The Army Of God by Apostle Michael Orokpo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Three Things That Give Value to Human Existence

In studying scripture, there are three things that truly give value to the existence of a man — without which, when that time on earth is over, the conclusion will be that it was a waste. It is important to excavate the truth of God's word and find the things that give real value to our existence.

First: The Depth of Your Knowledge of God

John 17:3 — This is life eternal: that you may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. This is life that has meaning eternally — not just quantitative but qualitative life. Anybody who walks through the earth and does not come to that point of having experiential relationship with God — regardless of how long he lived, the position he attained, or the possessions he accumulated — his life would have been a waste.

A parable was told in Luke 16 about a rich man called a fool from heaven. He understood all the principles of economics. His barns were filled. He said his soul would now rest. God spoke from heaven: you fool, tonight your soul will be demanded of you. When he got to eternity, he discovered that although he was rich on earth, he was not rich toward God.

1 John 1:1-3 — That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have looked upon, our hands have handled, of the word of life. There was a time when people told us about God. But the point came when they handled Him for themselves. God expects every person to come to a point of personal experience of and fellowship with Him. On the strength of that fellowship, there is the authority to bring others into it.

The situation is especially urgent in territories where systems have been built that allow men to survive without God — going 70 years without ever seeking Him. The danger is that a person can finish that cycle and return to eternity having never had an encounter with God.

Second: The Quality and Depth of Your Worship

Isaiah 43:21 — These people have I created that they may show forth my praise. We were not created to fill up space on earth. We were created to manifest His praise and give Him glory.

When John was carried to heaven in Revelation 4, the predominant feature of that civilization was that worship was unending. Twenty-four elders had thrones they would never sit on and crowns they would cast down — their entire focus was to sing: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord. The four living creatures stood before the throne and forever and ever, day and night, they blessed and praised the One who sits on the throne.

John 4:23-24 — Jesus said there is a group of people God is looking for. He is not looking for Americans or Africans. He is looking for worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. These are the people whose existence is significant.

Worship is not a song. It is a state of submission to His authority where life becomes an expression of His will. The first time the word worship was used in scripture was not in a song. Genesis 22:5 — As Abraham was going up to sacrifice Isaac, he said: I am going with the young lad to worship. A man who knows God and submits to His authority — his life becomes a river that shows forth His praise. God expects us to live under His government, submitted to His authority, expressing His will.

Unfortunately, even in ministry, what is called ministry has become a profession for survival — not submission to God's authority. People are singing, yet God is not worshipped. Everybody who met God in scripture fell like a dead man. When Ezekiel saw Him, he fell like a dead man. It was only when God spoke that the spirit entered and lifted him up. Our existence is consequential to the degree of our worship — to the extent of our submission and surrender to His will.

Third: The Extent of Your Kingdom Service

God has an agenda. As a King, He has a kingdom He wants to advance. When He created the world, His intention was to extend His invisible government to the visible realm. Genesis 1:26 — He created man in His image, after His likeness, and said the man should have dominion over the face of the earth. The agenda was for man to replicate the culture of heaven on the earth realm, so that every entity on earth would live as in heaven.

That kingdom service is what gives value to human existence. The reason believers are brought into the equation is to advance the will of God on the face of the earth. Anybody who is walking through time and is not part of that governmental agenda — that colonization agenda — his existence is a waste.

Even when Jesus came and saved us from sin, the assignment continued. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 — Whoever is in Christ is a new creature. Old things are passed away. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses against them, but committing to them the word of reconciliation. Now we are ambassadors of Christ. We are here to reconcile the world back to God. Our job is a platform for reconciliation.

The Army of God: Five Designations for the Sent

God saves, disciplines, and sends. In this kingdom, we are saved, we are discipled, and we are sent. It is not enough to be saved or to become part of a church. It becomes enough when after being saved, you are discipled — and after being discipled, you are commissioned. Wherever you find yourself, you then have the capacity to mirror God and establish His government.

God does not send Christians or children into the world as agents of His kingdom. He sends sons, priests, kings, ambassadors, and soldiers — five major designations for those sent to advance His kingdom.

1. Sons

   Sons have a unique way of representing God. A son is not merely a male or female — a son is an image carrier of God. Hebrews 1:1-3 — In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. When a man embodies and reflects God's image, he becomes a son. When God sends you as a son, you may not need to preach, yet you will advance the kingdom. People in your workplace will notice character and quality traits that are not human — your tolerance level, your meekness, your love quotient, your kindness, your wisdom, your dexterity. They know it cannot be learned in any institution. As with Daniel — of every question the king asked of him, he was ten times better than all his equals. The equipping comes in discipleship: in the school of discipleship, God teaches you to pray in the early morning hours. As you pray in tongues, God downloads intelligence into your mind. When you now step out and speak, they wonder what is speaking through you.

2. Priests

   A priest is one who can carry the presence. A priest does not just mirror God — a priest is a bridge between heaven and earth. Before God sends you out, He must teach you priesthood. When you step out and the ways of men fail, you can look into heaven. Governments are already pushing policies to stop public prayer — which proves they know prayer is powerful. They know that even praying under your breath is powerful. When God sends you as a priest, you can go into a godless hospital or workplace, and even without anyone knowing, you walk around praying in tongues. After years of that, angels will begin to visit that place. People will start having encounters in dreams and trances. Eventually they will come to you, and you will do a proper Bible study and disciple them.

3. Kings

4. Ambassadors

   We were reconciled to become reconcilers. We are ambassadors of Christ. Our job is a platform for reconciliation — not merely a career.

5. Soldiers

God's Army: Colonizers for the Kingdom

The reason you find yourself in any territory — including the most restrictive ones — is that you were sent there as an agent of divine colonization. When one nation colonizes another, it installs its culture, its ideology, its language, everything about it — and uproots what was there. When God created the earth, He wanted to bring His invisible government to the visible realm. He is doing the same through His sent ones.

A generation has been sent into the nations. Those who came thinking it was for a good job, for financial provision — welcome on board as an agent of colonization. The hospital platform, the workplace, the marketplace — all of it is a colonization platform. Something will come on you that when you go to your job, you will not just excel in the work itself, but you will carry grace there. On the strength of that grace, you will exude a perfume that will cause people to seek the God you carry.

You live to know God, you live to worship God, and you live to advance God's kingdom. There is no structure in any territory that can ultimately hinder the advance of God's kingdom through a commissioned one. But it begins with understanding: I am here to serve the interest of God. There are things God tells us that our faith is not yet on the ground to receive. And what you do not receive, you do not experience. Build your faith not to sell off your future. Build your faith not to sell off God's gorgeous agenda for your life.