Recently, a missionary to Mexico came to Douglasville to teach and heal the sick. This man (David Hogan) is not your typical Christian TV “personality”. In fact, you have probably never heard his name, even though he has been used by the LORD to raise over 400 people from the dead.
Mr. Hogan identifies himself as a “hunter”. He is a hunter for the demons that Satan uses to steal, kill and destroy the Brethren.
David Hogan is a warrior for the kingdom of God!
Our soon and coming Warrior King, Jesus Christ, at the start of His earthly ministry, declared that the kingdom of God was at hand; Mark 1:
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
It is important to recognize that the Greek word for kingdom, baseilia, primarily means “sovereignty, royal power, dominion”. It is not the place or people of the kingdom, but the forceful rule of a king. When we pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven”, we are not praying for Jesus to come back as much as we are praying for Him to reign right now.
Well, we know that kingdoms do not “come” into a vacuum. They have to displace the kingdoms that have taken up residence. In other words, there’s gonna be a battle! And whether you think you have volunteered or been drafted, whether you are a Christian or not, you are a target of the one that would kill, steal and destroy. Refusing to take sides only makes you more vulnerable; and your decision will have eternal consequences. This may be a new concept for some, but many have been at it for years.
David’s Mighty Men (check out 2 Samuel 23:8-23) were fierce and loyal warriors; the superheroes of their day. Their exploits included killing entire armies single-handedly, a giant with only a staff for a weapon, and “two lion-like heroes of Moab”. They all followed David, who modeled this radical behavior by killing Goliath with a sling shot. And loyal: It is recorded that three of them broke through enemy lines, into an emcampment, just to fetch some water for their king.
David never had to worry about the battles he faced. He could spread his mighty men across the battle line, and let them have at it – wading into the battle, taking ground for their king. These were men, like David, that knew God was on their side. Their courage was grounded in faith. David could send new recruits to the line, letting them learn how to fight from his mighty men. In the process, they also learned to trust in the LORD, their Deliverer.
As fierce, loyal and courageous as they were, David’s Mighty Men were but a shadow of God’s Mighty Men and Women of today. We are called, and empowered, to wade into the battle and take ground for our King. He is looking for those that He can trust in the battle; to train new recruits in the faith and courage of a righteous warrior.
I want to be one of those – pushing back the gates of Hell for the glory of my King!
Who will join me? And how do we do such a thing?
Let’s go back to the other David (Hogan) for a bit of instruction.
When asked why the LORD has allowed him to participate in such amazing miracles, he testifies that it is not the size of his faith, nor the gift of healing (many people have been given these gifts). Mr. Hogan claims it is putting on the Whole Armor of God every day that allows him to be used so powerfully by God. As a “hunter”, he must be completely armored because he is under attack; and he does not want to find himself wounded the very moment God asks him to comfort, encourage or heal someone in need.
David Hogan is a warrior, but no more a warrior than we are called to be. The time has come for God’s Mighty Men and Women to put on the Whole Armor of God and engage in the battle; Ephesians 6:
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
I encourage you to ask the LORD to give you the heart of a warrior hunter, and show you how to put on the Whole Armor of God.
Locked and loaded for the LORD,
Rob