Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful
Revelation 19:11-16
November 7, 2004
Veterans Day Message
Introduction
The United States Marine Corps have an interesting motto; Semper Fidelis or Semper Fi for short. This Latin phrase literally means always faithful. The motto is meant to exemplify the characteristics of sacrifice and service. It means that the marines will place their duty to their unit, to their corps and to their country ahead of their own personal needs.
Semper Fi is a wonderful illustration of the character of Jesus and the way that He exemplifies these same kinds of traits for us as believers. If you have your bibles with you open them to Revelation 19:11-16.
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.
I. Jesus exemplifies Semper Fidelis (11)
Jesus is faithful: The Greek word for faithful means to be completely trusted or to be relied upon to complete required duties. Jesus has been both. The Father trusted Jesus to come into this world and live a sinless life and then He relied on Jesus to die on the cross as the atonement for sin. We can place our trust in Jesus because He is the one who died the death we rightfully deserved and He proved His power through an empty tomb.
The selflessness of Jesus reveals that He is always faithful
Jesus is true:
Coca cola had a slogan several years ago that said Coke was the real thing. When this word true is used to describe Jesus it basically is saying that Jesus is the real thing. The word true means to find genuine or to see as real.
World Jesus
Fiction Fact
Counterfeit Genuine
Imaginary Real
Simulation Substance
Uncertainty Clarity
Insecure Security
Weak Strength
The character of Jesus reveals that He is always faithful
II. Jesus exemplifies sacrifice (12-13)
Our history is filled with the sacrifice of those who have given their lives for the preservation of the freedoms that we so richly enjoy. One such event is the battle of Gettysburg, one of the costliest of the entire Civil War. I have had the previledge of standing on that great battlefield and seeing just where that history making battle took place.
Even more impressive than the battlefield is the cemetery where the fallen union soldiers were buried. I stood in the spot where that cemetery was dedicated and the speech that was given there signifies the depth of sacrifice given to win the battle.
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting & proper that we should do this.
"But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living & dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here.
"It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, & that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." (Gettysburg Address as quoted from Encarta Encycolpedia)
This dedication was given so we would not forget the sacrifice of those there on the fields surrounding Gettysburg. We must never forget the sacrifice of the soldiers at Valley Forge, the Aragone campaign of WWI, Omaha beach, Normandy, Iwo Jima, the Makong, Hamburger Hill, Desert Storm, Afganistan, and most recently Iraq. Jesus understands and exemplifies sacrifice. (adapted from several sermon central messages on Veteran’s Day)
Jesus humbled Himself
Jesus gave up a great deal to come to earth and live out His life. Jesus gave up being infinite to become finite. Jesus gave up being praised by the angels to become scorned by humanity. Jesus gave up being glorified in heaven to walk in the grime of earth. Jesus became everything He was not so that you could become everything that He is.
Jesus was exalted for His humility
Jesus was born for the simple reason that He would die for the sins of humanity. God gave Jesus special honor because of His great humility with a name that is above all names. This means that Jesus has been exalted to the highest place and position in all creation because of His sacrifice
The sacrifice of Jesus reveals that He is always faithful
Jesus will return with all authority
Jesus will wear many crowns as a sign of His supreme authority and will reveal the power given to Him because of His personal sacrifice. The death of Jesus on the cross gives Him the right to rule over all the nations of the earth.
The authority of Jesus reveals that He is always faithful
III. Jesus exemplifies service (14-15)
Jesus serves heaven
Jesus is vividly revealed as the leader of heavens armies. He rides the white horse as a symbol of the victory He has already won and as a proclamation of the victory He promises to win over evil when He returns. When Jesus comes back He will lead the hosts of heaven into battle against the forces of evil that Satan has gathered. It could easily be said that Jesus is the commander in chief of heaven sent by God the Father.
The service of Jesus reveals that He is always faithful
Jesus serves the plan of the Father
1. The weapon of Jesus
When Jesus returns His weapon will not actually be a sword or any other form of brute force. Jesus comes with the power of God’s word. In verse 13, Jesus is called the Word of God. It is important to remember that Jesus revealed His power many times through just speaking. There were several times that Jesus revealed His power to heal just by speaking. Jesus was able to silence and stop demons with just a word. Jesus was able to show His power over nature by commanding the winds to cease. The simple truth is this, when Jesus speaks His power is revealed for all to see.
Why should His return be any different?
When Jesus returns the only weapon He will need is the Word of God. All Jesus will need to do is speak and His enemies will be defeated and destroyed.
2. The rule of Jesus
Jesus is described here as ruling with an iron scepter which at first glance seems a bit out of character for Jesus. Our minds see an iron scepter as a symbol of cruelty and dictatorship but that was not the understanding of the ancient day. The iron scepter was not a symbol of royalty like a scepter we might see in the hand of kings. The iron scepter was actually a weapon, a massive iron club that was used by a king to crush the enemy. The iron scepter is a symbol of power. The crowns that Jesus wears are a sign of His authority and the scepter is a sign of His absolute power.
3. The fury of God
Jesus will tread the winepress of God’s fury. The imagery here is that of a winepress, which would have been a common tool used in the ancient world. The winepress was used following the harvesting of grapes and the press was used to extract the juice from the grapes. The grapes would be placed in the press and then those grapes would be crushed to force the juice out of them. The image of the winepress is one that reveals the power of Jesus because He is going to crush the enemies of God and force them from this world.
The power of Jesus reveals that He is always faithful
IV. Jesus exemplifies sovereignty (16)
Jesus will be the King of kings
When Jesus returns he will be given two titles revealed in this one phrase. The first is that Jesus will be given the place of King of kings; this means that He will have rule over all the earth. It is a title that describes majesty over all places. It is a title of position.
Jesus will be the Lord of lords
Jesus also is given the title Lord of lords. This is a different title because it describes His mastery over all people. It is a title of personal surrender.
The sovereignty of Jesus proves He is always faithful.
Conclusion
Jesus is worthy of your trust
Jesus has never broken a promise and He never will
Jesus is reliable
Jesus is always there for us when we need Him
Jesus is faithful
Jesus proves it through His selflessness, His character, His sacrifice, His authority, His service, His power and His sovereignty.
Are you willing to stand in the faithfulness of the King?
