Resbak is a Filipino term for back-up. In the Philippines, you don’t pick up a fight without a resbak. Resbak can be as many as 2 to 30 people depends on who you are fighting.

As we were preparing for our strong series, looking at Joshua’s life – there was a very clear pattern of the RESBAK principle at play in every battle he faces.

Here are some:

Joshua 10:7  So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.

Joshua ain’t showing up alone in the battle. He chose people of war and mighty men of valor to pick up a fight with the enemy. It reminds me of an incident when I was still a youth pastor ministering to the public school students. We had a church at the mall so it was open to everyone. With this setting, sometimes you get to attract weird, rowdy people. One time after the service we saw three, tall young men pushing one of your youth. It seems they know each other and it seems it has something to do with either fraternity or drugs. I knew I had to do something about it. No way as the youth pastor am I backing away from a fight. God told me to protect the flock and even if it means picking up a real fight I’ll do it.

So being the brave and wise youth pastor, I called two other youth pastors on staff to help me talk to this 3 men roughing up our boys. The first pastor was Pastor Miko Tangco who is 6’1 feet tall and studies karate and taekwondo. Pastor Miko grew up in a tough neighborhood and it is always good to have him on your side in times like these.On the left is Pastor Miko’s picture before Christ. He is wearing his red hairdo for maximum fear impact.

The other pastor was Robert Gonzales – a former basketball player and dunk champion that stands around 6’4 and has muscles that could be compared to my thigh. Big guy and scary guy if he wants to be. I told them let’s talk to this punk kids and show them a lesson.

When the men saw us they back away. Why? Well I am not really sure if Pastor Miko and Robert were the reason but it did help an average Chinese pastor face bullies in his church.

That is the RESBAK principle. Do you have men around you who would help you when the heat is on. Joshua had those men. But if you look through the story of Joshua the reason for his confidence was not just those men but the ultimate RESBAK we can rely on to.

Josh. 5:13 ¶ And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
Josh. 5:14 ¶ So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” ¶ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
Josh. 5:15 ¶ Then the Commander of the LORD’S army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

So who wants to pick a fight me?

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