To Those Desiring Change in this Army of the Lord

Let us share in zeal. Let us share in passion. Let us be unified in our desire for truth. But let us not be right in our own eyes. Let us seek wisdom and be open to reason. Please, let not the change we wish to see be of our own agenda's. Let us not form the Army to look like ourselves, to make it like ourselves but we must be one in this desire "YOUR KINGDOM COME, OH GOD, YOUR WILL BE DONE" and this alone. Don't be conceited. Don't be arrogant. Don't think that you've got it all together or that you have all the answers to the Army's problems. THERE IS ONE, dear children; ONE INDEED. And He knows how we are to look. Like His Son. Driven by His Spirit.

For it is true "Where there is selfish ambition there is disorder and every vile practice" James 3:16

therefore, don't let your selfish ambition get in the way. If we are going to be one, if this change is going to take place it must be one big unified thrust by the true people of God, not a bunch of ideas and ideals made by our own human reason which can only lead to more disunity and chaos. Let this be your motif: Desire for God's Truth, and Zeal for His house. May it consume US just as it did the Christ who after expressing that zeal proclaimed "My Father's house shall be a house of Prayer" In other words, stop building towers, and proclaiming idle opinions and get on your knees and weep for God's Army, weep that His righteousness be manifested deep within. Cry out to Him for His mercy and grace. Become LOW. Understand your desperate need; understand your poverty (for the Kingdom belongs to such as these!). Understand that ALL good things and ideas and wisdom come from the Living God ALONE, understand His holiness in relation to your need for holiness and cry out for HIS good and perfect will and not your own! And in all of this let our ultimate end be in line with HIS ultimate end. That being the glory and the upholding of His name; as the apostle says "Do all things to the glory of God``.

LISTEN!

Those of us that desire change in the Salvation Army aren't all in agreement when it comes to doctrine or theology or evangelism. We don't all agree with each other's way of doing things, this can potentially ruin things for us. Though this grieves me greatly, that is not what I want to focus on this moment. I want us to focus on that one thing we have in common, that desire we have. That desire for change is a manifestation of the groaning that Paul talks about in Romans 8. This desire isn't of us; it comes from our union with Christ. Though our means of grabbing that which we desire may differ, the end is the same. It's a cry that we have within our spirits for God's will to be done; for Glory! It's something that ALL the people of God share in, not just those in the Army. And it's a cry that we must unleash together; let us not to strive to accomplish it in our own strength. But like babies cry out to Him FOR Him, that He may accomplish what our deepest yearnings call out for, things that have not been seen. I'm talking about hope. The desire for change that we share in is a manifestation of the hope of the people of God. What we need to do is stop tacking our own vision to the hope that we have, I think that's where unhealthy ambition comes from. But we hope for what we do not see and in doing so we wait for it in patience. PATIENCE for what is coming. Faith that it will come. You do well to abide in these things.

So I encourage you to go on in zeal, just as long as you hold fast to the heavenly wisdom expressed in James' epistle. And run in your passion, as long as you delight also in the knowledge that God has provided in His word. Don't put your revelations above scripture, but test everything in the light of scripture. And always always always pray. Don't EVER stop. He will come; He will accomplish what He has promised to His children! So live and breathe and walk in your faith which alone justifies us before Him, and hold fast to the hope to which you were called(a hope that is not seen). Don't grow weary but be fervent in zeal. He was stricken and made low that you may not grow weary. And put on love. Love those that you are unified with in Christ, care and supply for their needs and encourage one another every day. Just as He has loved us, so love one another! Tell of His salvation to the nations that He may be glorified in that Great and Terrible Day!

grace and peace

Jeremy Strain.