Overwhelming Joy Ministries
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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GOD IS RAISING UP SWAT TEAM EVANGELISTS GOD IS RAISING UP SWAT TEAM EVANGELISTS
BY SANDY COX
Last week, I went to my special spot where God and I like to meet and talk. I sat down and asked, “Do you have a word to share, Father?” His response surprised me a bit. He said, “SWAT Team Evangelist”. Well that set me to thinking, for sure. I immediately went to my trusty research database, www.dogpile.com for some definitions and other information. When I found an article that explained what a SWAT Team is and does, I was excited to see that there is definitely a parallel between what a SWAT team does and what we as the Body of Christ do as evangelist.
Office of Evangelist
In Ephesians 4:11 we see that being an evangelist is a special empowerment given by God to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Evangelists, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can communicate God’s plan of salvation with clarity and conviction. God has gifted them with creativity in presenting their message to any age or life style group that happen to be their captive audience at the time. An evangelist is consumed with a burning desire to go out and find the lost. (Don’t we all have this gifting to certain degree?) He or she is anointed with God’s favor and success. They are given special Radar (the Holy Spirit) to zero in on the lost. And this is where SWAT Team tactics come in.
Preparation for God’s SWAT Team
During this season of transition we have all been through some major shakings. But don’t focus on the shakings; look at these circumstances that have seemed to surround us for about the past seven years as places of rigorous training for God’s SWAT Team.
I found an article that explained the mission of this special category of trained police officers. (http://people.howstuffworks.com/swat-team.htm/printable) I am going to use this article as a basis for what I feel God is saying about end-time strategies for bringing in this incredible Harvest of souls the Body of Christ is focused on in this season. After seeing the parallels I will be making between evangelist and SWAT team members, you will see that all of the hardship you have been pressing through is so worth it! We are entering into a season of having the Heart of Christ for the lost and perishing! Glory!
Introduction to How SWAT Teams Work
A police officer is on patrol when he gets a call about a domestic dispute. When he arrives at the scene, he finds that an armed man has taken his girlfriend hostage and barricaded himself inside his apartment. The officer calls for backup, but when the other officers arrive, they realize that their standard guns won't shoot through the barricades. They don't have surveillance equipment to see inside the apartment, which would give them crucial information about the assailant and the hostage. If the assailant starts shooting at them, they don't have body armor to protect them from his bullets. They could use gas to incapacitate him, but they don't have access to it. They haven't been trained to storm the apartment and incapacitate the attacker with minimal risk of injury to the hostage, the officers and the assailant.
Luckily, most police forces have a special unit with the equipment and training needed to resolve exactly this kind of situation: the SWAT team. A SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team is an elite unit within a police force, used for exceptional situations that require increased firepower or specialized tactics. The officers in a SWAT unit have undergone special training and have access to an arsenal of weaponry, armor and surveillance devices beyond standard-issue police gear. Much of this gear comes in the form of military surplus.
At this juncture, I want to interject a parallel I am seeing.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (Amplified Bible)
3For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.
4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
6Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.
As times grow darker and darker, we will be shining brighter and brighter as God sends us, His special task force behind the enemy’s lines to “heal the broken-hearted, open the doors to prisoners and set the captives free.” The evangelists of this hour will definitely need a back up team of prayer warriors, going into battle with the forces of darkness that are trying to take their captives to the horrible pits of hell. I say we will be used of God to rescue the perishing. We are more than conquerors through Him Who saved us! The victory is assured us! Hallelujah!
Here are a few situations that typically require a SWAT team call-out:
We are going to see a lot more of these types of situations in the up and coming days. We need to be ready and focused on the Kingdom of God. We need to be pressing in like never before to a greater revelation of the King we serve and Kingdom we are part of. Our cry should be, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.” (Emphasis mine)
SWAT Team Origin
The Los Angeles Police Department is generally credited with developing the concept of SWAT in the 1960s. Political and social turmoil in the United States during that decade led police to decide that they were unequipped to deal with certain violent situations. The Watts Riots in 1965 and the 1966 sniper attack at the University of Texas in Austin reinforced the fact that they needed special equipment and procedures. Daryl Gates, a high-ranking LAPD officer who eventually became police chief, is often mistakenly credited with coming up with the idea of adopting military weapons and tactics for police units. However, Gates did use his position within the force to promote the idea of a SWAT team.
Initially, the SWAT unit was viewed with great skepticism by police officials, politicians and even other officers. The original acronym, "Special Weapons Attack Team," was viewed as too antagonistic, so Gates changed it to "Special Weapons and Tactics." Two incidents cemented the SWAT team's place within the modern police force: a barricade stand-off with members of the radical militant Black Panther Party in 1969, and a similar situation with the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. The next year, a network television series called "S.W.A.T." further embedded the idea of a SWAT team into American consciousness. Police units using paramilitary tactics quickly spread across the country, first through major cities with violent gangs, then filtering down to smaller cities.
The one thing that jumped out at me is the time frame of the beginning of the formation of SWAT teams. Having lived through the 60s and 70s as a rebellious young woman, I can very easily spot the enemies plan to try to recreate this season of destruction again. When I look at today’s fashion, customs, songs, etc. it is like one big flashback. So, I said all of that to say this, I believe this gives a lot of relevance to the word God gave me. God is going to be pouring out new methods of warfare for the evangelists and the rest of the Body that will more than be able to cope with horrendous circumstances the enemy will be trying to stir up. But I must interject, WE WIN, HE LOOSES!!
And I must make another comment about the 60s and 70s. There was an awesome Jesus Movement then and it got squelched by religiosity. We must ask for the mind of Christ, Mothers and Fathers of the church. We must see this new task force that is being raised up and trained with God’s heart and eyes, because they are going to do things a whole lot differently than we do.
Recruitment and Training
Police forces handle SWAT recruitment in different ways. In most cases, experienced officers volunteer for the job. If they meet the rigorous requirements, they are allowed onto the team. It's sort of like getting into a prestigious college. The desire to be on an elite squad drives these officers to take on the added responsibilities and duties. Other forces treat SWAT duty like another stage in an officer's career. In these departments, every cop eventually goes through two years of SWAT detail, whether they want to or not.
Training for SWAT team members can be grueling. No SWAT unit ever really "finishes" training -- they must maintain constant fitness and the ability to respond to situations automatically. Part-time SWAT units in smaller cities might train only 16 hours per month, while larger, full-time units spend far more time on training.
Ephesians 6:10-19 (Amplified Bible)
10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(A)
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
19And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),
So let’s get ready to run this race and keep our focus on the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ. We must use extreme caution when it comes to our focus. Remember, distraction is a major tactic of the enemy. He loves to get our focus off of Christ and onto ourselves or our circumstances. So just pray for grace to look away from all that distracts and look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. AMEN.
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