ISAIAH 60:1-3 “IT IS NOT TIME TO RETREAT”
A) Saturday is Veteran’s Day and we want to honor all those who
have served in the armed forces today.
* If you are serving or have ever served in the Army, Navy, Marines,
Air Force, or Coast Guard, please stand.
* If you have an immediate family member who is serving or has ever
served in any branch of the military, please stand.
LET’S SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THESE
A) We thank all those who fought and are still fighting for
our national freedom.
* Thank you for loving this land so much that you are willing to die
for it – We honor you and appreciate you and celebrate you today.
B) There are some people who have been disappointed by the
outcome of this past presidential election.
* We are not called to respond in anger or disgust ... We are called
to do what we have been called to do for over 2000 years.
C) I have a good idea ... Since Saturday is Veteran’s Day, let all
of us enlist or reenlist in the ARMY OF THE LORD.
* Let’s all become veterans for Jesus.
* Well what are we to do when we enlist or reenlist in the
Army of the Lord?
D) First: We are to preach the gospel.
* God has called on each and every one of us to preach the gospel.
* The phrase “preach the gospel” is found 11 times in the Scriptures.
E) Here is the command of Jesus – Mark 16:15 “And he said
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach .......”
* Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is .......” (Isa. 61:1-2)
* 1 Cor. 9:16 “For though I preach the gospel, I have .......”
* 1 Cor. 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to .......”
F) Second: We are to contend for the faith.
* Jude 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write .......”
* The Greek word for contend is “agonizomai” (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee)
and means, “to fight” and has the idea of fighting to defend the faith.
G) Do everything in our power to fight to defend the faith.
* Eph. 4:5 ....... We all know that there is only “one faith.”
* And if there’s only one, we must defend it.
H) Third: We are to stand up for biblical values.
* 2 Thess. 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions
which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
* God wants us to shine “The Light” in the darkness.
I) Under Reagan, George Bush, and George W. Bush there
still was no prayer in schools, and abortion was still legal.
* Then Obama came along, now men can marry men and women
can marry women. (Most leaders of our nation are evil)
* Yes our situation in this country may be worse now, but that
should cause us even more to rise up and stand up for Christ.
LOOK AT OUR TEXT AGAIN IN Isaiah 60:1-3 .......
A) I’ve got to admit that our nation is not what it used to be.
* Do you remember when we were growing up? ... Baby Boomers days
were a whole lot different that the millennials today.
B) We played outside ... We didn’t have video games on our TV.
* What are some things you remember when you were growing up
compared to this day and time?
C) This whole world today is a real mess.
* There’s a lot of opposition against the truth, the Bible, and everything
that is right – I have never seen it as bad as it is today.
* However, the stronger the opposition, the greater the opportunity
for God to do something supernatural.
D) Listen, no matter what the plight of this nation .......
* God will raise up Daniels and Joshuas and Esthers and Jeremiahs
and Nehemiahs and Pauls and Ruths and Lydias.
* I’m talking about men and women who make a difference.
E) “But Preacher, I don’t think where I’m at in my life
right now is right.”
* Well let me say something to encourage you – Listen carefully.
F) Where you may be in your life right now may not be right,
but what God did when He saved you will always be right.
* And at any time, you can come to God and make things right
in your life – The choice is yours.
G) I want to give you a couple of things – I call them “keys”
to not quitting and giving up .......
(1) HERE IS KEY #1 – DO NOT FEAR
A) The word “fear” is found 400 times in the Bible.
* However, the phrase “fear not” is found 63 times out of those 400.
* The word “fear” in Hebrew is “yare’” (yaw-ray’) and means: frightened.
B) The Greek word is “phobeo” (fob-eh’-o) means: to frighten,
to be alarmed.
* We get our English word “phobia” from the Greek word.
C) Webster says fear means: frighten, to be afraid of.
* Now I want you to turn to 2 Chron. 32:7-8 .......
D) There’s more with us than there are with them.
* We have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
* And that’s not all – We have a guardian angel – Psa. 34:7 “The angel of
the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
(2) HERE IS KEY #2 – DO NOT RETREAT
A) It’s not time to RETREAT, it’s time to ADVANCE.
* Listen to Jesus in Matt. 16:18 .......
B) The right meaning of v.18 is “And THE GATES OF HELL
shall not stop the FORWARD ADVANCE of the Church.”
* In other words, we are not on the defense, we are on the offense
busting down the gates to get into the enemy’s territory.
* If the world is that territory, it’s about time that we advance forward
and not retreat in fear, but take the land back from the enemy.
C) Which side are you on? – The Lord’s side or the enemy’s side?
* No more comfort zone ... No more defense, it’s time for the church
to rise up and not be afraid with the same spirit that David had.
* 1 Samuel 17 – The story of David and Goliath. – v.48 .......
D) David was not afraid to RUN AT the enemy and go forward
in the power of God to defeat him.
* No size or weapons or warrior skills of Goliath would
intimidate David – His confidence was in the Lord of Hosts.
E) His 5 smooth stones speaks of DETERMINATION.
* “If I don’t defeat him with the first, I will with the second.”
* “And besides, he’s got 4 brothers just in case they jump in
and want some of what my God can do.”
CLOSE
A) Once again I want to thank our veterans who put their lives on
the line every single day – They are heroes.
* I want to always remember those in the past who have given their
lives on the behalf of our country for our freedom we have today.
* May God bless them and all their families.
B) But I also want to give thanks, honor, glory and praise for the
greatest Hero of all time – His name is Jesus.
* He paid the ultimate price – And He didn’t just die for a country,
He died for the whole world – Praise Him tonight.
