In my two years of service in the Australian Army, when we were sent out on a mission, it was critical that we received specific and relevant MARCHING ORDERS. The success or otherwise of our mission had much to do with our marching orders. It can mean the difference between defeat and victory.

Marching orders consisted of :

• Where we were to go
• Why we were going
• How we were to fulfill the orders that were assigned to us
• Who we were to encounter along the way
• What were the resources we would take with us to overcome the opposition we would face

Just recently in my daily Bible journaling program my attention was focused on the tenth chapter of Matthew which I entitled, Marching Orders. I was impressed by the detail in Jesus’ marching orders for His disciples and how He was able to thoughtfully prepare them for the mission that was ahead of them. No detail was spared. He never assumed that they would automatically know what to do.

Matthew recorded the story in his gospel; “Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Matthew 10:1 In the unfolding chapter Jesus provided leaders with a wonderful lesson on what it means to be a soldier in His army. His instructions were very specific and serve as a helpful model for Christian leaders as they equip their people to live purposefully in the world today. He told them where to go (v 5-6), why they were going (v 7), how to fulfill their orders (v 8), who they would encounter along the way (v 16-18), and the resources that would be made available to them (v 1, 9-11, 19-20). Three times He commanded them to “not be afraid when they were hated and persecuted”
(v 26-31) and not to be surprised.

The apostle Paul’s writings were full of marching orders for soldiers involved in a battle. To Timothy he said, “Fight the good fight of the faith.” 1 Timothy 6:12 and, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4. To the Ephesians he wrote, “Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood….” Ephesians 6:11-13. To the Corinthians he wrote, For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5

Is there any more important task for spiritual leaders than to ensure that they have equipped their people with valuable marching orders to live victoriously in the world in which they live and move and have their being? And just as important is it for leaders to live out the marching orders in their lives so that they are able to say as Paul said to the Corinthians, “Follow me as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
Paul, like Jesus, modelled in His life the marching orders He passed on to others. They remind us that leadership is highly visual.

After receiving their marching orders, we read that Jesus’ twelve disciples “set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.”
Luke 9:6
Could it be that the failure of the church to prioritise this step of equipping Christians in a similar way to that which Jesus did with His disciples is a key reason why it can lose its influence in the world today? And is it true that a church will never rise above the level of its leaders?

Why not use the model of Jesus and take time to model and teach your own Marching Orders course to those you are leading; the WHERE, WHY, HOW, WHO and WHAT of living a life as a disciple for Jesus today. After all, isn’t this the very reason why the church exists? Jesus’ last words before His ascension confirmed this; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8