Moving Forward

 This past Sunday was our 'Homecoming Sunday' - and it was a good day! We saw faces we hadn't seen in years! We celebrated in worship, we got to fellowship and eat together and reminisce. Many commented it was just a taste of the reunion we'll enjoy once we get to Heaven. But now it's just a 'regular Sunday' - so where do we go from here?

First I'd like to suggest that no Sunday we're gathered together in worship is just a 'regular Sunday'. And I hope that events like 'Homecoming' will encourage us to keep moving forward in our calling.

Last Sunday we recognized our veterans for their service to this nation. We owe them a great debt. Their service has allowed us and our families to live, and to worship, in freedom. We honored our veterans last Monday on Veteran's Day, but I'd like to continue learning from their example. Military service is about putting others needs above your own.

There was a veteran whose own young son was going to be deployed to war. His advice to his son was this...

"My last year in the service, I was in charge of a platoon, and we went around and let everyone tell the story of why they joined. Some answered for college money, some for opportunity, others to see the world - but one soldier said something very different. He lived in New York when 9/11 happened. His wife worked in the trade center, and his 11-month-old son was there at day care. He had no one left to live for. He decided that he would live for his country and continue to fight for the freedom that his father and grandfather fought for, for him."

Service in the armed forces and serving God have some definite parallels. I'd like to look at some of those this morning as we move forward in our service as a Church. For the soldier, serving requires…

I. Leaving comfort

To train, to serve, this requires a soldier to leave the comfort of their home – everything that's familiar. They have to go where the conflict is. They don't get to decide exactly where they'll serve. That decision is for their commander to make. So, the soldier takes a few belongings and goes off to serve.

I remember the chorus of a hymn we used to sing at Church when I was a little boy. Many of you may remember it too. "Where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow, I'll go with Him, with Him, all the way."

For those who give their lives to Jesus, those words need to be more than just words. When you submit your will to God's will, sometimes you're asked to go where you don't necessarily want to go. I remember back in Bible college, I knew I wanted to serve in ministry - but I told God I didn't want to be a preacher... There were probably a lot of other people who told God they didn't want me to be a preacher, either...yet here I am.

Back in Genesis, we find one of the first stories of Abraham, back before God changed his name from Abram. Let's look at Genesis 12:1-4 (NIV)...

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (2) I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (4) So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.

At 75 years old, God asked Abraham to pack up and leave everything familiar and go to a far away country. So he did. The Bible doesn't say if there was a discussion at all, simply that Abraham did as the Lord told him. When it comes to a leap like that, it's clearly a matter of faith.

In one of our kid's rooms we have a triple bunk bed. With six kids you make the most of the real estate you have - you build up. Every night I go around and say good night to each child, and back when Benji was just six years old - I caught him just as he was climbing the ladder to his bunk. I started to tickle him and he giggled and threw his arms out and just dropped backwards. Now of course I caught him - but my first reaction to falling backwards off a ladder isn't to giggle. But he was completely confident that I would catch him - he knew Daddy wouldn't let him fall.

How far do we trust God? Are we ready to just let go and step out in faith, or do we let our more practical, reasonable judgment keep us from trusting completely in God's care? Do we trust God in our personal lives and as a congregation? The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)...

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (17) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

When people think of you, would they characterize you as a person of faith...? Have you done anything lately that might demonstrate your faith? It's a lifelong commitment to faith - not just a one and done kind of thing. As a Church, are we continuing to step out in faith?

Back to the veterans - being a soldier requires fully trusting someone higher up the command chain. Being a servant of Jesus requires fully trusting God as the highest commander. And being a soldier means that you will also be held to…

II. A higher standard

Military service requires strict discipline in a variety of ways: reporting for duty, cleanliness and attire, personal responsibilities... You live by their rules and those rules are not the same rules that a civilian has. There are very few personal freedoms in regard to dress or respect for authority. You don't get to choose which orders you'll follow. You don't get to take a sick day in the middle of a war because you have the 'sniffles'. Soldiers are held to a higher standard.

The Apostle Paul says this in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV)...

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (4) No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer.

More is expected of those who choose to follow Jesus. We are held to a higher standard than those who do not believe. I've said before that I don't really expect 'non-Christians' to act like 'Christians'. It would be nice, but I can't really expect it. But Jesus does expect Christians to act like Christians - to act like followers of His - to act more like Him!

Jesus was telling a parable to His disciples in Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)...

That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. (48) But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Again - in context - this is from a parable about a master and his servants. There may be disagreements about the application of this story, but it can't be denied that Jesus is expecting more from some than others. Does that sound fair? It's not about fair; it's about accepting a call to live differently than the world! As followers of Jesus, we need to practice spiritual discipline.

A soldier who doesn't take his training seriously won't last long in battle. If the only time we spend focusing on God is Sunday morning, we won't last long in the world. If you won't discipline yourself enough to spend time in God's Word, or in prayer or in service to Him – you can't expect to be of any real use for God's purposes! You can't expect to succeed on the 'battle field' if you ignore the commander.

Again, the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:10-13 (NIV)...

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (11) Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; (12) if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; (13) if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Following Jesus in this world is not easy and anyone who preaches that it is does not understand the Gospel message at all. Jesus told us "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." – and that is true. Following Jesus' commands will help keep you from getting yourself in trouble; however – that doesn't mean that you won't have rough times in the trenches. Jesus promises to give us strength and to always be there for us – but He also told us 'to pick up our cross daily and follow Him.'

Living up to the calling that we have been given takes work. Being a Christian is not a passive ride. It takes effort.

Young people, you don't make it to Heaven on your parent's faith. You have to make a stand for yourself and either accept or reject Jesus and choose for yourself to live under His Lordship. Older adults, you don't make it to Heaven by resting on your past accomplishments. We may be able to retire from our professions – but we don't get to retire from our faith. The role we play will change drastically as we serve over the years, but again Paul wrote this in Philippians 3:10-16 (NIV)...

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (13) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (15) All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. (16) Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

We may have to drag ourselves at the end, but we don't get to coast across the finish line. Paul challenges us to "live up to what we have already obtained". And what is it that we have obtained? - Grace! Forgiveness of our sins! A clean slate in Christ! The promise of eternal life – that's what's in store for those who remain faithful!

And the last part I want to look at - every veteran knows that there's something that goes hand in hand with service. And that's…

III. Sacrifice

Every soldier who has ever served has sacrificed. Many have given up family and dreams, many have given up years of their time, and many have given up jobs and friends. Many have sacrificed limbs and many have given their lives. When you serve as a soldier, sacrifice is expected. And many times, you won't even receive the gratitude that you deserve.

A group of Americans went on a tour of France. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, was one of them. At customs, he had to take a few minutes to locate his passport. "You have been to France before, monsieur?", the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had. "Well, then you should know enough to have your passport ready." Mr. Whiting said, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. Americans have always had to show passports on arrival in France!" The American senior quietly explained. "Well, the last time I came to France in 1944 to help liberate this country; I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to."

When you serve God, you won't always get the recognition you think you deserve. In fact, many of the best servants may be totally overlooked or mistreated. The writer of Hebrews, speaking of God's faithful, wrote in Hebrews 11:36-40 (NIV)...

Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. (37) They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - (38) the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

(39) These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. (40) God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

When we faithfully serve Jesus - we won't always get the recognition we deserve. We have to sacrifice our egos! We have to understand that when we seek holiness and service - we'll probably encounter frustration and hostility. Don't expect accolades from the world, but remember that our reward comes when we get home!

We are called to do what it takes to fulfill God's purpose for us! - To share Jesus as The way to Heaven! We are called to be faithful to the end.

So What?

If there was an army of 100 men that went into battle, but only 3 of them bothered to load their weapons, what do you think would happen to that army? They certainly wouldn't stand much of a chance would they?

Zondervan Church resources did some research and they claim that 97% of all church members have no involvement in any sort of outreach to others. I'm not opposed to programs and various Church activities - but if we are simply busy with programs to the neglect of being a witness for Jesus - we're not fulfilling our mission. Don't mistake activity for effectiveness. What we do must focus on Jesus!

As we grow in Christ, as we mature – as I said, our roles and jobs will change drastically. When we're younger, we may have a great deal of energy that may lend itself to a particular area of service. As we get older, we gain experience and hopefully wisdom that may qualify us for different roles or leadership. At every stage in our walk with Christ – we are called to be witnesses. We are to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us, and the hope they can have in Him.

You hear me asking you to 'invite a friend' every week. You will hear me encouraging you to find a place of service. You will hear me asking you to use the gifts that God has given to you. You will hear me challenge you financially, to give sacrificially to support the ministry that we do here. It's a matter of putting our money where our faith is.

Service is about others. It's about putting their needs above your own. We have a lot of work to do before we get to go home!