The Helpers of the War
God is calling the whole church to become helpers of the war, laboring together in prayer, evangelism, and urgency for lost souls.
“Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.” 1 Chronicles 12:1
Sa pagbabasa natin ng 1 Chronicles 12:1, makikita natin ang isang panahon sa buhay ni David kung saan siya ay nagtatago dahil kay Saul. Yet even in that season of hiding and pressure, may mga taong lumapit sa kanya. They were not ordinary people. They were mighty men, helpers of the war.
Ito ang pag-aaralan natin: ang pangangailangan ng gawain ng Diyos for people who are willing to help in the war. Hindi ito trabaho ng iilan lamang. This is a calling for the whole church.
Great Things Are Not Built Overnight
The world’s most magnificent infrastructures were not built overnight. Walang malaking gusali, tulay, o city landmark na basta na lang tumayo in one night. It started with a dream, an idea, and a vision.
Pero hindi magiging makatotohanan ang vision kung mananatili lang itong dream. It takes dedicated workers. It takes people who will give their time, skill, strength, and sacrifice.
Ganun din sa local church.
Ang GIFT Church ay hindi naging ganito overnight. May pinagdaanan ang church. May nagsimula. May nag-pioneer. May nanalangin. May nagbigay ng panahon. May nagpagamit sa Panginoon.
Mula sa kadiliman, dinala tayo ng Diyos sa kaliwanagan. But remember, hindi tayo niligtas ng Diyos para saluhin lang ang liwanag. God will use us to bring light to people whose eyes are still blinded.
The Burden Of The Great Harvest
In this lesson, we recognize that dreams will not materialize effortlessly or spontaneously. We will only witness fulfillment if the church embraces the burden of the great need for laborers.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Matthew 9:37
Walang problema sa aanihin. The harvest is abundant. Ang problema ay kulang ang manggagawa.
Marami tayong ministry sa loob ng church, and that is good. Pero hindi dapat doon natatapos ang burden natin. Ang nakakapagbigay kaluguran sa Panginoon ay ang kaluluwang bumabalik sa Kanya.
God cares for lost souls.
May mga kaibigan tayo, kapatid, magulang, mahal sa buhay, classmates, workmates, and neighbors who still do not know the Lord. Kung hindi natin sila aabutin, alam natin kung saan sila papunta. This is not being judgmental. This is the truth of the Word of God.
David Did Not Fight Alone
David stands as one of the most formidable figures in the Bible. He defeated Goliath at a young age. He fought lions and bears. He led triumphant campaigns against enemies who did not know God.
But David never acted in isolation.
His mission was to establish, expand, advance, and defend the kingdom of Israel. That task was too heavy for him to carry alone. Kaya makikita natin sa 1 Chronicles 12 na may mga taong ibinigay ang Diyos sa kanya: helpers of the war.
Kahit si Apostle Paul, sa kanyang ministry and missionary journeys, needed people with him. In 2 Timothy 4:11, he mentioned John Mark. Kasama rin sa kanyang ministry sina Barnabas and Silas. This was already Apostle Paul, yet he labored with committed and passionate people for the kingdom of God.
Kung si David nangailangan ng helpers, and if Paul also worked with helpers, then the church today must understand the same principle.
We need helpers of the war.
The Local Church Is Not An Accident
Hindi aksidente na tayo ay nasa GIFT Church. It is not an accident that we are here.
There are many UPC churches in NCR and Metro Manila. Some may be bigger. Some may have better facilities or sound systems. But there is no such thing as accident or coincidence with God.
The presence of a local church in a community is not mere existence. Hindi lang tayo another group or another church. This is the work of God in our city.
Ang church ay nasa frontline ng battlefield. We are in a spiritual battle, and this battle is for souls.
We are not fighting for earthly reward. Ginagawa natin ito para sa mga kaluluwang hindi pa nakakakilala sa Panginoon. Everything we do inside the church is worship to God, but the Lord is also glorified when we bring souls to Him.
The Church Is At War
Wartime ngayon. Panahon ng digmaan. Panahon ng giyera.
Walang sundalo sa giyera na natutulog. Walang nasa battlefield na hindi alert. Kapag nasa giyera ka, kailangan ready ka. You must know when to attack and when to defend.
Church, we need helpers of the war.
Hindi ito kakayanin ng iilan lamang. We are at war with the spirit of worldliness, a spirit that blinds people and keeps them from choosing light over darkness.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
Napakadali para sa tao na piliin ang kadiliman. Bakit? Kasi kapag madilim, pakiramdam nila hindi sila nakikita. But when there is light, everything is exposed.
Kaya huwag nating hayaan na mamatay ang ilaw natin. Let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
At the end of this battle, hindi tayo ang mag-o-overcome sa sarili nating lakas. Even before this war started, we are already victorious because Jesus Christ has overcome the world.
Kaya huwag tayong kumilos na parang talunan.
The Whole Church Must Preach
Preaching is not just the job of bishops, evangelists, pastors, Bible school graduates, or church leaders. Every believer who claims to be a follower of Christ has a responsibility to share the Word of God.
Evangelism is not just for young people. Hindi lang ito trabaho ng kabataan dahil sila ang malakas. Regardless of age, status, background, or position, the command of the Lord is for the whole church.
The Lord said to go and preach the gospel to every creature. Hindi Niya sinabi, “Young people, go.” Hindi Niya sinabi, “Pastors only, go.” The command is for the church.
Bilang isang iglesia, ipamahagi natin, ideklara natin, at ipahayag natin ang salita ng ating Panginoon.
We Need Helpers Outside The Church Walls
Marami tayong ministry sa loob ng church. We serve. We sing. We play instruments. We help in programs. We use our talents.
But what about the people outside?
What is our ministry for the lost? What is our initiative to reach souls outside the church?
Minsan tumatagal tayo sa church, pero hindi tayo lumalalim. Tumatagal tayo, pero hindi tayo lumalabas. Why? Kasi nakokontento tayo na may ginagawa tayo sa loob, but we forget the people outside who need Jesus.
The question is simple: who will reach them if not us?
If we say we are born again, then we must understand our mission. Our mission is to go and preach the gospel.
How Can We Help In The War?
If the church needs helpers of the war, paano tayo makakatulong?
Here are some ways.
1. Prioritize Prayer And Fasting
Before anything else, we need to prioritize prayer and fasting.
Wala tayong magagawa sa ating sariling lakas. Without prayer, fasting, and the blessing of God, we cannot fight this spiritual battle effectively.
There was a time when the disciples could not cast out a demon from a young man. These were already disciples. They were with Jesus. They heard the Word. They saw His works.
But still, they could not cast it out.
Jesus said that this kind comes out only by prayer and fasting.
Hindi porket nasa church ka lagi, takot na sa iyo ang demonyo. Hindi porket kumakanta ka, tumutugtog ka, or active ka sa ministry, takot na ang enemy sa iyo.
The enemy trembles before a man or woman of prayer. A believer who draws near to the Lord, who fasts, who prays, and who walks with God carries anointing from Him.
So before we fight outside, we must first fight on our knees.
2. Diligently Prepare Yourself
Spiritual preparation is good, but it must also include personal preparation.
We need to study the Word of God.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
How can we rightly divide the Word of God if we do not study it?
Kung gusto nating magamit ng Panginoon, we must prepare ourselves. We must know the Word, understand the truth, and be ready to share it clearly.
Hindi sapat ang zeal kung walang laman. Hindi sapat ang desire kung hindi tayo naghahanda.
The helper of the war must be prayerful and prepared.
3. Intentionally Give Your Time
Maraming tao ang busy. May trabaho. May business. May career. May school. May responsibilities. But at the end of the day, it becomes a matter of priority.
Who is your priority? What is your priority?
If we understand our priority, we will make time for the Lord. We will give time for evangelism. We will make room to share the Word of God.
There are people coming to church who are still new. Some have no Christian background. Some come only on Sundays. They need someone to talk to them, guide them, and help them grow closer to God.
Take action. Plan your day or week. Prioritize the work of God.
Hindi natin kayang i-justify ang actions natin kung dahil doon ay naisantabi ang gawain ng Panginoon.
4. Join The Evangelism Team
Join the evangelism team. Sumali tayo sa evangelism.
Again, the Great Commission is for the entire church. Multiply yourself. Find someone to disciple. Find someone to reach.
Kung hindi ka man makasama sa organized evangelism team, then evangelize in your own personal way.
Your workplace is your evangelism field. Your company is your evangelism field. If you are a student, your school is your evangelism field. Your neighbors are your evangelism field. Your family is your evangelism field. Your friends are your evangelism field.
Minsan yung mga ka-kwentuhan mo tuwing umaga, sila na pala ang field na ibinigay ng Panginoon sa iyo.
We must do our part.
5. Cultivate A Sense Of Urgency
This is urgent.
Pwede nating sabihin: urgent hiring, helpers of the war needed.
Any moment from now, the trumpet could sound. This battle will end. This war will end. And there are still many people who do not know the Lord.
Our friends, loved ones, relatives, schoolmates, and workmates need Jesus.
If you knew that Jesus would come today, nasaan ka kaya ngayon?
Would you still stay in your comfort zone? Would you still be scrolling on your phone? Would you still be doing your usual routine?
Or would you go to your friend, your mother, your father, your sibling, your spouse, your classmate, or your workmate and tell them about Jesus?
Why? Because we want them to be saved. We want them to know the Lord. We want them to be with us when the trumpet sounds and we meet the Lord in the air.
That is the urgency of the mission.
Soul Winning Is A Church Affair
Soul winning is supposed to be a church affair, not merely an individual affair.
Evangelism should not be carried only by a few. Dapat lahat naghahambing. Dapat lahat tumutulong. Dapat lahat gumagawa. Dapat lahat may burden.
Like King David, the victory of the kingdom involved helpers of the war.
Tonight, if there were a sign outside the gate of heaven, it could say:
God is looking for helpers.
God is looking for qualified helpers in the labor of His kingdom.
Nakakalungkot kung ilang taon na tayo sa church, pero hindi pa rin tayo willing maging helper of the war.
This is a reminder for each one of us: there is a greater mission before us. We must set our affection on things above and focus ourselves on the main goal of the kingdom.
That goal is souls.
People need Jesus. People need Christ. People need salvation.
And who will reach them if not us?
The Mission Is For All Of Us
If we say that we are the people of God, saved by God, and born again believers, then we must understand our mission.
Our mission is to go and preach the gospel.
May mga taong araw-araw nating kasama. Kaibigan natin. Kasama sa bahay. Kasama sa school. Kasama sa trabaho. Pero minsan hindi man lang natin nasasabihan ng Word of God.
The truth is serious. The mission is still before us.
This mission is for the soldiers of God. This mission is for believers. This mission is for the entire church.
Everyone must engage. Everyone must participate. Everyone must be involved.
We do not know the time. Any moment, Jesus could come.
So while there is still time, let us become helpers of the war.
Let us pray for boldness, liberty, and courage to declare His Word to our loved ones, friends, families, workmates, classmates, and everyone who needs to hear the gospel.
May the Lord strengthen us, speak to us, and help us become fruitful in His work.