Topical Sermon: Onward, Christian Soldier

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17

Onward, Christian Soldier

(The Militancy of God's People)

Intro.

1. Militancy of God’s people is exhorted in song: Onward, Christian Soldier.

2. Militant: “Engaged in warfare or combat… aggressively active (as in a cause)” (Webster). Are you ready for battle?

3. Bible says, “Fight the good fight of faith,” 1 Tim. 6:12.

a. Some Christians say, “I’m just tired of fighting!”

b. We must “fight the good fight of faith” to lay hold of eternal life, 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7-8.

4. cf. Phinehas: “he was zealous with My zeal among them…so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal,” Num. 25:1-12 (11). “He went after the man of Israel…” 25:8; Obtained peace, 25:12.

5. Jesus (zeal for God’s house), Jno. 2:13-17.

6. Without genuine faith we will not be militant (aggressive, zealous) for God, Deut. 1:28-32.

a. Such faithlessness causes discouragement and despair.

b. The “smooth things” that are not the “right things” reject the militancy of faith God requires of His people, Isa. 30:9-10.

-Christians must have a militant attitude plus an aggressive (zealous) practice of our faith. The militancy of God’s people should be apparent in the following:

1. Be militant in obeying (applying) truth, Heb. 5:11-14; Jas. 1:21-22; 1 Jno. 2:3-6 (Phil. 2:12).

a. In growing as a Christian, Heb. 5:11-14; 6:3.

b. In teaching the gospel (trying to save people), Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:21.

1) Relationship evangelism? Prov. 11:30; Jude 22-23

2) Social gospel to “draw” to Christ? Jno. 6:44-45; 1 Cor. 2:1-2

c. In moral living, 1 Cor. 15:33-34; Matt. 5:13-16; Rom. 13:13-14.

2. Be militant in contending for the faith, Jude 3.

a. There are many adversaries, 1 Cor. 16:8-9 (The devil leads the charge, 1 Pet. 5:8).

b. Therefore…fight! 1 Cor. 15:32; 1 Tim. 6:12 (Eph. 6:12)

c. Some don’t contend because they have been convinced that the faith is not absolute, plain and complete, 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (Jno. 8:31-32).

d. Some don’t contend because they confuse contending with contentiousness, 2 Tim. 2:14-15, 23-26.

3. Be militant in resisting the devil (sin, evil, error), Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9.

a. Give no place to the devil, Eph. 4:27. Withstand (resist, oppose), Eph. 6:13.

b. Requires a priority & unwavering commitment of faith, Dan. 3:17-18 (Matt. 6:33).

c. Do not “put up with” sin & error, or with those who promote it, 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 16-20 (19-20); Gal. 2:5.

4. Be militant in standing in the faith (1 Cor. 16:13; Eph. 6:10-13, 14-17). (“Stand up, stand up for Jesus”) 2 Ths. 2:15

a. Stand your ground (a matter of character: cf. The Alamo), Rom. 8:31, 37.

b. Steadfast in the faith, Col. 2:5-7; 1 Cor. 15:58 (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3-5).

c. Be strong and take courage in the strength of the Lord, Eph. 6:10.

Conclusion

1. Gal. 4:18: Good to always be zealous for what is good (truth).

2. 2 Cor. 10:3-6: We must militantly (aggressively) obey the truth, contend for the faith, resist the devil and stand up for Jesus or we will be devoured, defeated and eternally lost.