For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. — Philippians 2:21

Can you imagine a person who joins the military and then does his own thing?  He gets out of bed when he wants to, exercises when he wants to, and trains when he feels like it.  No, once enlisted, you are now told when to get up, when to go to bed, when to eat, when to exercise, when to sleep.  You hear and obey the commands of your superior.  In the Spirit realm your Superior is Jesus Christ or the Word of God.  He, through it, will tell you how to grow, prepare, and train to be used as a good soldier.  The Word will make you familiar with your weapons, your armor, and even your enemy.  It will give you the same heart and desire as your Leader, Jesus Christ:  you will look on prisoners with compassion, you will desire to free those who have been bound for years.  You will start to love righteousness and hate iniquity.  You will forget about “your own” and seek His will.  The Army will be responsible for your needs-–your living quarters, your clothes, and your chow.  Why do you worry about what you will eat and drink and wear?--it’s because you have stopped invading and have started “seeking your own”!  A soldier’s focus is on his country and his kingdom, not his own needs.  Do not worry about your needs.  The government of heaven will take care of everything–-if you will invade.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you. — Luke 10:19

There is a reason that God gives His people power and authority.  It is not just so we can tell others we have it, or for us to stand still and wait, but to tread!  The power given to you by God is to run, to climb, to march into enemy territory and take back health, take back wealth, take back prisoners of war who have been held in torture camps for years.  They have been tortured with fear, and anxiety, and insecurity.  They have been bound and shackled and beaten in their souls for years and it is time they were set free!  You have authority and power to tread–-and that authority and power is only activated when you are treading.  Without you invading, and climbing, and advancing, the power will lie dormant!  Oh, yes, you have it, but you have not pulled the trigger on it, not released it.  Just start treading!  When you do, the ability to invade will be released in your life and serpents and scorpions will become your footstool.  Divine protection will be yours when you are seeking Kingdom affairs.  Many get hurt because they invade, yet when hardness comes they turn and run–-but there is no protection in God’s armor for your backside.   Just keep going forward.   You have power-–if you tread.

They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march everyone on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: — Joel 2:7

God is raising up a mighty army of spiritual believers in this day and hour.  Joel is prophesying about this army.  It is not a weak army, a “hold-the-fort” army, a protect-the-city army, but it is an army that invades, recovers, and advances.  This army will blow the trumpet, not to retreat, but to charge; it will sound the alarm, not because the enemy is coming, but to warn their enemies that their army is coming–-is advancing (Joel 2:1).  This army does not sit and wait, but shall run like mighty men, shall climb over the wall, and shall march and not break rank.  There is no defeat, no turning back, no retreat in this army–-just advancement.  Wherever you go-–wherever God sends you-–you go with an invasion mentality.  You are no longer just going to the store for milk, you are looking to invade the devil’s territory and take back what belongs to you.  It is no longer just a job, but an opportunity to invade the kingdom of darkness and bring the light of Truth.  When you go to the restaurant to eat, there is no retreat; you are looking, watching for a chance to further the kingdom of God.  Now every day becomes an adventure–-every day you are looking to invade–-every day you will run, climb, march–-do whatever it takes to advance.

...a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be anymore after it, even to the years of many generations.

— Joel 2:2b

What a time you live in!  What an honor to be alive, to be born again and Holy Ghost-filled!  You can be part of a mighty spiritual army–-a great people and a strong.  This army is not strong in the natural, but strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!  It is the likeness of a people which have never lived before, neither shall there be any like it again!  The days of playing church and of just trying to look religious are over.  You are being trained and equipped to take ground for the kingdom of God.  You do not go to church because it is Sunday--you go to be strong and become great in the things of God.  You go on Wednesday while others are at home, you pray while others are asleep, you read the Word while others read the newspaper.  Why?  Why so fanatic?  Why so focused?  Because you know in your heart it is the day of the Lord.  It is time to invade, it is time to recover.  You have decided that you will not sit on the sidelines and watch the battle.  You will not cheer others on in the fight, but you will be in the front line of advancement for God’s kingdom.  A great people-–strong-–never seen the likes of them before and never will again!  Will you be part of this people?