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By Anthony<\/p>\n
Kindly share:<\/p>\n
Worshippers at ARC Church gathered on Sunday, March 8, 2026, for a spiritually charged service marked by worship, prayer, and a stirring message delivered by the Lead Pastor, Rev. Paul Chikwem.<\/p>\n
Preaching from\u00a0Joel 2:7<\/strong>, the cleric delivered a sermon titled\u00a0\u201cGod\u2019s Marching Team,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0emphasising the importance of order, purpose, and unity within the body of Christ.<\/p>\n Rev. Chikwem began by drawing a clear distinction between a crowd and a team, noting that while crowds are unstructured and chaotic, a team is organised and purposeful. According to him, the Church is not meant to function like a random gathering of people but as a disciplined army advancing the purposes of God on earth. \u201cThe kingdom of God moves like an army, not like a crowd,\u201d he said, stressing that believers are not merely individuals attending church services but members of a divine team with specific roles to play.<\/p>\n He cautioned against the passive mentality of \u201clet them do it,\u201d warning that such an attitude undermines the collective mission of the Church. While acknowledging that the church is a place where people come seeking healing and restoration, he reminded the congregation that challenges exist even within sacred spaces. \u201cPeople go to hospitals to be healed, yet some still die there,\u201d he remarked, explaining that the church, though holy, is still populated by imperfect people striving toward spiritual maturity.<\/p>\n Using the imagery of an army drawn from Joel\u2019s prophecy, the pastor declared that God is raising a disciplined force of believers who understand their place and function within His kingdom. In an army, he explained, soldiers maintain their ranks and do not switch lanes arbitrarily. Unlike a crowd that can easily push people down or create confusion, a well-organised army operates with structure, discipline, and shared purpose.<\/p>\n Expounding on this theme, Rev. Chikwem highlighted three major truths about God\u2019s marching team.<\/p>\n First, he said\u00a0everyone in God\u2019s army has a position.<\/strong>\u00a0In the kingdom of God, there are no spectators or cheerleaders, observing from the sidelines. Every believer has a divinely assigned place and must resist feelings of inferiority about their role. The pastor emphasised that before God, positions are not measured by human prestige. \u201cThe head pastor is no more important than the brother serving in sanitation department,\u201d he noted, explaining that significance lies in obedience to one\u2019s calling rather than in the visibility of the office.<\/p>\n To illustrate the danger of abandoning one\u2019s position, he cited the biblical account of King Saul, who was instructed by the prophet Samuel to wait for him to offer sacrifice. Saul\u2019s impatience led him to perform a priestly duty that was not his to undertake. By crossing the boundary of his assignment, Saul broke rank and suffered consequences. Rev. Chikwem used the example to urge believers to excel in the role God has given them rather than envying another person\u2019s office.<\/p>\n The second point of the message centred on\u00a0assignment.<\/strong>\u00a0According to the pastor, many people engage in activities within the church without first seeking God\u2019s direction concerning what He actually wants them to do. Some, he said, become consumed by the pressures of family responsibilities; spouses, children, or household demands, without understanding the spiritual mission God has entrusted to them.<\/p>\n He also observed that in many cases people serve God primarily because of their needs rather than genuine devotion. \u201cIn Nigeria, many serve God because they have needs, not necessarily because they love Him,\u201d he remarked, adding that when believers relocate to environments where systems function more smoothly, some risk drifting away from the faith because they are not rooted. Knowing one\u2019s assignment, he explained, provides stability and purpose. \u201cAn assignment not understood can never be realised,\u201d he said, urging members to seek clarity from God about their divine responsibilities.<\/p>\n The third lesson focused on\u00a0alignment.<\/strong>\u00a0Rev. Chikwem stressed that God builds teams rather than individual heroes. Just as the beauty of the night sky lies in the presence of many stars rather than a single shining one, the strength of the church comes from collective harmony. He encouraged believers to celebrate each other\u2019s successes and share in one another\u2019s burdens rather than competing or pulling others down.<\/p>\n Drawing from\u00a02 Timothy 2:3<\/strong>, he reminded the congregation that a soldier does not abandon his post in the midst of battle. Christianity, he said, is not a festive spectacle but a spiritual warfare. \u201cChristianity is not a concert; it is a call to war,\u201d he declared, pointing out that the enemy constantly seeks to disrupt homes and weaken the unity of the church because united families build a united church, which is formidable.<\/p>\n Rev. Chikwem further explained that in an army, different roles exist, strategists, medics, warriors, and support personnel, yet all work toward the same objective. Some believers may be prayer warriors, others may be generous givers, while others serve quietly behind the scenes like in the army. Each contribution is vital. He cautioned prayer warriors not to condemn those whose primary gift lies in giving, and likewise urged others to appreciate those dedicated to intercession. In the kingdom, he said, every role works together to advance the gospel.<\/p>\n He also warned against the danger of\u00a0breaking ranks<\/strong>, describing it as an act of disobedience and a sign of a lack of submission. In a disciplined army, soldiers respect order and authority. However, he lamented that in modern Christianity many believers disregard structure under the claim that \u201cthe same Jesus saved us all,\u201d thereby neglecting the importance of divine order.<\/p>\n Referencing the biblical account of Aaron and Miriam speaking against their younger brother Moses, Rev. Chikwem illustrated the seriousness of challenging God\u2019s appointed order. Despite Miriam\u2019s status as a prophetess, God rebuked her for undermining Moses\u2019 leadership, demonstrating that spiritual gifting does not eliminate the need to respect divinely established authority.<\/p>\n The pastor urged believers to honour individuals serving in various capacities within the church, including those whose roles may appear modest. He noted that even an usher positioned at the door deserves respect because that placement is part of the structure God has permitted. When believers disregard such roles, they undermine the unity and discipline necessary for the church to function effectively.<\/p>\n Rev. Chikwem concluded by reminding the congregation that no part of the body can operate independently. Even the parts that seem less significant are often the ones God bestows with greater honour. He, therefore, encouraged members to seek God earnestly for understanding of their place within the spiritual army.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk God to help you discover your assignment,\u201d he urged. \u201cWhen every soldier understands his place and maintains alignment, the army of God moves forward with unstoppable strength.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The message left many congregants reflective and inspired, as the service concluded with prayers for clarity of purpose and renewed commitment to serving faithfully within God\u2019s marching team.<\/p>\n The servant of God had earlier admonished the brethren from\u00a0\u00a0Luke 14:16; Luke 1:59<\/p>\n \u200eHe reasoned that\u00a0excuses are made, not given. So,\u00a0\u200eurged them to stop making excuses but to make up their mind to succeed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u200eSpeaking further,\u00a0 he said: “you are what they call you if you accept. Don’t argue with them, just work hard to prove them wrong. Stop arguing with people. Let them call you what they like but you know who you are. Believe in yourself and work to disprove them;\u00a0time will silence them,” he advised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Anthony Kindly share: Worshippers at ARC Church gathered on Sunday, March 8, 2026, for a spiritually charged service marked…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9179,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[1710,1709],"class_list":["post-9177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","tag-acts-of-restoration-and-compassion-church","tag-rev-paul-chikwem"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n