Spiritual Veterans

We'll read 2 Timothy chapter 2, we're going to read verse 3 and 4. "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 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." Today is Veterans Day. We want to honor all of our veterans. If you're a veteran here, raise your hand.

There we go. Amen. Got one in the hallway out there, one over here. Amen. Brother Carl. Any others? Yeah, got Sedrae over here, yeah. Marcos and Alex, yes. Thank you guys for your service.

I want to speak to you today about spiritual veterans. You can be seated. Spiritual veterans. Veterans Day offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on sacrifice... ...to reflect on service, to reflect on dedication... ...values embodied by those who serve in our armed forces. You see, our goal in recognizing Veterans Day is to honor the spirit of service and love.

Now you think about these folks, anybody who goes into the military, they are serving our country. Amen? And the majority, I would say, they go because they love our country. Amen? So when you think of a veteran, you're thinking it's a sacrifice what they do, right? It's service, it's dedication. So we honor them because of their spirit of service and love. And that Christ himself exemplified that himself.

So this day is an invitation for us as followers of Jesus Christ... ...to reflect on the gift of freedom, the cost of sacrifice... ...and our own call to serve others selflessly. We want to honor all veterans today. And so I want to take a look at what is required to become a true veteran... ...of the cross of Jesus Christ.

You see, folks, when you look in the back back there, you see two flags. You see the American flag, and you see the Christian flag. One represents our country, the other represents Christians serving Jesus Christ and His kingdom. So to serve either of these flags and the kingdoms that they represent... ...when you serve them faithfully and you serve them effectively, one must meet certain requirements. So before one can become a veteran, they must first be a good soldier.

Webster's Dictionary says about a veteran, it says... ..."A person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office..." "...or like a veteran of the Department of War or police force or whatever." So they have experience through long service of practice. I want to look at what is required to be a good soldier... ...and becoming a true veteran of Jesus Christ.

First off, we have to be a volunteer. First of all, to serve either flag, you must do so voluntarily. America no longer—they used to have the draft—they no longer force men or women... ...to serve in the military of their country. I think they ought to reexamine that. Boy, it got quiet, didn't it? The reason I think of that is because I've said this for a while...

...because we have kids who have no respect for anything. They don't want anything. They want government assistance. So I think in some way or another, that they ought to have to give a couple years... ...of their life to some type of service, whether it's in the military or whatever. And according to how good they are, they can receive a point system... ...to go to college or whatever they want. See what I'm saying?

And teach them to be responsible. I think the draft quit about the time I got out of high school. I remember going to the post office and signing it up. Did you do that, Rob? Yeah. Carl, you did that. They took you, didn't they? I must have signed the wrong papers.

I tried to get in. I did, I really did. I have bad legs, and they didn't want me. But you see, folks, they used to have recruitment officers. Now we have volunteers, so they do have recruitment officers who are sent out... ...to encourage people to volunteer to serve the military. But God does not force anyone to serve in the service of His kingdom, right? He does plead with us to volunteer...

...and to come to salvation through Jesus... ...but He also sends out recruitment officers to urge people to serve in His army. And that's what we are, folks. We are trying to recruit people to serve in the army of the Lord. Jeremiah 44 verse 4 says, "I have sent my servants the prophets to you again and again..." "...to tell you not to do these detestable things that I hate." 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ..."

"...as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness..." "...but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." You see, folks, Christ is pleading today for the sinner to come and to serve Him willingly. Willingly. The benefits are tremendously great, and they're out of this world, right?

But we also, if we want to be a good veteran, we have to have complete faith. When you serve this American flag... ...you must have faith in America, American government, that it will supply your every need. Give you your food and clothing, shelter, medical needs, even your companions... ...are supplied by your government. But when you serve the Christian flag, or you serve Jesus Christ...

...and the flag, what it represents... ...you must also have faith in the One who has called you into His service... ...that He will supply your every need. You will not have to worry about your physical needs when you serve Jesus Christ. You will not have to worry about your emotional needs when you serve Jesus Christ. You can have these things, but He can help you with them. Matthew 6:31 and 33, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?"

"or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" "For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Do you believe that today, folks? You see, our God will even provide godly company for you to keep. In 1 John 1 verse 3 says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you..."

"...that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:6 and 7, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another..." "...and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." When it comes to faith... ...folks, the Lord wants us to be true veterans.

Experienced through long service and patience. He wants us to be a part of His team. And if we're going to serve and be a good veteran, we have to have complete commitment. When you serve this American flag, this country... ...you are expected to be completely committed. Committed to your country and to allow nothing to prevent you...

...from performing your duties and serving faithfully. They have things for that if you don't do it right, right? When you serve Jesus Christ... ...when you serve the flag that represents that... ...you are also expected to be completely committed to Christ and His kingdom. You see, folks, there's no two different standards here.

If you're going to serve your country great, you need to serve God great. You need to be faithful. You're going to be faithful to your country, you've got to be faithful to God. Now you say, "Well, I wasn't in the military." But you expect everybody in the military to be faithful. Then you should also expect it living for God. Amen? See, you are expected to serve Him faithfully,

not allowing anything to keep you from doing His will. Folks, we've got to get to a place where we quit making excuses for why we can't do things for God. Amen? I just ask yourself, when you make excuses why you can't do things for God, do you think God accepts that? As your pastor, you text me certain things, I'm like, "Okay, well, thanks for letting me know."

It's like years ago when I used to do the ACTS program, Alcohol Chemical Treatment Series. And we did that for a while, but I got tired of it because I'd get people calling me up who were supposed to be at the meeting, and they're like, "I just want to call to let you know I have to work tonight." I said, "Don't call me, call your PO." "He's the one who told you to come here."

And so these POs wouldn't do anything, so I called them up, I said, "We quit." "Well, why?" I said, "Because you guys won't do anything to enforce this stuff." "You're telling them they got to come here, but when they don't, then they have to make up classes because they can't graduate through it until they do 12 courses." I said, "I'm getting my volunteers to sit with these people to do longer so they can get their courses done." "Why should we do this?" "You don't enforce your job."

So, folks, I'm telling you, God isn't pleased with all the... I just lost it. Excuses, there you go. We've got to understand, God is going to hold us... ...he what He expects. Amen? And you will answer. Luke 5 verse 11 says, "And when they had brought their ships to land," "they forsook all, and followed Him."

Forsook all! Luke 5:27-28, "And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom:" "and He said unto him, Follow Me. And he left all, rose up, and followed Him." Luke 14:33, "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath," "he cannot be My disciple."

Philippians 3:8, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:" "for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Now listen, folks. God is not here wanting you to go out and sell everything you got, quit your job, and just follow Him. But He's wanting, here's what God wants: in your heart, "God, whatever You want me to give up," "I will do." And He knows your heart.

Amen? He knows your heart. Amen. And so that's what God wants to see. Are you willing? Are you willing to sacrifice time? Are you willing to teach Bible studies? We can go on and on and on, but you know the things that I ask of the people in this church to do. That's what God wants. He wants your total devotion to Him, whatever He wants.

You see, folks, commitment requires discipline. Years ago in England, Sir John Barbirolli was conducting a great symphony orchestra before a standing room only audience. The concert hall was unusual in that it was used for cultural events weekdays and for religious services on Sunday. On this particular Saturday evening, one of the patrons of the orchestra noticed that the preacher was in the audience. He leaned over and said to him, sarcastically,

"When are you going to fill this hall on Sunday the way Sir John whatever his name is has done tonight?" The preacher looked at his antagonist straight in the eye and said, with a steady voice, "I will fill this hall on Sunday morning when you give me, as you gave to Sir John tonight," "85 disciplined men and women to be with me and to work with me." Because we need committed people living for Jesus Christ and doing His will. Amen? Committed. Amen?

We also have to have complete obedience to be a veteran of the kingdom of God. When you serve this American flag in this country, you are required to follow orders and are expected to be obedient to the letter. Why do we expect less of God? You see, folks, we show God where our commitments are by how we do things, by how we act, by the excuses that we give.

When you serve God in His kingdom and the flag, amen, Christ expects and requires no less. Come on. Matthew 26:19, "And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them;" "and they made ready the passover." John 14:21, "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them,"

"he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father," "and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." Isaiah 1:19 and 20, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:" "but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." God expects us to obey Him and to do what He asks us to do. John Newton, he's the writer of the most popular hymn in history, "Amazing Grace."

He said this: "If two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time," "one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on Earth and the other to go sweep the streets of the dirtiest village," "each angel would be completely indifferent as to which one got which assignment." "It simply wouldn't matter to them." Why? "Because the real joy lies in being obedient to God."

"For a Christ follower, the important thing isn't what God has us doing." "The important thing is if we're doing what God wants us to do." And that's the truth. We have to have, if we want to be a good veteran, we have to have complete devotion. When you serve in America's military, you serve our flag, you are expected to be completely devoted to the country that it represents.

That word devotion in Webster's means, "earnest attachment to a cause or person, etc.;" "profound dedication, especially to religion, consecration." Veterans embody the principle, devotion and humble service, often shouldering the weight and the responsibility without seeking praise or recognition. Folks, hear me today. Service is not merely an idea, but it is an actionable calling.

Veterans show us that service often means sacrifice, resilience, and commitment to something larger than themselves. Amen? You see, what I heard about... I had a friend who was a Marine. He says, they get you in there in that training, that boot camp, and they tear you down to nothing.

And then they build you back up the way they want you. Why do we give God such a hard time tearing us down? Think about it. God wants to get all... You see, folks, He took the Israelites through the wilderness, did He not? How long did it take? 40 years. It took 40 years for God to get Egypt out of His people.

And they gave Him a hard time. In fact, that generation didn't even go over. We fight God about getting what He don't want in us out. Shame on us. We want to be pleasing. We say we love Him, but we want to give Him what we want to give Him, not what He really wants.

That don't work in a marriage, does it? Huh? Anybody have that work out? I need some advice to teach people marriage counseling. Because you have to be willing to love the person. When you love somebody enough, you'll do what they want. You'll do things to please them. So understand, when God is trying to get things out of your life,

you should do it because you love Him. All right? See, when you serve Jesus Christ and what this flag represents, God expects you to be completely devoted or consecrated to Him and His kingdom, completely. 1 Chronicles 29 verse 5 says, "Now then, who will follow my example?" "Who will give himself and all that he has to the Lord?"

You see, we ought to understand those... verses to say, "Okay, God, help me to do these things." Because I believe we're going to answer— He says you're going to answer, folks, for just the way you talk.

Every idle word, the Bible says. We're going to answer to Him for that. So we ought to understand we got to get to a place where we are pleasing to our God. Now then, who will follow my example? Who will give himself and all that he has to the Lord?

To be a true spiritual veteran, folks, we must be completely devoted to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, to become veterans of the cross, we must first be good soldiers of the cross. You see, and I pray here today, folks, this Veterans Day,

that it makes us true spiritual veterans. We are a part of a great army. Amen? And understand, and I've said this many times, folks, understand living for God, you have a battle. You just want to keep on living for God. The enemy does not want you to live for God,

so he's going to come at you any way he can. And battle, folks, is not fun and games. It's serious business. It's easy sometimes to get frustrated. I'm not saying I don't ever get frustrated. But, folks, we need to get back on track when we are frustrated and say, "God, forgive me.

I know You're in control." That's where faith comes in. When it's going good, it's easy to have faith. So when the hard times come, and the gut-wrenching pit in your stomach, and you're nervous and all that kind of stuff, that's when you got to say, "Okay, God, I'm sorry

for thinking this way and acting this way. I know who is in control. I know You got my back. Amen?" And it's easy. Amen? Hallelujah. It just happened to me after the election.

I was sitting there, and I was getting sick to my stomach, and I'm like, "Oh no. Oh no, Devil, you're not doing this to me. God, forgive me. I know who's in control here. Amen?" And things don't look like they really are, because God is in control. He's always working behind the scenes.

Amen? Amen! So I pray today, folks, this Veterans Day, that you will do everything in your power to be the greatest spiritual veteran for the kingdom of God and for your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen? Stand with me right now. Hallelujah. Thank you all again for being here tonight, folks.

I pray God blesses you, keeps you safe as you travel home. Heavenly Father, we love You. God, we appreciate You. We thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy. I ask You, God, to bless each one of us here today. God, let Your will be done. God, help us to be that spiritual veteran that You want us to be.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen. God bless you. You're dismissed.