June 1, 2025 • 40 mins
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The shield wall forms as Christian warriors gather to conclude our powerful journey through 1 Peter. Amid today's spiritual battlefield, this final chapter delivers exactly what modern believers need—a battle plan for standing firm against the enemy's assaults.
With military precision and pastoral heart, we explore Peter's blueprint for spiritual resilience. Servant leadership stands in stark contrast to worldly authority as we examine how true shepherds lead from the front, not seeking personal gain but modeling Christ-like sacrifice. The call to humility reverberates as the essential posture for receiving God's grace, with a powerful reminder to cast our anxieties on Him who genuinely cares for our wellbeing.
The stakes couldn't be higher as Peter warns of our adversary prowling like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We confront how modern distractions—endless entertainment, social media, and worldly pursuits—dull our spiritual alertness, making us vulnerable to attack. Yet Peter's assurance that fellow believers worldwide face and overcome identical struggles bolsters our courage to resist firmly in faith.
What truly transforms this message from mere instruction to life-giving hope is the promise that after suffering "for a little while," the God of all grace will Himself restore, strengthen, confirm, and ground us. This divine promise puts our temporary trials into eternal perspective, enabling us to stand firm until the Chief Shepherd appears.
Join us as we lock shields together, strengthening one another to proclaim Christ's excellencies with both lips and life. Though the world may war against us, we serve the Lion of Judah, and the ground beneath our feet is blood-bought. Stand firm, Christian warriors—we shall not be moved!
Christian Warrior Talk is Sponsored by Trident Shield, your trusted ally in violence preparedness. Trident Shield helps safeguard your loved ones with expert training and consulting. Trident Shield, defending faith through empowered preparedness because together, we save lives."
Welcome to Christian Warrior Mission: the ministry where Christian warriors are forged, equipped, and united for the battles of life and faith. Our channel is dedicated to empowering you to stand firm, advance the line, and claim victory for Christ’s Kingdom. We offer two powerful streams of content:
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Heart Alignment: Begin with a prayer of gratitude and humility, aligning your heart with the Lord.
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Nehemiah 4:14
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Happy Lord's Day everyone and welcome to
Christian Warrior Mission, ahome, church, community ministry
and farm that forges Christianwarriors for today's challenges.
Here we forge disciples whowill faithfully worship, work
and war until every knee bows toKing Jesus.
We lock shields to protect theinnocent and disciple the
(00:23):
nations.
Today we will wrap up ourjourney through 1 Peter with a
rallying call to stand firmtogether in faith.
We are not a people who hidefrom the battle.
We are those who stand firmshoulder to shoulder, shields
locked together, eyes fixed onChrist and hearts ablaze for his
kingdom.
(00:44):
I'm not going to do anyannouncements today.
We're going to dive right in.
I know we're late and Iapologize for that.
Technical challenges I just sawmy screen go black and it's
back.
So since we got a new computertrying to make all the gizmos
work together and get all thesettings right, it's not as easy
(01:05):
as you think.
All right.
So I always do the Lord'sPrayer and I always pray a sin,
and I want you to go a littlebit deeper into that today.
Before we proceed deeper intoworship, let us be rooted in the
fundamental prayer, fundamentalprayer that Lord Jesus Christ
(01:26):
taught his disciples, the modelprayer for every Christian
warrior Luke 11.1.
Lord, teach us to pray.
Brothers and sisters, prayer isnot an option for the Christian
soldier of Christ.
It is essential Communicationwith the commander of the armies
of heaven.
Let us now read together and,commander of the armies of
(01:47):
heaven, let us now read togetherand teach through the Lord's
prayer Matthew 6, 9 through 13,and I'm reading out the LSB.
Pray then in this way ourFather who is in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will bedone on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our dailybread and forgive us our debts,
(02:11):
as we also have forgiven ourdebtors, and do not lead us in
temptation, but deliver us fromthe evil one, for yours is the
kingdom and the power of gloryforever.
Amen.
Now did I get jumpy Just alittle bit.
Let's get into the teachingpoints of this.
Our Father who is in heaven,hallowed be your name.
(02:31):
We pray with reverence andhumility to the sovereign Holy
Father of the universe.
Your kingdom come, your will bedone.
We align our lives withChrist's kingdom purpose, not
our own agendas.
Give us this day our dailybread.
We live in daily dependence onGod, our provider and sustainer.
(02:55):
Forgive us our debts, as wealso have forgiven our debtors.
We live out forgiveness becausewe ourselves have been forgiven
much.
Do not lead us into temptation,but deliver us from the evil
one.
We seek God's protection andstrength against temptation and
(03:16):
spiritual attack, for yours isthe kingdom and the power and
the glory forever.
We affirm God's eternaldominion, power and victory.
Now that if you wanted aperfect prayer, that's a perfect
prayer, but you can get alonein your room, get on your knees,
repent of your sins and gethumble and reach out to the
(03:40):
creator of the universe andhe'll be there.
So let's review 1 Peter,chapters 1 through 4 real quick.
1 Peter 1, suffering refinesfaith.
Okay, verse 6,.
In this you greatly rejoice,even though now, for a little
while if necessary, you havebeen grieved by various trials,
(04:02):
so that the proof of your faithbeing more precious than gold,
which is perishable even thoughtested by fire, may be found to
result in praise and glory andhonor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.
Trials are temporary, but faithis eternal.
Faith refined by sufferingbecomes precious and powerful.
(04:23):
We must learn to embracehardships as God's refining fire
, rejoice knowing that yoursuffering has an eternal purpose
.
So even suffering is a forgethat strengthens our faith into
something imperishable.
In 1 Peter 2, our identity andwitness.
In 1 Peter 2, our identity andwitness, verse 9,.
(05:01):
Believers are set apart with apurpose, with dignity.
Our identity fuels our missionto proclaim Christ and we must
live as one, called out of thedarkness of our former lives,
boldly proclaim Christ'sexcellencies through word and
(05:23):
deed.
We suffer, but we suffer aschosen and holy people.
Three 1 Peter 3, household andhope, verse 315,.
But sanctify Christ as Lord inyour hearts, always being ready
to make a defense to anyone oreveryone who asks you to give an
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account for the hope that is inyou.
Yet with gentleness and fear.
I can't tell you how much thiscomes up.
And the longer you're achristian and the more you walk
it out, people are going to comeup and ask you what's different
about you?
Why do you believe?
How did you become a christian?
How do you know?
You must be ready to give thattestimony.
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Okay, christ must reign supremein our hearts.
Believers must always beprepared to defend their hope,
their belief.
Regularly study scripture to beready.
You're not going to be ready ifyou don't know anything.
Answer others with gentlenessand reverence.
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Our hope shines bright whenchallenged by the darkness, and
then 1 Peter 4, before we getinto 5.
Preparedness and endurance,therefore.
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Also, though also who sufferaccording to the will of god
must entrust their souls to thefaithful creator in doing good.
Suffering according to god'swill leads to deeper trust.
God remains faithful eventhrough suffering.
We must trust god fully withyour life and soul and continue
doing good regardless of thecircumstances.
As Ignatius said, stand firm asan anvil when struck.
So now we get into 1 Peter 5,the last chapter of 1 Peter.
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Shepherds on the front lines.
We're going to go line by line,and I'm going to break it down
as we go.
Therefore, I exhort the eldersamong you, as your fellow elder
and witness of the sufferings ofChrist and a partaker also of
the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God
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among you, overseeing, not undercompulsion but willingly,
according to God, and not fordishonest gain but with
eagerness, nor yet as lording itover those allotted to you, but
as being examples to the flock.
And when the chief shepherdappears, you'll receive the
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unfading crown of glory.
Leadership in Christ's church isnot about worldly authority.
It is a sacrificial service.
Elders are called to shepherdthe flock of God willingly and
eagerly, not for shameful game.
Eagerly, not for shameful game.
Christian leaders and we're allChristian leaders must lead by
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example, not by domination.
Christ, the chief shepherd,himself, will reward faithful
shepherds with the unfadingcrown of glory.
What do we do with this?
If you are in leadershipwhether in your home, church,
ministry, work lead like Christwith humility, sacrifice and
vigilance.
Fathers, pastors, teachers,parents, care for your flock,
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your family, your congregation,personally and protectively.
Serve, not for what you can getor for what you can give.
I can't say that any betterthan that.
Serve not for what you can get.
You serve for what you can give.
Too many people do things forwhat they can get.
(09:22):
That is the opposite of aChristian.
A Christian does what they dofor what they can give.
Remember that your reward isnot from men, but from Jesus
Christ himself, who sees everyact of faithful shepherding.
When no one else sees whatyou're doing, he does, he knows,
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and every vile thought andevery selfish one that you do,
he knows, he knows.
And remember, love covers amultitude of sins.
So some real life examples afather praying over his children
when they sleep, leading familyworship.
A church elder calling astruggling member midweek just
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to encourage them in Christ, aChristian teacher standing firm
on biblical truth despite thepressure to compromise.
Some famous quotes to supportthis are John Christosom the
shepherd risks his life, thehireling counts the coins and
the great Charles Spurgeon.
A true shepherd must be readyto lay down his life for the
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sheep, not for fame, but forfaith.
Now we continue on for verses 5through 7.
Humility under God's mightyhand.
You younger men likewise, besubject to your elders and all
of you Clothe yourselves withhumility toward one another.
(10:51):
For God is opposed to the proudbut gives grace to the humble.
That's why we must always starteverything with being humble.
You are entitled to nothing.
You deserve nothing butdamnation.
Everything that you're gettingis a blessing and a gift that
you did not earn.
Jesus Christ came down and diedfor you, period.
(11:14):
You didn't deserve it, but hedid so.
Be grateful.
But he gives grace to thehumble.
Picking up in verse six,therefore, humble yourselves
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under the mighty hand of godthat he may exalt you at the
proper time, that's, lift you up, praise you, casting all your
anxiety on him because he caresfor you.
Now verse 7 is really important,because to be human is to have
anxiety.
To be human is distress.
How many things do we stressthat we have no power over?
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We stress things that neverhappened, that we have no power
over.
We stress things that neverhappened.
We stress things that couldnever happen.
I remember when I was a kidafter seeing Jaws and very young
kid after seeing Jaws Iremember being in a pool and
(12:22):
stressing over putting my backto the deeper, deep end of the
pool because sharks would comeget me.
Now that is impossible and thatis ridiculous.
But so are many of our fearsright.
Many of our fears are just asridiculous as a fresh chlorine
pool in the middle of a city andhaving sharks in it.
(12:43):
Right, so put your faith in God, because fear and anxiety is a
lack of faith.
So what do we learn?
What do we have in these verses?
Five through seven, youngerbelievers must submit to the
wisdom of leaderships of elders.
All believers must put onhumility like armor.
(13:05):
Pride provokes God's activeopposition, meaning if you are
prideful, god will squash you,while humility draws his
empowering gaze.
Grace.
True humility expresses itselfby trusting God with all cares
and anxieties.
How do we apply this?
(13:26):
Submit willingly to God'sauthority in your life.
That might be your pastors,your parents, your teachers
who's ever mentoring you?
But submit willingly to Godlyauthority in your life, the
Bible first and always, and thenfrom there the other people
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that God puts in your life,places in your life.
Practice humility daily.
Choose to serve, listen andlearn rather than insist on your
own way.
Cast your burdens, worries andfears onto the Lord in prayer,
not once, but continually.
Trust that in his perfect timeGod will lift you up and exalt
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you for his glory.
Martin Luther said I have heldmany things in my hands and have
lost them all, but whatever Ihave placed in God's hands that
I still possess.
But whatever I have placed inGod's hands that I still possess
.
I mean, that's one of thosequotes that just rocks me.
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I have held many things in myhands and have lost them all,
but whatever I have placed inGod's hands that I still possess
.
And then John Calvin Humilityis the beginning of true
intelligence.
And John MacArthur, who's stillwith us, pride usurps God's
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preeminent position, leaving youno one to rely on when anxiety
creeps in.
So let's jump back in to verses8 and 9.
Vigilant resistance against theroaring lion.
Be of sober spirit, be watchful, okay.
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So here he's telling you don'tlet your guard down.
Be watchful, don't compromiseyour judgment and, as somebody
who used to be a partier, Iwould go out to drink to get rid
of my judgment, to get rid ofmy inhibitions, to go out and
purposely make bad decisionsright To numb my morality so I
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could do anything fleshly that Iwanted to.
But why do we need to do that?
Be of sober spirit, be watchful.
Your adversary, the devil,literally the devil, prowls
around like a roaring lionseeking someone to devour.
(16:02):
So just picture this in the olddays Somebody stumbling out of
a brothel or a bar, going downthe streets, walking through the
countryside on the way home.
What an easy target that hewould be for a lion being the
devil.
But resist him.
(16:22):
How do we do that?
Resist him, firm in faith,knowing that the same experience
of suffering are beingaccomplished among your brethren
who are in the world, meaningthat Christians have been
dealing with this forever andare dealing with it right now
and winning.
Christians must remain sober,vigilant and alert at all times.
(16:43):
We live in contested territory.
Satan is real, active andprowling, seeking to destroy our
faith and joy.
In Israel, active and prowling,seeking to destroy our faith
and joy.
We are commanded not to fear orflee, but to resist him firmly
through faith.
We are not alone.
Believers everywhere areenduring and overcoming by the
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same grace that you have.
So what do we do with this?
We must stay spiritually sharp.
Avoid laziness, prayerlessnessand worldly distractions that
dulls your senses.
The number one challenge of ourday is avoiding worldly
distractions.
That is your video games, thatis your endless sports, that is
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your Netflix binge watching of52 seasons of this show just to
roll into 32 seasons of the nextshow, to whatever else is out
there.
The internet, social media,whatever you got.
It's all pulling you furtherfrom him, further from him, and
it's all going to make you moremiserable.
In the end, there is no peace,there is no joy.
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Trust me, and I keep learningthis To this day.
I keep learning this there isno peace and joy away from the
purpose that God created you tobe.
That's a father, that's amother, that's a grandmother,
that's a son, that's a brother,that's a friend.
That's this All serving Christ,meaning the best moments of
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your life when you are lying onyour bed dying and taking your
last breath.
You're not going to care aboutseason three, episode six, of
the Sopranos.
You're not going to care onebit.
You're not going to care aboutbeating that level in the video
game.
You're not going to care aboutthe Super Bowl that was won 22
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years earlier.
You're not going to care aboutall this other stuff.
You're going to wish one thingWell, two things really.
You're going to wish you spentmore time with the people you
loved instead of doing your ownselfish crap, and you're going
to wish that you paid moreattention to God, because your
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time is up and you learned abouteverything else but him and
you're getting ready to meet him.
And you learned abouteverything else but him, and
you're getting ready to meet him.
And as I get older 52, still,52, still my time could happen
the next minute, just like itcould happen for anyone, but
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let's face it, people aren'tliving to 150 or even 120.
You know more than likely, I'mon the back half of my life,
which would be 104.
What is more important now thangetting to know God?
We all think, oh, heunderstands.
No, no, yeah, he does.
He understands your selfishness, he understands your sin, he
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understands your fickle ways,your lack of loyalty, your
betrayal, your selfishnessyourself, self, self, self, self
.
That is our problem and it'sdone by the devil.
The devil uses all these tools,social media.
You can do this for days,scrolling, and what do you see?
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You see everyone else whoappears to have it better than
you, not knowing that every oneof those people are crying
themselves to sleep.
They're all miserable as well.
They just happen to have afilter on and no cameras, and
they show you the good parts oftheir life.
They don't show you thehorrible parts of their life,
which is a majority of it.
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Every time I step away from Godand every time I get lazy or I
drift or I revel in self-pityand all these things, no matter
what I do, I can go to my videogames or start watching a show
or reading a book, whatever, andall those things aren't bad in
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themselves if I'm seeking Godfirst, if I'm seeking God first,
if I'm seeking God first, thenI'm going to have my joy and I'm
going to have my purpose.
And guess what?
I'm not going to be doingthings that I shouldn't be doing
.
But as I separate from him andfill it with these things, I'm
going to get angrier, I'm goingto get more sinful and I'm going
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to get more miserable.
Sure, as I'm standing there andit's going to accelerate,
accelerate, accelerate until itcomes to a head and then
something bad will happen.
Goodbye, oh thanks.
So this is without exception.
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So we must stay physically sharp, avoid laziness, prayerlessness
and worldly distractions thatdull your senses when temptation
or attack comes, stand onscripture, declaring the truth
against Satan's lies.
When you sit, when you're thereand you're feeling guilty and
you're like, you know my sin'stoo much right, because that is
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rightful thinking.
There your sins are too much.
You know you're not worthy.
You're right, you're not worthy, but Christ did it anyways.
And know your sins aren't toomuch because Christ's blood is
pure enough and good enough toredeem anything.
What you get, really, where themost dangerous thing is, is
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this oh, I'm not that bad, I'mnot Hitler, I'm not a rapist,
I'm not these things, I'm not aserial killer.
Now, that is the devilwhispering to you and that is
your selfishness, trying to pickyour favorite sins that aren't
so bad.
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Surround yourself with godlybrothers and sisters.
Do not try to fight alone, andwe know this.
What do we do when we startmessing up?
We flee.
Why?
Because we don't want to beheld accountable.
We don't want to be heldaccountable.
We don't.
We feel guilty and shameful andall this stuff.
(23:25):
But what I'm trying to tell youis that the people who want you
in their life and that careabout you don't care about any
of that.
They just want you back.
They just want you back.
They want you to own it.
So you grow from it.
Your repentance is proof of achanged heart, and then you move
forward and you are reconciled.
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What does that sound like?
What we all do with Jesus allthe time?
That sound like what we all dowith Jesus all the time.
You can't hide from him.
He's the final stop.
When you close your eyes oneday and you open them up, that's
where you're going to be andthere will be no excuses.
(24:09):
Take courage, knowing that yourbrothers and sisters around the
world face the same enemy.
Take people have been winningthis forever with God, and you
can too.
As Charles Spurgeon said, seekto obtain clear knowledge in the
doctrines of the gospel andthen get a good grip on them.
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Answer Satan with.
How great would it be if Satanchallenged you with something?
And you say thus saith the Lord, and boom, you repeat your
scripture.
William Gurnall said we mustwalk, work and sleep in armor,
or else we are not true soldiersin Christ.
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And John Owen said temptationand occasions put nothing into a
man, but only draw out what wasin him before and that comes
from oh, the devil made me dothis.
No, the devil didn't make me dothis, that was you.
The opportunity came and youtook it.
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There's a saying out there no,I won't even get into that Back
in.
We're getting to the end now.
Peter 5, 10, and 11.
The promise of restoration andeternal glory, the good news.
And after you have suffered fora little while, glory, the good
news.
And after you have suffered fora little while, the God of all
grace, who called you to hiseternal glory in Christ, will
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himself restore, strengthen,confirm and ground you.
To him be might forever andever.
Amen.
Suffering, though painful, isshort compared to eternal glory
that awaits us.
God himself will personallyrestore, strengthen, confirm and
(26:05):
ground his people.
There's no doctor like him,there's no drug like him.
There's no, nothing Instantlyperfect.
That's what you will be.
Our suffering has a purpose andan end.
Your suffering, when handledwell and done in a godly way,
(26:30):
glorifies God and his dominionforever.
God's grace is active.
It's not theoretical.
It comes in power to his people.
That's you.
So what do we do with this?
Keep your suffering inperspective.
It is for a little whilecompared to eternity.
(26:54):
I remember when I was goingthrough BUDS there was a great
instructor there, instructorWalker.
Forrest Walker, great dude,very motivational, complete
opposite of me.
He was a triathlete guy, skinnyas a rail, couldn't believe he
was a sail when I first, skinnyas a rail, couldn't believe he
was a sail.
When I first met him, and Icouldn't believe you, he was an
instructor because he didn'tlook like anyone else.
(27:15):
He was so inspirational, he wasso inspiring and he took a line
graph on there and he put aline here and this is when you
were born and then this is whenyou die.
And then he took buds, which is26 weeks, which is basically in
the water demolition school,seal training, and he took it in
there and he said, okay, it'susually somewhere between 18 and
(27:39):
25 here, 26 if you're here.
And he draws an inch margin onsomething that's you know 10
feet long, that's you know 10feet long, and he's like that's
how long you have to suffer forthe glory that will be with you
the rest of your life, that youmade it through here.
When you're in it it's going toseem like forever.
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And he's like and if you wantto break it down, hell week is
even smaller inside of that 26weeks.
So you take hell week and youbreak it down 52 weeks a year
times 80.
That's one week out of 80 years.
Then you break that down andthat's what's going to decide
part of your fate.
And when you look at thingsthat way, it's no different with
(28:25):
the Lord, even if you made itto 120 or 119 versus eternity.
It's a small price to pay whenyou feel broken.
Cling to the promise that Godwill personally mend and
strengthen you.
I'm broken.
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I've got a replaced knee whatsix, seven months, seven months
ago, eight months ago.
I've got a replaced knee whatsix, seven months ago, eight
months ago.
I've got a bad back fromparachuting axes.
I'm a 100% disabled vet.
I'm in pain and everyone's gottheir other pains, everyone
you're not getting.
Life is pain.
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We're all going to accumulateit, some stupidly, some more
noble, others purely accidentaland tragic.
But you don't get out of thislife without scars, bumps and
bruises.
God is personally going to healyou.
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One day You're going to wake up, be staring at him and all the
pain's gone, gone.
All the suffering's gone Gone.
Nothing but joy.
Personally, personally, manpraise and worship God, even in
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the midst of trial, affirminghis sovereignty.
Rest in the certainty that ourGod reigns.
No suffering is wasted and nopain will have the last word.
And again I'm going to talkabout my friend, john, who lost
his six-year-old granddaughterto cancer.
(30:10):
He showed me and walked us outwhere I saw him at her funeral,
walk out of faith larger thananyone I've ever known and set
the example to hundreds ofpeople of what it is to be a
godly man and to praise God insuffering and to be joyful.
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And I saw God's glory in thatmoment.
That horrible death, that suckything that happened, that
tragedy glorified God more thananything.
It was incredible because itwas completely unnatural.
It was incredible because itwas completely unnatural.
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Samuel Rutherford said ourlittle time of suffering is not
worthy of our first night'swelcome home in heaven, our
first night for eternity.
It's not even worth it.
John Calvin said whateveradversity the godly suffer, they
know that God is testing themand in the end will be blessed.
Spurgeon said I have learned tokiss the waves that throw me
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against the rock of ages.
The final exhortation Standfirm in true grace, verse 12.
Through Silvanus, our faithfulbrother, as I regard him, I have
written to you brieflyexhorting and bearing witness
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that this is the true grace ofGod.
Stand firm in it.
She also, who is in Babylon,chosen together with you, sends
you greetings, and so does myson, mark.
Greet one another with a kissof love.
Peace be to you all who are inChrist.
(32:04):
Peter affirms the message thathe has delivered to the true
grace of God is the true graceof God.
Christians must stand firmlyand move a boy in that grace,
not drifting, not retreating.
Fellowship among believers mustbe marked with genuine love and
unity.
Peace is the final blessing andarmor for those who are in
(32:24):
Christ.
And what do we do with this?
We anchor our soul in truth ofthe gospel, no matter what waves
hit us.
Stand firmly with your brothersand sisters.
Love fervently, greet warmly,forgive quickly.
Always remember the peace thatguards us is the peace Christ
(32:46):
purchased with his blood.
Live in that peace daily,resisting fear, division and
spiritual apathy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer saidChristian community is not an
ideal we must realize.
It is a reality created by Godin Christ, in which we may
(33:07):
participate.
And Augustine said inessentials unity and
non-essentials liberty and allthings, charity.
Brothers and sisters, today youhave heard the charge.
You have been reminded thatsuffering is but for a little
while, but glory is forever.
You have been equipped toresist the enemy, to lock
(33:31):
shields in brotherhood and tostand firm in the true grace of
God.
Now is the time to act.
Rise up, warriors of Christ.
Strengthen your knees forprayer, your hands for service,
your heart for battle.
Do not drift, do not retreat.
Our King calls us forward.
Stand in the gap for yourfamily.
(33:53):
Stand boldly in your workplace.
Shine the light of Christ intothe dark corners of this world.
Proclaim his excellencies withyour lips and your life.
Proclaim his excellencies withyour lips and your life.
This world may war against us,but we serve the Lion of Judah.
(34:13):
The ground beneath our feet isblood-bought and we shall not be
moved.
Take your post in the shieldwall.
Lock shields with your brothersand sisters.
Fight the good fight, finishthe race, keep the faith and
when the chief shepherd appears,may he find us standing firm,
(34:36):
unshaken, roaring back invictory.
To God alone be the glory,dominion and might, forever and
ever Forward.
Christian warriors.
Amen and amen.
So we're going to do the Lord'sSupper.
You guys already have it 1Corinthians 11.28.
(35:02):
But a man must test himself,and in doing so he is to eat of
the bread and drink of the cup.
Before we partake, let us takea moment of silence to quietly
bow before the King of glory.
Let each man, woman and youngwarrior here search his or her
heart, confessing sin, layingdown burdens and preparing to
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eat or drink in a manner worthyof the Lord.
Go ahead, take a moment.
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Almighty God, sovereign, lord ofhosts, we approach your table
today not because we are worthy,but because Jesus Christ is
worthy.
We come not trusting in our ownrighteousness, but clinging to
the righteousness of JesusChrist alone.
We remember his broken body,his blood poured out for the new
(36:10):
covenant.
We bow in humble gratitude, welift our hearts in reverent awe.
Sanctify this bread and thiscup and sanctify us, your people
, as we proclaim the death,resurrection and the coming
kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray in his mighty andmatchless name Amen.
1 Corinthians 11, 23, 24.
(36:34):
The Lord Jesus, in the night inwhich he was being betrayed,
took bread and when he had giventhanks, he broke it and said
this is my body, which is foryou.
Do this in remembrance of me.
Remember this symbolizes hisbody pierced, beaten, sacrificed
for you.
Let us partake of the breadtogether in remembrance of
Christ's body broken for us.
(36:54):
Go ahead and eat In the sameway.
He took the cup after supper,saying this cup is a new
covenant in my blood.
Do this as often as you drinkit in remembrance of me.
Remember this symbolizes hisblood, the blood that purchased
(37:16):
our forgiveness and sealed theeverlasting covenant.
Let us partake of the cuptogether in remembrance of
Christ's blood poured out for us.
You eat and drink of this cup.
(37:37):
You proclaim the death of theLord until he comes.
By this eating and drinking, wepublicly proclaim Christ has
died, christ is risen, christwill come again.
We are soldiers in hiseverlasting kingdom.
Let us pray.
Brothers and sisters, now goforth from this place as
(37:58):
soldiers of Christ, armored withfaith, wrapped in hope, blazing
with love.
May the Lord, our host, gobefore you to lead you, beside
you to guard you, beneath you tosustain you and within you to
strengthen you.
May your shield of faith neverfalter, may your sword of the
spirit never grow dull, may yourfeet never stray from the path
(38:20):
of righteousness and may theroar of the Lion of Judah echo
behind you as you advance Hiskingdom wherever your feet
travel, kingdom wherever yourfeet travel, stand firm warriors
, lock shields, fight the goodfight, finish the race, keep the
faith until we stand before theking himself, crowned by his
(38:41):
grace, and hear those blessedwords.
Well done, good and faithfulservant In the mighty name of
Jesus Christ.
Amen.
God bless you.
Happy Lord's Day everyone and welcome to
Christian Warrior Mission, ahome, church, community ministry
and farm that forges Christianwarriors for today's challenges.
Here we forge disciples whowill faithfully worship, work
and war until every knee bows toKing Jesus.
We lock shields to protect theinnocent and disciple the
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nations.
Today we will wrap up ourjourney through 1 Peter with a
rallying call to stand firmtogether in faith.
We are not a people who hidefrom the battle.
We are those who stand firmshoulder to shoulder, shields
locked together, eyes fixed onChrist and hearts ablaze for his
kingdom.
(00:44):
I'm not going to do anyannouncements today.
We're going to dive right in.
I know we're late and Iapologize for that.
Technical challenges I just sawmy screen go black and it's
back.
So since we got a new computertrying to make all the gizmos
work together and get all thesettings right, it's not as easy
(01:05):
as you think.
All right.
So I always do the Lord'sPrayer and I always pray a sin,
and I want you to go a littlebit deeper into that today.
Before we proceed deeper intoworship, let us be rooted in the
fundamental prayer, fundamentalprayer that Lord Jesus Christ
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taught his disciples, the modelprayer for every Christian
warrior Luke 11.1.
Lord, teach us to pray.
Brothers and sisters, prayer isnot an option for the Christian
soldier of Christ.
It is essential Communicationwith the commander of the armies
of heaven.
Let us now read together and,commander of the armies of
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heaven, let us now read togetherand teach through the Lord's
prayer Matthew 6, 9 through 13,and I'm reading out the LSB.
Pray then in this way ourFather who is in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will bedone on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our dailybread and forgive us our debts,
(02:11):
as we also have forgiven ourdebtors, and do not lead us in
temptation, but deliver us fromthe evil one, for yours is the
kingdom and the power of gloryforever.
Amen.
Now did I get jumpy Just alittle bit.
Let's get into the teachingpoints of this.
Our Father who is in heaven,hallowed be your name.
(02:31):
We pray with reverence andhumility to the sovereign Holy
Father of the universe.
Your kingdom come, your will bedone.
We align our lives withChrist's kingdom purpose, not
our own agendas.
Give us this day our dailybread.
We live in daily dependence onGod, our provider and sustainer.
(02:55):
Forgive us our debts, as wealso have forgiven our debtors.
We live out forgiveness becausewe ourselves have been forgiven
much.
Do not lead us into temptation,but deliver us from the evil
one.
We seek God's protection andstrength against temptation and
(03:16):
spiritual attack, for yours isthe kingdom and the power and
the glory forever.
We affirm God's eternaldominion, power and victory.
Now that if you wanted aperfect prayer, that's a perfect
prayer, but you can get alonein your room, get on your knees,
repent of your sins and gethumble and reach out to the
(03:40):
creator of the universe andhe'll be there.
So let's review 1 Peter,chapters 1 through 4 real quick.
1 Peter 1, suffering refinesfaith.
Okay, verse 6,.
In this you greatly rejoice,even though now, for a little
while if necessary, you havebeen grieved by various trials,
(04:02):
so that the proof of your faithbeing more precious than gold,
which is perishable even thoughtested by fire, may be found to
result in praise and glory andhonor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.
Trials are temporary, but faithis eternal.
Faith refined by sufferingbecomes precious and powerful.
(04:23):
We must learn to embracehardships as God's refining fire
, rejoice knowing that yoursuffering has an eternal purpose
.
So even suffering is a forgethat strengthens our faith into
something imperishable.
In 1 Peter 2, our identity andwitness.
In 1 Peter 2, our identity andwitness, verse 9,.
(05:01):
Believers are set apart with apurpose, with dignity.
Our identity fuels our missionto proclaim Christ and we must
live as one, called out of thedarkness of our former lives,
boldly proclaim Christ'sexcellencies through word and
(05:23):
deed.
We suffer, but we suffer aschosen and holy people.
Three 1 Peter 3, household andhope, verse 315,.
But sanctify Christ as Lord inyour hearts, always being ready
to make a defense to anyone oreveryone who asks you to give an
(05:46):
account for the hope that is inyou.
Yet with gentleness and fear.
I can't tell you how much thiscomes up.
And the longer you're achristian and the more you walk
it out, people are going to comeup and ask you what's different
about you?
Why do you believe?
How did you become a christian?
How do you know?
You must be ready to give thattestimony.
(06:08):
Okay, christ must reign supremein our hearts.
Believers must always beprepared to defend their hope,
their belief.
Regularly study scripture to beready.
You're not going to be ready ifyou don't know anything.
Answer others with gentlenessand reverence.
(06:29):
Our hope shines bright whenchallenged by the darkness, and
then 1 Peter 4, before we getinto 5.
Preparedness and endurance,therefore.
(06:51):
Also, though also who sufferaccording to the will of god
must entrust their souls to thefaithful creator in doing good.
Suffering according to god'swill leads to deeper trust.
God remains faithful eventhrough suffering.
We must trust god fully withyour life and soul and continue
doing good regardless of thecircumstances.
As Ignatius said, stand firm asan anvil when struck.
So now we get into 1 Peter 5,the last chapter of 1 Peter.
(07:21):
Shepherds on the front lines.
We're going to go line by line,and I'm going to break it down
as we go.
Therefore, I exhort the eldersamong you, as your fellow elder
and witness of the sufferings ofChrist and a partaker also of
the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God
(07:43):
among you, overseeing, not undercompulsion but willingly,
according to God, and not fordishonest gain but with
eagerness, nor yet as lording itover those allotted to you, but
as being examples to the flock.
And when the chief shepherdappears, you'll receive the
(08:05):
unfading crown of glory.
Leadership in Christ's church isnot about worldly authority.
It is a sacrificial service.
Elders are called to shepherdthe flock of God willingly and
eagerly, not for shameful game.
Eagerly, not for shameful game.
Christian leaders and we're allChristian leaders must lead by
(08:34):
example, not by domination.
Christ, the chief shepherd,himself, will reward faithful
shepherds with the unfadingcrown of glory.
What do we do with this?
If you are in leadershipwhether in your home, church,
ministry, work lead like Christwith humility, sacrifice and
vigilance.
Fathers, pastors, teachers,parents, care for your flock,
(08:59):
your family, your congregation,personally and protectively.
Serve, not for what you can getor for what you can give.
I can't say that any betterthan that.
Serve not for what you can get.
You serve for what you can give.
Too many people do things forwhat they can get.
(09:22):
That is the opposite of aChristian.
A Christian does what they dofor what they can give.
Remember that your reward isnot from men, but from Jesus
Christ himself, who sees everyact of faithful shepherding.
When no one else sees whatyou're doing, he does, he knows,
(09:47):
and every vile thought andevery selfish one that you do,
he knows, he knows.
And remember, love covers amultitude of sins.
So some real life examples afather praying over his children
when they sleep, leading familyworship.
A church elder calling astruggling member midweek just
(10:09):
to encourage them in Christ, aChristian teacher standing firm
on biblical truth despite thepressure to compromise.
Some famous quotes to supportthis are John Christosom the
shepherd risks his life, thehireling counts the coins and
the great Charles Spurgeon.
A true shepherd must be readyto lay down his life for the
(10:30):
sheep, not for fame, but forfaith.
Now we continue on for verses 5through 7.
Humility under God's mightyhand.
You younger men likewise, besubject to your elders and all
of you Clothe yourselves withhumility toward one another.
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For God is opposed to the proudbut gives grace to the humble.
That's why we must always starteverything with being humble.
You are entitled to nothing.
You deserve nothing butdamnation.
Everything that you're gettingis a blessing and a gift that
you did not earn.
Jesus Christ came down and diedfor you, period.
(11:14):
You didn't deserve it, but hedid so.
Be grateful.
But he gives grace to thehumble.
Picking up in verse six,therefore, humble yourselves
(11:35):
under the mighty hand of godthat he may exalt you at the
proper time, that's, lift you up, praise you, casting all your
anxiety on him because he caresfor you.
Now verse 7 is really important,because to be human is to have
anxiety.
To be human is distress.
How many things do we stressthat we have no power over?
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We stress things that neverhappened, that we have no power
over.
We stress things that neverhappened.
We stress things that couldnever happen.
I remember when I was a kidafter seeing Jaws and very young
kid after seeing Jaws Iremember being in a pool and
(12:22):
stressing over putting my backto the deeper, deep end of the
pool because sharks would comeget me.
Now that is impossible and thatis ridiculous.
But so are many of our fearsright.
Many of our fears are just asridiculous as a fresh chlorine
pool in the middle of a city andhaving sharks in it.
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Right, so put your faith in God, because fear and anxiety is a
lack of faith.
So what do we learn?
What do we have in these verses?
Five through seven, youngerbelievers must submit to the
wisdom of leaderships of elders.
All believers must put onhumility like armor.
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Pride provokes God's activeopposition, meaning if you are
prideful, god will squash you,while humility draws his
empowering gaze.
Grace.
True humility expresses itselfby trusting God with all cares
and anxieties.
How do we apply this?
(13:26):
Submit willingly to God'sauthority in your life.
That might be your pastors,your parents, your teachers
who's ever mentoring you?
But submit willingly to Godlyauthority in your life, the
Bible first and always, and thenfrom there the other people
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that God puts in your life,places in your life.
Practice humility daily.
Choose to serve, listen andlearn rather than insist on your
own way.
Cast your burdens, worries andfears onto the Lord in prayer,
not once, but continually.
Trust that in his perfect timeGod will lift you up and exalt
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you for his glory.
Martin Luther said I have heldmany things in my hands and have
lost them all, but whatever Ihave placed in God's hands that
I still possess.
But whatever I have placed inGod's hands that I still possess
.
I mean, that's one of thosequotes that just rocks me.
(14:29):
I have held many things in myhands and have lost them all,
but whatever I have placed inGod's hands that I still possess
.
And then John Calvin Humilityis the beginning of true
intelligence.
And John MacArthur, who's stillwith us, pride usurps God's
(14:52):
preeminent position, leaving youno one to rely on when anxiety
creeps in.
So let's jump back in to verses8 and 9.
Vigilant resistance against theroaring lion.
Be of sober spirit, be watchful, okay.
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So here he's telling you don'tlet your guard down.
Be watchful, don't compromiseyour judgment and, as somebody
who used to be a partier, Iwould go out to drink to get rid
of my judgment, to get rid ofmy inhibitions, to go out and
purposely make bad decisionsright To numb my morality so I
(15:41):
could do anything fleshly that Iwanted to.
But why do we need to do that?
Be of sober spirit, be watchful.
Your adversary, the devil,literally the devil, prowls
around like a roaring lionseeking someone to devour.
(16:02):
So just picture this in the olddays Somebody stumbling out of
a brothel or a bar, going downthe streets, walking through the
countryside on the way home.
What an easy target that hewould be for a lion being the
devil.
But resist him.
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How do we do that?
Resist him, firm in faith,knowing that the same experience
of suffering are beingaccomplished among your brethren
who are in the world, meaningthat Christians have been
dealing with this forever andare dealing with it right now
and winning.
Christians must remain sober,vigilant and alert at all times.
(16:43):
We live in contested territory.
Satan is real, active andprowling, seeking to destroy our
faith and joy.
In Israel, active and prowling,seeking to destroy our faith
and joy.
We are commanded not to fear orflee, but to resist him firmly
through faith.
We are not alone.
Believers everywhere areenduring and overcoming by the
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same grace that you have.
So what do we do with this?
We must stay spiritually sharp.
Avoid laziness, prayerlessnessand worldly distractions that
dulls your senses.
The number one challenge of ourday is avoiding worldly
distractions.
That is your video games, thatis your endless sports, that is
(17:35):
your Netflix binge watching of52 seasons of this show just to
roll into 32 seasons of the nextshow, to whatever else is out
there.
The internet, social media,whatever you got.
It's all pulling you furtherfrom him, further from him, and
it's all going to make you moremiserable.
In the end, there is no peace,there is no joy.
(17:59):
Trust me, and I keep learningthis To this day.
I keep learning this there isno peace and joy away from the
purpose that God created you tobe.
That's a father, that's amother, that's a grandmother,
that's a son, that's a brother,that's a friend.
That's this All serving Christ,meaning the best moments of
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your life when you are lying onyour bed dying and taking your
last breath.
You're not going to care aboutseason three, episode six, of
the Sopranos.
You're not going to care onebit.
You're not going to care aboutbeating that level in the video
game.
You're not going to care aboutthe Super Bowl that was won 22
(18:45):
years earlier.
You're not going to care aboutall this other stuff.
You're going to wish one thingWell, two things really.
You're going to wish you spentmore time with the people you
loved instead of doing your ownselfish crap, and you're going
to wish that you paid moreattention to God, because your
(19:05):
time is up and you learned abouteverything else but him and
you're getting ready to meet him.
And you learned abouteverything else but him, and
you're getting ready to meet him.
And as I get older 52, still,52, still my time could happen
the next minute, just like itcould happen for anyone, but
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let's face it, people aren'tliving to 150 or even 120.
You know more than likely, I'mon the back half of my life,
which would be 104.
What is more important now thangetting to know God?
We all think, oh, heunderstands.
No, no, yeah, he does.
He understands your selfishness, he understands your sin, he
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understands your fickle ways,your lack of loyalty, your
betrayal, your selfishnessyourself, self, self, self, self
.
That is our problem and it'sdone by the devil.
The devil uses all these tools,social media.
You can do this for days,scrolling, and what do you see?
(20:21):
You see everyone else whoappears to have it better than
you, not knowing that every oneof those people are crying
themselves to sleep.
They're all miserable as well.
They just happen to have afilter on and no cameras, and
they show you the good parts oftheir life.
They don't show you thehorrible parts of their life,
which is a majority of it.
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Every time I step away from Godand every time I get lazy or I
drift or I revel in self-pityand all these things, no matter
what I do, I can go to my videogames or start watching a show
or reading a book, whatever, andall those things aren't bad in
(21:05):
themselves if I'm seeking Godfirst, if I'm seeking God first,
if I'm seeking God first, thenI'm going to have my joy and I'm
going to have my purpose.
And guess what?
I'm not going to be doingthings that I shouldn't be doing
.
But as I separate from him andfill it with these things, I'm
going to get angrier, I'm goingto get more sinful and I'm going
(21:30):
to get more miserable.
Sure, as I'm standing there andit's going to accelerate,
accelerate, accelerate until itcomes to a head and then
something bad will happen.
Goodbye, oh thanks.
So this is without exception.
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So we must stay physically sharp, avoid laziness, prayerlessness
and worldly distractions thatdull your senses when temptation
or attack comes, stand onscripture, declaring the truth
against Satan's lies.
When you sit, when you're thereand you're feeling guilty and
you're like, you know my sin'stoo much right, because that is
(22:20):
rightful thinking.
There your sins are too much.
You know you're not worthy.
You're right, you're not worthy, but Christ did it anyways.
And know your sins aren't toomuch because Christ's blood is
pure enough and good enough toredeem anything.
What you get, really, where themost dangerous thing is, is
(22:40):
this oh, I'm not that bad, I'mnot Hitler, I'm not a rapist,
I'm not these things, I'm not aserial killer.
Now, that is the devilwhispering to you and that is
your selfishness, trying to pickyour favorite sins that aren't
so bad.
(23:03):
Surround yourself with godlybrothers and sisters.
Do not try to fight alone, andwe know this.
What do we do when we startmessing up?
We flee.
Why?
Because we don't want to beheld accountable.
We don't want to be heldaccountable.
We don't.
We feel guilty and shameful andall this stuff.
(23:25):
But what I'm trying to tell youis that the people who want you
in their life and that careabout you don't care about any
of that.
They just want you back.
They just want you back.
They want you to own it.
So you grow from it.
Your repentance is proof of achanged heart, and then you move
forward and you are reconciled.
(23:45):
What does that sound like?
What we all do with Jesus allthe time?
That sound like what we all dowith Jesus all the time.
You can't hide from him.
He's the final stop.
When you close your eyes oneday and you open them up, that's
where you're going to be andthere will be no excuses.
(24:09):
Take courage, knowing that yourbrothers and sisters around the
world face the same enemy.
Take people have been winningthis forever with God, and you
can too.
As Charles Spurgeon said, seekto obtain clear knowledge in the
doctrines of the gospel andthen get a good grip on them.
(24:32):
Answer Satan with.
How great would it be if Satanchallenged you with something?
And you say thus saith the Lord, and boom, you repeat your
scripture.
William Gurnall said we mustwalk, work and sleep in armor,
or else we are not true soldiersin Christ.
(24:52):
And John Owen said temptationand occasions put nothing into a
man, but only draw out what wasin him before and that comes
from oh, the devil made me dothis.
No, the devil didn't make me dothis, that was you.
The opportunity came and youtook it.
(25:14):
There's a saying out there no,I won't even get into that Back
in.
We're getting to the end now.
Peter 5, 10, and 11.
The promise of restoration andeternal glory, the good news.
And after you have suffered fora little while, glory, the good
news.
And after you have suffered fora little while, the God of all
grace, who called you to hiseternal glory in Christ, will
(25:38):
himself restore, strengthen,confirm and ground you.
To him be might forever andever.
Amen.
Suffering, though painful, isshort compared to eternal glory
that awaits us.
God himself will personallyrestore, strengthen, confirm and
(26:05):
ground his people.
There's no doctor like him,there's no drug like him.
There's no, nothing Instantlyperfect.
That's what you will be.
Our suffering has a purpose andan end.
Your suffering, when handledwell and done in a godly way,
(26:30):
glorifies God and his dominionforever.
God's grace is active.
It's not theoretical.
It comes in power to his people.
That's you.
So what do we do with this?
Keep your suffering inperspective.
It is for a little whilecompared to eternity.
(26:54):
I remember when I was goingthrough BUDS there was a great
instructor there, instructorWalker.
Forrest Walker, great dude,very motivational, complete
opposite of me.
He was a triathlete guy, skinnyas a rail, couldn't believe he
was a sail when I first, skinnyas a rail, couldn't believe he
was a sail.
When I first met him, and Icouldn't believe you, he was an
instructor because he didn'tlook like anyone else.
(27:15):
He was so inspirational, he wasso inspiring and he took a line
graph on there and he put aline here and this is when you
were born and then this is whenyou die.
And then he took buds, which is26 weeks, which is basically in
the water demolition school,seal training, and he took it in
there and he said, okay, it'susually somewhere between 18 and
(27:39):
25 here, 26 if you're here.
And he draws an inch margin onsomething that's you know 10
feet long, that's you know 10feet long, and he's like that's
how long you have to suffer forthe glory that will be with you
the rest of your life, that youmade it through here.
When you're in it it's going toseem like forever.
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And he's like and if you wantto break it down, hell week is
even smaller inside of that 26weeks.
So you take hell week and youbreak it down 52 weeks a year
times 80.
That's one week out of 80 years.
Then you break that down andthat's what's going to decide
part of your fate.
And when you look at thingsthat way, it's no different with
(28:25):
the Lord, even if you made itto 120 or 119 versus eternity.
It's a small price to pay whenyou feel broken.
Cling to the promise that Godwill personally mend and
strengthen you.
I'm broken.
(28:46):
I've got a replaced knee whatsix, seven months, seven months
ago, eight months ago.
I've got a replaced knee whatsix, seven months ago, eight
months ago.
I've got a bad back fromparachuting axes.
I'm a 100% disabled vet.
I'm in pain and everyone's gottheir other pains, everyone
you're not getting.
Life is pain.
(29:07):
We're all going to accumulateit, some stupidly, some more
noble, others purely accidentaland tragic.
But you don't get out of thislife without scars, bumps and
bruises.
God is personally going to healyou.
(29:29):
One day You're going to wake up, be staring at him and all the
pain's gone, gone.
All the suffering's gone Gone.
Nothing but joy.
Personally, personally, manpraise and worship God, even in
(29:50):
the midst of trial, affirminghis sovereignty.
Rest in the certainty that ourGod reigns.
No suffering is wasted and nopain will have the last word.
And again I'm going to talkabout my friend, john, who lost
his six-year-old granddaughterto cancer.
(30:10):
He showed me and walked us outwhere I saw him at her funeral,
walk out of faith larger thananyone I've ever known and set
the example to hundreds ofpeople of what it is to be a
godly man and to praise God insuffering and to be joyful.
(30:31):
And I saw God's glory in thatmoment.
That horrible death, that suckything that happened, that
tragedy glorified God more thananything.
It was incredible because itwas completely unnatural.
It was incredible because itwas completely unnatural.
(30:56):
Samuel Rutherford said ourlittle time of suffering is not
worthy of our first night'swelcome home in heaven, our
first night for eternity.
It's not even worth it.
John Calvin said whateveradversity the godly suffer, they
know that God is testing themand in the end will be blessed.
Spurgeon said I have learned tokiss the waves that throw me
(31:21):
against the rock of ages.
The final exhortation Standfirm in true grace, verse 12.
Through Silvanus, our faithfulbrother, as I regard him, I have
written to you brieflyexhorting and bearing witness
(31:42):
that this is the true grace ofGod.
Stand firm in it.
She also, who is in Babylon,chosen together with you, sends
you greetings, and so does myson, mark.
Greet one another with a kissof love.
Peace be to you all who are inChrist.
(32:04):
Peter affirms the message thathe has delivered to the true
grace of God is the true graceof God.
Christians must stand firmlyand move a boy in that grace,
not drifting, not retreating.
Fellowship among believers mustbe marked with genuine love and
unity.
Peace is the final blessing andarmor for those who are in
(32:24):
Christ.
And what do we do with this?
We anchor our soul in truth ofthe gospel, no matter what waves
hit us.
Stand firmly with your brothersand sisters.
Love fervently, greet warmly,forgive quickly.
Always remember the peace thatguards us is the peace Christ
(32:46):
purchased with his blood.
Live in that peace daily,resisting fear, division and
spiritual apathy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer saidChristian community is not an
ideal we must realize.
It is a reality created by Godin Christ, in which we may
(33:07):
participate.
And Augustine said inessentials unity and
non-essentials liberty and allthings, charity.
Brothers and sisters, today youhave heard the charge.
You have been reminded thatsuffering is but for a little
while, but glory is forever.
You have been equipped toresist the enemy, to lock
(33:31):
shields in brotherhood and tostand firm in the true grace of
God.
Now is the time to act.
Rise up, warriors of Christ.
Strengthen your knees forprayer, your hands for service,
your heart for battle.
Do not drift, do not retreat.
Our King calls us forward.
Stand in the gap for yourfamily.
(33:53):
Stand boldly in your workplace.
Shine the light of Christ intothe dark corners of this world.
Proclaim his excellencies withyour lips and your life.
Proclaim his excellencies withyour lips and your life.
This world may war against us,but we serve the Lion of Judah.
(34:13):
The ground beneath our feet isblood-bought and we shall not be
moved.
Take your post in the shieldwall.
Lock shields with your brothersand sisters.
Fight the good fight, finishthe race, keep the faith and
when the chief shepherd appears,may he find us standing firm,
(34:36):
unshaken, roaring back invictory.
To God alone be the glory,dominion and might, forever and
ever Forward.
Christian warriors.
Amen and amen.
So we're going to do the Lord'sSupper.
You guys already have it 1Corinthians 11.28.
(35:02):
But a man must test himself,and in doing so he is to eat of
the bread and drink of the cup.
Before we partake, let us takea moment of silence to quietly
bow before the King of glory.
Let each man, woman and youngwarrior here search his or her
heart, confessing sin, layingdown burdens and preparing to
(35:23):
eat or drink in a manner worthyof the Lord.
Go ahead, take a moment.
(35:49):
Almighty God, sovereign, lord ofhosts, we approach your table
today not because we are worthy,but because Jesus Christ is
worthy.
We come not trusting in our ownrighteousness, but clinging to
the righteousness of JesusChrist alone.
We remember his broken body,his blood poured out for the new
(36:10):
covenant.
We bow in humble gratitude, welift our hearts in reverent awe.
Sanctify this bread and thiscup and sanctify us, your people
, as we proclaim the death,resurrection and the coming
kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray in his mighty andmatchless name Amen.
1 Corinthians 11, 23, 24.
(36:34):
The Lord Jesus, in the night inwhich he was being betrayed,
took bread and when he had giventhanks, he broke it and said
this is my body, which is foryou.
Do this in remembrance of me.
Remember this symbolizes hisbody pierced, beaten, sacrificed
for you.
Let us partake of the breadtogether in remembrance of
Christ's body broken for us.
(36:54):
Go ahead and eat In the sameway.
He took the cup after supper,saying this cup is a new
covenant in my blood.
Do this as often as you drinkit in remembrance of me.
Remember this symbolizes hisblood, the blood that purchased
(37:16):
our forgiveness and sealed theeverlasting covenant.
Let us partake of the cuptogether in remembrance of
Christ's blood poured out for us.
You eat and drink of this cup.
(37:37):
You proclaim the death of theLord until he comes.
By this eating and drinking, wepublicly proclaim Christ has
died, christ is risen, christwill come again.
We are soldiers in hiseverlasting kingdom.
Let us pray.
Brothers and sisters, now goforth from this place as
(37:58):
soldiers of Christ, armored withfaith, wrapped in hope, blazing
with love.
May the Lord, our host, gobefore you to lead you, beside
you to guard you, beneath you tosustain you and within you to
strengthen you.
May your shield of faith neverfalter, may your sword of the
spirit never grow dull, may yourfeet never stray from the path
(38:20):
of righteousness and may theroar of the Lion of Judah echo
behind you as you advance Hiskingdom wherever your feet
travel, kingdom wherever yourfeet travel, stand firm warriors
, lock shields, fight the goodfight, finish the race, keep the
faith until we stand before theking himself, crowned by his
(38:41):
grace, and hear those blessedwords.
Well done, good and faithfulservant In the mighty name of
Jesus Christ.
Amen.
God bless you.
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