Apr | 13 | Taking Care of Business

Key Word:- FIGHT

Title:- Taking Care of Business

Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might……….for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood

“Every subject’s duty is the King’s; but every subject’s soul is his own.” So goes the reply of ‘Henry V’ to Williams on the night before the battle of Agincourt. It’s one my favorite plays, and in Act IV the dialogue Shakespeare places into the mouth of King ‘Harry’ seems to have the hard-core base of the Scriptures about it;it’s just marvellous!

Reading through the Acts of the Apostles, that brief history of the early church, shows very clearly that in the beginning, rather than there being a glorious appearing of the new body of Christ, the church militant here on earth was never a gentle coalescing of various friendly folk calmly stepping forth on the errands of their Master, but rather it was, and seems to continue to be, more like the coming of a startled and struggling child that arrives kicking and screaming into the world. Herod it appears, is still out to destroy the birth of this baby, and Rachel is still weeping for her children and the battle, ever rages in its great ferocity, in and around, over and under the true church of the living God.

The true church is a movement forged in fire, a body that is bathed in blood and battle. In the early days, the church’s over all and main strategy appears to be that of survival! It is hard to discern much else on the mess of a battlefield, when the nature of such fighting dictates flexibility and imposes on its Commander and His generals the need for dynamic response to stay alive! Has this early ‘survival’ state of mind continued I wonder?

In my opinion, the strategy for the global making of disciples lies totally in the heart of the sender, which is inturn, imparted of necessity into the hearts of those which are sent. So looking at the post Pentecost rise of a multitude of many different men, missionary movements and methods over the centuries, it is obvious that our Commander has had a flexible strategy to meet the needs of the hour. His strategy may change and we must be mindful and obedient to it, yet one thing never changes and that is the need to guard and maintain our own heart and the fire He has imparted to us. That is the pre-eminent thing to do in this battle, in this walk, in this journey in this mess of a fight, ‘keep your own heart and keep the home fires burning!’ Today, remember brother and sister Knight, these two great Shakespearian thoughts, which I believe are rooted in the Scritptures “Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.” (King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 4.) and “Every subject’s duty is the Kings and every subject’s soul is his own.”

If I may elucidate a little futher then, in this battle, our personal responsibility is two fold.

Firstly, we must take care of business, we must take responsibility with Jesus for our own sacrifice, service and sanctification. In other words, we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We must put Him first for every man’s duty is the King’s. Tell me today then, who’s your daddy? Who’s your lover? Who’s your friend?

Secondly, and speaking as a Protestant, we must do is take to heart the wise advice of our most blessed sister Mary:

Listen: - His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:5

Pray: - Lord, I am a servants and soldier for the working day. Please Lord help me to be attentive to Your orders for this my day and help me to keep my own spirit soul and body, fit and hot, yes, ready to do Your will! Amen.