What Did He Die For
Twila Paris
He was twenty-one in 1944
He was hope & he was courage on a lonely shore
Sent there by a mother with love beyond her tears
Just a young American who chose to rise above his fears
And as I watch him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder...
What did he die for?
When he died for you & me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside & ask the question...
What did he die for?
When he died for me...
To the darkest day in A.D. 33
Came the mercy & compassion of eternity
Sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears
Blameless One, the only Son to bear the guilt of all these years
And as I watch Him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder...
What did He die for?
When He died for you & me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside & ask the question...
What did he die for?
He died for freedom
He died for love
And all the things we do to pay Him back
Could never be enough...
What did He die for?
When He died for you & me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside & ask the question...
What did he die for?
When He died for me.
The GOOD SOLDIER—2Timothy 2:3-4
Attention:
Twila Paris’—‘What Did He Die For’
Read 1st part regarding soldier.
Paul encouraged Timothy by explaining his expected level of personal commitment to his calling in Christ Jesus.
Paul described the expected level of personal commitment to Christ Jesus.
The level of commitment to fulfill one’s calling in Christ must mimic/equal/rise to/be comparable to/ that of a good soldier.
What rules does a good soldier live by?
1—The good soldier of Christ lives by the rule of...
ENDURANCE(:3)
:1
Paul had just informed Timothy of those who failed him personally(1:15) & of those who had “refreshed him”, namely Onesiphorus(:1:16-18).
Hence, Paul, in revealing the extremes of acceptance & opposition from those closest to us, calls Timothy to “be strong.” Timothy’s strength is centered in & can be found or rediscovered “in the grace” that is found “in Christ Jesus.”
?Why is “strength” found in “grace?”
Because only by God’s “grace” received in Christ is one able to do that which God calls the believer to be involved in. Thus “strength” needed to honor God’s desire in us is found in the rightful employment of His grace.
“Strong”—endunamow—To be strong, endue with strength, strengthen; To receive strength, be strengthened, increase in strength.
?Why is such strength needed by the believer?
:2
Those things which Timothy had “heard” from Paul—as an apostle—& publicly declared before many others, Timothy is to likewise entrust to others who themselves are capable of relaying them in their proper context(spirit, boldness, factuality, etc.).
Paul’s gospel must be shared. Paul’s gospel must be shared in a fitting manner by fitting people. The legacy of a pastor is to be carried forth in the fullness of God’s intent.
This also insinuates that others are not meant for the job as they must have ample sufficiency or be competent to teach.
“Be Able/Competent/Qualified”—ikanov—1) Sufficient—1a) Many enough, enough, 1b) Sufficient in ability, i.e. meet, fit. Strong—Competent (as if coming in season), i.e. Ample (in amount) or fit (in character):-- Able, + content, enough, good, great, large, long (while), many, meet, much, security, sore, sufficient, worthy.
1—The good soldier lives by the rule of...
ENDURANCE(:3)
Explanation: (:3)
:3—“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
If Timothy is to “be strong” in God’s “grace” found “in Christ Jesus”(:1) & also faithfully multiply the truths of the faith thru faithful men replicating it as teachers(:2), then Timothy “must endure hardship.”
The command to commit oneself to continual endurance is necessary for the multiplication & furtherance of the Gospel.
It is imperative to endure/suffer thru difficulties, coming thru them unscathed & yet even strengthened.
The believer is a soldier “of” Jesus who is the Christ(Messiah—anointed & promised of God for the deliverance of His people).
Not only is the believer a soldier, but he is expected to exhibit a certain quality of soldier. He is expected to be a “good” soldier.
This assumes that a believer can be a ‘bad’ soldier as well. In fact, the mere presence of this statement in Scripture, meant for encouragement, attests to the 2 possibilities.
It is necessary that a believer in Christ submit himself to all that is bound up in willingly taking on the role of soldier(at the moment of decision regarding salvation) so that he will be a “good” soldier. The Christian must take his new life seriously & not flippantly.
“Must endure hardship”—kakopayew—V. Aorist Active Imperative-2nd Sing.—1) To suffer (endure) evils (hardships, troubles); 2) To be afflicted Strong—To undergo hardship:-- Be afflicted, endure afflictions (hardness), suffer trouble.
“Good”—kalov—Beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
“Soldier”—stratiwthv—A (common)soldier; A champion of the cause of Christ. Strong—A camper-out, i.e. A (common) warrior (literally or figuratively):-- Soldier.
From —stratia—Strong—camp-likeness, i.e. an army, i.e. (figuratively) the angels, the celestial luminaries:-- host.
Argumentation:
Parable of the Soils/We cannot be like Rocky soil...receptive yet Reserved... ‘Fire insurance’ salvation—We cannot be a “good” soldier & receive the Gospel flippantly or lightly or reservedly or just in case...It cannot take 2nd place to anything else!
1Cor. 9:19-27—“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; & to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body & bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Mat. 10:21-22—““Now brother will deliver up brother to death, & a father his child; & children will rise up against parents & cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Js. 1:2-4—“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Jer. 17:7-8—““Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
Illustration:
USMC Sgt. Darhonda Rodela says, “The best time is when you get that Eagle, Globe & Anchor & they’re telling you ‘You’re a Marine now.”...“Its about pushing yourself that extra mile when you know you can’t go any more.”....“If & when I do get out of the Marine Corp., I’ll take the discipline, I’ll take the leadership, I’ll take just about everything the Marine Corp. has given me.”/ENDURANCE
Application:
?As a Good Soldier, have you followed the rule of ENDURANCE?
?You a good soldier of Jesus Christ?
2—The good soldier of Christ lives by the rule of...
ENGAGEMENT(:4a)
Explanation:(:4a)Total Involvement/Focus/Immersion
:4—“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
The soldier’s contact with civilian life is distant, temporary & fleeting/cursory.
He lives to protect the civilian life in others.
In fact it can be said that the soldier’s very life is lived to protect the freedoms of civilian life for others.
Therefore he cannot, himself, live by those same privileges civilians live by.
The soldier does not concern himself with the affairs of civilian life but is instead strives to “please” the one “who enlisted him.” Being involved in civilian life is a hindrance to the commitment of military focus.
Any military is somewhat autonomous in that it has its own support systems, regulations & court system. He is considered military until the point of officially sanctioned release. Though he may be off duty, walking among us, he is not civilian but is still military & can be called out at any moment for immediate service. He is either all-in or all-out.
Thus anyone committed to military service has done so officially & thereby does not confuse his commitments with civilian pursuits.
1)Negatively, If a soldier gets caught up in civilian pursuits, it is due to gross personal negligence of his military duty. His choices are his own & he will thus answer to highest military authorities for them.
2)Positively, the “good soldier” never seeks civilian pursuits as the military is his career. He is thus clearly focused & committed. He finds everything necessary for his life in the military(work, food, shelter, family, brotherhood, friends, etc.).
“Engaged in warfare/Warreth/Serving as a soldier”—strateuomai—To make a military expedition, to lead soldiers into battle; To do military duty; To fight.
“Entangles/Entagleth/Gets involved”—emplekw—To inweave; To entangle, involve in. Used 2X.
“Affairs”—pragmateia—Prosecution(bring to the end of) of any affair(business, occupation). Strong—A transaction, i.e. Negotiation:-- Affair.
“Life”—biov—1) Life—1a) Life extensively—1a1) The period or course of life, 1b) That by which life is sustained, resources, wealth, goods. Strong—a primary word; Life, i.e. (literally) The present state of existence; by implication, The means of livelihood:-- Good, life, living.
Argumentation:
1Tim. 6:11-12—“But you, O man of God, flee these things & pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called & have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1Tim. 4:12-16—“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself & to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself & those who hear you.”
2Cor. 10:3-4—“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”
Eph. 6:10-18—“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, & having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, & having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance & supplication for all the saints--”
Lk. 9:57-62—“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes & birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go & bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go & preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go & bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, & looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.””
Illustration:
Go to any deployment for Army/Their families are there/Many tears are shed/Children are hugged & kissed/Wives are hugged & kissed/Then after that, they are hugged & kissed some more/But they go nonetheless!/ENGAGEMENT
Application:
?As a Good Soldier, have you followed the rule of ENGAGEMENT?
?Your duty fulfilled by total ENGAGEMENT?
?You a good soldier of Jesus Christ?
3—The good soldier of Christ lives by the rule of...
HONOR(:4b)
Explanation: (:4b)to Please/Satisfy
:4—“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
The “good soldier’s” overriding purpose is to “please” the enlisting military branch(Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) to which he has joined himself. “Pleasing” them requires his full attention to duty even when off-duty.
As stated before:
He lives to protect the civilian life in others.
In fact it can be said that the soldier’s very life is lived to protect the freedoms of civilian life for others.
In particular, to secure the freedoms for their fellow countrymen. To maintain the wonderful most fantastic country presently on the face of the earth... America. For they are our fellows. And her ideals are their ideals. America’s HONOR hangs in the balance, & must be protected. That honor is protected by the soldier’s commitment, training, knowledge, sweat, tears, efforts, going when he can’t go any more, by his very life....our honor is protected.
Likewise:
When we are saved, we commit to give every ounce of who we are to the one who has enlisted us in His service!
We commit ourselves to the Almighty God of History of Scripture & the Church, by the salvation we have in Christ alone! We belong to Him. We are His soldier(s)& His cause is ours & we must commit ourselves to proper training, knowledge, sweat, tears, efforts, go when we can’t go any more, to sacrificially give this very life with which we have been graced!
Why? Because we know God’s HONOR is paramount! He must take precedence! He must increase & I must decrease!
Argumentation:
Ex. 14:15-18—“And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, & stretch out your hand over the sea & divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, & they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh & over all his army, his chariots, & his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, & his horsemen.””
“Honor”—dbk kaw-bad’—1) To be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honored.
Heb. 13:5-6—“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?””
Rom. 8:28-39—“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; & whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, & furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Illustration:
Major Stacey Taylor says, “I continue to serve in the Marine Corp. because I know that there is something out there greater than me. I know that living this life on earth is not about me, its not about me being the superior person. Its a gift for me to have life & to live it. & I think the only way I can live it abundantly is by serving, by giving & puttin’ some other things above my own cause.”.... “You’re gonna sacrifice a lot to help your brothers & sisters in the Marine Corp. You’re gonna sacrifice time with your family, you’re gonna sacrifice time with your friends. You go out there & do those things to make sure you’re ready when your fellow Marines need you.”.... “President Reagan said, ‘A lot of people go thru life wondering if they made a difference, Marines don’t have that problem.’ “/HONOR
And, might I add, Christians don’t have that problem either!
(CONT...)3—The good soldier of Christ lives by the rule of...
HONOR(:4b)
Application:
?Your duty fulfilled by seeking God’s HONOR?
?You a good soldier of Jesus Christ?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
These are the reasons for Memorial Day. To pay special homage to those who have died in military service to their country.
But let us also not forget that these very truths are even more applicable to those who defend the Christian faith....
Are YOU one?
As a church, are we Good Soldiers....Defenders of the faith?
Are You/We Committed to Christian doctrine?....to Christian Going....to Christian sharing....to Christian Discipleship....to Christian Encouragement....to Christian multiplication?
*This Memorial Day enjoy your freedom, your cookouts, families, vacations, parades, whatever you do....but enjoy them knowing someone gave their life to give those things to you.
Action:
The good soldier of Christ lives by the rule of...
1. ENDURANCE(:3)
2. ENGAGEMENT(:4a)
3. HONOR(:4b)
Invitation:
Read 2nd part of ‘What Did He Die For’ regarding Christ.
Play song: Twila Paris’—‘What Did He Die For’
Presented 05/29/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
