BOTT Retro Review: Weepers and Warriors

Sister Vesta Mangun:  Weepers and Warriors
From BOTT 2005

Sister Vesta consistently points towards soul winning when she speaks at BOTT.  Her calls to action are both energizing and poignant.  In this message, she lines out the two types of people that we need in order to reach a lost and dying world:  Weepers and Warriors.  What do these two roles entail?  We look at them today and provide a link to the message for you to get energized as well.

Firstly, in order to be a weeper or warrior for Christ, we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.  That takes time with God.  We must commit ourselves to a lifestyle of prayer and connection with God.  Spending time with Christ will energize us, focus us and give us the ability to effectively operate in our calling to reach lost souls.

Weepers
Using the examples of Jeremiah and Abraham, Sister Vesta showed that we can touch God with our compassion and sorrow for the wayward and our fellow man. Those who intercede can affect change in the lives of others.  Lot and his two daughters were spared the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because Abraham wept before God to save them.  Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem and God kept a remnant and made a way for the Israelites to return.

When we get in connection with God, we’ll get His compassion and desire for others.  Having the Holy Spirit in us will make us grieve for the lost souls that surround us.  We’ll see people conquered by sin and become overcome for them.  We won’t be complacent, dismissive or indifferent.  We’ll feel for the lost.  We’ll hurt for the lost.  We’ll desire for the lost to be redeemed. 

Becoming a weeper will change our prayer life.  We’ll mourn and break for our loved ones and our community.  We’ll fervently seek God for the lost.  We’ll go on extended fasts for the wayward.  We’ll lay a foundation for God’s redemptive plan with consistent compassionate prayer.  We’ll go to the prayer rooms and closets in our lives and not stop until we touch God.  If we want to truly be effective in God and see souls won, it’s going to take this kind of commitment with this kind of passion. 

Warriors
In order to be a warrior for Christ, we must have the anointing that comes from relationship with God.  Christ desires to send us out to serve him and overtake the world for souls.  However, we must be anointed in order to perform our service effectively.  Anointing comes from following God wherever He takes us.  It requires a listening ear, a moldable mind and an open heart.  The story of Elisha and Elijah reveals these truths.

Elisha followed Elijah until the day came for him to take up the mantle of anointing.  As he followed, he witnessed mighty acts, learned many things and his passion became singularly focused on God.  When the anointing was transferred to him from Elijah, he became mightily used of God.  He performed more miracles than any other prophet in the Old Testament. He prepared himself by following after God with all earnestness and openness.  As a result, he was able to serve God to the fullest when his opportunity came.

It cost Elisha to follow Elijah, though.  He had possessions and a lifestyle of comfort.  When the opportunity to follow the man of God, he gave it all up and pursued his purpose.  It will take a sacrifice when you decide to become a warrior for God.  A warrior has to sacrifice time with his family and friends.  He has to put on hold his job and personal goal pursuits.  We, as warriors for Christ, may miss out on some time with our loved ones.  We may see some of our personal pursuits delayed or go by the wayside.  However, we will also see souls won.  We’ll see our communities changed.  And we’ll count ourselves blessed beyond measure.
 
Take up the Cause
We can be weepers and warriors for Christ.  It is just going to take a commitment and some sacrifice.  We’re going to have to get out of the bubble of our own personal goals and pursuits.  We’re going to have to change our perspective.  If we can see the world as Jesus sees it, we won’t stop from praying and interceding for the loss. If we can get a hold of God’s vision and desires, we’ll see that the only goals and pursuits worth having are those of Christ.  When get to that place, we’ll become an effective and mightily used servant of God.  Moreover, we’ll be living our most fulfilled life.