Marching Forward
New Year's Eve • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Marching Forward
Marching Forward
(The militant Christian everyone needs you to be)
Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Introduction
You have made a lot of decisions this past year. Some that brought you closer to God and others added a greater divide. I am speaking to the Christian soldier here. There are also some (the unbeliever) whom God has been pursuing to guide to spiritual freedom that only His grace can give. He has been guiding you to repent from your sin and confess to Him a trusting faith alone in His Son; Jesus Christ.
Now, what is behind you cannot be reached, recovered or erased. That is the consistent nature of the past. However, you can, you must, reflect on those many moments and then project forward in a better way.
Have you ever considered yourself as a militant person? I mean, have you ever considered the Christian life you are now to live by God’s grace to be approached as a solider in battle? If not, that is exactly what it is. It will remain that until Jesus settles everything by the power of His Word.
The regrets and mistakes of the past all come from the lack of a militant attitude. You see, a real solider will never be selfish, will remain focused on the objectives given, trusts all that have been given to equip them for the task at hand, and will march with the attitude of their life being a sacrifice for the greater good.
YOU dear Christian should and must be that soldier!!! I want you to leave today with the encouragement needed to be the militant Christian solider your marriage, children, friends, the lost and this church needs you to be.
This take before me is large, but I want to accomplish it be giving you some summarizations of 2 Timothy. This letter to written from a graduating veteran to a newly recruit.
1) Faith, Unashamed & Loyal to God
1) Faith, Unashamed & Loyal to God
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
(v6) Know your gift and never belittle it — STIR IT UP!
(v7) Militantly reject fear!
The Spirit has given you Power, Love and Soundness of Mind.
(v9) Your salvation came from God’s heart and provided through Jesus Christ.
(v8, 12) The knowledge of your salvation should remove any shame in your heart.
(v12) Never lose confidence in God.
(v13) Your loyalty to the faith is powered by faith in Christ and love for Christ.
(v15) There are never good reasons to walk away.
(v16-17) Seek out those who need refreshing.
2) The Militant Christian Leader
2) The Militant Christian Leader
Chapter 2 — You are chosen to be a soldier!
Chapter 2 — You are chosen to be a soldier!
(v1) Strengthen yourself!
(v2) Train those God has placed under your care.
(v4) Reject any and all distractions (Good soldier)
(v5) The glorious reward only come to those who submit to Divine instruction.
(v10) Endure all things — NOT EXCUSES! The mission is too great and our time time too short.
(v14) Don’t waste times investing your life in things that bring not eternal profit.
(v20-21) You must decide the vessel you are going to be.
(v26) Those whom the Devil have snared NEED YOU!
3) Times Are And Continue To Be Perilous
3) Times Are And Continue To Be Perilous
Chapter 3 — You will never outrun the culture…FACE IT!
Chapter 3 — You will never outrun the culture…FACE IT!
(v1) The condition created around you due to the hearts of people will never make it easy or convenient to follow God’s leadership.
There are some people who’s influence you need to distance yourself from.
You will always have to respond to those who resist your message.
(v10-12) Always remember, God never fails to provide deliverance.
(v10) Learn from those who have experienced life longer than you.
(v14) Continue in applying truth in spite of outward persecution.
(v16) God’s Word is the power you need to break through your calloused and pride filled heart.
(v17) Remind yourself why you need God’s Word daily in your life.
4) Always Be Accessible For God’s Purposes
4) Always Be Accessible For God’s Purposes
Chapter 4 — In ever season of life
Chapter 4 — In ever season of life
Nothing makes you more ready than to maintain a healthy diet of God’s Word
It is God’s Word’s that you and others need the most.
What preceded making “full proof of your ministry?”
Pray for self-control (“watch”)
Endure the painful moments of life.
Why was this Paul’s encouragement?
Notice verses 16-18