What it takes to be a Veteran

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4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, smake full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 timothy 4:

2 Timothy 4:1–8 NKJV

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Websters dictionary provides multiple entires as to the meaning of what it to be a veteran.

First and foremost, a veteran is one that has served in a military force. Today, we take time to honor those among that has served in the military. Whatever branch of the military that you may have served in, we say thank you!

The second definition of what it means to be a veteran, is one that has gained experience through a long period of service in a given practice or profession.

It if from that definition that we might all agree that among the New Testament heroes of faith, there is no greater example of a veteran than the Apostle Paul.

If the definition of a veteran is one that has much experience from giving themselves to a long period of service, we would be hard pressed to find a more perfect example than he.

In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul provides a summarized list of some of the experiences he has endured during his time in ministry.

2 Corinthians 11:24–28 ESV

24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

2 Corinthians 11:24–31 ESV

2 Corinthians 11:24–29 NKJV

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

2 corinthians 11:24-

And so it is that as the Veteran prepares for his departure from service, writing in the final chapter of his final letter…2 timothy chapter 4, Paul addresses his son in the Gospel Timothy with a charge…A charge that is void of flowery words and frivolous conversation. It is in fact a concentration of essential disciplines and devotions that must be adhered to for Timothy and those that he preaches to, to also obtain the status of veteran. It should be the goal and the desire of every believer and follower of Jesus Christ to be obtain veteran status. To be able to look back one day and declare that we too made it. That we had what it takes to endure the storms that came to shake faith. We were able to persevere the winds of doubt and the waves of fear.

2 Corinthians 11

I believe that it is within the charge given to Timothy that Paul points to 3 qualifying factors that made him eligible for veteran status: And it is from these 3 points that I want to charge this congregation gathered, to strive for veteran status in our walk with God.

Veteran Status: What does it take to be a Veteran

I have fought a good fight

We used to sing a song:

C. Im a soldier in the army of the Lord

I’m a soldier in the ar-ar-my

Im a soldier in the army of the Lord

I’m a soldier int he ar-ar-my

1. I’ve got my war clothes on

In the army of the Lord

I’ve got my war clothes on

In the ar-ar-my

2. I will fight until I die

In the army of the Lord

I will fight until I die

In the ar-ar-my

In todays religious culture the emphasis has been shifted from that of being a solider to now we are kings and queens.

most have taken this view from Revelation chapter 1 vs. 6 which states:

Revelation 1:6 KJV 1900

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

However, a more in depth study of this phrase would render it “him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests.

A fulfilment of where God promised that he would make Israel a kingdom.

Exodus 19:6 NKJV

6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

And an affirmation of Pauls writing to the church at Colosse in

Colossians 1:13–14 NKJV

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Colossians 1:3 NKJV

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

There is a fundamental difference between how I approach my walk with God depending on wether I see myself as a king or a soldier.

- If I’m a king, I expect others to fight for me

If I’m a soldier, I realize that I was born for the battle.

- If I’m a king, my authority is in my title

If I am a soldier, my authority is in my fight.

Make no mistake...We shall rule and reign with him

- But before we can rule and reign with him as kings

We must first fight as soldiers.

This is why Ephesians chapter 6 advises that we put on the whole armor of God:

Kings and Queens are entitled their role.

Kings and Queens

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.

Im a soldier in the army of the Lord!

What it takes to be a veteran!

—>

Today, we take time to honor the heroes that paid the ultimate price. It would do us well to make the 70 minute drive to Arlington National Cemetery and honor those that paid the ultimate price. We honor those whose bodies lined the beaches of Normandy and the fields of Gettysburg.

Every veteran has taken the oath

But the fact is that every veteran in this room today swore the same oath as each of those brave soldiers swore.

“I [state your full name], Do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God (optional).”

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of (STATE NAME) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of (STATE NAME) and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.

Every veteran in this room today has this much in common…they all swore an oath to support and defend this nation.

While the 172 acres that make up the Normandy American cemetery and memorial and not far from here, the Arlington National cemetery commemorate the lives of those that were called upon to uphold that oath with their lives…every veteran swore to do the same if called upon to do so.

Many of the veterans in this room, thankfully were never called upon to serve in combat…but everyone of them had to be willing to.

If you are going to obtain Veteran Status, you are going to have to be willing to fight!

As Paul stated to Timothy in “I have fought a good fight”.

If you are going to be a veteran, you must have a fight in you!

I have finished my course

Every veteran must be able to fight!

I like the progression of Pauls statements in vs. 7

I have fought A GOOD FIGHT

finished MY COURSE

kept THE FAITH

I want you to know that the fight is not specific to you. You aren’t the only one fighting a fight. You aren’t the only one wrestling with doubt. You aren’t the only one dealing with fear.

This is one of the enemies greatest tactics…to get you to believe you are the only one under attack. You’re the only one dealing with doubt and facing fear...

No…we are all fighting a fight.

But the second qualification of a veteran is that you must finish your course.

this statement that is used by Paul is speaking of a particular path or a mission.

A veteran in the Kingdom of God is one that is pursuing the path and the mission that God has designed for them.

Think of the singular missions throughout the history of our country that contributed to the victories and liberties, though each of them peculiar and unique in their own way.

Paul Revere who at midnight rode from Boston to Lexington alerting officers of the colonial malitia’s that the British were coming.

George Washington, who crossed the icy Delaware River at Midnight, taking the British by surprise.

Desmond Doss, an army corporal who received the medal of honor for heroically saving nearly 100 lives in spite of being injured himself. During combat he suffered a left arm fracture from a sniper's bullet and at one point had seventeen pieces of shrapnel embedded in his body.

the hundreds of American soldiers who perhaps made it no further than a few steps onto the beaches of normandy…but without their sacrifice the battle never would have been done.

Or even the mechanic who tightened the bolt on the jet, which enabled the pilot to safely fly in and out of danger and complete his mission.

None of these two missions are the same, but each contributed to the freedom that we have today!

The Kingdom of God is much the same. it is dependent upon veterans that are concerned with their mission.

Wether it was the Apostle stephen who was stoned to death in 36 AD, for preaching Jesus to the Jews

William Tyndale was burned at the stake in 1526 for translating the Bible into English.

or you, the faithful child of God that seeks the Lord daily to discover your purpose in the kingdom of God.

I don’t know what your mission is…but a veteran is concerned with their mission.

But NOT ONLY does Paul state the existence of this particular path and mission…but he declares that he has finished his course.

Vs. 5 Endure affliction —> do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.

If you are going to finish your course, you are going to have to endure affliction.

The Amplified bible states that phrase from vs. 4 this way [Accept and suffer unflichingly every hardship]

Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” This definition explains that any individual that completed a service for any branch of armed forces classifies as a veteran as long as they were not dishonorably discharged.

A veteran is one that is as concerned with how they finish as they are with the how they run!

There are no style points in this race!

it doesn’t matter how quickly you come out of the starting blocks...

I want to finish well!

I have kept the faith

it is a good fight

It is my course

But it is THE FAITH

we all fight the fight

We each have our own course

But there is only one faith!

The Greek word for faith that is there is the word Pistis and it is speaking of a persuasion…or what we would identify as “truth”.

The Amplified Bible says it this way I have firmly held the faith!

the third qualification of a veteran is that you can’t fumble the faith!

You have to have a good grip on faith!

In the NFL there are championships that have been lost all because one player fumbled at a key moment in the game.

Defenses devote times in practice at perfecting tactics to knock the ball lose from the runner.

You need to know that the enemy is intent on causing you to fumble! To decide that truth is unimportant!

- The most important thing that we carry is not our family name. its not an inheritance that we will hand to our children…inheritance of wealth or possessions…it is truth!

God…give us a love for truth!

CLOSING: There are great benefits for Veteran Status: Mortgage assistance, small-business support, Death benefits, life insurance, education assistance as well as many other very valuable programs and opportunities afforded to those that have Veteran Status.

But Paul lists the benefit of Veteran Status in the kingdom of God: vs. 8

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

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