Onward, Christian Soldiers (3)

We are a salvation people – this is our speciality – getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within, which is finally perfected by the full salvation without, on the other side of the river. (General William Booth)

Why does TSA exist?/Purpose?/Why are you in/attend/work in TSA? / Clue: Name! / Salvation! / Are we? TSA/Corps. / Are we getting saved more and more? / Army! / At war: with sin in the world/our lives. / Are we still at war? / Are we working tirelessly to win the world for Jesus?/Storming the forts of darkness? / If not, then why are we here?

Do you ever wonder if there’s a future for TSA? /Yes or no = It depends. / Yes = chosen for a purpose = Salvation Army / Raised by God to get people saved and to wage war on sin and want. / Not finished yet - Still people to be saved/Sin and want to fight against. / No, unless we are prepared to do those things. / SA is God’s purpose for us/why he chose us:

Explanation (2m)

Chosen for a Purpose

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Early Church, not denomination/movement, but: chosen people/royal priesthood = set apart to serve others.

God’s special possession/ Chosen / God chose: W&CB/raise up TSA/you should be a part / Why? Not elite! / Israel/Church/TSA = chosen, not choice! = no grounds for pride / Not chosen because: Wise/Mighty/Noble / God chooses: Weak/Foolish/Despised / We are zeroes, not heroes! / Why choose TSA/you/me? - Because he loves us / G loves/chooses TSA / Raised it as a royal priesthood and a holy nation = God’s special possession.

Chosen/special possession = massive potential. / If we could see > fall to our knees in awe/run away in fear. / Founders believed they would win the world for Jesus. / Far-fetched?/Arrogant? / Possible, because with God it’s not impossible! / God has planned a great future for us, if only we would get on board.

Chosen for a purpose: To declare his praises/To tell everyone God’s story/To get people saved / TSA = Saved to Save / Primary purpose / Anything else = subordinate / Everything we do should be to accomplish that purpose.

Application (2m)

Convinced of our Calling

I see a God-raised, Spirit-filled Army for the 21st century - convinced of its calling, moving forward together into the world of the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed and lost, reaching them in love by all means with the transforming message of Jesus, bringing freedom, hope and life. (General Linda Bond)

Devil would love nothing more than for Salvationists to forget purpose/we exist to get people saved/that we are an Army not a church/what God has chosen and raised us for. / Be on your guard / TSA is an Army at war/enemy territory/enemy is on the look out for us/always ready to move in and take over.

Does that describe TSA today? / All efforts into getting people saved and waging war against the sin and the want that would prevent them? / That’s TSA I want to belong to/help lead. / Spirit-filled/Convinced of its calling, its purpose, its mission/Reaching out to the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed and lost/Reaching people in love with the transforming message of Jesus. / Onward, Christian Soldiers to fulfil purpose we are chosen: to declare God’s praises. / Let’s move forward together.

Next Steps

SB 980 - Soldiers of our God, arise!

Soldiers of our God, arise! The day is drawing nearer; Shake the slumber from your eyes, The light is growing clearer. Sit no longer idly by While the heedless millions die, Lift the bloodstained banner high And take the field for Jesus. Storm the forts of darkness, Bring them down, bring them down! Storm the forts of darkness, Bring them down, bring them down! Pull down the devil?s kingdom Where?er he holds dominion; Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down! Glory, honour to the Lamb, Praise and power to the Lamb, Glory, honour, praise and power, Be for ever to the Lamb! 2 See the brazen hosts of Hell, Their art and power employing, More than human tongue can tell, The blood-bought souls destroying. Hark! from ruin?s ghastly road Victims groan beneath their load; Forward, O ye sons of God, And dare or die for Jesus. 3 Warriors of the risen King, Great Army of salvation, Spread his fame, his praises sing And conquer every nation. Raise the glorious standard higher, Work for victory, never tire; Forward march with blood and fire And win the world for Jesus. Robert Johnson Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 980

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