"We Were Soldiers"
Soldiers Never Leave A Man Behind (3 of 3)
Deut. 2:24-36 April 6, 2003 FBC, Chester, IL Mike Fogerson Speaker
Introduction:
I The first command that God has given us is to go to war.
A God told Israel to pick a fight. (vv:24)
2:24 "Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.
a After God had given a clear declaration of war, Moses tried diplomacy. (vv:26-28a)
26 From the desert of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon offering peace and saying, [27] "Let us pass through your country. We will stay on the main road; we will not turn aside to the right or to the left. [28] Sell us food to eat and water to drink for their price in silver. Only let us pass through on foot--
*Compromise over courage
b Because Israel refused to go in to battle, God sent the battle to Israel. (v:32)
DT 2:32 When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz,
*God gave His Army complete Victory!! (vv:33-34a, 36)
[33] the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army. [34] At that time we took all his towns and completely destroyed them...[36] From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the gorge, even as far as Gilead, not one town was too strong for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them.
B FBC has been called to go to war from her Commanding officer! (Eph. 6:12-13)
[12] 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. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph. 6:12/13
a We are fighting the devil and the demons of hell for the heart & soul for every man, woman, child, & home in Chester.
(The enemy is at the gate, the flood waters are rising and it’s up to us to turn the tide!)
b For years now the church as been so careful not to offend people, muddy the waters, cause waves, be low key...those days are over!!!
*The time for diplomacy has ended, it’s time to put on our armor and take to the battle field.
C Many of us are in war/battle, but it’s with people who are sitting in the same pews we are. (That’s a tactic of the enemy. Divide and Conquer. Makes us ineffective as unit/church)
a If a tiger fights a lion, the tiger will win every time. If 10 tigers fight 10 lions, the lions win every time. WHY? Because the tigers will fight as individual tigers, the lions will battle together as a pride!
b Many of us have been warring for a long time, but it’s been against each other. We’ve had friendly fire in our churches for a long time. It’s time stop fighting like tigers and begin fighting as lions!!!!!
T.S.: Be aware that in every battle there will be those who take a hit from enemy fire.
[2] In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-4)
II The second command that God has given us to never leave a man behind.
A Jesus deployed His troops into hostile territory. (Luke 10:3, Jn. 15:19)[3]
Luke 10:3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
a He promised to stay with His troops.
[6] Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6
[5] No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you Josh. 1:5
because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Heb. 13:5b
*God doesn’t break a promise
NU 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
b Rev. 17:14
"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
*Those who ride with the Lamb with are going to be alright!
*He’s coming back to receive his own to himself because Jesus never leaves a man behind!!!
B Video of "Never Leave A Man Behind"
C God desires for us to rescue the perishing, care for the dying, comfort the grieving, seek the lost.....DON’T LEAVE A MAN BEHIND!!!
a We are God’s special forces on this battle field.
*We’ve been commissioned for "search and rescue." We let people die when we grow content to "sit and relax."
b What happens if we don’t "seek & rescue?"
*The enemy keeps the captured.
*We disobey our commanding officer..2TI 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [2] And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. [3] Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [4] No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer.
Conclusion:
God gave His people, Israel, complete victory. (ETS) God is giving His people, FBC, complete victory.
A We’ve looked at two command that our commanding officer has given us.
a God has commanded us to go to war.
b God has commanded us to never leave a man behind.
B I want you leave this service knowing the only thing that prevent FBC from victory.
a Can the devil stop this church from advancing the Kingdom? (No.)
Can the world stop this church from advancing the Kingdom? (No.)
Can politicians stop this church from advancing the Kingdom? (No.)
b God has told us that the victory is ours. He will give us the battle.
*The only thing that can stop of Church of Jesus Christ is....the Church of Jesus Christ.
NOTHING CAN STOP US BUT US.
During the fiftieth anniversary of D-Day in 1994, one documentary featured a very unique sequence of interviews. The commentators spoke with two men who were a part of the Normandy invasion in 1944. One was a soldier who fought on the ground. Reflecting back on that time he said, "I was convinced there was no way we could possibly win." The other interview involved a pilot who saw things much differently from his vantage point in the air. He said, "I was convinced there was no way we could possibly lose." From our limited view on earth we are often tempted to become discouraged and defeated, but God’s omniscient take on life reminds us the victory is sure (Revelation 21–21).
C What’s stopping you from stepping on to the battlefield?
a They are known as the forty martyrs of Sebaste. In the famed Twelfth Legion of Rome’s imperial army there were forty soldiers who professed their faith in Jesus Christ. One day their captain informed them that Emperor Licinius had sent out an edict commanding all soldiers to offer a sacrifice to pagan gods. These Christian warriors said, "You can have our armor and even our bodies, but our hearts’ allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ." Because of their stance they were marched onto a frozen lake in the midwinter of A.D. 320 and stripped of their clothes. At any time they could renounce Christ and be spared from death. Instead, they huddled close together and sang their song of victory, "Forty martyrs for Christ." That freezing night saw thirty nine men fall to their icy graves. When there was but one man left he stumbled to the shore and renounced Christ. The officer in charge of guarding these men had secretly come to believe in Christ. He then replaced the man who had broken rank and walked out onto the ice. He threw off his clothes and confessed his faith in Christ. At sunrise the Roman soldiers found forty men who gave their all for the cause of Christ.
b *When Jesus found you, you were wounded/freezing/blooded/and dying..he brought you life. What’s stopping you from stepping on to the battlefield?
***Notice: I have used Sermon Central sermons for a very long time. If this or any of my sermons are similar to a sermon that is currently already on Sermon Central by another pastor or teacher.....chances are I have used it. Actually, there is probably absolutely nothing in this sermon that hasn’t been preached before! If I used your sermon and haven’t given you credit, please write me and I’ll give you credit by name. I have in no way intentionally withheld credit to any work I’ve used/borrowed from. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF I HAVE "USED" YOUR WORK IT WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD A SUPER SERMON! I prefer to preach with an outline and just rearranged your sermon. My intent is to make sermons relevant and easy for outline guys to use. If you use MY work, feel free to claim it. I do not care!!! Simply realize that I have borrowed from other preachers, too.
Mike Fogerson, Pastor, Chester’s First Baptist Church
