STAND FOR CHRIST
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Good day my name is Anthony Stander and I pastor a Church in Table View called Living Waters Community Fellowship. I was saved in a maximum classification prison in October 1985, after having been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for 5 armed robberies, one of them a bank robbery, the Barclays bank in Norwood Johannesburg. I was then given 15 years to run concurrent with fifteen years as it was my first offence. At 23 years of age I began my sentence. I would spend just under 7 years in prison of which 5 of them, I would serve as a Christian. I had lost my way from an early age, growing up in foster homes, expelled from 2 schools,placed in a naughty boys home, my only achievement was serving in the Parachute Battalion. When Jesus Christ found me in prison I was alone, I had estranged everyone close to me, people did not know where I was and only found out 2 years later into my prison sentence. Why am I telling all of this? Because Jesus Christ rescued me, He changed my life completely. There in hell Christ turned my life upside down and I have never looked back. I have been 34 years in the faith, most of them in some form of ministry and service to the King of Kings. It has been an incredible journey. I want to encourage you today to Stand for Christ.
The first world war was a terrible war with immense loss and waste of life in single battles. Sometime an army could lose up to 80000 men in one battle. In May 1915 a young surgeon after witnessing the horrors of this war wrote a poem called -In Flanders fields. He was shattered by the cost of life from this war and wrote this famous poem, to say do not let my life be in vain, don’t let us die for nothing and one of the verses goes like this:
Flanders Field
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high
If you break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep!
He was saying we are going to die but don’t let our death be in vain. AS we die, we shall throw the torch to you that you may catch that torch and continue the work that we have done.
The poem was famous all around the world and a young lieutenant wrote an answer to the newspaper, and an answer to this poem, He said:
Your flaming torch aloft we bear
With burning heart an oath we swear
To keep the faith, to fight it through
To crush the foe, or sleep with you.
He was determined to not allow the mens sacrifice to be for nothing.
Today we stand by before you and throw to you the torch of the great men and women of God that have gone before us. We have carried that torch and our armour is dented by battle, we older Christains have many wounds, betrayed by those we love, stabbed in the back, we have fought hells legions in the lives of our families and our churches and on many battlefronts. All of us carry great scars and our wounds are deep, but we will never give up till we give out our last breath in Praise to the God of Heaven.
Where are you, younger generation? Our churches are riddled with compromise and self promoting doctrines. Our young people chase pleasure more than sacrifice. Its all about self. We need a younger generation to catch that torch and begin to run this race, to come forward to the frontline of the battle, not in comfort at your TV games or cell phone. We need a radical Holy generation to come up Here with us to fight for the souls of men and drive back the darkness with spiritual war. A people that don’t look back, Christ before us the world behind us. Warriors for Christ.
I want to tell you two stories that I have never forgotten and that made an impact on the way I think as a Christian:
Count Zinzendorf was a man who lived in 1700- 1760 in Germany. He had grown up with the confession of being a Christian, but like many people today that confession made no real difference to his personal life. One day he was wandering in an art gallery with his friends and came upon a painting by Domenico Feti depicting Christ's suffering. The painting was called ECCE HOME- Behold the Man! As this young 19 year old stared at the painting, the Count gave his life to Christ, for the words that were written underneath the painting said; This I have done for you, now what will you do for me? The Count laid his life down for Christ and God used him in an incredible way. The Moravian missionary society was birthed and young people were sent all over the world to mission fields in Africa and beyond. They carved out their own gravestones and left off the date because they knew they were never coming back. Most missionaries in Africa at that time had a two year life expectancy, they died from malaria , cannibals, slave traders or any other disease. But they went gladly and took the light of Christ across the world. John Wesley was a Christian from a early age, but he said he only truly became born again when he was on a ship with these young Moravians and he saw how dedicated they were to Christ. The Moravians started a 24 hour prayer group that lasted for 100 years.
Thats what Jesus can do with lives that are consecrated unto Him. I to was moved by the Cross of Christ as a young Christian, when I understood the sacrifice that Jesus had given us, it changed me as it must change you. The Cross must move you to action, to change to do your best for Jesus Christ.
The other story I want to share with you is about two young men:
Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2000 to 3000 slaves. And the owner had said, "No preacher, no clergyman, will ever stay on this island. If he's shipwrecked we'll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave, but he's never going to talk to any of us about God, I'm through with all that nonsense." Three thousand slaves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ.
Several thousand black slaves toiled in the sugar cane fields under the burning sun. 3000 slaves were doomed to live and die without hearing of Christ.
Two young Germans in their 20's from the Moravians sect heard about their plight. They [were willing to sell themselves] to the British planter for the standard price for a male slave [if necessary.]
The Moravian community from Herrenhut came to see the two lads off, who would never return again, having freely sold themselves into a lifetime of slavery. As a member of the slave community they would witness as Christians to the love of God.
Family members were emotional, weeping. Was their extreme sacrifice wise? Was it necessary? The housings had been cast off and were curled up on the pier. As the ship slipped away with the tide and the gap widened, the young men linked arms, raised their hands and shouted across the spreading gap, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering."
This became the call of Moravian missions. And this is our only reason for being...that the Lamb that was slain may receive the reward of His suffering! Amen.
Now when I first heard this story many years ago, I was cut to the heart. I asked myself would I do that for Christ? Could I do that for Christ. I was terribly disturbed, by this sacrifice. I wrestled with this question day and night. Would I, could I go? Remember I had been a Christian for many years, but this story shocked me by challenging me and asking me how much am I really committed to Christ. One night I surrendered that to that challenge and said I will go if that’s what you ask!
I have never been asked to do such a thing, but I have left a long time ago in my heart. What would you do? All of our lives need to be surrendered to Christ and each of us needs to be able to say – May the Lamb receive the reward of His Suffering in our lives. May we make such a difference as Count Zinzendorf did and be so committed like those two young Moravians who went to the island.
Now why am I speaking to people here that are mostly Christians? I am trying to call you up to a higher calling than where you are right now. For some of you: Part time Christians cannot defeat full time devils. God has called everyone one of us to be effective witnesses and Ambassadors of His kingdom here on earth.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Our reasonable service to God, is for us to present ourselves to God here today. To offer up our hopes and dreams and lay them on the altar of sacrifice to follow Christ Alone. That what God calls reasonable – He has saved us, has given us eternal life and promises to be with us in this world no matter what trials we face. In return God expects the most reasonable thing that we can do is offer our lives, hopes and dreams back to Him. We become living sacrifices to the Lord most High. Then the reasonable service we offer God is our bodies -Holiness. What is Holiness? Moral and spiritual excellence, which will be acceptable to God.
To be saved we need to repent of our old lives, Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of our life, ask forgiveness for our sins and make a 180 degree turn about from the direction we were travelling and pick up our Bible, set our eyes on heaven and look nether to the left or the right and follow Christ! Today I hardly recognize the Church in the world. Our Christians look the same as the world, talk like them, go to the same movies, drink with them, dress like them, get tattoos at their hell hound parlours. There is no difference. When I was in the world, I visited the bars, slept around with girls, had tattoos, swore, drank and did every evil thing. But when I became a Christian I turned my back on those things and looked to Christ, followed His teachings, never once did I read that I must go and get a Christian tattoo, or go drinking with my worldly friends or continue to swear or as is the latest fad amongst Christians today or live and sleep with your partner until marriage.
No I read:
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
We are told:
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
All of our Church fathers came out of the world and dedicated their lives to Christ. I say it again; Part time Christians cannot defeat full time devils and it’s the devils we will meet in this world, who tear the very fabric of our society and cast the shadow of Mordor over our country and the world. Christians who are not dedicated and radical for Christ will not succeed in spiritual war, in the last great battle against the forces of darkness.
For it is to battle that we are called:
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
We are given armour for battle with hells legions, devils who cause depression and suicide and hopelessness, who kill and destroy when unchecked by Gods soldiers. When Holy men and women of God don’t stand in the path and say -you shall not pass they do not succeed. I have never seen so many suicides amongst young and old people as I see today. Where are our young warriors for Christ who will stand against the current sins of the day, sins that should not even be mentioned amongst us Christians.
We need to forsake pornography, drugs, overcome depression, oppression and suppression, which are all attacks of hell itself. Sleeping around should not even be mentioned amongst us. Our dress code needs to please God not man. When we walk in the room, we should be so filled with the presence of God that every devil wants to get out the room.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are to engage and fight unseen forces that terrorise the earth, to be Gods Special forces that drive devils out of mens hearts and lives. We should be Radical and dangerous to the enemy.
We are reminded that we are to put on Gods armour, so light you cant feel it, so strong that devilish blades cant cut through it! We are called to stand when the whole world has gone after porn, we will stand, when the whole world is sleeping around, we will stand, when depression and hopelessness sink all of those around us, we will be whole enough to help those in need and point them to Christ.
The world needs to see real Christians who are truly born again, old things have passed away and all things have become new. A Holy Generation, who have offered all up to Christ and will go anywhere and do anything for Jesus Christ who died and saved us from eternal judgement and hell.
Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
There are no more Daniels, or Samsons or Davids, they are dead now and they are the great cloud of witnesses who are saying to the church today, we defeated great enemies and subdued kingdoms, defeated devilish armies in the flesh. What will you guys do? We have thrown our torch to you-if you break faith with us who have died we shall not sleep!
Let our answer be the same as that young lieutenant :
Your flaming torch aloft we bear
With burning heart an oath we swear
To keep the faith, to fight it through
To crush the foe, or sleep with you.
Christ Alone the Hope of Glory.
Amen
