Onward Christian Soldiers
1 Cor. 1:10-31

Intro.: Many of you have a good idea of what it is like to battle as soldiers. Some of us may only know what the media and our friends and relatives have shared with us. But we do know a little about being soldiers. A soldiers life is not easy, it involves serving others, it involves sacrifices, it involves danger, it involves duty above self, it involves strict obedience, it involves training, it involves trusting their commanders, and on and on.

What about being a soldier for the Lord, are there similar parallels? Of course there are. We need to be good soldiers for the Lord. Let us look at some today. First let us read from 1 Cor. 1:10-31.

10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

 

 

Onward Christian Soldiers - page 2

First a good soldier must …
Leave strife and worldly things behind

When a recruit comes into the military, they leave civilian things behind.

Speak the same thing - ?

Do we all have to…

Like I.U.?
Like the same foods?
All agree in everything?

Then what?

All need to speak Jesus Crucified and coming again (Gospel)
We need to lose our worldly outlooks

Work together

Perfectly (completely, as a unit, as an army)

Same goals - reach souls (Army vs. Navy)

Share in the blessings (same judgment)

A soldier is taught to depend upon his leader, thus we need to…
Look to Christ

A military man pledges his devotion to a higher authority than his sergeant, D.I. or C.O. - it is to his country.

So we need to give our allegiance to Christ…

Not to man (Paul, Apollos, Cephas, etc.)

Not to rituals (baptism, sacraments, etc.)

Compare
Weddings - lavish vs. simple (still married)
Cars - Chevy vs. Cadillac, etc. (still runs)

Not to works

Not to wisdom - 17

Instead:We need to look to Christ, crucified, coming again, and empowering us until that time we go to be with Him - 19

 

Onward Christian Soldiers - page 3

As a soldier for the Lord, we need to…
Let others know of Christ

By His Word

By our word - 21

By our actions and deeds - let us be the sweetest people they know

As wise - using His wisdom is best - 22

For those in need - be there to help as a good soldier

 

And finally we need to…

Live for His cause

Phil. 3: 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

March ever forward

March for Him

March together

 

 

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 123001am