Onward Christian Soldiers

“ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS”

Eph. 6:10

A person is saved without any effort whatsoever on his part. However, once a person is saved, he finds that he is in a battle. He has three big enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Every man, woman, boy, and girl who is saved needs to learn to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

If the secret of security and peace is a strong military, the church is in trouble. Most churches look more like a cemetery than they do a training camp for soldiers.

GOD HAS AN ADVERSARY. Satan resists what God is doing. He denies what God is saying. Anything God is for, Satan is against, and vice versa.

GOD HAS AN ARMY. Every Christian should be a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). He should be aware of the battle, awake during the conflict, adaptable to the terrain, abiding through the years, aggressive in his movements, and armed to the teeth! Speaking of which ...

GOD HAS ARMOR. The parts of the armor are listed in Eph. 6:10- 18. Satan’s desire is to disarm him of that weapon at all costs!

GOD HAS AN AIM. The goal in this battle is to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, free the captives who are willing to be saved, frustrate the work of Satan, and form a body of believers who will glorify God through a saintly walk and Spirit-filled witnessing.

The weakness of the average church with regard to being a fighting unit is displayed by:

1. Her lack of men - The men they do have resemble women. They style and spray their hair. "REAL men do not wear queer-rings and necklaces!"

2. Her resistance to strong leadership - Most churches have little respect for God’s chain of command in the local church. They are run by the young people, who run the mothers, who run the fathers, who run the preacher. God’s churches should be overseen by a God-called, God-appointed pastor, whose leadership is followed and back up by godly men who will lead their wives and children after them.

3. Her lack of Christian warfare music. The average church today that is able to maintain a crowd of any size is saturated with either rock music (called Contemporary Christian Music). Many churches rarely sing, "When the Battle’s Over," "Onward Chrsitian Soldiers," "The Fight Is On," " "Sound the Battle Cry," ""Am I a Soldier of the Cross," "Faith is the Victory or "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus."

I. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS ENLISTMENT

1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

A. He needs to be converted

I believe this evening that we could classify people in one of three groups. Civilians, soldiers, and good soldiers.

B. He needs to be concerned

C. He needs to be in a church

Sergeant checking roll before battle.

Smith He overslept this morning.

Jones He has really been busy with decorating the barracks.

Matthews His son had a baseball game.

O’Brian He’s been at the last 10 battles and he felt he needed a rest so he wouldn’t get burned out.

Brown He was getting tired of the lectures from the sergeant.

Henderson He decided to start his own platoon.

How many battles would this army win?

The Pastor said tohim, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!"

My friend replied, "I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor."

Pastor questioned, "How come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter?"

He whispered back, "I’m in the secret service."

D. He needs to be courageous

II. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS EQUIPMENT

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

A. Help in standing - Truth girding about the loins

B. Heart covering - Breastplate of righteousness

C. Handheld shield - Faith

D. Head covering - Helmet of salvation

E. Handheld weapon - Sword of the Spirit

III. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS EXPERTISE WITH HIS WEAPON

Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Our one offensive weapon in the whole armor of God is the Bible!

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

M-1611 is Heavy Authorized Artillery!

A. This comes from an enjoyment of the weapon

B. This comes from an examination of the weapon

C. This comes from exercising with the weapon

D. This comes from experience with the weapon

IV. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS ENDURANCE