#2 ENLIST AS A GOOD SOLDIER
THE LAST WORDS ABOUT GOOD SOLDIERS ...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aolcom
I would like to thank Gene Hammon, Hazard, Ky. for the fodder that started this message.
This is part two of a two part series.
Our nation claims: WE NEED A FEW GOOD MEN.
It is time that good men and women arise and work toward the goal of One Nation Under God --- fearing, respecting and honoring the God that gave His only Son...
The church is the ARMY OF GOD. We need young people as well as old people to ARISE.
During WW II a parade of well trained soldiers was marching through the downtown. The soldiers were trained and now preparing to leave for war. As they marched by one old lady’s house she was so proud of the men.
She grabbed her broom stick, placed it on her shoulder and started marching right beside the handsome men in uniform.
Someone shouted from the crowd, OLD WOMAN YOU CAN’T GO TO WAR WITH THEM.
The old woman said, I KNOW I CAN’T GO, BUT I CAN LET THE BOYS KNOW WHOSE
SIDE I AM ON... I CAN SUPPORT THEM.
VIII. A GOOD SOLDIER HAS LEARNED THAT HE IS PART OF THE ARMY,
SYNERGISM --- WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER THAN APART.
A. Good soldiers know the value of TEAMWORK...
Often 3 individual stars or heroes have EGO PROBLEMS. They are jealous, in competition or move in fear of dispalcement. NOT A GOOD SOLDIER.
B. A GOOD SOLDIER LOVES AND RESPECTS HIS PEERS, HIS COMMANDER AND HIS KING.
2 Samuel 23:15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
C. Good soldiers will do anything for their leader and their nation.
The King longs for water --- HE WILL HAVE WATER FROM HOME.
D. A good soldier will SUBMIT and run all night.
IX. A GOOD SOLDIER UNDERSTANDS THE HEART OF THEIR LEADER AND WILL NOT GET ANGRY OR BITTER --- A GOOD SOLDIER IS SUBMITTED.
A. When the King spilled the water on the ground as an offering to God, the GOOD SOLDIER NEVER FUSSED AND GOT ANGRY.
B. The good soldier traveled all night --- to have the water poured on the ground?
2 Samuel 23:16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.
C. The good soldier knew the WATER WAS A SACRIFICE OF LOVE.
X. A GOOD SOLDIER KNOWS THERE IS A WAR GOING ON AND STAYS PREPARED AT ALL
TIMES TO FIGHT.
A. A good soldier knows THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF WILL RECEIVE A REPORT OF THE BATTLE.
B. A good soldier wants to OBEY THE COMMANDS and REALIZES HE HAS A DUTY.
C. A good soldier WORKS FAR BEYOND HIS DUTY --- he has convictions and
strong believes.
XI. A GOOD SOLDIER KNOWS THERE IS NO PLACE FOR FEAR IN THE CAMP ---
A. A good soldier knows a lean mean fighting machine is better than FAT and LAZY.
B. GIDEON GOES FROM 32,000 MINUS 22,000 EQUALS 10,000.
Judges 7:3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
C. YET THERE ARE TOO MANY ...
Judges 7:4 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee,
This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
D. LET US KEEP THE GOOD SOLDIER THAT IS PREPARED AND SERIOUS.
Judges 7:7 And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
XII. A GOOD SOLDIER KNOWS I MAY BE HERE, BUT THIS IS NOT MY HOME.
A. This world is not home, I am just passing through.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
B. I DON’T WANT TO GET ATTACHED AND ADJUSTED TO THIS WORLD.
XIII. HISTORY HAS BEEN FILLED WITH GREAT SOLDIERS.
A. I am told as a young man Winston Churchhill was in a heated battle. The war planes were dropping bombs all around the soldiers assignments. Several died, but MANY WERE RUNNING AWAY AND HIDING AND NOT FOLLOWING THEIR COMMANDS.
One soldier RAN past Winston Churchhill. The soldier asked if Winston was going to leave and run away.
The great leader replied: I WILL NOT DO THE COWARDLY, I WILL STAND AT MY POST OF DUTY.
B. As an old man Winston Churchhill was speaking at a GRADUATION. He was to be the main speaker that day. It seems the program ran long. When it came time for England’s leader to step to the podium, Winston looked over the crowd. He looked over the crowd again.
The great orator leaned into the microphone and said: NEVER QUIT!
Winston stepped back, there was a standing ovation.
Winston stepped to the microphone again and said: NEVER QUIT!
There was another standing ovation.
Winston Churchhill surveyed the crowd he grasped the moment, and he quietly returned to his seat.
C. This great SOLDIER KNEW THE BEAUTY OF STANDING FAITHFUL TO HIS POST
OF DUTY. His words still echo in the HALL OF TIME: NEVER QUIT! NEVER QUIT!
D. ALVIN C. YORK was a great soldier from Tennessee. The heat of the battle was so strong. The ammunition was very low. Soldier York captured many enemies that day.
He had only two bullets left in his weapon. He fired one shot and wounded the enemy that was running in the back of the line.
He yelled a warning and drew his weapon. All the soldiers behind the wounded man stopped and dropped their weapons and surrendered to Alvin York.
He never had any more bullets, but the enemy didn’t know.
Alvin York became a hero and there is a movie about him.
York never retreated --- he stayed at his POST OF DUTY when others ran.
XIV. THERE WAS A GREAT SOLDER, A GENERAL THAT MADE A GREAT PROMISE TO
HIS TROOPS AND TO THE ENEMY --- I SHALL RETURN!
A. I have a hero. He was my Dad’s hero. General Douglas Mac Arthur.
He was a great soldier. Mac Arthur’s unit was facing defeat, quickly Mac Arthur gathered his many soldiers and they left the PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
As Mac Arthur and the US troops left.
Douglas Mac Arthur made a VOW: I SHALL RETURN!
B. After some time of training and R&R, (relaxing and recreation.) The troops loaded up and returned to the PHILIPPINES! IT WAS DIFFERENT THIS TIME --- WITH SWEEPING VENGENCE THE US TROOPS WON VICTORY AFTER VICTORY.
C. Finally the troops took what had been the US PRISONERS OF WAR CAMP.
Our men had been abused. Many had died and starved to death in the POW camp.
Mac Arthur personally commanded the rescue. Mac Arthur states in his
auto-biography that the troops were WALKING SKELETONS.
As Mac Arthur’s jeep topped the hill and rushed into the POW camp, Mac Arthur saw the most touching event of his life. The captured soldiers were helping each other to stand.
When the General came into their presence, the crippled, wounded, starved men were standing, leaning on each other ---
STANDING AT ATTENTION TO SALUTE AND GREET THEIR GENERAL.
D. NOW THIS IS WHAT BEING A GOOD SOLDIER IS ALL ABOUT!
Four words that must be in a soldiers training: NEVER QUIT! NEVER QUIT!
B. A GOOD SOLDIER IS LOOKING FOR THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET.
1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
XV. TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER MEANS A WILLINGNESS TO STAND UNDER THE COMMAND
OF THE GENERAL --- NOT IN THE DESIRES OF THE SOLDIERS.
A. I stood below deck of a small navy ship that had been used to transport US equipment and our soldiers during WW II. There were no air conditioners, no nice beds, no nice
kitchens.
I stood there as an OLD SOLDIER EXPLAINED THE HISTORY OF THE SHIP.
I cried and cried as I REALIZED THE TERRIBLE COST OF LIFE AND SACRIFICE OUR MEN MADE TO DEFEAT HITLER --- THE JEW HATER.
Before I left the ship, I asked for all the available OLD SOLDIERS TO GATHER AROUND ME.
I TOLD THEM HOW GRATEFUL I WAS AND HOW ASHAMED I WAS THAT I HAD
NEVER REALIZED THE DEBT I OWED THEM.
I WAS ONE OF MANY UNGRATEFUL CITIZENS ENJOYING FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY AT
THEIR EXPENSE.
I asked the OLD FRAIL MEN TO FORGIVE THIS NATION AND ALLOW ME TO PRAY FOR THEM.
We prayed together on the deck of that ship, and we ASKED GOD TO BLESS
AMERICA AGAIN!
God bless every GOOD SOLDIER IN OUR MIDST.
THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR PRESIDENT, THIS NATION AND MY FAMILY!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his lifefor his friends.
B. WE CALL A MOTHER’S LOVE THE GOLD THREAD OF LIFE.
THERE IS A GROUP IN THE USA WE CALL GOLD STAR MOTHERS.
This nation owes a great debt to it’s Mothers!
We call THE GOLD STAR MOTHER --- the term of a Mother that’s son/daughter served this nation and gave their life for our freedom.
MANY SOLDIERS HAVE PAID A GREAT SACRIFICE FOR THE FREEDOMS WE
HOLD DEAR AND NEAR OUR HEARTS!
C. THERE ARE GREAT SPIRITUAL SOLDIERS THAT HAVE SACRIFICED HOME,
FAMILY AND THEIR DREAMS TO SERVE UNAPPRECIATED AND UNAPPLAUDED
AT A SMALL CHURCH WHERE FEW ATTEND FAITHFULLY.
Some call these little places unhealthy? Why haven’t they grown?
God is in the MEGA CHURCH? Why is the greatest amount of God’s church’s
struggling between 50 and 100?
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
CONCLUSION:
I WILL BE A GOOD SOLDIER (Unknown) (adapted)
I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus is my commanding officer! The Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, Prayer and the Word of God are my weapons!
As a good soldier I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire! I am a volunteer in this army and I have enlisted for eternity!
I will either retire from this army at the rapture or I will die in this service. I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out of this army!
I am a good soldier. I will be faithful, reliable, capable, trustworthy and dependable! If my God needs me I will be there! If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School, to work with youth, help the seniors, go to jail or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I will be there.
I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up or pepped up! No one has to call, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me!
I am a good soldier! I am not a wimp! I will report to my post of duty. I will salute the King, obey His orders, praise and worship His name and build the church and Kingdom!
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts! I don’t need to be cuddled, cradled, babied, cared for or catered to!
I am a soldier, I am committed. I will not allow my feelings to be hurt bad enough to turn me around! I refuse to be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I refuse to quit or be defeated. When Jesus called me into this army I had nothing! If I end up with nothing, I will at least break even.
I am a soldier, I WILL WIN! My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph in the end. I can do all things through Christ! Demons and devils can not defeat me. People will not disillusion me. Weather can not weary me. Sickness can not deter me. Battles can not beat me. Money can not buy me. Governments can not silence me. Hell can never handle me.
I am a soldier! Even death can not destroy me. Some day my commander in chief shall call me from this battlefield, He will promote me and advance me to rule with Him.
I am a soldier in God’s Army. I shall never surrender to God’s foe. By God’s help I shall never turn back. I am a soldier, a good soldier marching heavenward, claiming souls as I go.
I volunteer! I stand here! Will you enlist with me to be a good soldier?
ADAPTED --- (unknown)
HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED TO JOIN GOD’S ARMY? ENLIST AS A GOOD SOLDIER!
GOD NEEDS YOU TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
HELP ME? PASS THIS ON? This is part two of a two part lesson.
