WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?

1. WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? The battle line has never been so blurred, confusion rules the front lines; laughter of men sharing spoils is mingled with noise of war. Meanwhile, the warfare has never been hotter and the adversary is in the world, Revelation 12:12, knowing he has but a short time, "...  Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" [2 Kings 5:26] The Spirit of the LORD is crying, "Remember,  Remember"; remember how Israel slipped into error in the wilderness, Exodus 32:6 and the people "sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play"  and , "... Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him" [Exodus 32:26] Levi out of all the tribes stood on the LORD'S side and to them was given commission to purge Israel with judgment. They went through the camp, their swords drawn and three thousand men were slain in one day [Exodus 32:27-28] WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" [1 Peter 4:17]

2. WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? The question exposes the underbelly of popular face of Christianity; churchgoers whose claims to faith are branded messiahs, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" [Matthew 24:24] It is not hard to see lying wonders unfold before our eyes, parishes overflowing with worshippers who profess JESUS CHRIST but never heard His VOICE, "I am the good shepherd, and KNOW MY SHEEP, and am KNOWN OF MINE. ... And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall HEAR MY VOICE; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" [John 10:14,16] Friends, the LORD'S SIDE is not a denomination or prayer mountain, it is the refuge of those who have heard His VOICE and believe His testimony, "... Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for WE HAVE HEARD HIM OURSELVES, and know that this is INDEED THE CHRIST, the Saviour of the world" [John 4:42] JESUS is the CHRIST, not a racist God, magician or money-maker, He is the fulness of the invisible God manifest in flesh and blood, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" [Colossians 2:9]

3. WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? Two words suffice, separation and sacrifice. The hearing of the GOSPEL is our invitation to be reconciled to God, by the hearing of CHRIST we were chosen; separated from the world, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, therefore the world hateth you" [John 15:19] It is a privilege, many were called but few chosen, chosen to stand on the LORD'S SIDE. The LORD'S SIDE to which we belong is synonymous with sacrifice, John 10:17-18, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" [Romans 12:1] A "living sacrifice" that's what we become when we step up to the LORD'S SIDE; we are as soldiers at war ready to die for the nation, under strict instruction to " ... earnestly CONTEND FOR THE FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints" [Jude 1:3] We are enlisted into army of God not of men, our warfare is for souls of men not their pockets. Let us, therefore, be vigilant not to succumb to distractions and hurtful lusts, "NO MAN THAT WARRETH ENTANGLETH HIMSELF WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" [2 Timothy 2:4]

4. WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? Samuel directed the question to Saul not his troops and rightly so, Saul was "chosen" and had heard the LORD, "And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" [1 Samuel 15:13-14] The LORD was displeased with Saul, mainly for staying the sword [1Samuel 15:1-9] He was lukewarm, did not go all the way, holding back the sharp two-edged sword of His WORD. The LORD has no pleasure in those who water down Scriptures, holding back the sword for fear or filthy lucre. He will judge this generation beginning from the LORD'S SIDE, who with "... feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" [2 Peter 2:3] WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? Let us all examine ourselves, mindful that man's approval is worthless and a snare, and in godly sincerity stand on the LORD'S SIDE. In full armour of CHRIST'S finished work on the Cross, let us advance swords drawn, to take all nations for JESUS, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" [2 Corinthians 10:3-4]