Battlefield Covenant
Covenant For Life • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsGod's covenant love and Holy Spirit enable us to face any battle with confidence and determination
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Introduction
Th U.S. has a long history of brave heroes: from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, through WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other intense conflicts throughout our history.
When soldiers stand together on the field of battle, they develop a kinship like no other — band of brothers. They take an oath to defend their country from all enemies. What is an oath? A covenant! When young soldiers find themselves on the battlefield, you can rest assured — they often face serious fear and uncertainty. But they stand together and face the enemy.
There are so many heart-breaking, yet inspiring stories, from the battlefield. I won’t take time to tell a lot of stories…there are too many to choose from. I am sure, that for all the stories we’ve heard about, there are a thousand more that history did not record.
Let’s look at just one story today — the story of Desmond Doss
Desmond Doss Video
Desmond Doss understood it was only by the miraculous hand of God that he was able to save those men. Using his story we can make the connection, with a little imagination, to the fact that followers of Christ are indeed soldiers, fighting a real battle. It can be scary and discouraging at times, but we must remember one very important truth...
God's covenant love and Holy Spirit enable us to face any battle with confidence and determination
The Bible records many examples of soldiers and battles - some actual soldiers on the battlefield, others soldiers by virtue of their commitment to God and His people (Moses, the Prophets, ordinary people). I have placed them in a couple broad categories: soldiers of the King and soldiers of the Cross. In fact, beyond Scripture, history has produced many more soldiers of the King and the Cross, to this very day.
We will definitely face battlefields — the question is, for which side will we fight?
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10
Ephesians 6:
PRAYER
God's covenant love and Holy Spirit enable us to face any battle with confidence and determination
Transition: David is a good example - God surrounded him with loyal men that were willing to take on any fight for their King and their people
Soldiers of The King (-39)
Soldiers of The King (-39)
David, long before he was king, while he was on the run from Saul — gained a following of people that threw their lot in with Him. They helped him to survive while he was on the run. They loved David and followed him with great loyalty. It was from among those people that David’s mighty men began to emerge. In , near the end of David’s life, we are given a summary of the exploits of David’s mighty men.
The Three
The Three
Josheb-basshebeth
Killed 800 men in one battle with a spear
Eleazar
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“At your service,” he replied.
The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
“Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”
When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maakah with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob.
On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maakah were by themselves in the open country.
Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”
Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped. Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River; they went to Helam, with Shobak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobak the commander of their army, and he died there. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them.
So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
2 Samuel 2
Shammah
2 Samuel 9-
Also stood against the Philistines when the rest of the troops left. He stayed to fight them on his own — in the middle of a lentil field (a.k.a “the battle of the bean field” - jk)
Together the three valiantly risked their lives to get David a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem
Together they valiantly risked their lives to get David a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem
They heard him saying, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem”
They broke through the Philistine lines - got the water and safely brought it back to David
Even though David wasn’t king yet, they followed him as though he were the king and they continued to follow him when he finally did become king.
The Thirty
The Thirty
Abishai
Killed 300 Philistines with his sword — become famous
Benaiah
He is referred to as a valiant fighter - performed great exploits
Struck down two of Moab’s best men
He went down into a pit with a lion on a snowy day — He came out, the lion didn’t
He killed an Egyptian giant — about 7 feet tall (5 cubits - )
The Egyptian had an enormous spear — Benaiah has a small club
He snatched the club from the Egyptian and kills him with his own spear
He was given charge of David’s guard (secret service)
Eventually he became commander of all the military under Solomon
Eventually he became commander of all the military under Solomon
Many others - up to 39, actually - it fluctuated as battles were fought
Application
Application
Our King isn’t David…it is King Jesus
God’s covenant love for His people motivated Him to empower His people to accomplish impossible things
Another one killing 800
Breaking through enemy lines like it was hot butter
God’s covenant love for His people motivated Him to empower His people to accomplish impossible things
Our King isn’t David…it is King Jesus
What are you willing to face on His behalf?
What are you willing to face on behalf of His people?
The battle isn’t on it’s way…somewhere on the horizon. It is here. It is now. Are you willing to be a soldier of the King of Kings?
He will empower you to accomplish “impossible” things…and win great victories for His glory
Transitional: I can tell you that when you accept Jesus and choose to follow Him, you became a soldier of the King and a soldier of the Cross of Christ
Soldiers of the Cross
Soldiers of the Cross
Then and there
In the New Testament
The Disciples
The early Church
Paul
Barnabas
Timothy
Titus
Aquila & Priscilla (missionary couple - lived, worked, and travelled with Paul)
Lydia (Philippi)
Countless, unnamed committed soldiers of the Cross
Martyrs and heroes of the faith in Palestine, Asia Minor, Rome, and points beyond
The centuries following the New Testament
Too many to name
Many missionaries from the very beginning
Martin Luther
John Wesley
Hulda Buntain
50 years ministering among the poor in Calcutta India
Calcutta Mercy continues the ministry - feed, educate, help with medical needs, etc.
Jim Elliot
Philip James Elliot was one of five missionaries killed (in 1956) while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador.
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose
Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God
Billy Graham
Here and now
Here and now
Martyrs all around the world — every day
Live Dead — Missionaries in Muslim countries where the Gospel is not welcome
But they go…and live among the people, working, teaching, just making relationships
Dream Centers
Slave trafficking rescue and follow-up operations
Convoy of Hope
The Blatchleys
We could go on and on
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Listen friends - God is a covenant God - He keeps His promises because of His boundless love for each one of us.
When we observe the history of God’s work and how he uses flawed, extremely human people to route the enemy in battle, there is no way to deny His sovereign hand at work. The only way to explain these things is that it was by His power…His miracles…His protection, empowerment, provision, and deliverance.
The message of Jesus is alive and well — because people in the body of Christ are willing to become soldiers of the King and the Cross — willing to risk it all, even their lives, to stay in the battle, one victory at a time.
Challenge
This battle includes all who have surrendered their lives to Christ as Lord and Savior - it’s not just for missionaries, pastors, or people that lead a wide range of outreach to the lost (addicts, slaves, homeless, victims)
We all have our place in the King’s army —
How can we make any progress in bringing the light of Christ’s love to a world where the enemy has his claws dug in so deeply?
We are partners in God’s covenant -
His faithfulness and undaunted love will enable each of us to face the battles with confidence and determination
Confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain, empower, and guide
Confidence in the message of the Gospel - the message of hope for all people
Jesus loves all the children of the world — red, and yellow, black and white
He is not willing that any should perish
He has chosen to use you and you and you…to be His ambassadors and messengers..His solders on a covenant battlefield
You might ask...
How can I be a soldier of the Cross when my own personal battles take up all my energy and focus?
Whatever battles you face, God is more than able to bring light and hope to the situation
Whatever they are, God is more than able to bring light and hope to the situation
As participants in God’s covenant of love for you…you must do your part to gain victory
KEEP THE FAITH - by hiding God’s Word in your heart
Meditate on it — digest it — Act on it --- BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE GRACE OF GOD
Act on it
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
How can the Body of Christ be an effective army of the Cross when we have so many problems?
We fight and quarrel and have bad attitudes towards one another at times
We are often wishy-washy in our commitment (to giving, serving, faithfulness in general
Take advantage of the gifts God has given
Be disciples - followers of His teaching
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Be alert and ready for whatever might come your way
Fear not!
The islands have seen it and fear;
the ends of the earth tremble.
They approach and come forward;
they help each other
and say to their companions, “Be strong!”
The metalworker encourages the goldsmith,
and the one who smooths with the hammer
spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.
“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear not!
We have weapons and armor
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
We have weapons and armor
We have weapons and armor
We have the Holy Spirit to empower, comfort, lead and guide
LEARN TO YIELD TO WHAT THE SPIRIT IS DOING IN AND THROUGH YOU
We have one another
We are all members of one body - with Christ as the head
Every member is equally important - but we must take our lead from Christ the King