“Battlefield Earth” was a book, then a movie. The details aren't important. The TITLE is what I'm borrowing today. (2 Timothy 2:2-3)
A. It IS a SPIRITUAL war. [Christians do NOT “riot in the streets”] (Ephesians 6:11-12) “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (2Corinthians 10:3-6) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
B. ONLY Two “Armies” With NO Neutral Ground
1. Making “No choice” IS a choice for Evil (Matthew 12:30) “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (James 4:13-17) “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there for a year, and buy and sell, and get again: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
A. Have made a COMMITTMENT to defend the gospel
1. Defend the Book, not the brethren (Philippians 1:12-17) [READ]
2. Willing to suffer without shame (2 Timothy 1:11-12) “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: neverthless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which have committed unto him against that day.” (1 Peter 4:12-19) [READ]
3. NOT “looking back” Luke 9:57 – 62 [READ] 1 2
4. Obeying “from the heart” Romans 6:16-18 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, be became the servants of righteousness.”
B. Have received TRAINING for battle
1. Training should start early (Proverbs 22:6) “Train up a child in the way he should go; and[even] when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15) “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast know the holy scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.”
2. Training Does NOT stop (Romans 10:17) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (2 Timothy 2:15) “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2) “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (Ephesians 6:10-16) [READ]
C. Have been “DEPLOYED” to the battlefield (Matthew 28:18-20) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Acts 8:1-4) [READ] (1 Peter 3:13-18) [READ]
D. Have NOT DESERTED the fight (Philippians 1:12-21) [READ] (1 Corinthians 9:16) “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (ITimothy 6:11-12) “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 3
E. NOT COLLABORATED with God's enemies
1. Persecution WILL come (Matthew 5:10-12) “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (John 15:18-20) “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but, I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
2. CANNOT Compromise/Collaborate (Ephesians 5:6-12) [READ] (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) [READ]
3. Still, love the enemies, as God does. (Matthew 5:43-48) [READ] (Philippians 3:17-19) [READ] (Colossians 1:19-23) [READ]
F. Have an open-ended “Enlistment” opportunity
1. Anyone may volunteer.... (John 3:16) (Revelation 22:17) “And the spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."
2. Must submit to God’s requirements of Enlistment and Service Hear the Gospel (Romans 10:17) ↓ Believe (John 8:24, 58) ↓ Repent of sin (Acts 17:30) ↓ Confess Christ (Acts 8:37) ↓ Baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Peter 3:21) ↓ Faithful to Christ to the point of death (Revelation 2:10)
G. Have the HOPE of a welcome home in heaven !
1. Vigilant, Valiant, Virtuous.....Will be welcomed home with joy to eternal rest (2 Timothy 4:6-8) “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”