“ The Phalanx” by Dave Bessey

Early on the Roman military recruitment system was carefully designed to be both efficient and hierarchical. Combat has changed through years as to how we position members in combat teams or special operations, yet we still must change to adjust for modern weapons and warfare. Even in spiritual training or mentoring we learn by watching those more mature in skill and then learn to do it. OJT or On-The-Training is critical in ministry. We do not fight against principalities and powers by ourselves we fight as ONE unit (phalanx or legion).

“Roman Soldiers” were divided based on age and wealth, ensuring that each group played a role suited to their abilities. The youngest and poorest recruits served as “Velites”, lightly armed skirmishers on the front lines. More experienced and well-equipped men formed the “Principes”, the core of the army. Meanwhile, the oldest and most battle-hardened soldiers, the “Triarii”, were kept in reserve, stepping in only if the battle took a turn for the worse.

This structure not only maintained a well-balanced fighting force but also reinforced Rome’s social order, where wealth and age determined both military responsibilities and one’s status in society.”

The Apostle Paul observed this while he was around the Roman soldiers. We miss this in the translation to understand why Paul was using warfare language in the koine or ancient Greek or Hebrew language.

Our spiritual roots in the Army of Yahweh have examples from the old and new covenants. We learn from our mighty warrior King. He sets the example. Who is this King - Yeshua Ha Mashiach or Jesus the Christ. So whether you are Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Deborah, Nehemiah, David, Peter or Paul each learned how to war from the Master. They learn in the heat of the battle through defeat and triumph. They learned and Holy Spirit made it so.

Even Angels are not what we have seen in movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” or even “A Christmas Carol”. I have seen angels in my life. They have appeared to me like a human, yet they had a specific message to bring. The message is “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” When you are in spiritual battle you are not fighting alone and in your own power. You are part of a body, a team, an army who is ONE by faith through grace from and through Christ. You are not the building of God, WE are together the House or dwelling place of God. Thus we are united by faith in Christ and not our own will. We are changed supernaturally to become one. We must surrender or humble ourselves and deny ourselves. Jesus calls this dying to ourselves. We don’t physically kill ourselves, instead we are spiritually born again. This dying occurs daily, not just one time. We pick up our cross, yet then when do we truly rise from the dead? When we finally fully trust in Christ Jesus and become a child of God we become a warrior in His phalanx. We put on Him as our armor.

Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“In 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]. Put 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. For 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. Therefore 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]. Stand 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, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. [Isa. 52:7.] Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray [like a lance] 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 [like a lance again] on behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). And [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), For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison.] Pray that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.”

Yet we miss the vision of how we come togetherq as a Roman legion advancing the Kingdom of God while building each other up by training, protecting, guiding and governing. Thus our foundation in Christ as the Chief cornerstone and our plume line to build is critical.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people [sons], consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.”

“We” are His dwelling place through grace not you or I alone, but by Christ alone.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor and power) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came NOT through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths or jurisdictions which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”