Veterans Day 2017

Yesterday was Veterans Day and so today I want to honor those that are here with us and those who sacrificed everything so that we can be free.

Someone once wrote:

It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion

JOKE:  An Air Force Major that was promoted to Colonel got a new office. The first morning he was in his new office, an airman knocked on the door and asked to speak to him. The Colonel, feeling the urge to impress the young airman, picked up his phone and began talking. “Yes, General, thank you. Yes, I will pass that information along to the President this afternoon. Yes, goodbye, sir.” Then, turning to the airman, he barked, “And what do you want?” The airman said, “Nothing important, sir. I just came to hook up your telephone.”

If you would allow some veterans to show you the scars that they have received in battle, it would probably help you to realize how much suffering, heartache and blood our freedoms have cost.

Paul put it this way in Galatians 6:17 (NIV) – ¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Paul was saying I’ve seen the best of times and I’ve seen the worst of times, but I did it all for Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.  The one who paid the ultimate price for me and you.  Those are the marks I bear, but it brings freedom to those who trust in Him.

Yesterday Vice Present Mike Pence gave a speech at Arlington and here is just one story that was shared during that time.

“He told the story of a man who 36 years ago this march as a first Lieutenant in the US Army first battalion 97^th artillery woke at dawn to a massive North Vietnamese attack on the hilltop outpost.  He and his brothers were heavily outnumbered it took just minutes for the enemy to breakthrough their defenses and fighting very quickly became hand to hand.  History records that in that moment that young first Lieutenant rallied his brothers to stand their ground he ordered air and artillery strikes from a dangerously exposed position for 4 straight hours.  As the situation worsened he personal directed the withdrawal and provided cover fire and to assure his brothers safety and to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, he actually called in an artillery strike on his own position.  Wounded and unable to escape himself he managed to evade the tension for eight long days, until he was rescued from American forces when they retook the outpost.  For his conspicuous gallantry and at the risk of his own live above and beyond the call of duty he received of course the Medal of Honor.  His name First Lieutenant Brian Thacker.”

It is men such as Brian that allows for our freedom. Who was willing to sacrifice, for others.

Scripture tells us, Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Or how about Desmond Doss a religious man who saw how World War 1 had turned his father Tom because of what he had witnessed, into a drunk not just a drunk but a mean one at that.  But when men are enlisting for World War II, Doss feels the need to join them, but when it comes time for weapons training, Doss explains that his religious beliefs don’t allow him to touch a gun. Others don’t like that at all, but Doss is convinced it will work because he feels his calling is to be a medic anyway.  He says.  “While everyone else is going to be taking life, I’m going to be saving it.” The army still takes issue with his belief system and a court hearing takes place to determine his fate in the military, the army relents and allows Doss to engage in battle without a weapon, now fast forward to Okinawa hacksaw ridge where Doss heroically saves the lives of wounded soldiers.  75 to be exact.

So today welcome to The Potter’s House each of you, but especially those of you who served.  I for one stand before you as one who is grateful for your service.

Veterans have sacrificed so much to obtain and preserve this precious freedom—one of which allows us the opportunity to worship our Creator anytime and anywhere.

And although I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices of the men and women who have served and are serving now there is a greater freedom that can only be found in Christ, who died as a ransom to set us free.

This is a freedom from a life of sin, regret, hate, and bitterness. It’s the freedom to love God and love our neighbor.

John 8:36 (NIV) – ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Today I want to speak to you on being a soldier.  And the Apostle Paul knew a little something about that.

If you remember Paul he was first introduced to us as Saul a persecutor of the church of God, but he had an encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus and it transformed him so drastically that he enlisted in the army of the Lord.

He found himself in countless dangers, as a matter of fact listen to this. . .

2 Corinthians 11:22–28 (NIV) – ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Toward the end of his life Paul sat in a Roman prison cell waiting to be executed because of his devotion to Christ and he writes a letter to Timothy his son in the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:1–4 (NIV) – You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

2 Timothy 2:3–4 (AMP) – 3 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.   4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.

Paul tells Timothy three E’s that I want to look at today these 2 verses, the NIV translation doesn’t list them all, but the Amplified version has all three and other translations actually offer a forth.  I want to look at the three given in the Amplified,

They are endure, entangled, and enlist.  Maybe it should be enlist, endure, entangled,  but I’m going to address them in the order in which they were listed.

So, let us look first at enduring.   Every branch of the military has something that every recruit must endure.  Basic training alone can be overwhelming for some.   The lack of sleep, the running for miles, the waking up at some insane hour in the morning, just to run.  The men and woman who serve has at times endured much, even before they saw a battle field.

Take becoming a Navy Seal for example.

This is not all inclusive as far as the requirements, part of the process to becoming one:

• 500-yard swim using breast and/or sidestroke – Allowable Time: 12:30 Minutes with a 10-min. rest.
• Push-ups – Minimum Repetition: 50, Competitive Repetition: 100 Allowable Time: 2:00 Minutes with a 2-min. rest.
• Sit-ups – Minimum Repetition: 50, Competitive Repetition: 100, Allowable Time: 2:00 Minutes with a 2-min. rest.
• Pull-ups – Minimum Repetition: 10 (dead hang), Competitive Repetition: 19 (dead hang), No time limit and a 10-min. rest
• 1¹⁄₂ mile run wearing boots and pants – Allowable Time: 10:30 Minutes/Seconds, Competitive Repetition: 10:20 Minutes/Seconds and rest period well there’s none,

So, after all that congratulations you are a seal, no you’re not that was just the physical screening test.  After that you get to begin your training.  This lasts for 8 weeks and If you make it through, you’ll be shipped off to Coronado, CA. If you don’t, you’ll be placed in another division of the Navy.

If you move on you go to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. It is a 24-week challenge that will develop you into a mental and physical machine.  Because of its nature, only 25% make it to the end. It  includes three phases:

• Phase I is “basic conditioning,” focused on mental and physical ability.
• Phase II covers underwater skills such as combat swimming and SCUBA diving.
• Phase III, on San Clemente Island, will teach weapons, demolitions and navigation skills and basic, small-unit tactics.

During this time, you will experience things such as:

Drown-proofing — where you have to swim with either your legs or hands bound — and surf torture — where you’re exposed to cold water for minutes on end, ordered to do calisthenics, and possibly even run miles in your cold, wet clothes. Then, you’ll just be ordered back into the water.

Fourth week of this Basic Conditioning is affectionately known as “Hell Week.” You will be training for 5 1/2 days continuously with 4 hours of sleep. . .total.

You’ll be doing long-distance underwater dives.

You’ll also be doing some sophisticated land navigation, patrolling techniques, rappelling, marksmanship and military explosives

You’ll be starting off simple, with basic static line jumps to free falls to accelerated free falls to accelerated free falls with combat equipment to accelerated free falls with combat equipment from 9,500 feet (minimum).

There’s more, but I think you get the picture.

During his missionary journeys Paul was flogged, stoned, shipwrecked and much more. In America we may not have to go through things like Paul did, but we will still have hardships.  Bad things do happen. Our faith will be tested.

There will be things we must endure as children of the King.  I have lost friends because of my walk with the Lord.

James 1:2–4 (NIV) – ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

So we must endure but Isaiah tells us, “those who wait upon the Lord they will renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles. . .”

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) – We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Suffering will indeed come, but God can give us grace and power to overcome every trial and to fulfill our purpose and mission in His kingdom.

Then there is entangled

The Greek word for ENTANGLE is EMPLEKO which literally means to “weave in” and thus to intertwine or interconnect closely as by wrapping or twisting together. Empleko means “to be involuntarily interlaced to the point of immobility.”

(Explain things that entangled, fear, etc.).

Empleko was used to describe a runner entangled in his long robe, which would hinder his ability to run in such a way so as to win.

When you serve in a branch of the military you are expected to be completely committed and to allow nothing to prevent you from performing your duties and serving faithfully.

When you serve in the army of the Lord,  you also are expected to be completely committed to Christ and His Kingdom. You are expected to serve Him faithfully, not allowing anything to keep you from doing His will.

However, it seems to me that many Christians get entangled in the affairs of this world. They let other things become more important to them than Jesus.

They get so easily distracted by everything around them.  We need to be careful about the things we let distract us from Jesus.

But Paul said it this way:

Philippians 3:8 (NIV) – ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

Luke 8:1–15 (NIV) – The Parable of the Sower

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.   ⁴ While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: ⁵ “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. ⁶ Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”   When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”   ⁹ His disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see;  though hearing, they may not understand.’  ¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Now let me say this there is a difference between being involved and be entangled.

Let me try to explain the difference.  The word for entangle (empleko) was also used to describe sheep whose wool was caught in thorns. This word picture helps illustrate the main difference between getting INVOLVED and becoming ENTANGLED. Simply stated, one is entangled when he is not free to get loose!

Lastly, let me talk about the final E which is enlist.

Maybe this should be first, because we don’t need to endure the life of the Gospel if we choose not to be a part of that message.  And we also don’t need won’t get entangled with making a choice if Jesus isn’t our message.  But I choose to talk about this last for that very reason.

We no longer use the draft mostly I think because we have enough men and women who are willing to enlist.

Paul told us in verse 4 of our opening text in Timothy 2:  No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.

And here’s the thing God does not force anyone to serve in His Kingdom, either. He does send out recruitment officers, like you and me, to encourage people to serve in His Army, but it’s our choice, it’s their choice.

Following Jesus is life-altering, but it needs to be a commitment that requires your full devotion. It’s a personal pledge that you are going to let Christ become the leader of your life.  God desires to take up residence in our lives not just rent a room.   He wants habitation not visitation.

Thomas Guthrie said “If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better than the Lord’s table, any person better than Christ, any indulgence better than the hope of heaven—take alarm!”

Maybe you’re enduring some hardship and need someone to stand with you and pray with you to stand in the gap with you.  In those situations, know that you are not alone.

Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) – ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV) – ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

Listen Jesus is interceding on your behalf.  He sees what your going through and He cares.

And what we need to do is as Peter tells us:

1 Peter 5:7–10 (NIV) –⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.   ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Maybe your one of that has allowed the cares of this world to entangle you.  Don’t be discouraged, decide today is the day that I’m going to make Him the Lord of everything.

God told the Israelites about the entanglements this way,

Exodus 34:12 (NIV) – Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you.

I think we could learn from that.

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) –  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

I love how the Amplified puts it.

Galatians 5:1 (AMP) – IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

So today let me encourage you to enlist.  Make Jesus your everything.  I want to live a life that pleases my commander in chief Jesus Christ.  I’m not talking about striving to be better, but rather learning to hear what He says and follow His plans, because let’s face it His plans are far better than mine.  His ways are better than my ways.  And His thoughts towards you are far better than you think.

Saul enlisted in the Army and was totally transformed.  Even had a name change, as did Abram and Sarai, and Jacob to name a few.  Enlisting in Hs army is the best thing I ever did.   He’s still working on me, and in, and thank God in spite of me He still is willing to work through me.

However, we have a choice:

We can run to Him or from Him.  Too Him is a much better choice.