We Were Soldiers Series
Soldiers Are Prepared For Battle (1 of 3)
2 Timothy 2:1-4
March 23, 2003 Chester First Baptist Church, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Spkr.
Introduction:
A (Enlist 3 to 5 veterans (one having battle experience preferably*) who are willing to be interviewed for the opening.)
Questions: (Thank veterans for serving, Congregation applauds, ask for them to introduce themselves and which branch they served in.)
1. Where did you go for basic training? How long were you there?
2. What was the most difficult thing about basic?
3. What was the greatest thing you took from basic?
4. What could you do to please your commanding officers?
5. *Where were you when you found out you would for sure going into battle? How did you feel?
6. *What were you trained to do to help win the war? What was your job?
7. *How would you describe your training to go into battle? Where you ready to fight?
8. *What would have happened if you didn’t perform well or you wouldn’t have been trained thoroughly?
"Thank you gentlemen for serving your country and helping us understand how important it is to be prepared for battle."
*Congregation Applauds
B This morning we will begin a three part series (We Were Soldiers). The first caveat in this series is "Soldiers Are Prepared For Battle."
a 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.
b (ETS:) "Paul (a highly decorated veteran) gave advice to Timothy (a buck private) on how to please their commanding officer."
C (ESS:) "We can please our C.O. by concentrating on carrying out His orders."
a Objective: "I hope you’ll pursue the mission of inviting three people to service next week."
b Probing Question: How prepared/ready are you for battle?
T.S.: Let’s look at two indicators that show we’re ready for battle.
*Pray. *After "amen" begin clip of basic training clip for first point
CLIP:
(Fox News, "We Were Soldiers" 9:12-11:45, "An Officer And A Gentleman", etc.)
*Read from FM-25-101, Battle Focused Training
"Training is the Army’s top priority; it prepares us to fight. As leaders, our sacred responsibility is to ensure that no soldier ever dies in combat because that soldier was not properly trained.
"Training is the cornerstone of readiness and the basis for credible deterrence and capable defense. Training prepares soldiers, leaders, and units to fight and win in war-The Army’s basic mission."
Training is the Army’s top priority and don’t you forget it!"
-General Carl E. Vuono
Forward of Army Field Manual 25-101, Battle Focused Training
To be successful in combat, the Army must train continually to develop and maintain combat-ready soldiers... -FM 25-101, Battle Focused Training, 1-1
I The first indicator that your ready for battle is....YOU HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED.
A Clip/ FM 25-101, Battle Focused Training
B Jesus spent 3 years training His disciples to go into battle.
a * He drilled them on the Word by keeping it in front of them.
*JN 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
He challenged them to confront the enemy.
*(Matthew 16:18)And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
He commissioned them to serve as a team.
MT 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
MK 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
b Upon completion of their basic training, the disciples were ready for the world. (They had the right gear, knowledge and training)
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
C Today, good soldiers of Christ Jesus are properly trained to go into battle.
[8] For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
a Many of you have been enlisted in the Lord’s Army for a long time.
(Heard hundreds of sermons, S.S. Lessons, preachers, read the bible several times over.) VETERAN SOLDIER..well trained!!!
**One of the purposes of our church is to make disciples/good Soldiers
*Some of us are newer, just beginning our service to the Lord. (Privates)
Both, veteran & private, are essential to the battle we are engaged in...we all carry the same gear into battle...we all have to have the same knowledge/training to use it.
b Bring out back pack with this gear packed inside (First Aid Kit, Compass, Canteen, Ammo Clips/Army Issued Gideon Bible, Situation Report)
*Have these verses taped to each item...First Aid (Rev. 21:4), Compass (Ps. 5:8), & the Canteen (Jn. 4:13-15)., Ammo (2 Cor. 10:3,4), Bible (Heb. 4:12), Situation Report (Matt. 28:18-20)
*Bring out items in this order, reading the verse as I show it to the congregation.
[4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4
PS 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies--make straight your way before me.
John 4:13-15 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [15] The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
Ammo (2 Cor. 10:3,4)
[3] For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:3/4
Jesus teaches us about our ammo in our weapon in Luke 4:1-13.
aa He’s been fasting for 40 days on a desert training exercise when the devil comes to ambush Him with operation I’m Gonna Get You Sucker.
*Turn this stone into a loaf of bread. *Jesus fires of a patriot missile.
[3] He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deut. 8:3
*Took him to an elevated trajectory and said all this can be yours if you serve/worship me.
*Jesus fires another missile at him.
DT 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
*Takes him to the top of the First Church in Jerusalem, and says "Jump, the angels will not let you touch the rocks below."
DT 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah
bb The reason Jesus was able to fight off the ambush was He knew His weapon. (Bring Out Bible) *HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
*How do you keep your weapon sharp and battle ready?
(Read it (Mom are you ever going to finish that book?), memorize key passages, go to Sunday School, Thursday night men’s prayer group, take notes during the preaching....)
*You’ll be prepared when the enemy ambushes you because you’ve been trained!
T.S.: Another piece of gear is our situation report (bring it out of bag), which contain the next indicator that your ready for battle.
II The second indicator that your ready for battle is..YOU KNOW YOUR MISSION.
A Our Commanding Officer has given us our Mission. (Matt. 28:18-20)
[18] Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:18/20
a It’s a difficult mission. [16] I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matt. 10:16
b It’s an impossible battle if we try to fight in our own strength/power.
[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
B In 1937, this Church signed up to ride with the Lord in His Army.
(We weren’t welcomed in to this town. Legend has it that our founding fathers dug the basement during the day and that night, people who didn’t want this church in this town would fill the hole back up with dirt.)
*Sheep among the wolves.
LK 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? [29] For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, [30] saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’
*These men/women counted the cost and were willing to pay it because the mission had to be accomplished. "Yes, Lord we will ride with you."
*66 years later we are still riding!!!
C Are you filling mission you signed up for, enlisted for, joined for?
*An interesting thing.......In the N.T. I could only find two animals Jesus ever rode or will ride.
1 In Matt. 2:1-7, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Zech 9:9 KJV
*He road into Jerusalem, went to the church/temple and ran the money changers out.
2 The second place I Jesus riding is in Rev. 19:11-16
REV 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. [13] He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. [14] The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
*In Matthew, Jesus is in Jerusalem on the ass entering the town as a King. In Revelation he’s entering the world as a warrior with the ARMIES of Heaven.
*Many of us are more than willing to ride with Jesus into Jerusalem on the back of gentle donkey to the sounds of worship. However, many of us are less willing to ride with Jesus on a mighty steed to sounds of war.
*We’ve not been invited to ride the gentle donkey into the church, we HAVE been invited/commissioned to ride the war horse into battle.
(Get off the.......donkey and get on the horse, soldier!)
C General H. Norman Schwarzkopf became a very popular man after the Gulf War. He published a book, It Doesn’t Take a Hero, and was on the cover of Newsweek. He has toured the country giving lectures on leadership and has shared eleven principles that guided him to victory in the Persian Gulf. Principle number five is: "No repainting the flagpole." He says, "Make sure all the work your people are doing is essential to the organization." Church work can become just another coat of paint on the old pole if we’re not careful. For this reason we should do as Rick Warren advocates: "A great commitment to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment will make a great Christian and a great church."
Conclusion:
We can please our Commanding officer by concentrating on carrying out His orders.
We’ve looked at two indicators that show we’re ready for battle:
A. You have been properly trained.
B. You know your mission.
I hope you’ll pursue your mission by inviting three people to service next week.
A Take out card....read it with them.
B Two options. Stay on the donkey....get on the horse.
How prepared are you for battle?
A man and woman got married and were involved in a car wreck on the way to their honeymoon suite. Car crashed, he carried his hemorrhaging up to the road and saw a sign that said "Dr. Stephenson, Family Practice 1/4 Mile", He carried his wife to the house, Sign said "Dr. Stephenson". The Dr. came to the door, "I know longer practice." Dr. if your not going to practice...please take your sign done. People, if your not to going to practice...let’s take our sign down.
a Think of 3 people who need God, encouraged, challenged...right’em down.
b How prepared are you for battle?
Pray
***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
