On 26/11/2008 the entire nation was rocked by series of unprecedented shoot-out and bombing of India’s commercial capital “Mumbai”. The disastrous event was completely orchestrated by the terrorists many months ago. The catastrophic event sent shock waves questioning about the internal security of the nation and insecure metropolitan cities of India. The ruthless attack on innocent people of Mumbai and the pace in which the terrorists were moving into the city on this particular day seemed like as if they will be unstoppable. Though the entire local Police was mobilised to control the situation they could not do it as the strategy of the enemy was unknown and also the “lathis” were not a match for the weapons used by the terrorists. The terrorists moved in swiftly carrying out the attacks on different points where density of population was high and finally they took hostages at the Taj Hotel. The entire city police seemed to be paralysed and perplexed as they ran out of a clear plan to put an end to the terrorist atrocities and save the hostages. There was hope only after the 300 commandos from the National Security Guards (NSG) arrived at the scene within hours of authorization from the Crisis Management Group (CMG). The commandos were informed about their duty by midnight and they all rushed from their housing quarters to be flown to Mumbai from Gurgaon.
The commandos arrived at the Taj Hotel and launched Operation “Black Tornado” and Operation “Cyclone” to save the hostages and exterminate the terrorists. Though there were controversies on national security and emergency preparedness this was one of the most successful anti-terrorist operation to save lives. The interview of the NSG commandos after the operations revealed a lot of stunning facts about their dedication to duty and unwavering focus to save the hostages. The hostages were not relatives of the NSG commandos but they wanted to do it because they were sent to do it. One particular act of the commandos that really impresses is that before they started to Mumbai in a special aircraft they removed their watches and switched off their mobile phones so that their focus will be fully on the operation. This clearly infers that even before they launched into action they knew that time will not be a factor to be considered but saving lives was their priority. They were ready to be in action even if it continued for days. During the Operation they did not want their mobile phones vibrating to a call from their family and again the highest priority was for the operation to which they were commissioned.
As commissioned Ambassadors of The Most High God we can imbibe from the NSG commandos’ dedication and focus on duty. We will be able to see a high degree of similarity in both of our duty to save lives and crush the enemy’s work of pushing people into eternal death. Just like the commandos we have been commissioned to use the Word of God and Prayer as the most sophisticated weapons (2 Cor 10:4, 5) to tackle all the strategies of Satan the Prince of the World. To overcome the enemy’s strategies and establish God’s Kingdom on this Earth we need to adapt ourselves to Biblical teachings on how rescuers should be.
- Rescuers should be strategists:
I Chronicles 12:32
“From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (Good News Translation)
The Kingdom of God needs such leaders and rescue workers who will understand the contemporary times and counter the enemy with spiritual weapons to expose the enemy’s strategy and save lives from the hands of the enemy. Just like the men of Issachar we should work with a special revelation and wisdom from God so that we will be able to navigate through this evil world and break every dominion with God’s power and establish His Kingdom on Earth.
We read that the NSG commandos after reaching the attack zone came up with a special Operation to storm the terrorist hideout. Very similarly as warriors of God it is very important that we come up with specific divine strategies that will snatch people from the hell fire.
“Save others by snatching them from the fire [of hell]” (Jude 1:23).
Folks we cannot pull people from hell fire until and unless we come up with a powerful strategy to overcome every rulership, dominions, darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness.
- Should not cling on to the affairs of the World:
Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. (2 Tim 2:4) (NLT)
Kingdom builders should not allow any affairs of the world to dampen their progress in moving forward to save people from enemy’s hands. Paul instructs Timothy with a metaphor of a soldier who always wants to please his commanding officer. Very similarly we need to set our focus in such a way that every work that we do or involved with should be pleasing the Lord of Hosts who is the supreme commander and the one who has commissioned us.
The NSG commandos set an example by removing their watches and switching off their mobile phones so that time nor their family or friends would be disturbing their focus. In The book of Nehemiah we see a very real model set by Nehemiah who worked tirelessly during the construction of the walls of Jerusalem.
The Bible clearly records that when the enemies were setting targets to attack and stop the work, Nehemiah and his guards never even took rest or changed their combat uniforms but stayed alert at any moment (Neh 4:23).
Today God’s Kingdom does not need cowering workers but courageous commandos who will always be clad in their combat uniforms and be on an attacking posture to storm the highway to Hell which leads thousands of lives into death.
- Should not be Lax:
“Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slacknes (Jer 48:10) (ESV)
When the NSG commandos themselves have got so much dedication and seriousness about their work then we workers of God who have been called to serve The Lord should be more dedicated towards our divine work. Let us not be negligent in our work since the Bible says that cursed is the man who does the work of God with carelessness and lacks dedication. We see that the apostles and all workers of God in the Bible were so careful in doing the high priority work of the Most High God. Folks it has been 2000 years since Jesus Christ incarnation into the world to save humanity but still the undone work is enormous and we need rescue workers who will dedicate themselves for the work of saving the lost through the Gospel.
The tools that God has given us are not for marketing or manipulation but they are for demolishing corrupt culture, warped philosophies, barriers and strongholds and to establish a Biblical Culture based on His Commandments. The talents, resources, physical strength, intelligence etc.., that have been given to us by God are not for any other purpose but to carry out His Commission and save lives from the bondage of the enemy.
“Christians have a world to reclaim and regain for God. The enemy has brought about vast destruction, death, and wickedness. Prayer opens up God’s Armory with its superior weapons. Prayer and intercession cast out the entrenched enemy, violate his borders, and retake lost territory” – Reinhard Bonnke
In the poetic book of Song of Solomon Christ refers to the Church which is The Bride as an army majestic with its banners (Songs 6:4). It is time that the contemporary Church recognizes her identity in Christ as an Army and raise up to be a swift rescuer of sinners.
(Write to me at : justin@urym.org)
(Facebook: leewenjohn, Twitter: @leewenjohn)
