It is a huge honor for me to conduct funeral services for US Veterans!
I spent a few minutes talking with Rick about his dad. Some of the things that popped out to me were:
* His strength and toughness -- Maybe the movie character was named for him
* His skills as a Marksman
* His skills as a Hunter
* His skills as a Warrior
Ecclesiastes 3.1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
I. It Appears for the Foreseeable Future we will Need Warriors:
To Be Our Watchmen -- Ezekiel 33.1-6
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
To Stand in the Breach -- Ezekiel 22.30
30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
There is a time for peace and a time to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5.39)
Diffuse a needless conflict or merely endure an insult
There is a time to engage in conflict
As the Hebrews, Who Were Warriors
* Battle for Jericho -- Trumpets and Power of God
* Judah First
Judges 20.18
The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first."
* Two Levels of Battle -- Amalek Exodus 17
As David Who was a Warrior King -- Psalm 144 .1-2
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
o There is something in men that likes to fight/compete
o David liked it too much -- kept him from building the house of God
Even Jesus Knew of the Need for Self-Defense (Except for his DBR)
Luke 22.37-38
37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment." 38 And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough."
Luke 22.47-53
47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
II. Billy Jack Willingham was a Warrior and Shared a Sacred Quality with Other Military Personnel
* The Sacrificial Willingness to Lay Down His Life for Another -- Even for the Unknowns
o Jesus showed it -- John 15.12-14
12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
o Jesus showed it even to his enemies (Romans 5.8)
* A Driver is Freedom
o Freedom is ingrained in Americans -- we want/crave it
o We want it for others -- World Wars; Korea; Vietnam; Middle East -- some going as Mercenaries
* Presence of God's Spirit -- Brings Freedom -- 2 Corinthians 3.17
[Benjamin Rush and John Adams -- Can we win this conflict? Yes, if we fear God and repent of our sins. 1777
o Sometimes Physical Conflict
o Sometimes Prayerful Conflict
God Is a Warrior
* He sets up/takes down Kings
* He sets up/takes down nations
* He is the source of our strength -- Deuteronomy 21.10
"When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
* He calls us to him -- 2 Chronicles 7.13-14
Prayer
