival skills, how to shoot, rappel, and march and also learn the basics of Army life and military customs, and the Seven Core Army Values.
There are specific pieces of clothing and other items that are permitted, and a do not bring list of things not permitted to be brought to basic training, which will be honored with everyone – no matter who you are, or where you are coming from.
These 3 Phases are Designed with A Schedule of Special Skill Trainings
Phase 1 – Red – the Army makes sure every recruit is physically and mentally prepared to start Basic Combat Training.
Phase 2 – White – Recruits go through marksmanship and combat training and learn to rappel at the Warrior Tower. This training is intended not only to teach Solders valuable skills, but also to instill confidence.
Phase 3- Blue – After becoming familiar with the use of automatic weapons and hand grenades in U.S. Weapons Training, recruits put their training to the test as they negotiate the Night Infiltration Course. After passing all their tests and challenges, they congregate for the Rites of Passage.
Graduation – Basic Combat Training has pushed the Recruits minds and bodies to new limits, giving them deeper respect for themselves and those around them. Now, the time has come to celebrate their efforts and the strength they’ve gained. This is the day that their families and friends gather to watch them transition from citizens to Soldiers.
As you can see, The Army’s protocol is a useful list to use in comparison with someone making the decision to come to Christ, but it does not guarantee a place in the kingdom of God after passing the tests.
It is the same with entering into the family of God, and relinquishing and submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Christ – by the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus, we are no more our own, we are bought with a price. We have the written Word, (Bible), and the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh), to guide us into all truth.
Read what Peter said to the crowd wondering what had taken over them
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:37 – 39.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
When we start out on our life’s journey after submitting to the Lord, we have the assurance of knowing “For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV). Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 (KJV).
We must not consider ourselves Battle Engagement Ready without the proper armor on, and it must be the armor that God has fitted just for us, for the battle ahead.
And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. and David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them. And David put them off. 1 Samuel 17:38-39.
David knew that his job was attending to the sheep. He knew his responsibility was to keep the sheep safe, and he was not afraid to tell King Saul God had bless him to accomplish what was under his control – by killing the lion and bear with the strength God gave him. 1 Samuel 17:34 – 36 (KJV).
Battle engagement ready will show the authority of Christ in your life, and that you are battle ready with the appropriate ammunition to fight in the battle you are facing. We must know we are going into battle, and not know the enemy is out to win, with any means necessary. The mind we should have is to take back what the enemy has stolen from us.
Keys for Preparation and Survival in the Tough Times Ahead
Baptized with Holy Spirit (Ghost) – Acts 1: 8 “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 2: 36 - Therefor let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
1. Know Jesus - The True Vine - John 15: 1 – 10 (AMP) “I am the true Vine, and my father is the vinedresser.
2. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].
You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [ the teachings which I have discussed with you].
Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.
9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].
10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My father’s commandments and remain in His love.
Be Renewed In The Spirit of Your Mind – Ephesians 4:21 – 32 (AMP) -
If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him],
22 That, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires,
23 And be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude],
24 and put on the new self [regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].
25 Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].
26 BE ANGRY [at sin-at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], YET DO NOT SIN; do not let your angry [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down.
27 And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].
28 The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need.
29 So not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].
32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender=hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Prepare for His Coming – Matthew 24: 42 – 51 “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming.
43 But understand this: if the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. 45 “who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?
46 Blessed is that faithful] servant when his master returns and finds him doing so. 47 I assure you and most solemnly say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that servant is evil and says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time [he will not return for a long while],’
49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware, 51 and will cut him in two and put him with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping [over distress and anger].
You may be saying at this point, this is just too much for me to do. Yes, it is too much when you are trying to do all these things in your own strength, There is no possible way you can live holy, without the Holy Spirit. When you have received the Holy Spirit, then you will be led by the spirit.
“John 16:13-15 (AMP) But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father – the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]. 14 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He (the Holy spirit) will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.
Allowing the Fruit of the Spirit to Be Represented Through You –
Galatians 5:22-26
The Fruit of the Spirit Is…
Love - unselfish concern for others.
Joy [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting.
Kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, a kind act.
Faithfulness – loyal, reliable, true to one’s word, promises, vows, full of faith.
Gentleness – tender, not severe, rough, or violent, compassion, understanding.
Self-control – temperance, humility.
23 Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. 25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy} Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage – our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.
The Practices, Works and Acts of the Flesh - Galatians 5:13 – 18
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.
14 For the whole law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”
15 But if you bite and devour another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].
17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature, for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
Works and Practices of the Sinful Flesh – Galatians 5: 19 - 21
Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident.
Sexual Immorality – adultery, fornication.
Impurity – uncleanness.
Sensuality – lasciviousness, total irresponsibility, lack of self-control.
Strife – angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues.
Jealousy – covetousness, resentment.
Envy – desiring to have what belongs to another.
Drunkenness – excessive drinking of intoxicants.
Heresies – a belief or opinion contrary to Christian doctrine.
Rioting – excessive and boisterous intemperance and lustful indulgence.
Seditions – Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against authority.
Variance – inconsistent.
Emulations – Effort to match or surpass a person or achievement.
Wrath – extreme anger, an enraged sinful nature.
Emulations – Effort to match or surpass a person, achievement, stir up jealousy.
Murders – the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another
Some Biblical Examples of Battle Cry
5 When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall cry out with a great shout (battle cry); and the wall of the city will fall down in its place, and the people shall go up, each man [going] straight ahead [climbing over the rubble].” Joshua 6:5
10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout [the battle cry] nor let your voice be heard nor let a word come out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!” 11 So Joshua had the ark of the Lord taken around the city [on the first day], circling it once; then they came back into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Joshua 6:10
20 So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, picked up the provisions and went just as Jesse had directed him. And he came to the encampment as the army was going out in battle formation shouting the battle cry. 1 Samuel 17:20
Let us be sure we are battle-ready before going on the field. By doing this in preparation, we will have good success with the Spirit and power of God working through us. Because God is before us, we don’t have to be afraid of anyone being against us.
We are being called to the battle front to stand in the gap for our homes, families, cities, country, and the world. Can you hear it? Can you see it? Immoral living has magnified to such a degree that we must cry out to God. Many things are being said and done that makes us cringe at times, because we know we need to ask God for mercy on them because that don’t know what they are saying or doing. We are being called to come into agreement with what God wants, and how He wants it, for this end time generation’s fight. He wants to give us new strategies with His wisdom, to combat the evil spirits that are rampant. Immoral and hostile living has become acceptable in our society, and we need to stand up, and say what God say, and not what is politically correct. Having the Holy Spirit within, we have the power and authority. If we speak against it, we are instantly labeled haters, discriminators, intolerant of views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from our own, unjust, narrow-minded, among other characteristics, prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially when it comes to Christianity versus other religions. Let your battle cry be heard. Shout!!
There is great preparation for us when we are called to stand in the gap for others. Please Read and Study the following topics on being a Watchmen on the wall.