Gtcotr/ss11/10/13
Would
you turn to 2 Timothy 2
Tomorrow,
November 11th, much of the world will celebrate their soldiers. Many
countries will observe Armistice Day while others Remembrance Day while in the
Unites States, it will be Veterans Day.
According
to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, there are approximately 23 million Veterans
of the US Armed Forces currently living in the United States. A little less
than 10% of these US Veterans are female while more than 90% are male. In
addition to those veterans there are another 2.3 million men and women
currently serving in the military branches of our great nation.
Since
1776 more than 48 million men and women have served in our country’s military. The
last US Veteran to have served in WWI was US Army Corporal Frank Woodruff
Buckles.
“Corporal
Wood Buckles”, a Missouri boy, went to his heavenly reward in Feb of 2011 at
110 years old. Surely he must have honored his father and mother to have lived
so long. Today there are approximately 1.4 million Veterans of WWII still
living in the US; 2.3 million Korean War Veterans; 5.6 million from the Gulf
War; 6.2 million peace-time Veterans; while the largest segment of the Veteran
population is the 7.5 million from the Vietnam War.
Almost
10 million, or nearly half of all of our valued Veterans are over the age of
65. And, approximately 50% of those Veterans over 65 live in one of three
states: California, Florida or the Great Republic of Texas.
In
country after country, city, town and village alike, from France to Great
Britain, from Australia to the Americas, tomorrow will bring the remembrance of
that faithful day when At the 11th Hour on
the 11th Day of the 11th Month in 1918 the Germans signed
the Armistice bringing an end to World War I.
HAVE ALL VETERANS PRESENT STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED
May
God bless each and every Veteran of our US and Allied Armed Forces for their
service to the cause of freedom. The many Veterans around us are examples of
service and citizenship and each one is a living reminder that freedom is not
free.
Concerning Veterans we must account that when the question was
asked, “Who will give their life for this nation?” Each one got up and took
their place in the line. (Points to Ponder)
When
I volunteered to serve in the US Military, like all other new recruits, I was
sent to boot camp and entered a basic military training that taught me what was
expected of me in the defense of my nation’s decided best interests.
I
raised my right hand and swore with an oath to protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic so
help me God. Furthermore I was supplied a military handbook and told to open
that book to The Code of Conduct. Then the meanest, loudest, most serious man I
ever heard got right in my face and in no uncertain terms told me what service
to my country required.
The
Code of Conduct spoke to me and struck a chord of patriotism in my life that
was deeper than I ever imagined. Whatever it was that moved me, has never
stopped moving me. I am still that man pledged to defend the constitution of
the United States of America. I made that commitment because it was already in
me. But, I didn’t make it until somebody else, whose passion had already been
sparked, lit my fire and challenged me to keep it burning. Here is that Code of
Conduct.
US
Military
The Code
of Conduct
I
I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and
our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
II
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will
never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to
resist.
III
If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I
will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept
neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
IV
If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow
prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be
harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will
obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in
every way.
V
When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to
give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering
further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written
statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
VI
I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom,
responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my
country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
I
re-read this on occasion and while reading it this week and considering why it
still spoke to me so deeply, once again I recognized the power of a commitment
and the opportunity that comes when someone simply tells us what is expected of
us and challenges us to commit. So, I took a few minutes and wrote a COTR Code
of Conduct and just before we turn to our scriptures for this morning, allow me
to challenge you to ignite the passion within you for a cause greater than
yourself, a cause worth your life.
Church On The Rock
Code of Conduct
I
I am a Believer in Jesus Christ, serving in the forces which spread the
Gospel and Eternal Life. I am prepared to live my life in their defense.
II
I will never sin of my own free will. I will never lead, abandon or
entice others to sin or fall short of the glory of God.
III
If I am tempted, I will continue to resist by all means available. I
will make every effort to escape, and to aid others in escaping, the snares of
the devil. I will not accept compromise in my own life nor receive the increase
or favor it promises.
IV
If I sin, I will repent, accept forgiveness and continue in faith
with my fellow Believers. I will not be critical, judgmental, sow discord nor
take up a reproach against my brothers and sisters in Christ. If I am
rightfully placed in a senior leadership role, I will take command. If not, I
will obey those who have the rule over me, who speak the Word of God, and I
will follow their faith and back them up in every way.
V
When questioned concerning my faith, I am required to speak the
truth in love. I will avoid answering questions which gender strife to the
utmost of my ability. I will loyally proclaim the Word of God and am determined
to know nothing save Christ and Him crucified.
VI
I will never forget that I am a Christian soldier, fighting for the
souls of men, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the truth which sets
men free. I will trust in my Savior and in the Body of Christ which is the
Church of the Living God.
I
challenge you to commit. Light the fire and keep it burning.
Let’s
begin reading from Paul’s second letter to Timothy.
2 Timothy 2 NKJV
1 You therefore, my son, be
strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you
have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will
be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No one engaged in warfare
entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him
who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 And also if anyone competes
in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hard-working farmer
must be first to partake of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, and
may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Commentary:
v.1
· You = direct and non
ambiguous confrontation
· my son – God sent
His only Son on a mission to a foreign land and He died accomplishing His
Father’s command. Paul could do no better and wish no more than his son follow
that example.
· be strong = a
warning and a calling to commit beyond comfort
· be strong in the
grace – admonition and direction to depend on Christ and His unmerited favor
and blessing – it will be bigger than you … you will need God on your side for
this
v.2
· you have heard from
me = Paul was diligent to train his son
· commit = instill in
others what I have instilled in you
· to faithful men =
not able men not the richest, smartest, best looking
· who will be able =
God makes the faithful able, He does not make the able faithful … faithfulness
is the choice of every individual – God however, can easily make men able
whether they are smart or not
· to teach other also
– so that the process of discipleship continues to every generation, on
purpose, with a plan, to teach what was taught.
v.3
· You therefore must =
nothing short of a requirement
· endure hardship = it
won’t always be safe, easy, or personally profitable … if it gets hard or
costly, bear up under it and endure, persevere, carryon, continue, persist,
keep going and don’t give up
· as a good soldier =
these things are simple and already easily understood by good soldiers … now be
a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
v.4
· No one engaged in
warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life = every soldier clearly
understands this as well, I think everyone else understands this as the correct
perspective of a soldier … I just don’t think many Christian Believers think of
themselves as soldiers of the cross … but evidently Paul did!
· that he may please
him who enlisted him as a soldier = either pleasing Jesus or else and even also
the one whom God has provided to shepherd, teach, disciple, guard, guide and
lead us. Every regimen has a structure, a hierarchy, a command – and so does
the Kingdom of Christ. Many complimentary scriptures encourage this thought.
v.5
· competes in
athletics = if you prefer an athletic analogy … we, even as soldiers, are
competing for a prize on this field of service.
· according to the
rules = there are rules that govern our commitment and either increase or limit
our potential for success
v.6
· hard-working farmer
= perhaps you prefer an agricultural analogy … notice Paul chose a hard working
farmer who cares for the field and crop all year long instead of the
barely-get-by approach of the slothful farmer
· first to partake –
providing of course that he is that chosen example of the “hard-working”
farmer. The hard-working farmer is rewarded for following the rules. The
slothful is not first or best or longest.
v.7
· Consider what I say
= just think clearly, openly and honestly without protest or a guarded position
…meditate on these truths
· the Lord give you
understanding in all things = if you will meditate on and grasps the simple
truths contained in the principles I have just given you, it will help you to
receive revelation from Christ in every other area of life.
BTW,
the word “Veteran” comes from the Latin, “Vetus”, which means old or
experienced. I believe Paul was a Veteran in the Army of the Lord. Today I
leave you with a challenge to commit your life to Christ as a good soldier of
the cross. Pledge yourself with passion and follow the rules.
