Specially Equipped (Day 6)
Training days allow the contester to test his/her abilities and skills so that when the time for the real battle comes, the contester knows what he/she can and cannot use. Whether we have seen actual warfare, there’s something about war, opposition, fighting that every human being understands. Almost to the point of creating conflict that does not even exist. There are a few warfare metaphors used throughout the bible, more so the new testament; the old testament actually documents some real instances of brutal warfare. All pointing to the reality that Christianity is war. We can say this because there is constant contention between those who are for God and those who are against him. Hence the reason it is said that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God…” (2 Cor 10:4) and in Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul encourages us to “put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” and then he goes on to list what this armor consists of. But today I don’t want to talk so much about the armor that every soldier in the Lord’s army has to be equipped with; I want to talk about the reality of specialization in the army of God.
Every soldier goes through strict general training that ensures he is able to survive in battle but in addition to that, every soldier has something special about him that will determine his direction in the army and his role in battle. For our purposes this refers to our unique gifts, talents, skills and abilities that takes us through the championship. We all have been uniquely designed with specialty areas that God wants to use as we journey through the championship of faith. But as with any specialty, without training it can’t actually be called a specialty, you may have the potential but potential is only the possibility of power, it’s not power. And no wise army general will put you on the field and risk the lives of other soldiers on potential alone, unless he is really, really desperate, kind of like Saul was when faced with Goliath (Or Iron man was when he recruited spider-man).
Let’s look at the championship of David for a bit. When David went to deliver food for his brothers in the king’s army, he found them in a state of terror. They were facing one of their greatest enemies yet, a loud mouth, disrespectful… giant. Even the king was afraid to face him. There was a lot at stake and David stepped up to the challenge, not with confidence in himself but confidence in his God, not out of defense for himself but out of defense for the name and honour of God. Saul, the king was so desperate he didn’t consider the fact that David was no soldier or that he was too young to even be in the army, when he heard him offer to fight Goliath, he let him. And here’s what happened:
Then Saul clothed David with his armour. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off 1 Sam 17:38-39
David was able to put down Saul’s armor and pick up his staff, some stones and sling and walk towards his opponent. What was his weapon of choice based on? Training, testing and faith. David hadn’t proved Saul’s armor because he had not used them to train, what he had trained with was his sling and staff and he believed that God would do the rest.
Every champion has something unique about them that sets them apart from the others and is aligned with their purpose. Moses had a staff for the task of leading a nation of people into a new land much like a shepherd with his flock of sheep. Joseph and Daniel had the gift of dream interpretation, while Esther had a beautiful heart that shone in the midst of the most beautiful women in her kingdom, Samson had strength, Solomon had wisdom and the list can continue. What is in your hand?
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit distributes them 1 Cor 12:4
Not every gift or talent will be directly related to your ultimate purpose but it will play a role in getting there. David was a skillful musician and that got him a job in the kingdom, so that he became acquainted with the king and the king with him, but his ultimate purpose wasn’t to be a musician it was to be a warrior… a king. Yet David nurtured every part that was uniquely him, which included his musical and poetic skills and his fearlessness in a fight. This is what your training days should consist of, developing both your general abilities and your specialty (note the order) and being fully present with joy as God takes you through each stage of your development. A champion values constant training.
Be a blessing,
KellyP
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Kelly is the founder of Royalty Press United. Author of the Gemstone Royals fantasy series, Twist of Faith and Crossroads. Counseling psychologist, proud Grenadian and devoted follower of Christ.
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