In all armies understanding the mission is critical. Leaders issue a five paragraph combat order. Paragraph two is the mission statement. All leaders memorize this format. Subordinates take notes. The format helps to understand in the disfunction of war. Leaders execute missions. Taking care of the general welfare of subordinates is part of their mission. Mission is paramount. In John 10:10 God lays out two missions. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  Look in any army manual. The infantry mission is “kill, capture and destroy.” Real leaders lead from the front thus they are exposed to the same enemy fire as their subordinates. It is folly to expect men to go forward absent courageous examples. Why would any sane man expose himself to enemy fire resulting in a quick trip to hell without being prayed up and right with God? My men knew where I stood with God. I never hid my faith in God. The beleaguered Apostle Paul wrote 2/3s of the New Testament. This is God’s promise to us in these chaotic times. The Father set a bold example of his love through, His Only Begotten Son and His Apostles. (II Corinthians 11:22-31 and Hebrews 12:1-2) In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That’s what Jesus did for us. When a man is killed in combat our nation honors his sacrifice. Citations tell of his sacrifice. Only great folly, or great love, motivates such sacrifice. I expect many soldiers who die this way are honored in heaven. God’s son came as a sacrificial lamb. His next coming, which is near, is as a warring king. It is foretold in the powerful prophetic vision in Revelation 19:11-16,  “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse: and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”  What a mighty mission statement!

In the Bible you find these two words in 76 verses of Scripture. The first verse is Exodus 15:3. “The LORD is a man of war, the LORD is his NAME.” Jehovah was dealing with Israel. He led them out of Egypt through Moses. He prepared them to take the land occupied by a demon possessed people as a Lion, not a Lamb. I find this exciting as we know he will soon come for us as the Lion of Judah. Why did He let all, but two of these “men of war” who came out of Egypt die off in the desert over 40 years (Deut. 2:14,16; Joshua 5:6)? Only Joshua and Caleb were permitted to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land? It was because they were the only two not overcome by fear of man. Fear can not be permitted by a war leader to affect his camp. 171 times in the bible God exhorts His people to “fear not.” Clearly fear is the opposite of faith and we know that God responds only to faith. The Bible has a lot to say about warfare has Deut. 24:5 suggestions. Joshua 10:25 shows that teaching the men not to fear was a big concern of Joshua. We see in 1 Samuel 16:8 that God calls David a man of war. Clearly God is not against war or men of war when they are in His will. Do not let the liberal theology of these times shame you for any participation in war. You were under lawful orders. The point is this; whether in peace or in war you can sin. Do not sin. “Be ye Holy” says the Bible. That is why a man of war needs to understand the Bible which is the Word of God.