Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful

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)