A Veteran for Christ?
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Opening prayer, dedication
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307 Send the Light (1,3,4)
You're Worthy of My Praise
Another in the Fire
Word of God - Liturgist
2 Timothy 2:1-13
Message: “Veteran for Christ?”
This is the third week in a row where we have had some type of special or thematic worship services
We had a special service on Baptism
We had a special service on the Apostles’ Creed and Communion of Saints
And today we have a special service about being a veteran
Next week we will return to our more typical services
Since I finished Galatians 5 three weeks ago
I will be continuing in Galatians 6 next week
With our constant goal of exposing the truth of God’s Word, one verse at a time
This past Thursday was Veterans’ Day
A day we set aside as a country to honor those who have served in any branch of the military
Because of their willingness, dedication, and sacrifice we enjoy tremendous freedom
We even have the “well exercised” freedom to complain
“Veterans Day is NOT a day specifically for those who gave their lives for their country
But for everyone who served in the military
Specifically, everyone who served and were discharged with anything more than dishonorable discharge
So, on Veterans’ Day we celebrated those who served in the military
and completed their service at a level of more than dishonorable
Speaking for myself and Grace Church, thank those who served
Thank you for being willing (even if drafted)
Thank you for helping to assure the freedom we have to worship freely
Thank you for what you have given up and were willing to give up for us
At the risk of, identifying myself as ‘old’, I want to start with a look at the definition of the word ‘veteran’
This is not a biblical word and I am ‘seasoned’ enough to still use the Webster dictionary
Definition of Veteran
a former member of the armed forces
an old soldier of long service
a person of long experience
With the simple definition of a veteran being a person of long experience, the title of this sermon is a bit more clear
“A Veteran for Christ?”
But what about he question mark?
Stay tuned
Our core text today is Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy
Written by Paul while in prison awaiting trial and execution in the mid-60’s
Paul is encouraging Timothy to persevere in the truth
Timothy was trying to lead the church in Ephesus through troubled waters
Timothy was trying to replace elders because their leadership wasn’t godly
He faced persecution from the Roman government
Much like church today
Battling those in the church who don’t want to live godly lives, wanting to follow the culture instead
Battling intrusion of government into what God has ordained
And Paul is trying to fully equip Timothy to carry out his work in this setting
Because Paul knew he would be killed soon
So, Paul called Timothy to use the gifts he was given by God to do the work requested by God
In fact, this is addressed the first two lines of our Purpose Statement for Grace Church
Purpose of Grace Church
1. Teach the Word of God
2. Practice and live the Word
3. Attract and lead the unsaved to Jesus Christ
4. Provide a safe place for sinners
Teach the Word of God and how to live out that word
Hebrews 13:7
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Then, encourage those he teaches to continue in truth
The story today began in 2 Timothy 2:1-2
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Every good preacher/teacher keeps their eye out for others who can be teachers as well
We call it “teach the teacher”
It’s a method of “multiplying”
We count on this weekly
When we teach and preach from the pulpit
you are expected to learn and then take that message out to others
That’s how the Word of God spreads
This work is not done for earthly gain or popularity
It is not easy or painless
Paul reminds us that we are to “suffer as a good soldier for Christ” in 2 Timothy 2:3.
Similar to 2 Timothy 1:8
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Every good soldier mus t be ready to suffer for the cause, for the mission
That’s why split loyalties are destructive
Paul called on Timothy to ENTRUST to faithful men the Word of God
So that a focus will remain on serving the “One who sent them”, meaning God
It was the Word of God, the sound doctrine taught by Paul
That was the treasure that was entrusted to Timothy
That is the treasure that is entrusted to each of us
Suffer, Focus, persevere for God’s purpose
In all things we do at Grace Church, we must do things according to what Paul wrote in the Book of Acts
We’v studied Acts in detail, but look at Acts 20:28
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
It is an absolute requirement that we live out Acts 20:28.
You may be thinking, that’s the pastor’s job
Which is true
I, along with the rest of the leadership
We all must live our Church lives, live our entire lives
Both understanding and demonstrating that the church belongs to God, not us
That we are entrusted with the truth of the full gospel
That we are each entrusted with the truth of the full gospel available to us
And we individually serve as soldiers for Christ to protect and promote God’s truth
True that the pastor and church leaders have a responsibility
The Congregation has a responsibility as well
The shepherd leads, but the flock must follow godly counsel as well
A large part of my job as your pastor is to pray for you
My prayers for you are much like Colossians 1:9-12
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
That’s how we pray for Soldiers of Jesus Christ
We don’t pray that there is no need for Jesus
We pray that Believers will become the soldiers needed to show the Goodness of Christ
That those who Believe will “grow in understanding of God’s will”
That they will “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” and “pleasing Him”
In other words,
I often pray for you that you will become “people who live out the Word of the Lord”
That you will use the training that I have provided you
Not because I am so good
But because Good and biblically sound training was given to me, so that I could provide it to you
As Paul continues in 2 Timothy 2:8-10 we are reminded of two key points for today
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
The most important phrase in in verse 10
We endure persecution as teachers and Believers because we give testimony to the power of Jesus
We give testimony so others may come to know Jesus
In the hope they will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
That’s right off our third item from the purpose statement at Grace
3. Attract and lead the unsaved to Jesus Christ
What is so clearly important for us in this particular time, though, is in verse 9
Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:9 [the teaching of Jesus]
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
Don’t for a minute believe that any government can keep God from doing what is in God’s will
No amount of pandemic, war or other restrictions will suppress the Word of God
But WE may be imprisoned, persecuted or killed
The Word of God and God’s Kingdom will prevail
What we have experience this past year amounts to a pruning
Some have drifted from practicing their faith
Some who are physically able to return to corporate worship have not yet returned
We pray for them just as we would a wounded soldier on the battlefield
We cannot deviate from the mission to which we are called
We must endure as in 2 Timothy 2:10-11
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
We must be “All-in” for our faith
Paul was clear with Timothy that knowing God is not the same as enduring with God
We are to live and die in Christ
Never denying Christ out rightly or by remaining quiet
always remaining faithful
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
We live in the culture, but our true citizenship is in heaven
We are visitors here
The One who sent us is the One we serve
Therefore, a Good Soldier for Christ remembers that he serves Jesus above all else
At the beginning of the service I gave a definition of a veteran as:
“being a person of long experience”
And I gave the title of the message as “A Veteran for Christ?” with a question mark at the end
For each of us, we must ask ourselves daily
Are we living a life worthy of the calling we received?
Are we really living a long life of serving Jesus and the Kingdom of God with all we do, say and post
If we are, then
Each of us can truly be known as “A Veteran for Christ!”
With an Explanation mark at the end
and a “Well done, my good and faithful servant” awaiting us
Amen
Closing Hymn/Invitation
Give Me Faith
Pastoral prayer/Benediction