“ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS”
Eph. 6:10
A person is saved without any effort whatsoever on his part. However, once a person is saved, he finds that he is in a battle. He has three big enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Every man, woman, boy, and girl who is saved needs to learn to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
If the secret of security and peace is a strong military, the church is in trouble. Most churches look more like a cemetery than they do a training camp for soldiers.
GOD HAS AN ADVERSARY. Satan resists what God is doing. He denies what God is saying. Anything God is for, Satan is against, and vice versa.
GOD HAS AN ARMY. Every Christian should be a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). He should be aware of the battle, awake during the conflict, adaptable to the terrain, abiding through the years, aggressive in his movements, and armed to the teeth! Speaking of which ...
GOD HAS ARMOR. The parts of the armor are listed in Eph. 6:10- 18. Satan’s desire is to disarm him of that weapon at all costs!
GOD HAS AN AIM. The goal in this battle is to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, free the captives who are willing to be saved, frustrate the work of Satan, and form a body of believers who will glorify God through a saintly walk and Spirit-filled witnessing.
The weakness of the average church with regard to being a fighting unit is displayed by:
1. Her lack of men - The men they do have resemble women. They style and spray their hair. "REAL men do not wear queer-rings and necklaces!"
2. Her resistance to strong leadership - Most churches have little respect for God’s chain of command in the local church. They are run by the young people, who run the mothers, who run the fathers, who run the preacher. God’s churches should be overseen by a God-called, God-appointed pastor, whose leadership is followed and back up by godly men who will lead their wives and children after them.
3. Her lack of Christian warfare music. The average church today that is able to maintain a crowd of any size is saturated with either rock music (called Contemporary Christian Music). Many churches rarely sing, "When the Battle’s Over," "Onward Chrsitian Soldiers," "The Fight Is On," " "Sound the Battle Cry," ""Am I a Soldier of the Cross," "Faith is the Victory or "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus."
I. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS ENLISTMENT
1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
A. He needs to be converted
I believe this evening that we could classify people in one of three groups. Civilians, soldiers, and good soldiers.
B. He needs to be concerned
C. He needs to be in a church
Sergeant checking roll before battle.
Smith He overslept this morning.
Jones He has really been busy with decorating the barracks.
Matthews His son had a baseball game.
O’Brian He’s been at the last 10 battles and he felt he needed a rest so he wouldn’t get burned out.
Brown He was getting tired of the lectures from the sergeant.
Henderson He decided to start his own platoon.
How many battles would this army win?
The Pastor said tohim, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!"
My friend replied, "I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor."
Pastor questioned, "How come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter?"
He whispered back, "I’m in the secret service."
D. He needs to be courageous
II. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS EQUIPMENT
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
A. Help in standing - Truth girding about the loins
B. Heart covering - Breastplate of righteousness
C. Handheld shield - Faith
D. Head covering - Helmet of salvation
E. Handheld weapon - Sword of the Spirit
III. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS EXPERTISE WITH HIS WEAPON
Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
Our one offensive weapon in the whole armor of God is the Bible!
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
M-1611 is Heavy Authorized Artillery!
A. This comes from an enjoyment of the weapon
B. This comes from an examination of the weapon
C. This comes from exercising with the weapon
D. This comes from experience with the weapon
IV. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS ENDURANCE
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
A. He needs to endure weariness
B. He needs to endure wounds
1. "Oh, it’s just a nick."
2. "Oh, it’s just a flesh wound." Amen. :-)
3. "Oh, it’s clean. Went right through!" (Heb. 4:12)
C. He needs to endure wimpy Christians
1. Don’t let a Christian who gets his feelings hurt and leaves discourage you!
2. Don’t get discouraged by some Christian who doesn’t have the strength to come to church. YOU do right!
We must “Hold the Fort," for our families! For our Future! For the Faith!
V. A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST NEEDS ENTHUSIASM
2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
1 Samuel 17:48-49 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
A Christian should be more enthusiastic for the things of Christ than for the things of the world. A person who "dresses up" for some event of the world shows how important it is to him. If he does that and doesn’t dress up for church and soul-winning visitation, it shows how UNimportant the Lord is to him.
A. There should be enthusiasm in the pulpit
1. We preachers have the living word of the living God in our hands!
2. We have the answer to man’s questions!
3. We have the solution to man’s problems!
The preacher asked a member to wake up the person beside him. He answered, "YOU put him to sleep, Preacher! YOU wake him up!"
B. There should be enthusiasm in the pew
1. Some people think themselves dignified, when they are actually PETRIFIED.
2. Some are determined to be dignified and dead!
3. Some Christians will encourage an athlete in a competition, but they won’t give a "holy grunt" or "amen" at church.
4. Say, "Amen!" "Praise the Lord!" "Glory to God!"
5. Listen with enthusiasm! Get a grip! Worship God!
