We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
Life on the Battlefield…Oct. 12th
A soldier’s job is defined by struggle. When conflicts arise, these men and women 
put to practice all their training. A soldier, by definition, fights. Even in peace time, he is preparing himself for the inevitable battle. But what causes some in the heat of the battle to fight and die on the battlefield, while others will literally drop their weapons, strip off their uniform and run? Why do some stand with their fellow soldiers, supporting each other, while others don’t?
Understanding God’s word, the Christian realizes there is a daily struggle (Ephesians 5:10-17) in this life. We are in a battle against the wrong for the right. But the question remains, will we stay loyal or turn and run when the fight becomes fierce? Will we stand for what is right or crumble without a fight? Reader, know this…without a moral compass, without a ‘standard operating procedure,’ you will be left to guess and hope. Millions are trying to manage life, on their own. And yet Christians know the adversary is ‘on the prowl’ (I Peter 5), and without God’s word, we are ill-prepared. Rest assured, the devil, our adversary, is not waiting for us to step into battle, for this life is a battle. To be clear, we’re living life on the battlefield!
“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15
Sunday morning, Oct. 12, 2014
The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.
“Doxology” – 66
Opening our worship this morning we’ll sing a basic hymn from years gone by. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” Before we even think about fighting the battles in life, we must draw strength from the One who gives us hope for our battles. Let’s praise the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
“The Glory-Land Way” – 535
Keeping the same key signature (musically), we’ll transition to another old favorite that echos the journey we’ve all chosen to take. A journey home to glory. Encouraging each other will give us added support for our individual battles. When we hear our family singing, “…heaven is nearer, and the way groweth (grows) clearer…” we find strength to keep on fighting for the goal.
“In Loving-Kindness Jesus Came” – 504
Focus on the third verse of this song as we consider our purpose in life on the battlefield, ‘”His brow was pierced with many a thorn, His hands by cruel nails were torn. When from my guilt and grief forlorn, in love He lifted me…” We are in battle, and there will be days we feel like we’re losing. After all, Christ was abused, beaten, mocked, disdained and killed on the cross. But never forget that He conquered death in His resurrection! So what does that mean me? In our daily battles, standing up for what is right and living with Christ as our guide..we have already won!
“Spirit of the Living God” – 422
A short, contemporary hymn that has a very interesting progression for the Christian. If we are to be the soldiers God calls us to be, there is a process we should consider. To be useful in battle we need to be melted down, and molded into what He wants us to be. Then we must be filled with His word and used for His glory. We sing, “Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me…melt me, mold me, fill me, use me…” A soldier fights for His commander and chief. We must answer the question, on the battlefields of life, who do we fight for?
“Christ Above Me” – no book
This hymn will likely be new to most, but the message is one we must learn and hold dear in our hearts. As a soldier of God, how do we visualize Christ in our life? Is He a Kevlar vest we put on for battle? Is His word a sword we pick up when we ‘go into a fight?’ Sing this song and follow the words as we recall how Christ is more than just part of our life…He IS our life. “Christ above me, Christ beside me, Christ within me ever guiding. Christ behind me, Christ before. Christ my love, my life, my Lord!”
“Faith is the Victory” – 469
Where are we ‘camping’ in this life? Is it on the battlefield, or do we prefer the ‘hills of light’ where there is peace and comfort. This old hymn, which you’ve sung for years, is a reminder that there is a war being fought for the soul of mankind. An obscure verse, which we’ll sing on Sunday, reminds us of the battle and how we should prepare for it. “On every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array (they can look pretty intimidating), let tents of ease be left behind and onward to the fray (the battle). Salvation’s helmet on each head, and truth all girt about (Ephesians 5), the earth shall tremble ‘neath our tread, and echo with our shout…Faith is the victory!”
“I Am Resolved” – 948
Our invitation is a confirmation of our resolve in this battle, I’ll never quit! However, though most of us will sing that resolve, many will lay their weapons down when the fighting gets fierce. To stay faithful to Him, we have to remember what we sing in the chorus, “I will hasten (hurry) to Him.”
“To Christ Be True” – 736
What better way to finish off a lesson on life in the battlefield than to sing of our faithfulness to the battle. Soldiers must demonstrate loyalty in times of peace as well as times of battle. Just remember, “…To Christ, the Lord, be true and He will go with you. And help you through all your conflicts, to Christ the Lord be true!”
Spiritual Understanding in a Material World
A recent email from one of our ministers at Waterview church of Christ caught my eye and I felt it appropriate to share it with you. Consider your ‘faith in Christ,’ what exactly does that mean? Is your faith something you can hold on to? By definition, the word faith means; “Belief that does not rest on logical truth or material evidence.” But look at Paul’s words to the church in Corinth as he talked about living a temporal (tangible) life in anticipation of an eternal (intangible) life; “…be always of good courage, and know that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-for we walk by faith, not by sight…” Remember, our faith is essential to our salvation, Ephesians 2:8 “…you have been saved by grace through faith…” “Even so faith, if it (faith) has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17
So what about ‘my faith’ in Christ Jesus?
How do I better understand it’s implications for my daily walk of faith?
Ephesians 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
The shield of faith extinguishes not some of the darts, but ALL of them! So, take up your shield 
of faith today, and don’t give the evil one an opportunity to burn you with one of his darts.
1 John 5:4-5 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Through faith, we have victory! It is our greatest defense and our greatest offense simultaneously! Faith will extinguish the enemy’s weapons and, at the same time, it will conquer our enemy. Take courage and have faith in Jesus, the Son of God.
Dustin Jones
Minister of Family Development
Waterview church of Christ
P.S. Now, please turn in your song books to “Faith is the Victory” while we stand and sing…
Who Is Going to Win?
Several of my best friends are ministers in the Lord’s church. Some have been in mission fields around the world while others have served the Lord stateside.
One of my best friends has worked as a missionary in Poland, Russia and most recently the Ukraine. We have been friends since the late 1980’s and I’m honored to call Terry Harmon my brother. Just recently Terry and his family moved back to the states where he currently serves the Lord’s church in Flagler, Colorado. Each month Terry writes a bulletin article that is shared with that small congregation and, with his permission, today we all get the chance to read his thoughts about winning and losing…
“Every once in a while, when the kids are off to bed and there is a chance to sit down for a few minutes, I will turn on a taped game of some sporting event. The advantage of this is that you can watch a 3 1/2 hour football game in about thirty or forty minutes. If you fast forward through all the commercials, halftime entertainment and commentators remarks (between plays), you can watch the game so much quicker. This is the reason I love to watch games that have been recorded. There is, however, one slight drawback (although it doesn’t bother me). Many times you already know the outcome of the game.
It has interested me for some time now, that while I may know who won the game, for those who are AT the game, siting in the stands, the outcome is still undetermined. This is especially important when it is a really close game and the score goes back and forth. Perhaps you can relate to this, sitting in the stands and thinking, “who is going to win?” During these contest of skill, the camera will often zoom in on fans nervously watching the score board, trying to calculate whether or not their
team has enough time to pull out a win. The expression on these faces is often priceless. Nervous and downtrodden at times, they can change to upbeat and excited at the moment their team overcomes.
A few years ago it dawned on me that our lives as Christians are really just like a ‘taped sporting event.’ It may not feel like it at times when our lives are beaten down by Satan’s attacks. When situations test us and conflicts challenge our daily walk. But we must remember, the outcome has already been set. It just doesn’t seem like it as we face the struggles of life. One of the greatest lessons we learn in the New Testament is that if we as Christians are faithful to the Lord until death…WE WIN! The story has already been written, and God guarantees the victory. So we just have to trust, obey and keep fighting until, ‘the race is run’.
Believe in God’s word and take comfort from reading I John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” Also you’ll remember Revelation 7:14-15, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.”
Note the present tense of the verb in the last verse, “They (we) serve Him day and night…” God sees all of this as it will happen in the future, but for us it seems so far off and distant. We need to realize that there is really nothing to be nervous about and nothing to agonize over. The bottom line is, if we stay faithful with the Lord, THE VICTORY IS OURS! The story (the game) is already complete.”
Thanks Terry for the reminder that we should have courage and the faith to know the outcome is secure. And of course…this also reminds me of the perfect hymn:
“Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers, rise. And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled; Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world. His banner over us is love, our sword, the Word of God; We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod. By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath, swept on, over every field; The faith b
y which they conquered death is still our shining shield. On every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array. Let tents of easy be left behind and onward to the fray. Salvation’s helmet on each head and faith all girt about the earth shall tremble beneath our tread and echo with our shout. Faith is the Victory! Faith is the Victory! O glorious victory that over comes the world. (NOTICE THIS LAST VERSE) To him that overcomes the foe white raiment shall be given; before the angels he shall know His name confessed in heaven; Then onward from the hills of light, our hearts with love aflame, we’ll vanquish all the host of night in Jesus conquering name.”