R.O. Covey, White Wing Messenger, June 24, 1967
THE CHURCH OF GOD is, and has always been, in a conquest. In other words, we are at war. Conquest is defined thus: The act or process of conquering. To conquer means: To gain the mastery over someone or something by physical, mental, or moral force. It also means to win; to be victorious.
We have long since learned that there can be no victory without a battle. A battle signifies a fight. In order to conquer, we must put up a better fight than the enemy. To put up a better fight, we must have well-trained and qualified soldiers. These soldiers must be equipped with the proper weapons and know how to use them. Training and equipping soldiers to be conquerors is costly.
“DOLLARS FOR DEFENSE!” is the cry of nations
today. It seems that the whole world’s economy is geared to war. In war, spending goes wild. Wages mushroom—but so do taxes. Money is spent by the millions and billions. The loss of a weapon costing hundreds of thousands means very little in modern warfare; in fact, aircraft and ground weapons destroyed are counted, casually, by dozens and even hundreds. The “dollars for defense” are replacing them faster than they are being destroyed. We’re just living in that kind of time.
BUT WHAT ABOUT SPIRITUAL WEAPONS?
In writing to the Church of God at Corinth, Paul said, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Cor. 10:4). To the Church of God at Ephesus, he wrote, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:12, 13).
A spiritual warfare must be fought with spiritual weapons. It has been tried with carnal (fleshly) weapons many times, but always with defeat. Even in the days of types and shadows, when the people of God were fighting their enemies on literal battlefields, every victory was credited to the people’s obedience to God rather than to their skill with weapons.
THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS HAD ITS ENEMIES.
Though we speak of the favor God gives us with the people of the world, let us never forget that the prince of this world despises Church of God doctrine one day just the same as he does another. Any time the Church or righteous are favored, we may be sure that God has somebody in His hand, causing them to do His bidding. Did not Solomon declare, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will”? (Prov. 21:1).
At one time, Jesus increased in favor with God and man. In His early ministry, His followers were many. God favored Him that the gospel might reach the people, leaving them without excuse when they would reject Him. The early Church had “favour with all the people” immediately following the day of Pentecost. But in the very next chapter a miracle was performed, and Peter preached his second great sermon which called forth the Church’s first persecution.
SINCE THE RECORD SPEAKS SO PLAINLY,
surely we in the last days’ Church understand that any “fishing for favor” amounts to nothing but compromise. If God does not see fit to favor us at any given time, it serves our purpose better to do without it. At such times, He will give us favor in the fight.
Consider David in his encounter with the Philistine giant. Saul and his troops were all harnessed up in armor of steel from head to foot; yet there was not a man among them who dared to accept Goliath’s challenge. But here comes youthful David, an intruder in the eyes of his own soldier brothers. Look at the words of Eliab, the oldest, the same one who had appeared so wellfavored in Samuel’s eyes on that former occasion that Samuel had said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” Now, to David he says, his anger being kindled against this younger brother, “Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.”
Briefly, after gaining Saul’s permission to meet the giant, David refused the “carnal weapons” which had not been proven, took his staff, five smooth stones out of the brook, and his sling, and “drew near to the Philistine.” When Goliath had finished breathing out his disdainful threatenings and belittlings, David answered him: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.” And even every Sunday School boy and girl knows the outcome!
THE COST OF THESE SPIRITUAL WEAPONS? They cost exactly the same as they always have—OUR ALL! Material prosperity is all around us and among us, but all the Church of God members together, by pooling their goods, could not buy enough carnal armor to win the first bout with our spiritual foe!
The Bible armor is recommended for all eras of the Church’s warfare. Truth girded about our loins! Righteousness in our breasts! The preparation of the gospel of peace for shoes! That fiery-dart-quenching shield of faith—the faith—one faith! Salvation covering our heads! And the Word of God, Church of God doctrine, as our sword in hand! Hallelujah! Then finally, all prayer and supplication in the Holy Ghost!
CHURCH OF GOD, appeasement won’t win. “Summit conferences” with those who secretly despise us won’t win. We can’t “buy our victories” with the methods and techniques of the wealthy religions. If the battle is not the Lord’s, it isn’t worth fighting. LET US FACE OUR FOE, AND BE CHURCH OF GOD ABOUT IT!