The Warrior’s Code #1
Sean Lester
January 8, 2007
I will always place the mission first…
Text: Luke 9:57-62
Introductory thoughts
a. Every follower of Christ joins in the mission of the church. Jesus issued the order before he ascended into heaven. The order is…
a. Go throughout the world
b. Preach the Gospel
c. Baptize people into the church
d. Teach people to obey Jesus’ commands.
b. In the warriors’ code, the mission is placed first. Nothing else matters except carrying out the mission of the commander. A soldier who receives orders to capture an enemy is not successful no matter what good things he does unless he actually captures the enemy. Success is measured only be accomplishment of the commander’s will.
c. Much has been said in recent years about spiritual warfare. Sadly, much of what is said promotes styles of prayer and worship without actually engaging in the activity that brings about the will of our Commander, Jesus Christ. Prayer and worship are essential in the life of the believer. However, our Lord commands us to carry out His will and instructs us on the tasks to be performed in doing so.
d. Believers do not succeed unless the will of the Lord is fulfilled. No amount of prayer, no frequency of attendance at a church or a prayer meeting, no doing of a good deed will substitute for the carrying of the mission given by our Lord.
Proposition: The spiritual warrior always places the mission of our Lord above all else.
Interrogative: What does it mean to always place the Lord’s will first?
Transition: Placing the mission first means subordinating all other aspects of life to the requirements of succeeding in the mission.
I. The Mission Determines the Standard of Living
a. So much literature in the evangelical world addresses the standard of living a follower of Christ ought to enjoy. Most of the literature claims that believers ought to be materially prosperous. However, the Bible would not support this position. Some people will enjoy a higher degree of comfort than others, but that standard has nothing to do with whether they deserve it. It depends solely upon their role in the Lord’s will. Rest assured, however, that those who make the greater sacrifices in this life will receive the greater honor in the next.
b. In the war being waged in Iraq there are soldiers of various ranks and experience who have different tasks. All soldiers receive the same pay but some enjoy an easier way of life than others. Infantrymen, for instance, live in small compounds and have few conveniences. They are vigilant against enemy attack at all times. Sometimes, they go for weeks without showers and without hot meals. At the same time, administrative soldiers live in modern camps and enjoy conveniences almost as nice as being at home. They have swimming pools, high speed internet, and satellite television. They work eight hour days and don’t fear a direct enemy attack. No matter how the soldier serves, their role is critical to the mission of the president. It is the role they play that determines the quality of life.
c. Jesus was quick to point out that following Him did not lead to material prosperity. In fact, Jesus did not possess his own estate. His role was to go to the cross and die for the sins of all humanity. His personal mission did not allow for the usual human relationships and pursuits. He was focused on his mission.
Transition: The mission affects how you relate to your family.
II. The Mission Determines Your Role in Your Family
a. In some cultures the family assumes a large role in what a person does in life. A person needs the approval of his or her family before pursuing a vocation or passion. The follower of Christ needs to understand that Jesus Christ commands the life and activities of those who identify with Him. That means that no other person may assume that power to lead. That means that when family or other social leaders assert their influence over you, you may have to defy them to obey the Lord. That could lead to rejection by people whose approval you have always depended upon. However, it is the approval of Jesus Christ that determines your eternal destiny.
b. Soldiers don’t get to say no to their commanders when they receive orders to mobilize. We have all seen the pictures of men and women weeping as they say goodbye to their spouses and children before being deployed overseas. The soldier possesses a calling to defend our way of life at the expense of maintaining relationships with friends and family. There can be no other way to maintain an effective defense of our country. Soldiers commit themselves to our country before family considerations and obligations because that is what the mission often demands.
c. The young man needed to wait for the death of his father in order to follow Jesus because his father would not have given permission for him to leave the family. A family business may have needed to be run. The social order needed to be maintained. His father may have disapproved of Jesus’ ministry. That man recognized the importance and validity of Jesus, but wanted to please both the Lord without offending his father. Jesus stated emphatically that the mission would not allow for family to take precedence.
Transition: The mission also affects your schedule.
III. The Mission Determines How You Spend Your Time
a. Your time belongs to the Lord. Your role in the mission of the church may allow for plenty of free time or it may demand much of your time and resources. Those who are called upon to teach children have very different time demands than those who have been called to preach to the homeless. Missionaries in the jungle have different time constraints than those who work in the universities. Not only that, but when you carry out a task will change depending on the needs of the mission. A pastor carries out his duties in an organized fashion, but the routine is often interrupted by the crises of those in his congregation. You may be called upon to teach or to help out at an inconvenient time for you, but the Lord sets your schedule.
b. Many of the men and women who serve in the guard live under an order to be ready to deploy within short notice. They have their duffle bags packed and ready to pick up and go out the door when the phone rings. The needs of the country demand that they be ready. Therefore, they train constantly because there will not be time to train when the defense of the country is suddenly threatened. Some soldiers have even been called up on twenty-four hours notice and put on planes to go overseas only to be turned around while in the air and informed that it was a readiness drill. The army can be quite inconvenient in the life of a soldier. However, the mission demands that the soldier surrender their time for the good of the nation.
c. In effect, the man who wanted to say goodbye to his family said, “I’ll follow you later.” He realized the importance of following Jesus, but wanted to do so at a convenient time. The priority of following Jesus does not allow for personal convenience. Jesus was very clear about that personal cost of following Him. Churches are required to be ready at all times to receive those who are coming into the Kingdom of God. Visitors to the services do not give warning about when they will come. Tragedy and hardship don’t come with warnings. Therefore, the followers of Christ must ready themselves for changes in their schedule. God does not give advance warning of when He will order movement. The devil never warns of an attack. Therefore, the mission demands surrendering your right to control your schedule.
Transition: In essence, following Jesus Christ demands total surrender of your life to the will of the Lord.
Conclusion
Following Christ demands that you surrender your life to the will of the Lord. Many people will not want to give control of their lives to Jesus Christ because it will constrain their time, quality of life, and role in society. It is true that living for Jesus will not fit into your life. Your life has to be fit into the Lord’s will, or sacrificed for the Lord’s will if necessary.
Not everyone will make the same sacrifices. The way of life for a believer comes about as a result of the role played in carrying out the mission given to the church. How well a person lives does not indicate greater status or merit in the Kingdom of God. All rewards and honors in this life end in this life. The true and lasting rewards come when we stand with Jesus in the clouds at His return.
Application
The Warrior’s Code says, “I will always place the mission first.” The Spiritual Warrior’s code is no less demanding. It says, “I will always place the Great Commission and my assigned role in it before anything else in life.” Are you ready for that commitment? Are you questioning what you signed up for when you first came to the altar. Jesus told us to count the cost before deciding to be His follower.
If you have counted the cost and are ready to make the commitment to the Lord, then now is the time for your salvation and the beginning of the best way of life that a person can experience.
