Soldiers of Christ Arise #585

INTRODUCTION:

1. "Soldiers of Christ Arise"

A. The title of this song poses a question.

Does the Bible refer to Christians as soldiers? Yes

2 Timothy 2:3 NKJV

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

B. This poses another question.

What is a soldier? A person who serves in an army

C. The Israelites were God's soldiers during the Mosaic law.

1. They fought many battles.

2. They only lost battles when God was not with them.

A. Example: the battle with the Amalekites and Canaanites.

Numbers 14:39–45 NKJV

Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned!” And Moses said, “Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah.

3. As long as God was with them, they were alway victorious.

A. Example: the battle of Jericho.

Joshua 5:13–6:2 NKJV

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. 1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

D. This poses another question.

1. In one example, they were victorious and in the other, they were defeated.

What is the difference in these two examples? In the battle of Jericho, they fought as the Army of the Lord.

2. Jesus was the Commander of the Battle of Jericho.

A. This man had to be Deity, because worship was offered and not refused.

Joshua 5:14 NKJV

14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

1. Cornelius fell down and worshiped Peter, and Peter rebuked him.

Acts 10:25–26 NKJV

25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

2. John fell down at the feet of an angel to worship, and the angel rebuked him.

Revelation 19:10 NKJV

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 22:9 NKJV

9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

B. This man had to be Deity because of what He required of Joshua.

Joshua 5:15 NKJV

15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

1. This is said by God in only one other place.

Exodus 3:3–5 NKJV

3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” 4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

C. This man had to be Deity, because there is only One who is holy.

1 Samuel 2:2 NKJV

2 “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.

E. This poses one more question.

Does God still have an army in which Christ is Commander? Yes

1. Christ is King

John 12:15 NKJV

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

A. We fight in the spiritual war against Satan.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For 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.

B. Our King is a Spiritual King.

John 18:36 NKJV

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

C. He has called us to war.

Are you ready for battle?

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

BODY:

1. "SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ARISE."

A. The call to arms sounds forth.

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

B. The enemy is approaching.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

C. Hurry, no time to lose; let's get ready for battle; arise and take a stand!

Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

2. "AND PUT YOUR ARMOR ON."

Ephesians 6:11 NKJV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

A. Don the Armor of God.

1. Put on the belt of truth.

2. Put on the breastplate of righteousness.

3. Put on the shoes of the gospel of peace.

4. Take the shield of faith.

5. Put on the helmet of salvation.

Ephesians 6:14–17 NKJV

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

3. "STRONG IN THE STRENGTH WHICH GOD SUPPLIES."

A. Now that you have the armor on, fear nothing.

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

B. Be strong and courageous.

Joshua 1:7 NKJV

7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

4. THRO' HIS BELOVED SON.

A. The strength to conquer only comes by Christ.

Romans 8:37 NKJV

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

CONCLUSION:

Romans 8:31 NKJV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1. Let us sing this as a battle cry with passion.

A. Calling our brothers and sisters to ARISE!