HOW TO HELP A FALLEN COMRADE
Genesis 14:13-16
In battle, United States armed forces are expected to resist as far as they are able. They are expected to never surrender, to attempt to escape if captured, and to resist revealing information which could help the enemy or harm the United States. The US Government demands complete devotion. In turn for their devotion of their soldiers, the U.S Government promises to never abandon any Service Member to the enemy. This is summed up with the motto "No Soldier Left Behind".
It has often been said that “The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battlefield.” Every person who is born again is expected to live and serve as a soldier in the army of the Lord. Paul references our commission to service in God’s Army in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier”.
I would like to ask you to take a moment and look around at all of these empty seats. Understand that the empty seats that fill our sanctuary are not representative of lost people, they represent soldiers who are no longer on the battlefield. It is important for us to remember that these men and women are our “fellow soldiers”.
It shows a tremendous lack of compassion and extreme selfishness when we realize that we have fallen comrades and rather than doing all that is within our power to see them restored, we write them off as being “backslidden” and leave them to fend for themselves.
- Concerning those brothers and sisters who are no longer active in battle, there are a host of different circumstances and situations.
1) SOME ARE A.W.O.L (Absent Without Leave)
A.W.O.L is an acronym that is used to describe a soldier who is away from military duties without permission, but with the intention of returning.
Some of our brothers and sisters were once in the heat of the battle and fighting the good fight of faith. However, for one reason or another they stepped away from the battle. Perhaps they were weary and wounded from the fight. Or maybe there was something or someone that enticed them to leave the battlefield. For whatever reason, they put down their arms and walked away. Though it was not their intention to say away, they have been gone much longer than they ever expected. Some of these individuals walked away without their spiritual armor and it may be that they are lying somewhere wounded and in desperate need of help. Others may have been captured and they are currently being held captive by the enemy. Either way, these people are no longer fighting and they are in grave danger.
- Some are A.W.O.L, but others are guilty of desertion.
2) SOME ARE DESERTERS
Desertion is defined as "abandonment of duty or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning”.
As Paul instructed Timothy about fighting battles for the Lord he encouraged him to cling to his faith and to keep his conscience clear. Following this Paul mentioned two men named “Hymenaeus and Alexander” who deliberately violated their consciences and shipwrecked their faith.
Unfortunately, there are some in our day who began to walk with the Lord but made a conscious decision to turn from Him. Some are apostates who never truly experienced salvation. Others are true believers who have or will experience severe chastisement if they fail to repent and return to the Lord. In either case, we have a Christian duty to reach out to the deserter and implore them to turn (or return) to the Lord Jesus.
- Some are A.W.O.L, some are deserters, and:
3) SOME ARE M.I.A (Missing in Action)
M.I.A is "a casualty classification for those who are reported missing during active service.” A soldier who is M.I.A may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or they have deserted their mission.
Many of our fellow soldiers could be described as M.I.A. These are those who have left the battlefield and we really are not sure what happened to them. Those of us who are in active service must decide whether we will write them off or go out and look for them.
- Some are MIA because they have been captured and imprisoned. This leads us to the fact that:
4) SOME ARE PRISONERS OF WAR
A prisoner of war is “one who is held captive by the enemy during or immediately after an armed conflict”.
Christian soldiers face many intense battles. At times the enemy surrounds them and overpowers them and they are taken captive and held as prisoners of war. We have fellow soldiers who were on the battle field fighting the good fight of faith and they have been captured.
Perhaps they did not “put on the whole armor of God”; or maybe they went into battle without taking “the sword of the spirit”. Because they went into battle unprepared, they have been wounded and captured. In many instances Christian prisoners of war were captured and imprisoned because they were outnumbered in the battle because so many of their comrades left them to fight the battle alone.
Whatever the specific situation, many of our fellow-soldiers are absent from the fight. They are wounded, they have been captured, they are hurting, and some of them are dying. We must realize that it is our responsibility to do all that we can to rescue them and see them restored to full spiritual health. Then, once they are fully restored they can then return to the battlefield.
Furthermore, these men and women are more than fellow soldiers, they are our family; as such we should possess enough love and compassion that we would do whatever is necessary to see them restored. Furthermore, we need them on the battlefield with us, fighting valiantly for the cause of Christ.
Now that we have addressed the fact that some of our brethren are wounded in the battle, what can we do? I believe that God gives us a great illustration of the proper response in the story of Abraham and Lot that is recorded in Genesis 14. I would like to examine this passage and preach on the subject “How To Help A Fallen Comrade”.
Lot was Abraham's nephew and they both had many flocks, herds, and tents. So much so that the land was not able to bear them. There was some conflict between the servants of Abraham and the servants of Lot and as a result Abraham decided it would be best if they separated. He gave Lot the opportunity to choose the land where he wanted to dwell. Lot took a long look at the well-watered, fertile plains of the Jordan Valley; He then took his flocks and servants and moved to a place near Sodom and settled there. The place Lot chose was beautiful but it was a land of wickedness. Genesis 13:13 says that. “the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord”.
Lot's choice is representative of many professing Christians in our day. They looked in a certain direction that was enticing, and then began to walk that way. As a result they are currently away from the Lord and living in a wicked land.
Sometime after Lot moved his family to this region a war broke out. Several different kings joined together and fought against other kings in the area. (This is recorded in Genesis 14:1-9). After this battle, the victors plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, as they journeyed back to their homeland they took all the spoils of war. Verse 12 says that “they also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed”. One of Lot’s men escaped the aggressors and informed Abraham what had happened. (v13)
When Abraham heard what had happened he responded immediately. He did not sit back and say, “serves him right, that is what he gets for going to that wicked land!”. Instead, he gathered every asset at his disposal and was willing to do whatever was necessary to recover his imprisoned loved one. Abram’s actions show us how we should respond in an effort to help our fallen comrades.
- As we consider how to help our fallen comrades in the Lord’s army we must realize that:
I. THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW
v14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive,
Notice that Abram did not delay his response. The situation was too dire for him to procrastinate. Realizing that one whom he loved was in danger, he gathered his men together and sought to retrieve him.
We can all agree that there are many fallen and captured soldiers in God’s army. These people are our brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, children, and friends. As we speak, they are in the hands of the enemy and are facing great danger. It is bad enough that the Enemy has them imprisoned, but we find ample “intelligence” in the Bible that proves that he intends to torture those who are in captivity. Knowing this, it is obvious that the time for action in now!
- Though there is no shortage of fallen soldiers, there is a severe shortage of people with the desire and ability to go in and rescue them. This leads us to the fact that:
II. AS SOLDIERS WE MUST BE PREPARED
v14b (Abram) armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house…
Abraham gathered a group of 318 men together. These were men who were trained, willing, and ready to go. Verse 14 says that “he armed his trained servants”.
The US military has several groups who are considered to be “elite”. Groups such as the Navy Seals, the Army Rangers & Green Berets. These men are highly trained to perform unconventional and often high-risk missions. As Christian soldiers we must be trained and ready to respond at a moments notice. We must have the knowledge to understand the enemy that we face. Furthermore, we must be familiar with the sound of our Commander’s voice. We must have our weapons, we must have our defensive armor, and we must have the knowledge and ability to properly use them. Our fellow-soldiers who have been wounded or captured on the battlefield and we don’t have time to spare. The time to act is now and we must be prepared!
- Another factor we must comprehend is that:
III. DEVOTION TO THE MISSION IS ESSENTIAL
v14c (they) went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Abram’s trained men had a specific mission, it was to rescue the prisoner. Those 318 trained servants did not just sit around and talk about how they could rescue Lot. They didn’t start out to get him and then turn back when they saw the enemy forces. They were steadfast in their mission and they fought with all they had until they achieved their goal.
Christian brothers and sisters, we know the mission. In many instances we know where our fallen comrades are and what needs to be done in order to rescue them. It will do us no good to simply talk about what we need to do concerning our fallen comrades. It would be futile and selfish for us to wait for someone else to go and get them. It is imperative that when we see one in danger and know what needs to be done that we put on our armor, go into battle, and rescue our fallen brothers and sisters in Christ.
Too many times we look at someone who is backslidden and rather than being moved with enough compassion to reach out to them, we sit around and talk about them like they are the enemy. It has been said that "the Christian Army is the only army in the world that shoots its own wounded."
Many fallen Christian soldiers are where they are because they were abandoned on the battlefield. Then they were captured by the enemy and have become prisoners of war. Some are prisoners of lust, some are prisoners of addiction, some are prisoners of greed, some are prisoners of discouragement, some are prisoners of depression, some are prisoners of abuse, and some are prisoners of a host of other issues that the enemy would use against them. Regardless of the cause, we must comprehend the fact that it is our duty to reach out to them. (Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted”). Each of us should pray that we would see the needs around us and then do whatever we can to meet those needs.
I doubt anyone hear would dispute that there is a great need for a rescue and recovery mission concerning our fallen comrades. But how many are willing to be a part of such an undertaking? As we continue to examine the response of Abram and his trained servants we will see that:
IV. WE MUST WORK TOGETHER
v15 “(Abram) divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus”
Abraham divided his men and attacked the enemy during the night. The enemy fled, but they continued to pursue them until they reach a town north of Damascus. This passage proves to us that there is power in numbers. Abram had 318 men ready and willing to go to battle. They joined together and they accomplished their mission.
In order to successfully rescue or fellow soldiers, we must work together!
The Bible makes it clear that we can do more together than we can apart Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken”.
- If we truly desire to help our fallen comrades, then we must comprehend that:
i. The Time To Act Is Now
ii. As Soldiers We Must Be Prepared
iii. Devotion To The Mission Is Essential
iv. We Must Work Together
- When we are prepared, devoted and working together we will see that:
V. VICTORY IS POSSIBLE
16 So (Abram) brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
Because Abram cared enough to act, because the men were trained and ready to go, and because they went forward with passion and fervor, the enemy fled, the goods were restored, Lot was rescued, and the others who were taken captive were delivered.
When we take the necessary steps to retrieve our fallen comrades we can see these same results. We will see our enemy flee, we can recover lost ground, we can rescue our brothers and sisters who have been wounded, captured, and imprisoned.
It is important for us to notice that much more was at stake than just Lot, countless other lives were impacted by this rescue operation as well. In the same way, when we rescue one of our fallen comrades, many other lives will be positively impacted.
I would like to close with a story illustrates several situations that I have seen throughout my time in Christian ministry. It involves a man in a certain church who was named Brother Smith. He was saved and radically changed some fifteen years ago. Once he was saved he began to bring his whole family to church. A few months later his wife born again. The Smiths had 4 children and over the years and as a result of Children's church and Sunday school all of the Smith children were saved. Brother Smith’s parents and in-laws began attending that church as well. Because of this several of Brother Smith’s nieces and nephews began attending church and came to know the Lord.
In the early years Bro. Smith grew spiritually and became very active in the church. But about 5 years ago he experienced some serious financial woes As a result he began working overtime and every Saturday was spent at work. Because he had to work on Saturdays, the family began to miss church every now and then for recreation and to catch up on certain tasks around the house. Eventually, Brother Smith began to work on Sundays periodically, no longer because it was necessary, but because he liked the extra money coming in.
The family still came to church but it wasn’t as regular as before. As time went on they began to miss more and more. Eventually Mr. & Ms Smith were out of church all together. The Smith children and their nieces and nephews still attended church with their grandparents, but over time they began to choose family time with the Smiths at their new place on the river rather than attending Church.
When it was all said and done 2nd Baptist Church Littletown had 2 extra empty pews and 14 less “active members”. They lost a piano player, an usher, 2 Sunday school teachers, a substantial amount of tithes and eight children in the Sunday School program.
Being a small church, the other members of the assembly immediately noticed their absence. They began to discuss this tragedy at lunch after services. Some of them even told the preacher that he should go and visit them. One deacon was overheard saying “what a shame that a man would allow this to happen to his family”. He was just one of many who criticized the Smith family for their abandonment of the church and their backslidden spiritual condition.
However, there was one elderly lady in the church who was very concerned and compassionate enough to do something about it. Every day she went to the Lord in prayer and prayed for the Smith family. She wrote them letters on a weekly basis, and periodically called them on the phone. Then one day she went to the Smith’s home. She sat at their kitchen table and with tear filled eyes shared with them their burden for their spiritual condition. Brother Smith was touched by her concern and he had already been under the conviction of the Holy Sprit. He began to weep and pray. Then he rededicated his life and immediately resolved to take his family back to church. He then set out to reclaim his position as spiritual leader in his household. Quickly, the rest of the family followed the patriarch and God did an amazing work in that family. Partly because one sweet Christian lady was willing to do her part to rescue a fallen comrade.
I want to close this message the way we began. Once more I ask you to observe these empty pews. The people who should be in these pews are getting further and further away from the Lord. They are hurting, they are wounded, they have been captured and imprisoned, and they are in grave danger.
You are one foolish decision away from leaving an empty space in this sanctuary. Some of you have been there in the past, many are there as we speak. Some of our fellow-soldiers are A.W.O.L, some are Missing in Action, some of them are deserters, some are prisoners of war, and they are all in danger. It is vitally important that we comprehend the fact that the time for action is now, as soldiers we must be prepared, devotion to the mission is essential, we must work together and when we do, victory is possible. This is how we can help a fallen comrade.
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