Bulldog Discipleship
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
November 11, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
In 1918 World War I was still raging in the area of the Belleau Wood. The Germans felt that the area could not be taken from them and the US Marine Corps was ordered to take the area. The area was surrounded by an open wheat field and thus the marines were forced to march through open areas under heavy German machine gun fire. The advance on the wood holds the second highest Marine Corps casualties in history.
Through most of June 1918, the Marines fought with the Germans for control of the wood and the road that held supply lines. This battle marked the final German offensive of World War I. The fierce fighting caused the Germans to nickname the marines "teufelhunden," the devil dogs.
Bulldog Commitment - A bulldog’s nose is slanted backward so that he can still breathe while he holds on!
There were many different characters through out the Bible who were known for the depth of their commitment to God.
* Daniel stood for his beliefs even when faced with the lion’s den
* Caleb was committed to conquering the land even when 10 spies were not
* Gideon was committed to following God’s plan
* Noah was committed to building the ark
* Nehemiah was committed to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
Of all the characters of the Bible, Paul had a bulldog kind of commitment. He hung on when everyone else would have given up.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul was living out a life that left a mark on those around him. He lived a life that left an incredible legacy. Paul lived out a life of grace and grit.
I want to focus on verse seven with you this morning. Read that again with me: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul did not think of himself as going to be executed; he thought of himself as going to offer his life to God. His life was not being taken from him; he was laying it down. Ever since his conversion Paul had offered to God, his money, his scholarship, his strength, his time, the vigour of his body, the acuteness of his mind, the devotion of his passionate heart. Only life itself was left to offer, and gladly Paul was going to lay life down. William Barclay
Paul was a bulldog in his will to fight
Paul was using the imagery of a faithful soldier. Every soldier may have the need to fight in battle or even to give their life in the service of their country. Paul could sympathize with the soldier because he had fought many spiritual battles. Paul understood that his victory was not going to be won by his strength but by the strength of Christ.
We face spiritual battles each day. We face challenges that may make us want to compromise our beliefs, back away from our commitments or even leave the service of Christ.
Our fight is for the Kingdom of Christ. I am very patriotic and love my country. But this nation is not really my home. I belong to a “better” country and have pledged loyalty to another kingdom.
We need to remember that must live as soldiers of the cross.
1.) Service
2.) Separation
3.) Suffering
4.) Steadfast
Paul was a bulldog in his will to finish
Paul had fought his battles for Christ and now his time for fighting was over. It was time to move on. Just as a soldier is discharged to go home; Paul had received his release and was heading for his heavenly home. We are called to carry on the fight. We too have been called to take up the cause of Christ. We too have been called to remain true to our mission, our purpose and our King!
Paul compared his life to an athlete finishing a foot race and that he was going to finish life in the same way. Paul was going to finish strong. Paul lived a life of complete discipline. Paul lived out of a deep gratitude for the grace and mercy of God. This gave him the passion and desire to live a life of obedience to God’s word and God’s will.
Paul controlled his life and what he did with his body and mind. Paul was focused on the course of life and did his absolute best to stay on the path that God had laid out for him
Paul was a bulldog in his will to be faithful
Paul says: “I have kept the faith” The word kept means to watch over, to maintain or to guard Paul is saying that he has made every effort to maintain his personal faith and protect the integrity of the gospel. The word kept was a term used for managers or stewards with the understanding of protecting someone else’s property. Paul had been entrusted with the faith and the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul had been given the precious and incredible gift of saving grace and a call to ministry
Look at what Paul had to go through: 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Every time that we feel like we want to give up, we need to reread this passage. Paul suffered far more than most of us and never thought about giving up. What an incredible man of God he was.
Why do most people give up?
Frustration – When things don’t go our way
Frustration is focused on the following things
* Problems that need solved
* People that are stagnate, stubborn or stuck
* Progress that seems stalled
Failure – When things we invest in don’t work
What can failure do to us?
* Cripple us from being effective for God
* Challenge us beyond our comfort level
* Change us in ways that we might not expect
Fear – When things around us are unclear
What does fear do to us?
* Disturbs us in our faith
* Distresses us in the fabric of our lives
* Disarms us in the midst of the fight
* Derails us in our efforts to follow Christ
Fatigue – When we are too tired to keep going
What does fatigue do to us?
* Fatigue drags us down
* Fatigue makes us feel drained
* Fatigue makes us feel discouraged
Forgiveness – When the past holds us back
What does a lack of forgiveness do to us?
* Growth is halted – spiritual growth is impossible without forgiveness
* Grudges are held onto
* Grinding is experienced
* Grace is forgotten
Conclusion
One Sunday after church a pastor noticed that one of the men was wearing a lapel pin that had a bulldog on it. He was wearing it because he worked for Mack Truck and the bulldog is their logo, but the pastor didn’t know that.
So when he asked, "Frank, why are you wearing a pin of a bulldog?"
Frank got a twinkle in his eye and said, "Well, that bulldog symbolizes the tenacity with which I hold onto Jesus Christ."
His pastor answered, "Well, Frank, it’s a great symbol, but it’s lousy theology."
Frank said, "What do you mean?"
The pastor said, "It should never stand for the tenacity with which you hold onto Jesus Christ. It should stand for the tenacity with which Jesus Christ holds onto you."
Jesus said, “I will never, ever, ever leave you or forsake you.”
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The words of Paul echo through history from his time to ours. They are the battle cry for Christian service. They are the call to stay the course. They are a challenge for us to keep the faith.
