A Band of Brothers in the Lord

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The phrase “Band of Brothers” has a military context where men become solidified by commitment to a cause and to each other through the horrors and stresses of battlefield conditions. The apostle Paul drew from this military context when he encouraged Timothy to suffer like a “good soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3). He instructed the Ephesian Christians to put on the whole armor of the Lord (Ephesians 6).

Keeping this concept of banding together in mind, look at these three verses in Acts: “They [Paul, Silas, and Timothy] passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas” (Acts 16:6-8).

It struck me as unusual that the Holy Spirit would direct three qualified evangelists not to evangelize as they traveled over 400 miles on foot from Iconium to the coast of the Aegean Sea at Troas. But I feel there was a purpose in this that can be missed with just one reading.

The Holy Spirit was developing a band of brothers in the Lord.

I love to be around believers who are committed to the Word and to the Lord. Why? All we talk about are Jesus, the Word, personal anecdotes of His provision, personal ministry, Bible passages, the future with Him, and so on. I leave this type of get-together encouraged and ready to work even more for the cause of Christ.

Would a lengthy journey with the apostle Paul and two committed believers like Silas and Timothy have a lesser effect on them than a three hour gathering in someone’s home have on you or me?

Those many hours walking the road and sitting around camp fires allowed the travelers time for Bible study, personal reflection, and personal revelation. The Spirit used this time to bond them together for kingdom work.

The body of Christ needs men such as these who are solid in their faith, focused on their calling, and bonded spiritually and personally with each other.

A biblically sound group of men committed to the Lord, to each other, and to the flock God has given them is a spiritually formidable force. They are indeed a band of brothers . . . in the Lord.

- Jim Weikal