It Is Not Time To Retreat

ISAIAH 60:1-3 “IT IS NOT TIME TO RETREAT”

A) Saturday is Veteran’s Day and we want to honor all those who

have served in the armed forces today.

* If you are serving or have ever served in the Army, Navy, Marines,

Air Force, or Coast Guard, please stand.

* If you have an immediate family member who is serving or has ever

served in any branch of the military, please stand.

LET’S SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THESE

A) We thank all those who fought and are still fighting for

our national freedom.

* Thank you for loving this land so much that you are willing to die

for it – We honor you and appreciate you and celebrate you today.

B) There are some people who have been disappointed by the

outcome of this past presidential election.

* We are not called to respond in anger or disgust ... We are called

to do what we have been called to do for over 2000 years.

C) I have a good idea ... Since Saturday is Veteran’s Day, let all

of us enlist or reenlist in the ARMY OF THE LORD.

* Let’s all become veterans for Jesus.

* Well what are we to do when we enlist or reenlist in the

Army of the Lord?

D) First: We are to preach the gospel.

* God has called on each and every one of us to preach the gospel.

* The phrase “preach the gospel” is found 11 times in the Scriptures.

E) Here is the command of Jesus – Mark 16:15 “And he said

unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach .......”

* Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is .......” (Isa. 61:1-2)

* 1 Cor. 9:16 “For though I preach the gospel, I have .......”

* 1 Cor. 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to .......”

F) Second: We are to contend for the faith.

* Jude 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write .......”

* The Greek word for contend is “agonizomai” (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee)

and means, “to fight” and has the idea of fighting to defend the faith.

G) Do everything in our power to fight to defend the faith.

* Eph. 4:5 ....... We all know that there is only “one faith.”

* And if there’s only one, we must defend it.

H) Third: We are to stand up for biblical values.

* 2 Thess. 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions

which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

* God wants us to shine “The Light” in the darkness.

I) Under Reagan, George Bush, and George W. Bush there

still was no prayer in schools, and abortion was still legal.

* Then Obama came along, now men can marry men and women

can marry women. (Most leaders of our nation are evil)

* Yes our situation in this country may be worse now, but that

should cause us even more to rise up and stand up for Christ.

LOOK AT OUR TEXT AGAIN IN Isaiah 60:1-3 .......

A) I’ve got to admit that our nation is not what it used to be.

* Do you remember when we were growing up? ... Baby Boomers days

were a whole lot different that the millennials today.

B) We played outside ... We didn’t have video games on our TV.

* What are some things you remember when you were growing up

compared to this day and time?

C) This whole world today is a real mess.

* There’s a lot of opposition against the truth, the Bible, and everything

that is right – I have never seen it as bad as it is today.

* However, the stronger the opposition, the greater the opportunity

for God to do something supernatural.

D) Listen, no matter what the plight of this nation .......

* God will raise up Daniels and Joshuas and Esthers and Jeremiahs

and Nehemiahs and Pauls and Ruths and Lydias.

* I’m talking about men and women who make a difference.

E) “But Preacher, I don’t think where I’m at in my life

right now is right.”

* Well let me say something to encourage you – Listen carefully.

F) Where you may be in your life right now may not be right,

but what God did when He saved you will always be right.

* And at any time, you can come to God and make things right

in your life – The choice is yours.

G) I want to give you a couple of things – I call them “keys”

to not quitting and giving up .......

(1) HERE IS KEY #1 – DO NOT FEAR

A) The word “fear” is found 400 times in the Bible.

* However, the phrase “fear not” is found 63 times out of those 400.