THE CASUALTIES OF WAR EPHESIANS 6:10-12 II CORINTHIANS 10:2-6
This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend. But what does it mean?
For some it is a 3 day weekend
For some it is the start of Summer
For some it is a time for family & friends to get together and have a cookout
For some it is the Indy 500
Memorial Day was formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War.
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By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.
In little over 100 years over 600,000 men and women have lost their lives so that we my live our lives in freedom.
Memorial Day is to remember all those who gave their lives so that we may remain free.
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And We want to say thank you to those men and women for and their families who paid the ultimate price for our freedom!
Americans all across this globe are hated and nations would want to do anything to wipe us off the face of the earth and it is a war and there will continue to have Casualties until the Lord comes.
This morning I would like to look at and preach with the Power and the Presence of the Holy Spirit on another war that is going on and the CASUALTIES of this war.
The implications of this war are more important than the physical wars of this world.
It is a war that everyone in this auditorium is in whether you want to be or not.
It is a war that has Eternal Implications. It is a Spiritual War.
II CORINTHIANS 10:2-6
But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Like any war there are only two sides.
A WINNING SIDE – GOD’S SIDE
THE LOOSING SIDE - SATAN’S SIDE
To be on Satan’s side all you have to do is be born into this world
Romans 5:12
To be on God’s Side all you have to be is born - again
John 3:3
John 1:12
John 14:6
And even though it seems like Satan is winning many battles in our lives let me remind you the outcome.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Savior than my friend you will go to the same place as your commander and chief will go.
Remember there are only two sides. And the only way for you and I to be on the winning side the Lord’s side is to be Born Again
II Corinthians 5:17
With this in mind I would like to preach with the Power and the Presence of the Holy Spirit on THE CASUALTIES OF WAR.
If you would be so kind to stand with me as we give reverence to the reading of God’s Word.
Ephesians 6:10-12
PRAYER
THE CASUALTIES OF THIS SPIRITUAL WAS
*I. VS 10-12 WIA – WOUNDED IN ACTION
Many are wounded because:
A. THEY HAVE THEIR FEELINGS HURT
B. THEY HAVE LOST THEIR STRENGTH DUE TO
1. The Lack Of Nourishment
AMOS 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
And where there is famine there is a lack of strength.
I PETER 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2. Not Putting On The Whole Armor Of God
VS 11
3. Unfriendly Fire
VS 12
Why can we not as Christians just get along?
We waste too much energy – we lose too many people when we fight against another.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Can I ask you again what is sin? Sin is Disobeying the Lord.
TURN BACK TO EPHESIANS 4:30-32
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
C. SYMPTOMS OF WIA
1. Stop Reading God’s Word
2. Stop Praying
3. Stop Giving
YOU BECOME:
4. Unfaithful
5. Uninvolved
6. Uncaring
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WOUNDED IN ACTION AND NO LONGER IN THE BATTLE WE MOURN YOUR LOSS
II. MIA - MISSING IN ACTION
TURN TO JAMES 1:21-25
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
I hear a whole lot about what people use to do!! BUT MY QUESTION WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
If you are not excited – involved with the work of God you are missing in action. YOU CAN COME TO CHURCH – STILL BE MISSING IN ACTION!!
THE CAUSES OF MISSING IN ACTION
*1. VS 21 – SIN
*2. VS 21 – SUPERFLUITY – A LIFE OVERFLOWING WITH WICKEDNESS
*3. VS 21 – NAUGHTINESS – WICKEDNESS WITHOUT SHAME
*4. VS 22 – NOT WILLING TO HEAR GOD’S WORD
*5. VS 23-25 NOT WILLING TO OBEY GOD’S WORD
This is the very slippery slope that when are missing in action will take us.
Remember Lot
YOU ARE HEAR BUT GOD’S WORD GOES IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HANGING ON TO SIN.
NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP THOSE WHO TEMPT YOU TO SIN
THOSE WHO ARE SHOOTING THE WRONG PEOPLE
NOT WILLING TO LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD AND OBEY GOD’S WORD
YOU ARE MISSING IN ACTION THIS MORNING? AND WE MOURN YOUR LOSS
III. POW - PRISONER OF WAR
II TIMOTHY 2:4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
This is a saved person with messed up priorities!! They have the attitude that if there is nothing better to do we will bless you with our presence.
A GOOD SOLDIER FOR CHIRST HAS RIGHT PRIORITES:
GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD FIRST
EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY!!!!
A PRISONER OF WAR GETS THE BATTLE LINES CONFUSED – WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG.
AND PRETTY SOON SATAN AND THIS OLE WORLD WILL CAPTURE YOU – BY MAKING YOU TOO BUSY – TOO TIRED FOR THE THINGS OF GOD.
VOWS YOU MADE TO GOD ARE PUSHED ASIDE AND NOW YOU ARE MAKING VOWS TO THE WORLD BY MISSING CHURCH – NOT INVOLVED IN THE WORK.
IF THIS DISCRIBES YOU, YOU ARE MISSING IN ACTION AND WE MOURN YOUR LOSS
It all starts with what everyone here has been. WIA then we become MIA – then we replace the things of God with the things of this world and we become POW.
*IV. THERE IS HOPE
TURN TO LUKE 15:3-7
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
- IF GOD HAS LEFT YOU ON THIS EARTH GOD IS WAITING PATIENTLY FOR YOU TO RETURN TO HIS SERVICE.
ARE YOU TIRED OF BEING WHIPPED BY THIS WORLD AND SATAN?
DO YOU STILL BELIEVE GOD’S WORD?
I JOHN 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
*II TIMOTHY 2:3-4
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
WE SUNG A SONG THIS MORNING CALLED THE BANNER OF THE CROSS LISTEN TO THE WORDS.
THERE’S A ROYAL BANNER GIVEN FOR DISPLAY TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE KING;
AS AN ENSIGN FAIR WE LIFT IT UP TODAY, WHILE AS RANSOMED ONES WE SING
THOUGH THE FOE MAY RAGE AND GATHER AS THE FLOOD, LET THE STANDARD BE DISPLAYED;
AND BENEATH ITS FOLDS, AS SOLDIERS OF THE LORD, FOR THE TRUTH BE NOT DISMAYED!
OVER LAND AND SEA, WHEREVER MAN MAY DWELL, MAKE THE GLORIOUS TIDINGS KNOWN:
OF THE CRIMSON BANNER NOW THE STORY TELL, WHILE THE LORD SHALL CLAIM HIS OWN
WHEN THE GLORY DAWNS – ‘TIS DRAWING VERY NEAR – IT IS HAST’NING DAY BY DAY:
THEN BEFORE OUR KING THE FOE SHALL DISAPPEAR, AND THE CROSS THE WORLD SHALL SWAY!!
MARCHING ON – MARCHING ON FOR CHRIST COUNT EVERYTHING BUT LOSS! AND TO CROWN HIM KING TOIL AND SING NEATH THE BANNER OF THE CROSS!!!
MY PRAYER TODAY IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE LOOSING SIDE – YOU HAVE NEVER RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR THAT YOU WOULD COME TO JESUS THIS MORNING.
SAVED PERSON DO YOU FIND YOURSELF A CASUALTY OF WAR?
WILL YOU COMMITT YOURSELF BACK TO THE LORD TODAY AND GET BACK ON THE FRONT LINES AND FIGHT WITH US?
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
