Memorial Day

Morning worship

I you would, please take your Bible and turn to John chapter 15 and we will begin with verse 13 in just a moment.

In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi, after decorating graves of her two sons who died representing their beloved south-land, an elderly woman walked to two mounds of dirt at the corner of the cemetery to place memorial flowers there also. “What are you doing?” friends shouted, “Those are the graves of two union soldiers.”

Softly that compassionate mother said, “I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours.”

That loving deed set in motion our celebration which has become known as Memorial Day. We honor the war dead once a year, but their sacrifice is evident every single day of the year! Today, we want to honor the memory of all those who have sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom. Those thousands of sacrificed lives were not given in vain!

It is because of their sacrifice, we are free today and have the right to assemble ourselves together and worship our God. Think of the numbers of those who died to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today: • Revolutionary War 25,324 • Civil War 498,332 • World War I 116,710 • World War II 407,316 • Korean War 54,546 • Vietnam War 58, 098 • First Gulf War 293 • Iraq War 819

* Afghanistan 3609

Today, I do not want to diminish the sacrifice and service of those men and women who have served our nation so faithfully and so valiantly, but I want to talk about one great Soldier. This great Soldier stepped onto a harsh battlefield one day. He took up arms and entered the fight knowing that it would cost Him everything. This Soldier bravely entered that battlefield and won a great victory, but at a terrible price. This Great Soldier gave His life, not for a single nation, but for all humanity. His was not a life given in vain, but the sacrifice of His life served to set free the captives of sin. For the child of God, Every Day Is Memorial Day. We need to remember the sacrifice of Heaven’s Greatest Soldier. Today, let us remember a man named Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us all. The verse before us today is probably and ancient hymn of the early church. In its six short stanzas, it tells us all about the Gospel of grace. I would like to look at this brief, but powerful song. I want to share three great blessings that are made plain through its words. Let’s look at this verse together and as we do, I want to tell you why I say that Every Day Is Memorial Day.

Ephesians 3:20-21

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations [a]forever and ever. Amen.

Let’s pray.

Memorial Day is a day set aside each year on the last Monday of May. It is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It is a time in which we honor many of our nation’s heroes.

To live in a free society, you must understand that freedom isn’t free. A price for freedom has been paid. Men and women have put their lives on the line, and some have paid the ultimate price to give us our freedom and it is for remembering those that we have a national holiday for. We as a nation should be overly grateful and not take those freedoms for granted nor give them up so easily.

As much as we appreciate those who in service served as Heroes, God too is looking to the church for His heroes. True heroes of the faith. Those who are committed to righteousness over religion.

When we think of heroes of the faith. We think of Billy Graham, John Piper, D.L. Moody, and folks like them.  But do you want to know something exciting?

Everyone here can be a hero…one of God’s heroes. A hero of the faith to someone. This morning I would like to share with you what it takes to be a true hero, a Christian hero. You don’t have to have super strengths or abilities you just need Jesus.

Let’s read our passage one more time: Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20–21 NASB95

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Now, before God can use us and create us to be a hero, there are a few things that we must do. First, we must believe the Bible to be the Holy Word of God. From cover to cover with no error. If we can’t believe this, then there is no point moving forward. The Bible either is what it is, which is the Word of God the almighty, or it isn’t. It is either all true of none of it is true. It is what it is, or it is not.

Heroes of the faith know the Word of God to be true.

Today, many looked up to sport stars and athletes, movie stars and musicians as heroes. They are seen, as heroes because in many ways they do things that most of us can’t.

God’s heroes, the heroes of the Bible, were not men and women of extraordinary ability or talent but men and women of extraordinary faith. God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called!

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 NASB95

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

Listen to the way that the New Century Version puts it, “26 Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. 29 God did this so that no one can brag in his presence.”

In other words, everything that man has elevated to relevance is nothing when it comes to God. The greatest sports legend, the greatest minds, the greatest in this world are not even close to the greatness of God. In fact, to God, there is no comparison.

Heroes of the faith understand this. The heroes of the Bible all took God at His Word. Look at what it says about Abraham in Romans 4:18-20 "18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your [t]descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.” 

Hebrews 11:6 "6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

God’s heroes through faith come to the knowledge and understanding of who God really is through their growth in the intimate relationship with Him. They realize that it isn’t about religion, it is about righteousness and our obedience to doing it God’s way. It is about relationship and being so deep in the relationship that we will do everything in our power not to disappoint the Lord.

Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

Certainly, God can use a person of great intellect, but only as long as his faith is even greater than his intellect.

Some of the smartest book smart people are dumb as a rock sometimes.

Most would say, of course I believe in God’s Word.

Let me ask you this, how much time are you devoting to reading it, practicing it, or being obedient to it? How may commands are you breaking? How about that scripture that you have rationalized or twisted in a way as not to conflict with your lifestyle, or to justify your sin? So, are you really a person of the Word? Are you as James says in chapter 1, a doer of the Word and not just merely a hearer of the Word? Are you truly one of God’s heroes? It is not too late?

A Hero of the faith is submitted to God’s Will. I say submitted over committed because it means we are locked in and not just giving lip-service. In this time of N.I.L., how many times to we see a player commit to a school only to see them submit their letter of intent somewhere else?

Hebrews 11:13–14 NASB95

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

A hero of the faith understands that their life on earth is but temporary, and that during that short time on earth, choosing to be obedient to God and His Word is key to becoming a hero of the faith.

Joshua 24:15 NASB95

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Who can be God’s hero? Those who are willing to forsake their own will for the sake of God’s will.

Jesus demonstrated this in:

Matthew 26:39 “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.””

The Holy Spirit chooses the nobodies of the church and makes them somebodies when they are Submitted to God’s will in their lives.

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul that is on fire for God.

We are to be completely devoted to the will of God, to be and to do anything and everything He requires.

Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Pastor James S. Hewett once said, “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the kingdom of God on earth.”

Are you submitted to God’s Will? Not only submitted to following where He leads, but where He has already led?

It’s one thing to pray about a big decision and do God’s will, but it’s another thing to make sure you are doing what He has already commanded you to do in His Word!

Are you willing to allow God to make you a hero?

Heroes of the faith are devoted strictly to God’s Work.

James 2:18–22 NASB95

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

Matthew 23:11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”

There is a Norwegian Proverb that says’ A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.”

In Christ’s service the heroes are those who work until Christ says it’s time to stop.

Hebrews 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We may be the only Jesus some will see. Don’t let them see us, instead see Him. That takes total obedience.

Jesus is the ultimate hero...Who gave His life that we might live a life more abundant!

Are you ready to be a hero of the faith?

Let’s stand for prayer.