THE HEART OF A WARRIOR (#2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.      There are numerous Scriptures in the New Testament that reveal to us that we are fighting men in the army of God.

1.       2 Corinthians 10:4

 

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).

 

2.       Ephesians 6:13

 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

 

3.       2 Timothy 2:3

 

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

 

B.      Yes, we are fighting men.  We are soldiers.  We are warriors fighting a spiritual battle.

 

C.      To be successful as warrior, we must develop “The Heart of A Warrior.”

1.       We looked at three traits of the warrior’s heart in last week’s lesson.

a.       A heart of obedience

b.       A heart of courage

c.        A heart of discipline.

2.       In this lesson, we will examine three more traits of a warrior’s heart.

 

I.                    A HEART OF DISGUST FOR THE ENEMY

 

A.      In warfare, we fight against an enemy.

1.        This enemy hates us.

2.       This enemy’s agenda will bring us into slavery.

3.       This enemy will destroy us if we refuse to submit to him.

4.       This enemy has harmed and destroyed many of our friends and loved ones.

5.       This enemy has only his own needs as his motivation.

 

B.       As we fight, we must have a disgust toward our enemy.

1.        God’s view of the enemy

a.       Let’s look at an enlightening text about God’s view of evil found in Psalm 5:4-6.

 

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:  neither shall evil dwell with thee.  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:  thou hatest all workers of iniquity.  Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:  the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

 

b.       In Proverbs 6:16-19, we are informed about seven things God hates.  Verse 6 begins with these words:  “These six things doth the Lord hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto him…”

2.       We must develop the same disgust of the enemy that God does.

a.       Psalm 97:10

 

Ye that love the Lord, hate evil…

 

b.       Amos 5:15

 

Hate the evil, and love the good…

 

C.      It is difficult for most Christians to develop the proper level of disgust for our enemies.

1.        We have been taught that it is wrong to hate.

2.       We have friends and family that are on the side of the enemy.

3.       We have been swooned by the enemy to believe that he is not that dangerous.

4.       We sometimes find ourselves on the side of the enemy.

a.       We are benefited by him.

b.       We do his bidding at times.

 

D.      We cannot be lured and deceived by the enemy.  We must maintain the attitude of the psalmist against those who oppose God (Ps. 139:21-22).

 

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee?  and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?  I hate them with perfect hatred:  I count them mine enemies.

 

II.                 A HEART OF A TEAM PLAYER

 

A.      When a person is in the military, there are very few positions wherein a person operates alone.  The soldier becomes part of a team, a unit.  The men in that unit know they must work together.  They learn how to have each other’s back.  A team player knows that he cannot be vested in his self-interests.  Thus, he sacrifices self for the good of the team.

 

B.       A team mindset is also essential for all soldiers in the Lord’s army (See 1 Cor. 12:20-22).

 

But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:  nor again the head to the feet, I have not need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.

 

C.      Questions:

1.        Would soldiers fail to show up for meetings called by their superiors?

2.       Would soldiers refuse to increase their knowledge and skills necessary for battle?

3.       Would soldiers fail to be on the battlefield during a war?

4.       Would soldiers fail to take care of a wounded soldier?

5.       Would soldiers forsake their nation and their people?

6.       Would soldiers give their best to their unit?  Or, would they be mediocre?

7.       Would soldiers allow their fellow-soldiers to pull their slack?

 

D.      We could take everyone of those questions and ask them to the soldiers of Christ.

We should ask each one of those questions to ourselves as soldiers in the Lord’s army.

 

E.      Which soldier is loved and held in high esteem?

1.        A well-trained, well-discipline soldier?  Or, a second-rate, humdrum soldier?

2.       A soldier who is willing and eager to do battle?  Or, a soldier who goes AWOL?

3.       A soldier focused on the team?  Or, a soldier dedicated to himself?

 

III.               A HEART THAT YEARNS FOR VICTORY

 

A.      There was a time when wars were fought and victory was the end goal.

There was a time when defeating the enemy was the desire of commanders and soldiers.

There was a time when nations would rejoice when victory over the enemy was obtained.

 

B.       The Bible uses terms that involve victory and the defeat of the enemy.

1.        Victory (1 John 5:4b)

 

…and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

2.       Conquerors (Rom. 8:37)

 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

 

3.       Overcomers (1 John 4:4)

 

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

C.      As soldiers we must yearn for victory. 

1.        To yearn means to deeply desire and to long earnestly for

2.       Defeat is not in the vocabulary of the warrior.

3.       LESSON:  Sometimes I wonder if the church really craves, aches, and hungers for victory.

 

D.      NOTE:  Victory does not just happen.

1.        There is no victory if we do not show up.

2.       There is no victory if we are not prepared for battle.

3.       There is no victory if we are half-hearted in the battle.

4.       There is no victory if we do not believe in the cause.

5.       There is no victory if we shrink from the enemy.

6.       There is no victory if we try to fight alone.

7.       There is no victory if we refuse to truly submit to our commander.

 

E.      We need to remember:  Victory Is Sweet!

1.        When Israel by the help of God destroyed Pharaoh and his armies, there was a period of great rejoicing.  In Exodus 15:1-21, we read the song of Moses and the song of Miriam.  Both songs contain a line quite similar (Exo. 15:1, 21).

 

…I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously:  the horse and rider hath he thrown into the sea.

 

2.       The theme of the Revelation is “victory.”  In Revelation 15:2, John sees those who had gotten victory over the beast, and over his image.  They, too, rejoiced (Rev. 15:3).

 

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are they works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

 

3.       Victories for us can come in many forms and will bring great rejoicing.

a.       Saving souls

b.       Reaching attendance goals

c.       Building successful programs of work

d.       Developing more mature Christians

e.        Strengthening our Christian homes

f.         Making ourselves purer and holier

g.       Dying as a faithful Christian and receiving a crown of life at the last day

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.      In Paul’s writings, he specifically mentions two individuals as being his fellow-soldiers.

1.        Ephaphroditus (Phil. 2:25)

2.       Archippus (Phile. 2)

 

B.       Question:  If you and I were serving beside the noble apostle Paul, would he view us as fellowsoldiers?

1.        Do we have a heart of disgust for the enemy?

2.       Do we have the heart of a team player?

3.       Do we possess a heart that dreams about victory?

 

C.      If we are truly warriors, let’s do as the hymn directs:  “Soldiers of Christ arise, and put your armor on.”  Let’s “o’er come through Christ alone, and stand entire at last.”