Which Army Are You In?
Please stand with me as we go over our current memory Scripture:
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His Law he meditates day and night.”
And our memory Scripture “refresher” verse is:
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”
Today we will be reading from Ephesians 6:10-20
This coming Wednesday is Veterans Day here in America.
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.”
November 11th, known as Armistice Day, became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.
And we do celebrate our veterans, those who have joined the armed forces of our country. Many of these veterans have faced the enemies of our nation on the battlefield and many did not survive the encounter. To our veterans, both living and dead, we say, “Thank you” on Veterans Day.
What is the actual legal meaning of the term “veteran?”
Under Title 38 of the U.S. Code a veteran is defined as a "person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable."
So, let’s keep that definition in mind for alter on …
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Now, before we read the main Scripture for today I’d like to show you a video of some of our fighting men; a video that impressed me very much.
(Video of a room full of Marines singing Days Of Elijah)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MtdyRDy4fU
To me it sure seems like these Marines are ready not only for physical warfare but for spiritual warfare as well.
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We, as civilians, are probably not ready for physical warfare but we should be ready for spiritual warfare!
Let’s see what Ephesians 6:10-20 has to say about that …
(Prayer for help)
If I were to ask in any given crowd who in attendance had served in the military every single person in the crowd would know without doubt whether they had served or not.
Either you have been in the military or you have not.
There is a clear distinction, you either have or you have not.
In the physical realm in which we live that is true.
However, in the spiritual realm it is quite different.
Everyone is in an army! No one avoids being in a spiritual army.
What??? In a spiritual army! What is a spiritual army?
Let’s just start out by saying that there are only two spiritual armies.
In the passage we read today the Holy Spirit is speaking through the apostle Paul to those who belongs to the Army of the Lord.
That is all of us who love and serve Jesus.
We see this specifically in Ephesians 6:12 where it says,
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Now, when we see this term “heavenly realms” that is NOT to be interpreted as Heaven, the abode of God Himself or even what we call outer space.
This “heavenly realm” is translated from a Greek word that means “the sphere of spiritual activities both good and evil.”
We can see reports of this in action in Daniel 10.
In this chapter Daniel has seen a tremendously powerful vision and it has knocked him to the ground. An angel is dispatched from heaven in order to help Daniel. When the angel finally arrives he helps Daniel up to his hands and knees and finally gives him the strength to stand. Then the angel explains what has taken place.
Daniel 10:12-14
“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the (demonic) prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief (angelic) princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the (demonic) king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
We cannot even imagine what is taking place in the “heavenly realms”, the spirit world.
But, we do get another glimpse in Jude 1:9 where it says that Michael the Archangel was actually disputing with the devil over Moses’ dead body!
So, we see that there is a battle which is beyond our imaginations going on in the unseen spiritual realms and it is very serious and we live on the battlefield.
What know from Scripture …
1) The Kingdom of God, the Creator, has spiritual forces in the heavenly realms under His command. We are NOT one of those types of beings. We are not angels.
2) The devil, who is a limited, created being, has spiritual forces in the heavenly realms doing his bidding.
OK. Let’s try to wrap our minds around all of this. These spiritual forces are engaged in battle in a realm that we do not understand.
The Bible tells us that when it is all over and done with, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11
Did you get that? “Every knee … in heaven … on earth … and under the earth …”
In our minds we think of the spiritual realm as kind of oozing about in our atmosphere “on earth”. But, we only think of dirt and rocks when we think about “under the earth”.
But, we live “on earth” so that is where we see the spiritual battle taking place. You may not see the spiritual battle taking place but it does.
And, the reason we do not recognize it as spiritual warfare is because it takes place through human beings.
Those of us who are truly born again will readily admit that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and that we live and move according to His will within us. In effect, this makes it possible for the spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms to be extended into our earthly realm. In this sense we truly are in the Army of the Lord, doing His deeds, fighting His spiritual battles.
On the other hand, those who are not born again are filled with the spirit of this world and the ruler of this fallen world is the devil.
Now, most people who are unsaved will not admit this because they do not realize this. They may be kind, wonderful people in the eyes of the world but they can have a very damaging impact in the spiritual realm. Like it or not, that person IS a soldier in the army of the Lord’s enemy, the devil.
Let’s see if we can explain this better.
Here is one of our memory Scriptures …
1 Peter 3:15
“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord.”
The born again soldier in the Army of the Lord knows that “Jesus said, ‘I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
So, when an unsaved person asks, “Is Jesus the only way to heaven?” the person serving in the army of the Lord must respond, “Yes, that is true.” Why must they respond that way? Because anything else would be a betrayal of the commander, God Almighty.
OK, now, let’s take a person who proclaims to be a Christian but has never really been born again. There are churches full of people like that. They have the label of Christian but they do not revere Christ as Lord in their hearts.
So, if someone asks them, “Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?” what will their response be?
How many here have ever heard of Charles M. Schulz?
He was the man who wrote the Peanuts comic strip and the man who wrote the Charlie Brown Christmas which tells the birth narrative of Jesus just as it is written in the Bible.
What would Charles M. Schulz say to the question, “Is Jesus the only way to heaven?”
Charles’ widow wrote …
“I think that (Charles) was a deeply thoughtful and spiritual man. Sparky was not the sort of person who would say “oh that's God’s will” or “God will take care of it.” I think to him that was an easy statement, and he thought that God was much more complicated.
“Sparky went to church, joined the youth group and for a good 4–5 years he went to Bible study and went to church 3 times a week. He said he had read the Bible through three times and taught Sunday school. He was always looking for what those passages REALLY might have meant.
“When he taught Sunday school, he would never tell people what to believe. God was very important to him, but in a very deep way, in a very mysterious way.”
So, what was Charles Shultz’ final opinion on whether Jesus is the only way to Heaven?”
Here’s what he said, “It doesn't matter what you believe just so long as you're sincere.”
Now, you could put literally millions of names in place of Shultz’ name who would give you the same answer.
You won’t find that in the Bible.
OK. Now, let’s look at the battle ….
Soldier 1 is in the army of the Lord. He is a person who believes that Jesus is the only way to the Father and who reveres Christ as Lord.
Soldier 2 is in the army of the enemy but doesn’t even know it. He considers himself to be a Christian but he believes that all roads lead to God and it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.”
Finally, we have the soul over which the battle is being waged.
This person is looking for eternal life. They are sick and tired of living in slavery to sin. They are sick of life and longing for whatever there is after life.
Who do you hope that poor, lost person runs into?
Soldier 1 who will tell the seeker about eternal life that is found in Jesus Christ alone?
Or, Soldier 2 who will pass along the devil’s lie that any belief will do as long as you are sincere?
You see, too many who claim the name of Christ believe they are Soldier 1 when in reality their message is that of Soldier 2.
One thing is obvious in this battle; the weapon of disinformation is powerful.
This is just one example but it is enough to let us know that every one of us is a member of God’s Army or the army of the evil one.
There is no neutral position.
Are you a member of God’s army?
Are you in active service?
Do you know what the Commander of God’s army wants?
Are you carrying out His commands?
“Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind?” Matthew 22:37
Or, are you AWOL; Absent WithOut Leave?
Are you sleeping when you are supposed to be on guard duty?
When God calls on you to engage in spiritual battle will you be ready?
When you are called upon to share the truth of salvation through Christ alone will you know what to say?
Will you be able to speak from experience?
Which side are you really on?
Final thoughts
Prayer
