Civil Wars - Pt. 3 - D Day Series

Civil Wars Pt. 3 - D Day

I. Introduction After the war, 650,000-850,000 fathers and sons did not return. Thousands of those that did return home were wounded and maimed. As a result, many women found themselves widowed and alone, running farms, plantations, and businesses. Countless women spent the rest of their lives nursing the permanent physical and psychological wounds of their husbands and sons.

The fighting was real and the pain was real. As Warner Thomson, a Unionist living in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, wrote of his estrangement from his Confederate sons, "My natural affection for my sons & love for my country cause a struggle in my mind—it is a painful one."

The civil war was not civil. Households were divided. Families were torn apart. Sides chosen.

The Civil War like the war that took place between Cain and Able in the garden reveals that those closest to us can inflict the most pain. These battles also reveal that we simply don't navigate relationships well. We have been designed and created for relationship but because of our failure to fight fair we escape into isolation which plays into the hands of our soul's enemy and we find ourselves in prison and alone.

It is absolutely impossible to walk through life and not experience a war. Demand for our own way, selfishness, childishness, hardheadedness, pride, stubbornness are some of the reasons this is true. So since we will experience the pain of war it is important for us to be armed. One of the greatest, most important, essential weapons that we must possess is also a weapons that I would submit is one of the least utilized, understood, and developed in this generation. This weapon is so crucial because it actually assists us in knowing what is war and what isn't. I see too many who don't have this weapon reacting and attacking unnecessarily. It allows us to recognize and differentiate between foe and friend. If you have ever felt the impact of friendly fire you will know that is one of the most painful things to experience in life. This weapon when used correctly helps us have fewer wars. The weapon is discernment. Discernment must be developed and honed. Let me see if I can help you today.

TEXT: John 13:21-30

After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. “One of you is going to betray me.” The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. So, being the closest, he said, “Master, who?” Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him. “What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.” No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor.Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.

Luke 22:54-62

Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and took him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter followed, but at a safe distance. In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, “This man was with him! He denied it, “Woman, I don’t even know him.” A short time later, someone else noticed him and said, “You’re one of them.” But Peter denied it: “Man, I am not.” About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: “He’s got to have been with him! He’s got ‘Galilean’ written all over him.” Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried.

Luke 23:39-43

One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!” But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”