In the past I have had the privilege of teaching on the Whole Armor of God. Just recently I was reading an article that someone else had written, when I realized that there is no armor for the soldier’s back.
This has two immediate implications. First, you must press on towards that which God has called you to, or at least stand your ground as the scripture puts it, in order to be protected by God’s armor. Second, there is a need for a rear-guard. As He did for the Israelites leaving Egypt, He will be our rear-guard also. But as with so many things in our walk with God, I believe that God wants to be our rear guard though the auspices of another person. I believe that God is calling each one of us to be a rear-guard for at least one other person, and to accept the idea of having a personal rear-guard for ourselves.
Simple, right? Yes, but I think more important than ever in the age in which we are now living. All God’s people are called for a purpose. No one who has committed their life to Christ can escape the fact that Christ did not save us just for our own personal convenience or salvation, but also so that we could be a witness to a dying world.
None of us doubt that, but since we left the course all of us have experience delays and hindrances to fulfilling that purpose. We are pressing on, fighting the good fight, but in the face of greater opposition than ever. And, I believe that the opposition will continue to increase as the days continue and grow shorter. As we press on, my study of the Jezebel spirit, which is the ruling enemy spirit in the western world today, convinces me that back stabbing will be a principle tactic of the enemy to try to derail the work of the Lord in this time. So the back armor is needed.
Finally, the absence of back armor, indicates a purposeful omission. Why would God provide every other device and weapon necessary to fight the good fight but leave our backs exposed? The answer comes down to humility. The scriptures and history indicates that the single most important vulnerability of God’s servants is pride and self-righteousness. In order to minimize the potential for pride, God has literally left our butts exposed! Feeling a draft behind us, we are aware that we are not self-sufficient, and thus we need to seek out a rear-guard. That rear-guard is our relationship with Jesus. By staying in touch with Him, He becomes our pillar of fire between us and the enemy.
Having said this, however, I also believe that it is God’s intention that our rear-guard be physical as well as spiritual. By this I mean that I believe that He has called us to be a rear-guard for one another. By asking someone else to be our rear guard (intercessor) we affirm that we are not self-sufficient, thus warding off pride and encouraging humility. Further, we may encourage spiritual growth in others by honoring them with our request to be a rear guard for us. Finally, in order for a rear guard to be effective, the soldier must be transparent about the ways in which they are being attacked and the battle which they have been called to fight.
To many of you this whole idea of a rear guard is not a new concept. You have intercessors praying for you and accountability partners keeping you on the straight and narrow. Humor me in my late arrival to the party. But I do think that there’s a point here which exceeds the conventional wisdom.
The spirit of Jezebel is viciously active in this age. Some of the characteristics of that spirit are to bring discouragement and a feeling of unworthiness through isolation and a general sense that one is not fulfilling God’s purpose. Many of us are experiencing a God imposed “waiting” period. For each of us, He has a specific reason for imposing the “waiting” period. But I believe that distress and discouragement is one of the normal emotions which proceed from such a time. Jezebel recognizes this situation and tries to use it to her benefit as well.
For myself I know that regardless of where I am emotionally and spiritually, I am always able to more clearly see into the issues others have, than I am into my own. Hence I need a rear guard with whom I can be transparent and on whom I can rely to protect my back as I push ahead in my quest for the next God step.
If you think that you already know this, consider the case of Pastor Ted Haggard. (Not to pick on him. I have great compassion for his current dilemma.) He, like so many other church leaders of our time, I believe, may have forgotten the importance of humility. Both for him personally and for the Lord’s work, humility is an indispensable precursor. Without it we are on the edge of the cliff waiting for a strong wind to push us over – and the Lord’s work with it. Too often good men and women of God are convinced by peers and the world that they are the answer to the world’s problems. God put them in place; therefore they have to complete the work. In reality, the work is the important issue. The person continues on as long as they can be effective. When they cease to be effective they are honor bound to retire and let others carry the fight. Too often we forget this dictum and the enemy succeeds in creating circumstances which remove us from the fight, but which also bring discredit upon God’s work. With a rear guard, cemented in humility, we are shielded from the back stabbing attacks of the enemy, and enabled to carry on the fight.
Whether you have a rear guard or not, I urge you to consider establishing a rear guard covenant with others. I personally will be asking others to help me in this way in the near future. I have also determined to give it added spiritual and practical power by creating a Rear Guard Covenant document which declares my need for a rear guard, and my commitment to transparency and regular contact so that my rear guard can be effective. Furthermore, I will regularly schedule time in my life to communicate with my rear guard, thus ensuring that a necessary component of my ministry doesn’t become a passing gesture.
What about you?
