The author shares a story provided by a pastor to a church in Fayetteville, N.C., about 1996.
A call to action for men, for formal military, for (formal or current) First Responders.
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There are three (3) types of people in the world. Most people are like Sheep, going where they are told to go, doing what they are told to do. Then there are the Wolves who devour the Sheep; they are demons and evil men used by Satan to influence and destroy the sheep.
Then comes the shepherd (Jesus) who brings with him the Sheepdogs. These are the pastors, ministers, Deacons, the Sunday school teachers, and the laymen who lead the sheep away from evil into the arms of Christ (Jesus). Men who preach the gospel, the word of God.
Then the pastor did something never seen before, and rarely seen since. He lifted his head and peered over the podium at the congregation.
NOW! For those of you in the church who are members of the 82nd Airborne, Special Forces, Marines, the Air Force’s Para-Rescue (PJ’s), and the like. The United States has trained you all to be soldiers, to be defenders of Freedom. As I hear the song, “Onward Christian Soldiers.” I believe God has called each of you to be His soldiers. His warriors.
Reading the story of David, “a man of God’s own heart”. Yet, he was a soldier; he was a killer. He killed a bear and a lion as a teen, and killed over 2,000 Philistines as a young adult. Later, he was the King of Israel. God called David to be a leader of Israel, a protector of the Jewish people. God calls each man to protect his wife, each father to protect his daughters.
I believe God has called each of the Airborne, Rangers, Recon, Marines, PJ’s, and Special Forces members, not only to fight for the freedom of this country, but to protect the people who are the most vulnerable, ‘the Sheep.’ You are the ‘Sheepdogs’ who stand between the Sheep and the Wolves.
You are the ‘protectors’. You are the ‘fighters’. When people cannot stand up for themselves, it is ‘You,’ who stand in the gap.
You are the defenders of the people; you are God’s warriors. Your weapons are the Bible, prayer, your souls, and the skills God has provided you to defend those who cannot protect themselves. Most of all, a heart that cares. People are called to unite, defend, and protect others. Philippians 2:3-4 states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” As men, as Christians, as soldiers, you are called as God’s warriors; you weapon may be on our knees in prayer. Prayer is the double-edged sword of God.