Sermon Title: Fit To Fight!
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14a)
Dearly Beloved,
Are you ready for war?
Are you fit to fight in this ongoing war against the spiritual forces of darkness?
Surrounded constantly by Roman soldiers, the Apostle Paul understands that the required warrior mindset for every Christian begins with the conscious and conscientious decision to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist”.
The Truth of God – as content in our lives – is essential to our Christian being and becoming; but in this case, Paul emphasizes the requirement to be conscious and deliberate agents of truth with the belt as clarion symbol of the Christian warrior’s acknowledgement, bearing, commitment, dedication and efficacy in standing and fighting for the truth of God.
To the warrior, the belt is both an accoutrement of respect, and an aspect required for effective warfare.
As an accoutrement of respect, we observe till this day title belts awarded to the victors of the various sports that feature hand to hand combat. For the Roman soldiers, we are given to understand that their belts displayed their standards, insignias, rank and medals from the campaigns they were involved in.
As an aspect required for warfare, the belt serves as a linchpin to the soldier’s uniform – securing their clothing, and more essentially, securing the parts of their armor close to the body and allow them quick access to essential implements – such as pouches, scabbards and sheathes for swords, daggers and other weapons - that would greatly increase their chances for survival and effectiveness.
For a Roman soldier, the belt does much more than hold up his pants; it allows him to tuck in his tunic, which is a longer version of the modern long-sleeve, but buttonless shirt. No warrior goes to war with loose ends that may trip him up or give his opponent an opportunity to overwhelm him in combat.
There is more.
To the Roman soldier, once belted up – the belt’s representation and requirement is transcended by a single attribute that would make the warrior successful – an unreserved and unquestionable commitment to the war.
Consider the warrior’s mindset.
You are now in service to your country 24/7; your role in the armed forces is your sole purpose in life; and war becomes your present reality.
Your barracks become your home; your fellow soldiers become your family.
You do not go to work in the daytime and come home at night; instead, you leave camp to visit your family before being required to report back at a specific time.
You do not arrange your work around your preferred schedule; your work, training and reality as a soldier becomes your sole focus.
You are completely committed to the mission at hand; you are completely committed to the fight; you are trained to understand that your role as a warrior comes first and foremost, everything else is peripheral, less important.
You are trained to understand that the enemy does not give you time to rest, time to replenish your supplies; that there are no second-chances.
Soldiering is more than your job, it must become your life.
You must embrace the reality, and the training; or it would certainly cost you your life.
You must submit absolutely to the will of your commander; the chain of command is unquestioned, the mission is unquestionable – and you follow orders because your life depends on it; in fact, the success of the mission and the lives of your team mates depend on it.
You are totally committed to the war – which is, complex, and multi-faceted; faced constantly with an enemy whose sole objective is to take your life and decimate your fellow-soldiers.
You are totally committed to the life – disciplined, engaged, and completely living in the reality of war.
You are totally committed to the King – in deep knowledge and embrace of His Will, His Heart, and His Love; and that He is worthy of your life.
You are totally committed to His Kingdom – in anticipation of your destiny, your reward and your prize.
Even in his choice of words, the Apostle Paul is most emphatic in ensuring this warrior mindset for every Christian:
12 Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
The Apostle Peter provides us with the cautionary tale when in his senseless bravado and wicked pride, he attempted to prevent the Lord’s impending death, earning Christ’s rebuke and subsequently, prophecy of his desperate betrayal. He knew how easy it was to fall from our position of security by the Lord’s side:
“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” (2 Peter 3:17)
ARE YOU FIT TO FIGHT?
The world is at war.
There is a spiritual war taking place right this moment between the forces of light and darkness; good and evil.
Our Lord Jesus Christ alludes this war to work in the harvest field:
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Are you fit for service in the Kingdom of God?
Do you put your hand on the plow and look back; instead of looking forward and going all the way?
Have you buckled on the belt of truth; in unreserved and resolute commitment to stand and fight as a warrior for His Kingdom sake; and as a soldier for His Truth?
To imbue the Christian warrior’s mindset, the Apostle Paul provides us with the following considerations:
2 Timothy 4 :1-2 – The Christian Warrior’s Commitment
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Our Commitment is to Christ; our Commission from Christ.
Our mission is to always be prepared to preach the word – to stand up for Christ, to fight for His Truth – with great patience (in waiting upon the Lord and in following His strategy closely) and careful instruction (in being guided by the Holy Spirit not to engage in every fight, but to be strategic, thoughtful, knowledgeable of His Truth and discerning in prayer)
2 Timothy 4 :3-4– Understanding our battlefield
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Though they turn from the truth, these people are not opposing combatants, but collateral damages of this spiritual war; who are, in fact, our mission field.
They are not to be disdained, but discipled in God’s love – under the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and in His Time.
2 Timothy 4:5– The Christians Warrior’s Creed
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
We are to hone our situational awareness and combat readiness through deepening our awareness of the Truth in light of the reality of darkness that is overwhelming our present world; and be trained and ever-ready to preach the gospel truth.
We are to understand that the devil attacks at all times, especially when we least expect; and hardship will be the key and ongoing feature of our lives as we discharge our respective Kingdom duties in the world today.
2 Timothy 4 :3-4– The Christian Warrior’s Reward – the HOPE OF GLORY!
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
And if we honorably discharge our duties in the sight of God – as did Paul – we would likewise be prepared to give our lives for Christ; daily fighting the good fight, and ultimately, finishing the race – and keeping our faith in Christ through it all.
Our reward? The Crown of Righteousness!
Imagine that! Better than health and wealth in this present life; is eternal life and riches in the glory of God!
Are you fit to fight for the Truth?
Are you absolutely and fully committed to this spiritual war?
Are you a true Christian?
Always bear in your heart and mind – each and every Christian must be unreserved and resolute in our commitment to this spiritual war.
There are no ‘Christian’ reservists, nor are there are ‘Christian’ civilians; there is only one line where this war must be fought by every Christian – and that is at the front.
Be committed to Christ!
Stand firm and live each day with the belt of Truth buckled around your waist - representing your unreserved and unyielding commitment to follow Christ fervently!
Be fit to fight the good fight of faith – in courageously and resolutely upholding God’s Truth – and never taking off the belt of Truth till you finish the race, and see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, I ask that You would empower me to stand firm against the armies of darkness, with the belt of truth buckled around my waist – in the required mindset of the Christian warrior that begins with the conscious and conscientious decision to be resolutely and uncompromisingly committed to this spiritual war.
Holy Spirit, ready me for this war!
Grant me the strength and spiritual fitness to war against the spiritual forces of darkness.
Fill me with the Truth of God – and grant me the deepest and desperate desire to be conscious and deliberate agent of Truth – overtly wearing the belt of truth as clarion symbol of my acknowledgement, bearing, commitment, dedication and efficacy as a Christian.
May I be totally committed to the war, to the life of a Christian warrior; to King Jesus, my Lord and Saviour; and His Kingdom.
Grant me each day, the “divine power to demolish strongholds” and to “demolish arguments and every pretension” within myself “that sets itself up against the knowledge of God”; and help my resolve to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”! (Ref: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
I resolve to remain securely in the Presence of Christ – and always be on my guard that I “may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall” away from God. (Ref: 2 Peter 3:17)
Lord Jesus, I have decided to follow You; my hand is on the plow, and my belt has been buckled – may I never be found looking back; not even a glance!
May I be found fit for service in Your Kingdom, Lord Jesus; may I follow you every step and all of the way!
Grant me daily strength, courage, endurance and resolve to be unreserved and resolute in my commitment to stand and fight as a warrior for His Kingdom sake; and as a soldier for Your truth – for my commitment is solely to You; just as my life’s commission is from You.
Grant me the discipline to always be prepared to preach Your Word – to stand up for Your glory sake; and for Your Truth – to have great patience in waiting upon Your divine timing in everything; and through being guided by Your Holy Spirit in being strategic, thoughtful, knowledgeable of Your Word, and loving in prayer, heart and action.
Though the world may turn from the truth, grant me the compassion to reach out to them with Your Salvific Gospel – in the divine knowledge that You love the world; and the world is indeed, the harvest field.
Holy Spirit, hone my situational awareness and combat readiness through deepening my awareness of the Truth in light of the reality of darkness that is overwhelming our present world; train me that I may be ever-ready to preach the gospel truth.
As I endure the hardships of war, help me courageously fight the good fight, and discharge each and every duty of my Christian Call; that I may finish the race; and keep my faith in Christ Jesus – in the glorious hope of receiving the crown of righteousness from the hands of my Lord, whose return to this world I most deeply long for.
Holy Spirit, help me be and become a true Christian, a true child of our Heavenly Father, a true disciple of Christ Jesus, and Your Holy agent.
May I stand firm and live each day with the belt of Truth buckled around my waist - representing my unreserved and unyielding commitment to follow Christ fervently!
May I always be found fit to fight the good fight of faith – in courageously and resolutely upholding God’s Truth – and never taking off the belt of Truth till I finish the race, and see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face!
We thank You and pray all these – on our knees - in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14a)
Dearly Beloved,
Are you ready for war?
Are you fit to fight in this ongoing war against the spiritual forces of darkness?
Surrounded constantly by Roman soldiers, the Apostle Paul understands that the required warrior mindset for every Christian begins with the conscious and conscientious decision to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist”.
The Truth of God – as content in our lives – is essential to our Christian being and becoming; but in this case, Paul emphasizes the requirement to be conscious and deliberate agents of truth with the belt as clarion symbol of the Christian warrior’s acknowledgement, bearing, commitment, dedication and efficacy in standing and fighting for the truth of God.
To the warrior, the belt is both an accoutrement of respect, and an aspect required for effective warfare.
As an accoutrement of respect, we observe till this day title belts awarded to the victors of the various sports that feature hand to hand combat. For the Roman soldiers, we are given to understand that their belts displayed their standards, insignias, rank and medals from the campaigns they were involved in.
As an aspect required for warfare, the belt serves as a linchpin to the soldier’s uniform – securing their clothing, and more essentially, securing the parts of their armor close to the body and allow them quick access to essential implements – such as pouches, scabbards and sheathes for swords, daggers and other weapons - that would greatly increase their chances for survival and effectiveness.
For a Roman soldier, the belt does much more than hold up his pants; it allows him to tuck in his tunic, which is a longer version of the modern long-sleeve, but buttonless shirt. No warrior goes to war with loose ends that may trip him up or give his opponent an opportunity to overwhelm him in combat.
There is more.
To the Roman soldier, once belted up – the belt’s representation and requirement is transcended by a single attribute that would make the warrior successful – an unreserved and unquestionable commitment to the war.
Consider the warrior’s mindset.
You are now in service to your country 24/7; your role in the armed forces is your sole purpose in life; and war becomes your present reality.
Your barracks become your home; your fellow soldiers become your family.
You do not go to work in the daytime and come home at night; instead, you leave camp to visit your family before being required to report back at a specific time.
You do not arrange your work around your preferred schedule; your work, training and reality as a soldier becomes your sole focus.
You are completely committed to the mission at hand; you are completely committed to the fight; you are trained to understand that your role as a warrior comes first and foremost, everything else is peripheral, less important.
You are trained to understand that the enemy does not give you time to rest, time to replenish your supplies; that there are no second-chances.
Soldiering is more than your job, it must become your life.
You must embrace the reality, and the training; or it would certainly cost you your life.
You must submit absolutely to the will of your commander; the chain of command is unquestioned, the mission is unquestionable – and you follow orders because your life depends on it; in fact, the success of the mission and the lives of your team mates depend on it.
You are totally committed to the war – which is, complex, and multi-faceted; faced constantly with an enemy whose sole objective is to take your life and decimate your fellow-soldiers.
You are totally committed to the life – disciplined, engaged, and completely living in the reality of war.
You are totally committed to the King – in deep knowledge and embrace of His Will, His Heart, and His Love; and that He is worthy of your life.
You are totally committed to His Kingdom – in anticipation of your destiny, your reward and your prize.
Even in his choice of words, the Apostle Paul is most emphatic in ensuring this warrior mindset for every Christian:
12 Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
The Apostle Peter provides us with the cautionary tale when in his senseless bravado and wicked pride, he attempted to prevent the Lord’s impending death, earning Christ’s rebuke and subsequently, prophecy of his desperate betrayal. He knew how easy it was to fall from our position of security by the Lord’s side:
“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” (2 Peter 3:17)
ARE YOU FIT TO FIGHT?
The world is at war.
There is a spiritual war taking place right this moment between the forces of light and darkness; good and evil.
Our Lord Jesus Christ alludes this war to work in the harvest field:
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Are you fit for service in the Kingdom of God?
Do you put your hand on the plow and look back; instead of looking forward and going all the way?
Have you buckled on the belt of truth; in unreserved and resolute commitment to stand and fight as a warrior for His Kingdom sake; and as a soldier for His Truth?
To imbue the Christian warrior’s mindset, the Apostle Paul provides us with the following considerations:
2 Timothy 4 :1-2 – The Christian Warrior’s Commitment
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Our Commitment is to Christ; our Commission from Christ.
Our mission is to always be prepared to preach the word – to stand up for Christ, to fight for His Truth – with great patience (in waiting upon the Lord and in following His strategy closely) and careful instruction (in being guided by the Holy Spirit not to engage in every fight, but to be strategic, thoughtful, knowledgeable of His Truth and discerning in prayer)
2 Timothy 4 :3-4– Understanding our battlefield
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Though they turn from the truth, these people are not opposing combatants, but collateral damages of this spiritual war; who are, in fact, our mission field.
They are not to be disdained, but discipled in God’s love – under the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and in His Time.
2 Timothy 4:5– The Christians Warrior’s Creed
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
We are to hone our situational awareness and combat readiness through deepening our awareness of the Truth in light of the reality of darkness that is overwhelming our present world; and be trained and ever-ready to preach the gospel truth.
We are to understand that the devil attacks at all times, especially when we least expect; and hardship will be the key and ongoing feature of our lives as we discharge our respective Kingdom duties in the world today.
2 Timothy 4 :3-4– The Christian Warrior’s Reward – the HOPE OF GLORY!
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
And if we honorably discharge our duties in the sight of God – as did Paul – we would likewise be prepared to give our lives for Christ; daily fighting the good fight, and ultimately, finishing the race – and keeping our faith in Christ through it all.
Our reward? The Crown of Righteousness!
Imagine that! Better than health and wealth in this present life; is eternal life and riches in the glory of God!
Are you fit to fight for the Truth?
Are you absolutely and fully committed to this spiritual war?
Are you a true Christian?
Always bear in your heart and mind – each and every Christian must be unreserved and resolute in our commitment to this spiritual war.
There are no ‘Christian’ reservists, nor are there are ‘Christian’ civilians; there is only one line where this war must be fought by every Christian – and that is at the front.
Be committed to Christ!
Stand firm and live each day with the belt of Truth buckled around your waist - representing your unreserved and unyielding commitment to follow Christ fervently!
Be fit to fight the good fight of faith – in courageously and resolutely upholding God’s Truth – and never taking off the belt of Truth till you finish the race, and see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, I ask that You would empower me to stand firm against the armies of darkness, with the belt of truth buckled around my waist – in the required mindset of the Christian warrior that begins with the conscious and conscientious decision to be resolutely and uncompromisingly committed to this spiritual war.
Holy Spirit, ready me for this war!
Grant me the strength and spiritual fitness to war against the spiritual forces of darkness.
Fill me with the Truth of God – and grant me the deepest and desperate desire to be conscious and deliberate agent of Truth – overtly wearing the belt of truth as clarion symbol of my acknowledgement, bearing, commitment, dedication and efficacy as a Christian.
May I be totally committed to the war, to the life of a Christian warrior; to King Jesus, my Lord and Saviour; and His Kingdom.
Grant me each day, the “divine power to demolish strongholds” and to “demolish arguments and every pretension” within myself “that sets itself up against the knowledge of God”; and help my resolve to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”! (Ref: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
I resolve to remain securely in the Presence of Christ – and always be on my guard that I “may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall” away from God. (Ref: 2 Peter 3:17)
Lord Jesus, I have decided to follow You; my hand is on the plow, and my belt has been buckled – may I never be found looking back; not even a glance!
May I be found fit for service in Your Kingdom, Lord Jesus; may I follow you every step and all of the way!
Grant me daily strength, courage, endurance and resolve to be unreserved and resolute in my commitment to stand and fight as a warrior for His Kingdom sake; and as a soldier for Your truth – for my commitment is solely to You; just as my life’s commission is from You.
Grant me the discipline to always be prepared to preach Your Word – to stand up for Your glory sake; and for Your Truth – to have great patience in waiting upon Your divine timing in everything; and through being guided by Your Holy Spirit in being strategic, thoughtful, knowledgeable of Your Word, and loving in prayer, heart and action.
Though the world may turn from the truth, grant me the compassion to reach out to them with Your Salvific Gospel – in the divine knowledge that You love the world; and the world is indeed, the harvest field.
Holy Spirit, hone my situational awareness and combat readiness through deepening my awareness of the Truth in light of the reality of darkness that is overwhelming our present world; train me that I may be ever-ready to preach the gospel truth.
As I endure the hardships of war, help me courageously fight the good fight, and discharge each and every duty of my Christian Call; that I may finish the race; and keep my faith in Christ Jesus – in the glorious hope of receiving the crown of righteousness from the hands of my Lord, whose return to this world I most deeply long for.
Holy Spirit, help me be and become a true Christian, a true child of our Heavenly Father, a true disciple of Christ Jesus, and Your Holy agent.
May I stand firm and live each day with the belt of Truth buckled around my waist - representing my unreserved and unyielding commitment to follow Christ fervently!
May I always be found fit to fight the good fight of faith – in courageously and resolutely upholding God’s Truth – and never taking off the belt of Truth till I finish the race, and see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face!
We thank You and pray all these – on our knees - in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.