Behind Enemy Lines

November 6, 2011
Morning Worship

Text: Genesis 14:1-24
Subject: Recovering What is Lost
Title: Behind Enemy Lines


Today we celebrate Veterans’ Day and I want to give my personal thanks to all who have served in our military forces. Thank you for your willingness to serve and place yourselves in harm’s way so that we may live lives that are free.

One of the things that amazes me about our military is the camaraderie that is formed when troops remain together and learn to fight side-by-side. I know that there is an unstated policy among our soldiers that really touches me. I said it is unstated, but what I mean is that is doesn’t have to be commanded – it is something that our troops just do. What I am talking about is the willingness of soldiers to go into harms way to rescue a wounded comrade or even a fallen comrade.

It is stated in the Army Rangers Code. Let me read that code to you.

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.
Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.
Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

Go back and reread the last part of the fifth paragraph. … I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy…

I want you to remember that as we look at a story from the Old Testament that follows along these same lines. God does not want His fallen soldiers left behind to fall into the hands of the enemy.

Let’s look at a short list of those God has rescued. Noah and his family, Moses, Gideon, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, and Paul…

I’m not going to read the whole passage today, but we will tell the story as we go along.

Lord, I believe this is your word…
I believe all of it…
I believe it is for me…
I accept it as mine…
And I appropriate it to my life right now…
In Jesus’ name…

I. GOD CARES ABOUT ALL HIS PEOPLE…In our story today we see that there had been continual conflict among the peoples of that area, and that now, five kings had gone into battle against four others, Starting in verse 10, 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings