I. Introduction
II. Judges 4 records a battle between Israel and the king of Hazor.
A. Barak led the army of Israel with the judge, Deborah, supporting his efforts.
B. In the song of victory, Judges 5, the brave were praised for their willingness to fight valiantly for God’s people, Judges 5:6-9
C. It also records the shame of the cowards of Israel who did not fight the battle, Judges 5:15-17.
III. Where do we want to be in the final song of God’s victory over Satan.
A. Will we be praised for standing with God in the terror of battle fighting for victory with every last breath?
B. Will be we ashamed for standing by and letting others fight our battles?
IV. God has equipped us with the weapons and armor to fight and defend our cause
A. We must train to use them well.
- We train in Bible classes; and we train our children to use the Bible to strengthen what is right and defend against what is wrong.
- We train during sermons when we learn God’s word in more detail so we can use God’s word in our lives and effectively teach others.
- We train at home learning in our daily Bible study and doing the work of God.
- Hebrews 5 tells us we train when we become stronger in our knowledge and can teach others.
B. We have fellow soldiers, our brethren, who fight along with us.
V. Take the battle to the enemy
A. If God has equipped and trained us for battle, there is only one thing left to do—fight the battle.
B. Sadly, some Christians rarely go into battle though they are well trained and equipped.
C. If we were living in peacetime, that would be no problem, but we have a war going on and need warriors to fight.
VI. Saul’s army and Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:2-11, 20, 24
A. Israel dressed for battle every day, made a big noise getting ready for battle, but then would not fight against Goliath.
B. Israel was God’s army and He would fight with them but they did not have faith.
C. After David, equipped only with his sling and faith in God, then they had courage to fight
D. Do we sometimes we come together, dress for battle, bang our swords and shields together, then fail to go into battle.
- Do we will attend evangelism classes, talk about the important need to reach others with the gospel, learn techniques to help us be effective, learn about different religious beliefs and how to answer them from the Bible; then not go into battle.
- We may acknowledge an important need in the church to help our brethren in times of need, develop ways to keep one another informed, form groups to encourage one another in good works, learn ways to make service a part of our lives, but not go into battle.
- We may struggle against a particular sin, acknowledge its destructive effect in our lives, realize how it is destroying those around us, perceive how it is destroying our relationship with God, find ways of eliminating the problem from our lives but never implement a plan, never get rid of the sin.
- We dress and train for battle, but we do not fight.
E. The battle against Satan will be fought but others will bear the scars, bruises, and fatigue of battle while we sit on the sidelines.
VII. We should press the battle against the enemy
A. Should I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?
- Do we content ourselves to show up for worship but contribute nothing to making it better?
- Will we not teach others, visit the sick, help the weak, teach Bible classes, meet visitors, assist the needy, encourage our brethren, etc. because we know others will do it and we really do not want to do it?
- The Christian life is not a spectator sport and those who do not involve themselves in the work of God will have to answer for their lack of effort.
VIII. Those who fight together against Satan will have a camaraderie on this earth and a great victory celebration in heaven.
A. Think of the possibilities
B. What if every Christian were energized and fighting on many fronts conquering the hearts of men who, in turn, take up the fight for the cause of Christ alongside them?
C. What if everyone who claimed to be a Christian rejected every evil thing, lived bold lives for the sake of Christ, unashamed, vibrant, with hope in their eyes and joy in their heart
D. We need an insurgency!
- Not a political insurgency but rebellion against worldliness, apathy, false doctrine, and laziness
IX. This is our day to fight!
A. Previous generations of faithful godly warriers have left the battlefield and entered their rest
B. If there are future generations, maybe they will tell of our courageous work in spreading the gospel to those around us and a great revival of God’s work in this dark time!
C. Occasionally we hear of churches growing at phenomenal rates. When examined, they are not doing anything special except nearly every member is actively reaching out to others and a concerted effort is focused on teaching the lost.
D. We must never be satisfied with being an outpost or hold a defensive position.
E. The Christian must “press the battle ‘ere the night shall veil the glowing sky!”
F. This is our day to fight—let’s fight so our enemy dreads our every encounter with those who are under his rule and let God’s name be glorified as we march under His banner.
G. We can share in the honor of those other brave warriors of all time who “fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas”
X. In the play Henry V, by Shakespeare, Henry the V offers a speech before his army faces a French army outnumbering his English army by as much as 10-1 and facing exhaustion from a long journey and bouts with dysentery. The situation looked grim (and though the speech was from the mind of Shakespeare, it captures the mind needed to win the battle and the honor that those who fought on the day of battle on Friday 25 October 1415, known as Crispin’s Day. Read the speech Let us not be like the tribes of Reuben, Gilead, or Dan who did not fight but let us know the honor of being brave and diligent soldiers in the army of our Lord
XI. Shakespeare: Crispin’s Day Speech (Henry V)
XII. But if it be a sin to covet honour,
XIII. I am the most offending soul alive…
XIV. Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
XV. That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
XVI. Let him depart; his passport shall be made
XVII. And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
XVIII. We would not die in that man’s company
XIX. That fears his fellowship to die with us.
XX. This day is called the feast of Crispian:
XXI. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
XXII. Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named ,
XXIII. And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
XXIV. He that shall live this day, and see old age,
XXV. Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
XXVI. And say’To-morrow is Saint Crispian:‘
XXVII. Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
XXVIII. And say’These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.‘
XXIX. Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
XXX. But he’ll remember with advantages
XXXI. What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
XXXII. Familiar in his mouth as household words
XXXIII. Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
XXXIV. Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
XXXV. Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.
XXXVI. This story shall the good man teach his son;
XXXVII. And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
XXXVIII. From this day to the ending of the world,
XXXIX. But we in it shall be remember’d;
XXXX. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
XXXXI. For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
XXXXII. Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
XXXXIII. This day shall gentle his condition:
XXXXIV. And gentlemen in England now a-bed
XXXXV. Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
XXXXVI. And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
XXXXVII. That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
XXXXVIII. I want more war stories of fighting God’s battles with my brethren.
A. Labor camp war stories
- Projects and mishaps
- But we worked together