HoHum:
Object: A flag
Today we celebrate a special holiday.
- It isn't Thanksgiving, even though that is getting close
- It isn't Independence Day or Valentine's Day
The holiday we celebrate today is called Veterans Day. This holiday is celebrated in many countries around the world. In some countries it is called Armistice Day others Remembrance Day. No matter what you call it, it is a day on which we honor the men and women who have served in the military. It is a time for us to say "Thank you" for the sacrifices they have made. It is a time to think about the freedoms we enjoy because they were willing to serve.
How do we celebrate Veterans' Day? I guess many people will celebrate it just like they celebrate any other holiday. They use it as an opportunity to get time off from work! I would like to suggest some other ways we might celebrate this important holiday.
- Fly a flag in your yard to remind others that this is a day to honor those who have served. Show the little flag!
- Spend time in prayer giving thanks to God for those who served to defend cause of freedom.
- Observe two minutes of silence. Veterans Day began as a remembrance for every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany for the cessation of hostilities of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. In many parts of the world, people observe a two-minute moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. as a sign of respect in the first minute for the roughly 20 million people who died in the war, and in the second minute dedicated to the living left behind, generally understood to be wives, children and families left behind but deeply affected by the conflict. We have passed 11 am so...
Veterans Day is a holiday meant to be a serious occasion, but that doesn't mean that it is a time to mope around and be sad. It is a happy occasion indeed. We can be happy that because of the sacrifice of these brave men and women, you and I enjoy great freedom. We can also be happy that even though many of these brave soldiers died in battle, that is not the end of their story. Those who are Christians are with the Lord and doing better than you and I.
Hand out Children’s Worship Bulletin (Material adapted from: http://www.sermons4kids.com/veterans_day.htm)
WBTU:
In our survey of the books of the NT we have come to 1 and 2 Timothy. In chronological order we should be talking about 1 Timothy. We will get to that next week. Want to talk about 2 Timothy tonight because of “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:3, 4, NIV.
Background information on 2 Timothy
This is Paul’s last written letter in the NT and probably the last letter he ever wrote. While Peter was crucified in Rome for his faith, Paul was probably in Spain. When Paul returned to Rome he was imprisoned. This imprisonment is not like the house arrest and chains of the earlier imprisonment at which time he wrote the “prison epistles.” This time he is in solitary confinement and awaiting execution by beheading.
This final letter by Paul to his son in the faith is very personal and full of promise. The often used words “remember” or “remembrance” (Remembrance Day), coupled with “not ashamed,” help us outline the chapters. Chapter 1- unashamed memories. Chapter 2- Unashamed ministry. Chapter 3- Unashamed warnings. Chapter 4- Unashamed charges. Paul’s “Last Will and Testament” charges Timothy and every Christian to give our all to the mission of the gospel.
Paul writes this to his partner in ministry Timothy. Talk more about him next week. In 2 Timothy Paul calls him my dear son (1:2). Paul charges Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (4:5). The gospel must be told. Many actions might consume our days and hours, but good works without the telling of the greatest story ever told will not leave behind believers and Christian congregations.
Timothy for many years was Paul’s helper. Now he must become Paul’s voice. Paul wants Timothy to be on fire, to fan into flame the gift of God, which had been given Timothy when the Apostle laid hands upon him (1:6). Paul’s son in the gospel must overcome his timidity and not be ashamed to testify about our Lord (1:7-8). The hour has come to “join in suffering for the gospel” (1:8), because it was for “this gospel [Paul was] suffering” (1:11-12).
Especially now Timothy must grow up and be ready to guard the good deposit that was entrusted. This he is fully equipped to do “with the help of the HS” (1:14). What has been entrusted to Timothy, he must entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2:2). If Paul’s life can be taken away so can the lives of his co workers. Since the voice of each worker is stopped at death, the multiplication of workers is God’s way. Each man with the mission is to recruit converts, but also raise up future workers. The only qualification for these laborers is that such be “reliable” and “qualified.” Each congregation is wise to count not only how many ministers have served that church, but how many ministers that church has raised up to serve the work across the world, send out Timothy's.
Paul’s purpose is that “the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it” (4:17). He reminds the one who will continue his work (Timothy and us), “You know all about my purpose” (3:10). To fulfill that purpose he must do his best to be “a workman who correctly handles the word of truth” (2:15) and will “preach the Word in season and out of season” (4:2). What he will not do is get “involved in civilian affairs [if] he wants to please his commanding officer” (2:4).
The great command of Christ the “commanding officer” focuses the army of believers on its high command of soul winning. The most damaging of Satan’s devices is to get the church off course, is to offer roads that appear so right that all efforts and energies are lacking leaving little time or place for evangelism. Stick to the compass of “God’s word” (2:9), the “holy Scriptures” (3:15), which guide men to “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2:10). Major in Scripture and “the man of God [will] be thoroughly equipped” (3:17). Major in minors and the battle for souls is lost.
Let’s go back to this image of a soldier
Thesis: A Christian Is... A soldier in the Lord’s Army
For instances:
We are soldiers in the Lord’s army
Bob Tinsky- Those of us who served in the armed forces can understand what Paul said about seeking to please our commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:4). I am not certain I always did what I was supposed to do because I wanted to please the officers who gave me orders. I do know, however, I made sure to do what I was commanded to do without asking any questions.
Sometimes what I was ordered to do didn’t make any sense. For example, why was I ordered to take a train from Spokane, Washington to North Carolina when I was going to be shipped out from Oakland, California for the Philippine Islands? I didn’t always agree with what I was told to do but I did it anyway, no ifs, ands, or buts.
As Christians we have a Commanding officer who always gives us commands that not only make sense but are correct. I don’t always understand everything God asks me to do but I believe He knows what is best and what is right so I cheerfully try to obey all His commands.
To be AWOL (absent without leave) in the military can be a serious matter. More than a few have been courtmartialed for this offense. It is also a serious matter for those of us who are soldiers for Christ to be AWOL when we should be on active duty for our Lord.
The Christian Life involves a battle
The Bible describes disciples of Christ as soldiers but also pictures the Christian life as a battle or a fight. Several times Paul told Timothy to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 1:18 and 6:12). In 2 Timothy Paul told Timothy that he should face Paul’s death with peace and confidence because Paul had “fought the good fight” (4:7).
Must know that this is not talking about church fights. Our fellow Christians are not our enemies. Yes, they can be used by the enemy. However, our foe is the one Peter describes as a roaring lion who seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8).
We are to seek recruits for the Lord’s army
Every Christian has been commissioned as an enlistment officer in the Lord’s army. We are not promised any monetary reward for each person we recruit but we are promised that if we lead people to faith in God we will shine like the stars forever and ever.
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3, NIV.
Our only offensive weapon is the word of God
Our weapons are not rifles or handguns or bombs or flame throwers. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NIV.
Ephesians 6:17 tells us that our primary weapon is the word of God, the sword of the Spirit. We have a mandate to help conform our society to the standards of right and wrong as outlined in the Bible. God’s way is for us to capture the minds of those who have been controlled by demonic forces and bring them under the control of the One who is Commander in Chief of the entire universe. We do this best by presenting, in a winsome and loving way, the truths and claims of the Gospel so people will volunteer to leave the forces of Satan and enlist in the Lord’s army.
We will share in the final victory
God has promised that we will share in the ultimate victory over Satan. “I read the back of the book and we win.”
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39, NIV.
The book of Revelation gives us a picture of Christ being victorious in this battle of the ages. “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:10, 11, NIV.
John pictures Christ as coming at the end of this struggle here. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16, NIV.
So what?
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." --George Washington
This is true of our nation but also true of the church. Need to remember and appreciate those who have fought and sacrificed so much so that we can worship and share the gospel.
