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The Christian in Time of War

The Christian in Time of War. The Christian in Time of War. Grievousness of War. Isaiah 21:13-15. Isaiah 21:13-15.

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The Christian in Time of War

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  1. The Christian in TimeofWar

  2. The Christian in Time of War Grievousness of War • Isaiah 21:13-15

  3. Isaiah 21:13-15 “The burden against Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanites. 14 O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Bring water to him who is thirsty; With their bread they met him who fled. 15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, From the bent bow, and from the distress of war.”

  4. The Christian in Time of War Grievousness of War • Isaiah 21:13-15 • In the sacrifices it demands • In the lives it destroys • In its financial cost • In the passions it engenders • In the national alienation it sometimes leaves behind • In the suffering it entails • In all its uncertainties

  5. The Christian in Time of War Blessings of War • God can use war for Good • Isaiah 13:17-19; Daniel 5

  6. Isaiah 13:17-19 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. 18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”

  7. Daniel 5:25-28 “And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Belshazzar was rejected because he did not humble himself before God

  8. The Christian in Time of War Blessings of War • God can use war for Good • Isaiah 13:17-19; Daniel 5 • War can protect and preserve an environment where people can serve God • 1 Timothy 2:1-2

  9. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

  10. Romans 13:1-4 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

  11. Romans 13:1-4 “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil…” It may be that one of the means righteous leaders have to ensure such a peaceable life is warfare. This is the present claim in this conflict.

  12. The Christian in Time of War Blessings of War • God can use war for Good • Isaiah 13:17-19; Daniel 5 • War can protect and preserve an environment wherein people can attend to their service to God • 1 Timothy 2:1-2 • War can provide an opportunity to develop virtue • James 1:2-4; Romans 6:2,3

  13. James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Tribulation is what teaches and brings about maturity and growth.

  14. Romans 6:2,3 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (NKJV) Tribulation is what teaches and brings about maturity and growth.

  15. The Christian in Time of War Spiritual Dangers • Distraction from spiritual duties • Individuals (1 Corinthians 7:25-26) • Congregations (Acts 9:31; Eph. 4:11-12)

  16. 1 Corinthians 7:26,27 “I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress; that it is good for a man to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.” (NKJV) Paul worried about the distraction of marriage in time of tribulation

  17. Acts 9:31 “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” In contrast, Peace is conducive to growth.

  18. The Christian in Time of War Spiritual Dangers • Distraction from spiritual duties • Individuals (1 Corinthians 7:25-26) • Congregations (Acts 9:31) • Understand the work and responsibility of the church in such times (Ephesians 4:11-12)

  19. Ephesians 4:11,12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” The mission and purpose of the church is spiritual.

  20. “The North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention, which coordinates disaster responses, placed feeding units on standby within an hour of the attack. The denomination is also accepting donations to support relief in New York City…. According to Baptist Press, other disaster relief units may be mobilized by the end of the day. “...the National Council of Churches and Church World Service.... Spokesman Carol Fouke said staff members held a noontime prayer service at the organization's chapel today, and may also hold a blood drive. Staff members are also trying to coordinate housing for those unable to get home.” (“Churches, Agencies Respond to Attacks,” by LaTonya Taylor, posted 9/12/01http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/137/3- 3.0.html)

  21. “During World War II a Chicago radio station aired an interview with three well-known denominational preachers, on `What the Church Can Do in these Grave Times.’ The three so-called `Reverends’ suggested bandage making, meeting troop trains with coffee, gathering books for the U.S.O., and the like. When the time was about up, the man interviewing said something to this effect. `I am not a religious man, but I thought the Church was and had something special to offer. Civic Clubs, school children, and others can to the things you have mentioned. But I am disappointed in not hearing of some function peculiar to the Church.’” (Robert F. Turner, The Cogdell-Turner Debate, p. 88-89)

  22. The Christian in Time of War Spiritual Dangers • Distraction from spiritual duties • Individuals (1 Cor. 7:25-26; Acts 9:31) • Congregations (Eph. 4:11-12) • That we develop a mere “form” of Godliness • 2 Timothy 3:1-5

  23. “Hall had changed completely. He was advocating strongly the Southern cause and, all in all, acted more like a fiend than a Christian gentleman. He rode a fine mule, had a splendid rifle, and expressly requested of all friends that if a `Yankee’ appeared, please let him get his share. During the conversation with Graham and Baxter, Hall mentioned not one word about the church, about the gospel, or what one might ordinarily expect of a preacher, but spoke only of his rifle and how many Yankees he hoped to kill….Hall advocated catching every Yankee soldier, cutting off their right hands and sending them back home with the hand tied to the saddle. Graham asked Hall how he could feel this way toward his brethren in the North, and Hall replied that he had no brethren in the North; they were all infidels.” (Earl West, Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 1, pp. 326-327)

  24. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

  25. The Christian in Time of War Our Duty during War • Prayer • Acts 12:5; 2 Timothy 2:1,2Matthew 5:44

  26. Acts 12:5 “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

  27. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

  28. Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” The practice of love (seeking the highest good) is necessary for the Christian, even in time of war!

  29. The Christian in Time of War Our Duty during War • Prayer • Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1,2 • Sobriety • 2 Timothy 4:5; I Peter 5:8,9

  30. 2 Timothy 4:5 “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

  31. 1 Peter 5:6-9 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood inthe world.”

  32. The Christian in Time of War Our Duty during War • Prayer • Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1,2 • Sobriety • 2 Timothy 4:5 • Suffer Hardship • 2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 2:3,4

  33. 2 Timothy 4:5 “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

  34. 2 Timothy 2:3,4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

  35. The Christian in Time of War Our Duty during War • Prayer • Acts 12:5; Matthew 5:44 • Sobriety • 2 Timothy 4:5 • Suffer Hardship • 2 Timothy 4:5 • Faithfully carrying out our duties as Christians

  36. 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

  37. The Christian in Time of War Our Duty during War • Faithfully carrying out our duties as Christians • Remember that we are first of all Christians in service to God fighting a spiritual battle

  38. 2 Timothy 2:3,4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

  39. 1 Timothy 6:11,12 “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

  40. Romans 8:31-39 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us…..”

  41. Romans 8:31-39 “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the loveof God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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