Spiritual Veterans
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
Scripture Text: 2 Tim. 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man who warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Introduction:
Today is Veteran’s Day. We want to honor and esteem all veterans and especially those veterans who are with us in the worship service today. In doing so, we want to take a look at what is required to become a true veteran of the cross of Christ.
You see before you, this morning, two flags. The American Flag, and the Christian Flag. One represents our country, and the other represents our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. To serve either of these flags (and the kingdoms they represent) faithfully and effectively, one must meet certain requirements. Before one can become a veteran, they must first be a good soldier.
Webster’s Dictionary says that a veteran is: n. 1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: (i.e.,a veteran of the police force.) 2. a person who has served in a military force, esp. during a war. -adj. 3. (of a soldier) having served in a military force, esp. during a war. 4. experienced through long service or
practice: (i.e.,a veteran member of Congress.) 5. of or pertaining to veterans.
Let us now take a look at what is required to be a good soldier and thus become a true veteran of the Lord.
I. Volunteer.
A. First of all, to serve either flag one must do so voluntarily.
1. America no longer forces men and women to serve in the military service of their country. They are asked to volunteer to serve.
Recruitment officers are sent out to encourage people to volunteer to serve in the military.
2. God does not force anyone to serve in the service of His Kingdom, but He does plead with us to volunteer and come to salvation through Christ our Lord. He also sends out recruitment officers to urge people to serve in His Army.
Jeremiah 44:4 [GW] I have sent my servants the prophets to you again and again to tell you not to do these detestable things that I hate.
2 Cor. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
B. Christ is pleading today for the sinner to come and serve Him willingly.
1. The benefits are tremendously great!! They are “Out of this world”.
II. Complete Faith.
A. When you serve this (point to American) flag, you must have faith in the American government that it will supply your every need. Your food, clothing, shelter, medical needs, and even your companions are supplied by your government.
B. When you serve this (point to Christian) flag, you must also have faith in the one who has called you into His service that He will supply your every need. You will not have to worry about your physical needs when you serve Christ.
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
1. Christ will even provide godly company for you to keep!!
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
C. When it comes to faith, the Lord wants us to be true veterans; “experienced through long service (and) practice.”
III. Complete Commitment.
A. When you serve this (American) flag, you are expected to be completely committed to your country and to allow nothing to prevent you from performing your duties and serving faithfully.
B. When you serve this (Christian) flag, you are also expected to be completely committed to Christ and His Kingdom. You are expected to serve Him faithfully, not allowing anything to keep you from doing His will.
Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. [28] And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Philip. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
C. Commitment requires discipline.
Illustration: Several years ago, in England, Sir John Barbirolli was conducting a great symphony orchestra before a "standing room only" audience. The concert hall was unusual in that it was used for cultural events on weekdays and for religious services on Sundays. On this particular Saturday evening, one of the patrons of the orchestra noticed that the preacher was in the audience. He leaned over and said to him, sarcastically, "When are you going to fill this
hall on Sunday the way Sir John Barbirolli has tonight?" The preacher looked his antagonist straight in the eye and said with a steady voice, "I will fill this hall on Sunday morning when you give to me, as you gave to Sir John tonight, eighty-five disciplined men and women to be with me and to work with me" [James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 126].
IV. Complete Obedience.
A. When you serve this (American) flag, you are required to follow orders and are expected to be obedient to the letter.
B. When you serve this (Christian) flag, Christ expects and requires no less.
Matthew 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Isaiah 1:19-20 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [20] But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Illustration: John Newton, the writer of the most popular hymn in history, "Amazing Grace" said: "… if two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time, one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on earth and the other to go sweep the
streets of the dirtiest village, each angel would be completely indifferent as to which one got which assignment.
It simply wouldn’t matter to them. Why? Because the real joy lies in being obedient to God.
For a Christ follower, the important thing isn’t what God has us doing; the important thing is that we’re doing what God wants us to do."
V. Complete Devotion.
A. When you serve this (American) flag, you are expected to be completely devoted to the country it represents.
1. Devotion (Webster) - 1. earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc. 2.profound dedication, esp. to religion; consecration.
B. When you serve this (Christian) flag, Christ expects you to be completely devoted (consecrated) to Him and His Kingdom.
1 Chron. 29:5 [Living] Now then, who will follow my example? Who will give himself and all that he has to the Lord?"
Illustration:
One day I looked at myself—at the self that Christ can see;
I saw the person I am today and the one I ought to be.
I saw how little I really pray and how little I really do;
I saw the influence of my life—how little of it was true!
I saw the bundle of faults and fears I ought to lay on the shelf;
I had given a little bit to God, but I hadn’t given myself!
I came from seeing myself, with my mind made up to be—
The sort of person that Christ can use, with a heart He may always see.
C. To be a true spiritual veteran, one must be completely devoted to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: To become true veterans of the cross, we must first be good soldiers of the cross. May the Lord, this Veteran’s Day, make us all true Spiritual Veterans.
