Charismatic Week (19/08/21)
Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement
Theme: (The Unrecognized But Great Friend From Heaven) Day 2 JESUS, THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOSTS OF THE LORD Text: John 1:9-11; 5:1-7; Matt. 8:23-27; Lk. 24:13-32 INTRODUCTION:Surely, when we surveyed Him as the One that spread His hands even at death and the implication of accommodation and invitation to faith, mercy and freedom, all categories of sinners, scorners, backsliders and offenders in the church saw that they still had some opportunity to be received and recovered. When we considered Him as the seed of the woman to bruise the head of the spiritual serpent that deceived the woman (Gen. 3:15), and then knew why His name is in enmity with Satan and his hosts, casting them out of those they had possessed, and removing all forms of afflictions they have put on such human beings. Following this came another eye-opening teaching, showing us Jesus as the Supplier of the need of the needy, having been billed (of old) so to do.
Then came Jesus, the Head of principalities and powers, and the Head of the Church. From this we came to know fully why Satan and his demons bow to Him; why His ministers and entire children are not afraid of the, on the other hand, from the fact of He being the head of the church we came to know why He loves, rules and leads His house (the Church) to each member=s desired soul.
Today, another revelation on Jesus, our great Friend from heaven has been slated, as we consider Jesus, the Captain of the hosts of the Lord (Heb. 2:10). To fully understand and benefit from this truth, let us first talk about the hosts of the Lord. The host or hosts of the Lord refer to the entire camp or the armies of Israel of old (Num. 2:3-4,6,8,11,13,15,19,21,23; 4:1-3; 10:14-19; 31: 14,48; Deut. 2:14-15; 23:9; Jos. 1:11; 3:2; 5:14-15; 18:9; Ex. 12:41; 1Kgs. 15:20; Ps. 103:21). Today, the Church, being like Israel of old, is the host of the Lord, engaged in a warfare against the hosts of the devil (Eph. 6:12, implied in 1Tim. 6:11-12; 2Tim. 2:4; Heb. 2:10).
JESUS, THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOSTS OF THE LORD (Heb. 2:10).
To understand this truthfully, let us further look back at the relationship between God and Israel. But remember that the captain is the name applied to (i) the King or prince of a people (1Sam 9:16); (ii) a general (Gen. 26:26; 2Sam. 5:8); (iii) the head of a family or tribe (Nu. 2:3); (iv) such that have command of a company (Deut. 1:15). God Himself was the Captain of the hosts of Israel, either the general assembly or the armies, having promised to go before them and lead them into Canaan, and having done that (Ex. 3:8,12,17-22; 6:1-8; 10:2-6; 23:20-33; 33:1-3; Jos. 1:2-9; 3:7-8; Acts 7:31-37). Because of this, He came to them in the form of an Angel to confirm that, during the time of Joshua (Jos. 5:13-15). It is in this manner that Jesus is the Captain of the hosts of the Lord today (Heb. 2:10).
THE IMPLICATION
The implication is that, as God led Israel into defeating all their enemies and overcoming all the obstacles, through to possessing the promised land (eg. Josh. 5), so Jesus leads His hosts on an individual and collective basis to overcome too and inherit God’s promises here on earth and in heaven eventually. What each person of the Lord’s hosts today should do is to face all obstacles and assaults of the devils squarely with the recognition that Jesus as Captain is standing by. This was how Joshua conquered Jericho. After the heavenly visitor, the Captain of the Lord hosts had gone, he still knew He was with him.
Following this is the application of His word to whatever situations they are that arise. When these have been done, victory becomes as guaranteed as the sun.
For those who are not yet members of the Lord’s hosts, the thing to do is to enlist immediately, otherwise, life will continue to be without real meaning and the soul lost at last in hell.
LET US PRAY