Dide! (The wake-up call)

Emi Oluwa Jehova n be l’ara mi, Dide! Nitori o ti fi ami ororo yan mi…

(Translation: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Arise! Because He has anointed me …)

As the chant of those words pierced through her semi-conscious state, Tayo slowly ascended through depths of sleep until she opened her eyes. She remembered that she was temporarily sharing a room with other young ladies at a camp meeting.

Dide o, kristiani ologun…
(Arise o, Christian Soldier…)

The tune was coming from someone’s phone alarm. Interesting choice of song, she thought. The scheduled wake up time that morning was 5am. She groggily woke others up while the song blared continuously. It was 5.25am.

Introduction

Our Christian experience, amongst many other biblical definitions, can be likened to spiritual warfare. We insist that God’s will and purposes in our lives and territories are fulfilled, from the standpoint of the victory that Christ has wrought.

There’s a charge that Paul gave to his spiritual son, Timothy, and by extension to us:

No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.

2 Timothy 2:4 (AMP)

Let’s consider a few points from this verse.

1. Enlistment

How do we come to be soldiers in the first place? How do we become part of the Lord’s army? This occurs through salvation.

It is important to know that there are only two sides in this war: the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Christ. To not be in the kingdom of God’s dear son is to be on the other side of the divide. When we become God’s own, we can therefore be a part of His workforce.

For soldiers, helmets serve not only as protection in battle but like identity cards. The helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) protects us but is also a spot identifier of fellow comrade or foe.

Consider this the first call; wake up to life in Christ!

2. Satisfying and Pleasing

Satisfactory conduct is desired and enforced in many organisations or institutions, including the military. Every member is expected to act within set protocols or guidelines, as required by the head of that organisation.

In the 5th chapter of Ephesians, Paul gives us an insight into how we must live. He also describes certain attributes that are not becoming of God’s people and works of darkness that we must not partake in.

[1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
[2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
[3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
[4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Ephesians 5:1-4 (KJV)

As citizens of God’s kingdom, we must live our daily existence in accordance to the Lord’s will. We should seek to please the Lord through our faith in Him and our lives as a whole. We are expected always to act in obedience and submission to His instructions if our utmost pursuit is to satisfy Him. This would require discipline, a quality that good soldiers have, but there’s also provision for grace and help as we continually follow Him.

Now is not the time for spiritual slumber or lasciviousness. Wake up to righteous living!

3. Service

Soldiers are trained to serve. While some are engaged in active duty, others undergo the training needed but are ready to go at the commander’s order.

We must submit ourselves to the Lord’s training so that we can be equipped for His service. This service includes all that we do for God, as we become co-labourers with Him.

The prophet in Isaiah 61:1-2 foretold of the Messiah’s mandate and Jesus Himself confirmed it in Luke 4:18-21. Christ’s mission becomes ours to fulfil as the Lord anoints us by His Spirit and as we pour ourselves into His kingdom agenda.

The details of this mandate are clearly stated in the scriptures mentioned above, and are re-echoed in the continuation of our song lyrics:

…Lati waasu fun awon otoshi (To preach unto the lost ones)
Oti ran mi lati se awo tan o (He has sent me to cleanse totally)
Gbogbo awon oni ro binuje okan (Those that are heart broken)
Ati gbogbo al’aini ireti (To those that have lost hope)
Kede idasile fun awon igbekun (Declare freedom to the captives)
Ati sisi le tubu fun awon ounde (To set free the bound)

There is much to be done. Wake up to fulfil God’s purpose upon your life. Dide!

NB: ‘Dide’ is an original song by Christian songwriter and artist Jaymikee, available on various online music streaming platforms.