Preached at Laurel Church of Christ
On Sunday, November 17, 2002
Introduction:
I. Illustration: "My Country ,Tis of Thee"
The kindergarten teacher was showing her class an encyclopedia page picturing several national flags. She pointed to the American flag and asked, "What flag is this?"
A little girl called out, "That’s the flag of our country."
"Very good," the teacher said. "And what is the name of our country?"
"’Tis of Thee,’ the girl said confidently.
II. John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address Washington, D.C. January 20, 1961
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
III. We celebrated veterans day this past Monday.
A. We are sorely indebted to our veterans. (Freedom, peace, solitude, peace of mind)
B. They backed up the words of JFK and other political and military leaders
C. They backed it up with their lives
1. Statistics
a. Revolutionary war (1775-1783)
1.) Served: No Data
2.) Death: 4,435
3.) Wounded: 6,188
b. Civil War (1861-1865)
1.) Served: 2,213,363
2.) Death: 364,513
3.) Injured: 281,881
c. World War I (1917-1918)
1.) Served: 4,734,991
2.) Deaths: 116,516
3.) Injured: 204,002
d. World War II (1941-1946)
1.) Served: 16,113,566
2.) Deaths: 147,493
3.) Injured: 671,846
e. Vietnam War (1964-1973)
1.) Served: 8,744,000
2.) Deaths: 58,177
3.) Injured: 153,303
2. Their lives are examples of commitment, pride, honor, sacrifice, the pursuit of justices, and the pursuit of freedom.
IV. Which begs the question for us, "How do we honor such heroes of our fair country?"
A. We can begin by thanking them often
B. We can continue by joining in the spiritual war around us.
1. Giving our lives sacrificially with honor and commitment.
2. All for the cause of Christ
C. 2 Timothy 2:1-4 "You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things." (NRS)
Body:
I. The cause of Christ means SACRIFICE
A. "Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer."
B. Through sacrifice the good soldier of Christ concerns himself with the cause of Christ.
1. The concern of Christ is the Battle for lost souls
2. The concern of Christ is the Recruitment of new soldiers
3. The concern of Christ is the Training of soldiers
II. The concern of Christ is the Battle for lost souls
A. Whether you realize it or not there is an unseen realm of war going on at each moment of the day.
B. That being the case, the real war is waging within each of our hearts.
C. A man tells the story of a dead woman that is talking
1. He was sitting in a restaurant quietly sipping his coffee, when the Jane approached him
a. Though still breathing, her heart beating within her, Jane was dead asif she were wearing a shroud.
b. She spoke of her child in her womb without warmth or love, just detachment
c. Smiling vacantly, looking past him, she told her story in a voice I could have vanquished with a whisper.
d. "My husband’s happy. All these years he’s wanted a child, and now I’m pregnant. I don’t want to destroy him…I’ve decided not to tell him the child isn’t his."
2. Because of the timing of the conception, she was positive the child was her lover’s.
a. He wasn’t the first lover, but she was as in love with him as she could ever be with anyone…
b. Parts of the story are so routine that most counselors could tell her story with just missing a few details.
c. She had married young, escaping an unhappy childhood home.
d. Not really in love with the man who asked her, but craving deliverance, she convinced herself he was God’s blessing and the answer to her prayers, so she said yes.
3. Other lovers followed, but no one knew, especially her husband, had ever known. The single exception was her best friend.
a. They moved often and at each new place a man found her, and she confided in a new best friend
b. Maybe a coworker or a churchgoer
c. The latter is how he found the dead woman walking.
4. When asked what would happen if Jesus were to come back right now, what would Jesus tell her?
a. Her response was, "He will tell me it is okay. You needed love. It will all be okay."
D. We are at war. The devil is the father of lies
1. The truth is we are battling
2. He will tell you exactly what you want to hear.
3. That might be you, in an adulterous relationship, carrying a child that you don’t even want.
4. Or it might be drugs, alcohol, wickedness, and etc.
5. Are you telling yourself that everything will be okay when it really will not
III. Don’t fear, because the concern of Christ is for the recruitment of new soldiers
A. Unlike the devil, he does not hide important facts from you.
1. Jesus loves you so much, he is going to tell you the truth.
2. Even when the truth hurts, and it isn’t exactly how you imagined it to be. He will tell you.
3. Jesus said the truth will set you free.
4. Let’s look at his recruitment poster – that would make me the rectuiter
B. Are you a part of the Lord’s army?
1. You have an opportunity today?
2. More than an army of one
3. To join an army where you know that you will be on the side of the victor.
4. Even though a nation may have confidence they never really know if they will win or not.
5. "That is why they play the game." – A popular phrase in sports, today.
C. Come follow me
1. Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
2. Luke 14:27 "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
3. Come and follow?
a. If Jesus Christ was standing right before you right now and asked, "Come follow me?" What is your response?
b. He is asking and pleading.
c. Don’t be to hasty. It is a life of commitment
D. A Flag of Rags
1. In the final years of our imprisonment, the North Vietnamese moved us from small cells with one or two prisoners to large rooms with as many as 30-40 men to a room.
a. We preferred this situation for the companionship and strength we could draw from our fellow prisoners.
b. In addition to moving us to new quarters, our captors also let us receive packages and letters from home.
c. Many men received word from their families for the first time in several years.
d. The improved conditions were a result of public pressure put on the North Vietnamese by the American public.
2. In our cell was one Navy officer, Lt. Commander Mike Christian.
a. Over a period of time Mike had gathered bits of pieces of red and white cloth from various packages.
b. Using a piece of bamboo he had fashioned into a needle, Mike sewed a United States flag on the inside of his shirt, one of the blue pajama tops we all wore.
3. Every night in our cell, Mike would put his shirt on the wall, and we would say the pledge of allegiance.
a. I know that the pledge of allegiance may not be the most important aspect of our day now, but I can tell you that at the time it was the most important aspect of our lives
4. This had been going on for some time until one of the guards came in as were reciting the pledge.
a. They ripped the flag off the wall and dragged Mike out.
b. He was beaten for several hours and then thrown back into the cell.
5. Later that night, as we were settling down to sleep on the concrete slabs that were our beds, I looked over to the spot where the guards had thrown Mike.
a. There under the solitary light bulb hanging from the celiing, I saw Mike.
b. Still bloody and his face swollen beyond recognition, Mike was gathering bits and pieces of cloth together
c. He was sewing a new American flag.
E. While Jesus is looking down from the seat of power in heaven, where does he see you draw your strength.
1. Is it from Him, the cross, the resurrection or something else
2. Mike shows us, his country, that his strength comes from a set of ideals of freedom and justice
IV. The Concern of Christ is the training of His soldiers of the cross
A. God can see the potential inside of you.
1. It is beyond measure.
a. Do you know what God has planned for you?
b. It would probably frighten all of us.
c. My prayer is that God will continue to cause growth within me, so that I give to Him my entire potential.
2. We could have missionaries sitting among us that bar open the doors of the gospel to the country of China
a. Some of us sitting here could be a significant part of bringing the gospel to the country of India
b. You might be the elder that encourages someone to keep up the good fight, and they become the next Jimmy Allen.
c. You might be the elder’s wife that is such an encouragement, that because of just that many people continue to walk down the path of faith.
d. God has great things in mind for you.
B. Your training is waiting on you.
1. The church offers training
2. God offers training
3. But first you must have a good relationship with your commanding officer
C. He has called each and everyone of us to "come follow me."
1. Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
2. Acts 2:36-38 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Conclusion:
I. Our country is indebted to the men and women who put their lives on the line for freedom.
A. (Applaud those who have served in the military)
B. Today, what are you going to do to honor these men.
1. I hope it is at least a simple thank you
2. Go the next mile, and give your life in total commitment to the Great General and Lord Jesus Christ
II. Philippians 3:17-21 "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
A. If your citizenship is in Heaven, come and sign up for the Lord’s Army
B. We are at war and souls are in danger.
C. Come join the fight.
**A Special thanks to the contributors of SermonCentral Pro. A few illustrations were amended from their database.
