We’re looking for a few good men…
The U.S. Marines Corp has always prided itself on being the most elite military group of the country also on being the smallest. Their motto is “The few, the proud, the Marines”. They believe that a few well trained men can make a huge difference in the course of a war. This however is not a concept original to the Marines, actually God had taught Gideon this lesson over 3000 years ago (Judges 7:2-8). The military depend on their training to save their lives and the lives of others in a war time situation. In the same way that the Marines are the pride of the U.S. Armed Forces you are the few the chosen, the pride of the church. You are the men of God who have been called to lead His people. I am convinced that if we commit to being trained in righteousness we can save our souls and the souls of many who today are entrenched in the front lines of a war much more tenacious than the world can imagine the war to determine the final destiny of our souls.
Revelation 12:7-12
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
We’re at war…
Many people deny that we are at war… they reduce it to something of little importance or mask it with kinder gentler labels, but the effects go much deeper than the facade that we try to protect with such vigor. Changing the name of war does not change the reality of war. In 1965 the U.S. government tried to lessen their level of participation in the successes between North Korea, South Korea and Cambodia, tagging the situation as a “conflict”. After ten years of combat and more than 58,000 U.S. casualties it was obvious that this was no simple conflict, but rather a war, a war that was being lost miserably. A glance at the statistics is more than enough to realize that we too are at war today in America: 1) One of every two marriages ends in divorce. 2) In 1960 1 of every 10 homes was maintained by a woman. In 1986 the stat had rose to 1 in 6. 3) We could fill several sports stadiums with the children who will prostitute themselves tonight to finance their drug addiction. 4) This year a million unwed teenagers will result pregnant, half of them will abort their babies. 5) Of all the 14 year old girls that exist today 40% will become pregnant before they reach 19. 6) 60% of children have tried drugs before graduating from High School. 7) Every 78 seconds a teenager tries to commit suicide in the U.S. Yes, the war is real… the casualties are real… and today more than ever before me need MEN who are willing to dress the full armor of God and fight alongside God’s people until we all celebrate the victory of the Lamb before the throne of our God. If we are to see this victory it will cost no less than our Blood, Sweat and Tears.
1. Blood
Hebrews 9:11-14
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Here the Hebrews writer does a magnificent job of contrasting the old system with Christ. As High Priest, Jesus:
- ENTERED not the earthly sanctuary but Heaven
- OFFERED not the blood of animals but His own blood
- OBTAINED not temporary covering but eternal redemption for us
It is the blood of Christ that has cleansed us, transformed us and readied us for the battle. In order for the Lord’s church to be victorious we must be deeply motivated by God’s grace.
v.14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Brothers let us cleanse our consciences and turn wholeheartedly to the task of serving the Lord. We will not be successful if we are halfhearted or only superficially committed (Share the example of a missionary on the San Salvador mission team… He was talented and a hard worker, but his double life halted his own productivity and stunted the church’s growth until it was dealt with).
2. Sweat
Luke 22:44-46
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Many times as we read this scripture we look at Jesus’ struggle with aligning his will with that of his father, but if we look at John 17 it seems that he spent more time praying for his disciples and for us that for himself. These were not prayers of self pity but rather prayers of self sacrifice. He prayed for our unity and the impact that we would have on this dark world. We must become faithful prayer warriors. If we are going to build the church prayer must cease to be an afterthought in our ministry. It is not simply something we do to fill up time in our worship services. It must be the very center of everything that we do as Christians. So many disciples go into the world daily without putting their lives into God’s hands. It would be like a soldier who goes to battle with his gun but never puts bullets in it. It has the appearance of being a useful weapon, but lacks any true power.
3. Tears
Psalm 126:1-6
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
This is my all time favorite scripture. I can remember finding encouragement in its words at so many times in my life. It is so easy to forget what God has done in our lives and become negative and crippled spiritually.
At many points in my life I’ve wanted to come back singing songs of joy, but I’ve avoided the sowing in tears.
My grandfather was a farmer and I can remember him praying for the crops on many occasions, but not once did he pray for a crop that he didn’t plant. Could you imagine… “God, I know that I should have sown, but it was nice spending the past few months relaxing… I don’t deserve it but would you bless me with a bountiful harvest.” It just doesn’t make sense.
But how many times do we pray for spiritual fruit without having sown the Word in the hearts of others. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard good hearted Christians say I just want to be a light so that others will ask to follow me. In my 18 years as a Christian not once has anyone been converted on the strength of my example alone. We need to get out and sew some seed!
4. Victory
Three days after assuming the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons to look for support as Britain was in the troughs of WWII…
“I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs — Victory in spite of all terror — Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.”
-Winston Churchill May 13, 1940-
Truly without victory there is no survival…
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
So tonight let us stand firm, determined, purposeful.
Let us be grateful and devoted.
Let us put on the full armor of God as we thrust ourselves into battle confident in our victory though our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
