Something Greater (Part 4)

(I have been posting "Something Greater" the last four days. This is the last installment in the series.)

4) Join the Army

Ezekiel 37:10, “So I spoke as he commanded me, and the wind entered the bodies, and they began to breathe. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army of them.”

Okay, I know we’ve done this before, but let’s go through our vision one more time. First our scattered dry bones became skeletons, then they received the covering of muscle and skin. In the third step, they received breath from the Spirit of God and came alive. They’re finished now, right? Well, not exactly. Although they are living, fully formed people, what are they currently accomplishing? Not a whole lot, unless you consider standing around in a valley to be particularly challenging! That is why step number four was necessary-they became an exceedingly great army.

If we are going to accomplish God’s purposes in our lives, if we are going to enter into greater realms of power, holiness, and victory, it is not enough just to be connected to Him and to others. It is not sufficient just to receive His righteousness or the power of His Holy Spirit. You see, after He has done these wonderful things internally, we must then join His army and spread these externally!

One thing about an army is that it always has a mission, a goal. Armies do not move aimlessly, but they have a specific purpose in mind. And as part of God’s army, we have a mission, we have a message to spread-“Holiness to the Lord!” We need to burn for the Lord before our friends, family members, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and all others, that from our lives people receive a message of hope. That from our lives people realize that there is a way out of their sins, there is a way that they can live in righteousness, peace, and joy.

After all, who likes to stay on the sidelines? When I’m playing a sport, I always want to be out on the field, or the court. I hate watching while others are having all the fun! And in God’s Kingdom, I also don’t want to be an observer. I don’t want to stand on the sidelines while the pastor does all the preaching, while the missionary shows all the kindness, while the cell leaders invite all the people to church. I want to be an active participant in God’s Kingdom, spreading His message in any way that I can. Who wants to stand around just breathing in the valley? God has not done mighty things in our lives so that we can keep all the experiences to ourselves-He wants us to spread the news! Holiness to the Lord!

So join God’s army today. Allow God to use you as one of His arrows being shot out to the world. Don’t wait until the enemy attacks you to go to battle, but allow God to lead you on the offensive, going forward with His message, clothed in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13). When we march with God’s army, we have this guarantee-we will always be victorious for He makes us more than conquerors (2 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:37).

So Who Wants the Greater?

As you have read this article, I pray that you have received a fresh desire to enter into greater things with God. I pray that any complacency that has taken hold of you has been broken and you have been awakened to seek Him with new passion, vigor, and energy. There is a greater life out there that we can live in today. If we follow the four steps from Ezekiel 37, we can expect God to bring us into something greater in our lives. He desires to lift us up, and we need only to move with Him. So cry out to God for something greater in your life-He is waiting to answer your prayer!