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"Christian Comrades"

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#1 · May 23, 2002, 9:05 am

Posted by: warrenm <warrenm@...>

"Christian Comrades"

Preached

Fairview Baptist Church

Union, SC

Occasion: Memorial Day Weekend

Rev. Warren Jones, Pastor

John 15:13-15

13"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14"You are My friends, if you do what I command you. 15"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. {NAS}

Introduction:

Memorial Day, legal holiday, observed annually on the last Monday in May in most of the United States, in honor of the nation's armed services personnel killed in wartime. The holiday, originally called Decoration Day, is traditionally marked by parades, memorial speeches and ceremonies, and the decoration of graves with flowers and flags, hence the original name. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of General John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead. It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when most states changed to a newly established federal schedule of holiday observance. Confederate Memorial Day, formerly a legal holiday in many southern states, is still observed on the fourth Monday in April in Alabama, the last Monday in April in Mississippi, and April 26 in Florida and Georgia.

Comrades have laid down their lives in many wars. Lives that we cannot put a value on. Lives that were given {surrendered} for a purpose.

Each one that laid down their lives has certain qualities that were displayed in their service for their country. Don't have to die a physical death to lay down your life. It is my intention to demonstrate that our Lord Jesus Christ exhibited these same qualities. That these are the very qualities that which should be seen in our service for Almighty God.

  1. Courage

    1. We think of the courage of our comrades as they faced the enemy.
    2. We think of the courage of our comrades to stand firm for the cause for which they were fighting.
    3. Wars are full of deeds of heroism whether on the land, sea, or in the air.

    4. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhibited this quality. John 10:11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:15, "even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." NAS
    5. When the time came that he should be delivered up to the enemies, he steadfastly set his course to confront them.
    6. Courage to speak when needed.
    7. Courage to be silent when needed.
    8. Christian soldiers are needed in the war for peace in this world.

  1. Comradeship

    1. There is a special bond that develops among soldiers. As they come from all walks of life so we come together for a common cause. Rich & poor, the learned & unlearned.

    2. That comradeship is worth remembering! Our Lord exemplifies it. He gave his life. Died that we might live. That we might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10b; Romans 5:6-8, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. NAS
    3. Our Lord lives again that we might live with Him eternally.
    4. Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for another. John 15:13 "Friends"
    5. There is a great need today for comradeship. To give up our life for Him.

  1. Dedication

    1. Our country has faced terrifying responsibilities. The call has gone out to oppose evil.
    2. Men & women have dedicated their lives wholeheartedly to the cause.

    3. Our Lord dedicated himself to His father. Matthew 26:39
    4. We need the dame dedication.

  1. Sacrifice

    1. Our comrades did not want to die; yet the supreme price was paid. Multitudes gave their life. Our Lord gave His life. VOLUNTARILY John 10: 17,18
    2. In most cases we chose not to sacrifice.

Conclusion;

Surely we must realize that we are called to Courage, comradeship, dedication, sacrifice.

We need to see the enemy, the danger and we need to repent, confess, and be reconciled to God.

Eph 5:1-2, "and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." NAS

1 John 4:7-11, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NAS

If God brings you to it  -
He will bring you through it.
Preacher Jones

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