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Are You Fit For Service? Introduction: A.
Veterans
Day – 1. History a) June 4, 1926 – Congress - Armistace Day b) May 13, 1938 – Congress - Legal holiday called Armistace Day c) June 1, 1954 – Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclamation - November 11 as Veterans Day 2. Veterans Day is intended: a) To thank living veterans for their service, b) To acknowledge that their contributions to national security are appreciated, and c) To emphasize that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. 3. We honor all living veterans today, from all wars. 4. Today
we honor all veterans, but I would like to honor one especially – my father, a) My Dad and Mom are members of what Tom Brokaw has called, “The Greatest Generation”. b) One
Sunday in 1941, (1) At the
“Brush Arbor Meeting” (2) On c) After
one week of marriage, (1) In May
of 1943, (2) They filled the swimming pool on the top deck with their duffle bags! (3) d) (1) While in
(2) The
center was at (3) e) On
(1) He worked in a medical unit field hospital (Today we know them as MASH units). (2) Isigny was the first stop for the unit, then St. Lo. (3) There he met Brig. General Ewart G. Plank, commander of Advance Section Headquarters. (4) One
month after D-Day, ADSEC gobbled up all the medical units and (5) They
stayed from two to eight miles behind the front lines and when the front
moved, they moved to be within the (6) Many of the stations they set up were in captured German hospitals and barracks that the Germans had used. f) The
last five weeks of the war (1) They stayed in a WWI cavalry base which had been converted by the Germans into a mechanized unit. (2) From the
time he entered the service until he returned to the g) While
(1) She
moved to (2) The
Colonial Bakery was on (3) Mary
thought nothing of walking home 2 miles on (4) Soon she moved in with a girl she worked with at the Colonial Bakery. h) Later
Mary worked at McGee Laundry and Cleaners on (1) She made $20/week and had no trouble paying her rent and buying her food with her wages. (2) At the
urging of Papaw Cooksey she saved all of the $50/month she received as part
of (3) This
made a nice nest egg for when i) (1) He sailed on a “banana boat” with 1900 men on a trip that took 14 days, 9 days of which were through storms! (2) Everyone was sea-sick, but they were going home! (3) They
arrived in (a) (The
picture on the left was taken when j) After
returning home in 1945, (1) In
September of 1946, they moved back to (2) They
almost immediately moved into their first house at (3) Their first house cost $4300. k) Over
the following years, (1) Today (2) They have 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. (3) Among those, all their children and grandchildren and their spouses have college degrees except two (one is still in high school). (4) There are two doctorates, and two master’s degrees, and one grandson in medical school. (5) On B. War in 1. Today we are involved in a war that is different from all other wars we have fought in this country. a) The war has been going on for more than 4 years! b) Everyone wants this war to over! c) Liberals, Conservatives, Christians, Muslims, everyone! 2. Our young men and women are dying and we are all ready for it to be over. 3. The only question debated is how to best end the war! C. Why did these go to war? 1. Why are our young men and women dying today? a) There was a need. b) They were called to go and they answered that call. c) Evil forces had to be defeated and they knew that. d) They are defending freedom for us and for the entire world. e) And, they went because they were ready ‑ best trained and equipped army the world has ever known – f) You see, THEY ARE FIT FOR SERVICE! 2. We pray that the war will end soon! a) But
is the war over when the last shot is fired in b) I want us to look at the real war today ‑ and I have a question I want you to answer today! c) Turn
with me to I.
The
Call to War (Joel 3:9‑14) A.
It
Is a Holy War (Joel 3:9‑14) It is a Holy War we are fighting 1. Listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your heart! 2. Listen
to God's call for us to enter the battle in the 3. Each on of us stands in that place today ‑ Listen as God speaks to your heart today: 9 Proclaim this among
the nations: “Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war
draw near, Let them come up.10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”11
Assemble and come, all you nations, And gather together all around. Cause
Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord.12
“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the a) And the word translated ripe means over ripe ‑ way past time for the harvest ‑ God has given the lost of the world more than enough opportunity to respond! So he says to His hosts. 4. Does this sound like the world today? a) This is the state of our world today! b) This is the state of our country today! c) This is the state of many of our friends and loved ones today! 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 5. People, it is a Holy War we fight! a) We
are fighting an evil in b) We are fighting for those souls who are in the valley of decision ‑ for the day of the Lord is near! 6. But it is not our war! It’s the Lord’s war! B. It is a Spiritual War (2 Corinthians 10:3‑5;
1. A Spiritual War, more than we may ever know in these days! 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, a) It is a spiritual war and though we walk in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. b) The weapons we fight with are not all the weapons of the world. c) You see, the real weapons we use ‑ Prayer and the Word of God ‑ they have a divine power to demolish strongholds. d) They are mighty weapons ‑ the weapons of God Almighty! 2. Again, we see that it is a Spiritual War that we fight:Ephesians 6: 10-12 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. a) We see the real enemy is Satan ‑ and he is powerful! b) But! Praise God! c) 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. d) How
do you prepare for this war? - 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints e) You put on: (1) the belt of truth ‑ and what is Truth? a person ‑ Jesus Christ! (2) the breastplate of righteousness ‑ Jesus Christ is our righteousness (3) shoes prepared with the gospel of peace ‑ Jesus Christ is the gospel of peace (4) shield of faith ‑ Jesus is our shield and He is our faith! (5) helmet of salvation ‑ Jesus is our salvation and it is found in no other! f) Then we take up our weapons: (1) We take up the Sword of the Spirit ‑ the word of God ‑ and Jesus is the Word! (2) And then we pray! 3. But you know all this ‑ right! Many of you are in the thick of this war already! 4. So, what is my question for you today!? 5.
My question: ARE YOU FIT FOR SERVICE?
II.
Going
to War (Deuteronomy 20:1‑4) A.
"When
You Go To War" (Deuteronomy 20:1) 1“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 1. When! a) not if! b) If we are Christians, war will come! c) Jesus
says, in 20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. 2. Your Enemies a) It is a powerful, terrifying enemy that we face for most Christians ‑ Satan and the flesh and the world. b) But,
it is God Who saved you from the sin and bondage of c) And people, if God saved you, He didn't do it to leave you on your own! d) He didn't bring you this far to leave you! B. "When you go into battle"
(Deuteronomy 20:2-4) 2So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. 3And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 4for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ 1. When ‑ not If ‑ you go into battle! 2. We go into battle every day and sometimes we don't even know it! a) Who is our priest ‑ our High Priest? ‑ Jesus Christ! b) He wants to address us before we go into battle! Do you stop and listen to Him? 3. What happens when you do believe that it is God's battle? Let's look at some examples of those who did: a) b) c) d) 4. God fights the battles for us when we take up the sword of His word and pray! 5. But who does God call to serve in His battles? III.
Called
Into But who are called into battle? "Am I fit for service in God's Army?" A.
You
and Your Possessions (v. 5) 5“Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. 1. When your mind is on the things of this world ‑ your possessions ‑ you can not be fully committed to God! 2. Then you are not fit for service! B. You and Your Own Labors (v. 6) 6Also what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it. 1. When your mind is on the fruit of your own labor ‑ what you do, not what God does ‑ You can not be fully committed to God! 2. You aren't fit for service! C. You and Your Personal Relationships (v.
7) 7And what man is there who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.’ 1. When your mind is on your relationships with other people, you can't be fully committed to your relationship with God! 2. Let your relationship with others flow through your relationship with God! D. You and Your Faith (v. 8) 8“The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’ 1. These lack faith ‑ they do not believe! 2. They have been told in vv. 1‑4 by the high priest to not be afraid for the Lord goes with you, yet they do not believe! 3. They are not fit for service! E.
A
Wedding Feast (Luke 14:16‑23; 16Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’” 1. Jesus teaches parallels to our passage! 2. Excuses for not coming to the wedding feast! a) I just bought a piece of ground ‑ love of material possessions more than God! b) I just bought a yoke of oxen ‑ love of his own work/ways more than for God! c) I just got married ‑ relationship kept him away from God! d) And
some just fear the enemy, but as Paul tells Timothy in 3. Jesus
adds in 4. When you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you were both enlisted into the Lord’s army and invited to His wedding feast! 5. The reasons we give for being excused from each are the same! 6. Are you fit for service? |
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