We have seen that the church is established and built by Jesus Himself. He stands as the Christ, the Son of the living God, He being the cornerstone and the apostles and early church leaders being a part of the foundation of its beginning. By using the word “church,” Jesus is referring to a worldwide body of believers as well as groups of believers in specific locations which He calls out to salvation and followers of Him.
 
Now, for these next three days, we want to look at some of the various ways the Scriptures describe the church. Word pictures, if you please.
 
The Bible describes the church as an army. 
 
Jesus depicts the church as an army when he said, “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
 
As Gordon Cook explains, “Here, Jesus depicts the church as a mighty force, storming down all of the evil powers that rise up against it. The church is on the offense, the church is aggressively attacking!  Gates are not an offensive weapon, gates are defensive in design. You hide behind gates, gates are to protect you, they surrounded the city. You see, the picture here is the devil and his army bunkered down, hiding behind gates. The devil and his demons are on the run, they are in a defensive mode, somebody’s attacking them. Who? The church. The devil and his army are hiding behind the gates, and the church, with its gospel-battering rams, is attacking the gate! The church is on the offensive, the church is the aggressor!”     ~ Gordon Cook – Pastor, Grace Baptist Church of Canton MI.
 
As an army, Paul describes the manner in which we wage war…
2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (NIV)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
 
Again, the picture here is not one of passivity. He pictures the army of God as being very active, aggressive, even confrontational. We’re not attacking people’s character, we’re not attacking someone’s personality. No, look carefully, “demolishing strongholds, demolishing arguments.” This is a battle of ideas, we could say. “Every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God, taking captive every thought to make it obedience of Christ.” 
 
Paul says, “We have the power, by God’s grace, to demolish strongholds.” The Apostle is using symbolism that was drawn from classic warfare in that day. A prosperous city would not only have a stone wall for security. Somewhere inside that wall, there was a stronghold, well-fortified. It would be defended by the soldiers, but what would happen? Once the walls of the city were breached, the defending forces would retreat to the stronghold. This is where they would hide for the last major battle. It was their final defense, but here, again, we are the aggressors.
 
I tell you, the church must boldly, yet graciously stand up against the antagonistic culture that we live in.  When this pandemic started, almost all churches in America felt it was our duty as citizens to obey our governmental leaders and cease our worship services.  But now, as we can see, in some states the governmental leaders have gone way beyond their authority in squelching churches from gathering. But now, it is right and fitting that the church fight back.  I have news for our leaders. The church is essential. 
 
Now, there’s one final passage that I want us to see that pictures the church as the army of God. It’s Ephesians chapter 6, a picture of the church which hardly needs explanation. It’s a full portrait of a Christian soldier head-to-toe. The Apostle Paul looks for an image or a description here for the Christian. He doesn’t dress him up in a business suit, he doesn’t use casual dress -a pair of sandals, a nice pair of jeans, and a golf shirt- no, he’s a soldier. He has a sword, a shield, and a helmet. 
 
As a soldier, Paul describes the equipment that must be worn if we are to win the battles…
Ephesians 6:10–18 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
 
Notice that every bit of his armor is designed to be used as an attack piece. They only protect the soldier’s frontside.  There is nothing to protect his backside because he will not be in retreat. Always moving forward to win the many battles in his life. 
 
He keeps his focus straight ahead, much in the way Paul encouraged Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:3–4 (ESV)
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
 
As a soldier of the Lord’s army, we have voluntarily joined His army.  But, when we join a church, we have aligned ourselves with a platoon. And in that localized platoon, we are subject to the leaders of that platoon. We are expected to follow the direction of its leaders as long as they are following the General.