Freedom Isn't Easy
Well, we've made it 233 years. Today is July 4th, 2009. We're all pretty familiar with the truth that Freedom isn't Free. We've enjoyed the freedom and opportunities provided for us by the sacrifices others have made. Many have truly paid the highest price for the great light that is the United States of America.
We, as Christian men, are also familiar with God's word which says "If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14
We know that Freedom isn't Free, but I believe at this point in our country's journey, we need to grasp the truth that Freedom isn't Easy.
If tomorrow foreign armies invaded our country and physically threatened our very existence, I know we, as men, specifically as Christian men, would sign up in droves to defend her - even if it cost us our lives.
Unfortunately, the truth is, our country has already been invaded by spiritual forces and moral influences that threaten our very existence, but we're not flocking to the battle. I'm afraid many of us would more eagerly give our lives in a physical battle than aggressively give our time and energy to the spiritual battle. "Freedom isn't Free" may call us to sacrifice - today, however, we must rally around the truth that "Freedom isn't Easy".
Men: will you step up to the plate and do the difficult work of prayer? Our first initiative as JFMen's ministry is going to be to engage our men sincerely in prayer. Prayer is difficult to commit to. It isn't convenient. It offers no immediate glamor or glory. Committing passionately to humbling ourselves, seeking His face, and repenting of our sin is difficult - maybe tougher than dying in a blaze of glory defending your country.
Men, as we start our 234th year, the call is to prioritize what isn't easy. If our country will have any hope of being a light for the gospel for future generations, we must prove as faithful in the "difficult" as others have proven faithful in the "field".
The Prayer Ministry could use lots more men signing up for just one hour a week to be intercessors. There are MANY openings and a significant lack of volunteers.
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John - one of my great prayers is that God would mobilize our men to pray - it is our first initiative - more coming
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I have long thought it a useful idea to organize men of strong faith in a church around the concept of being "God's Marines". Instead of only "meeting and eating" and study of the Word, such a mens group, organized as an ongoing entity, would also (i.e. in addition to, not in place of) be involved in action - starting with helping church members in need of someone to do "guy stuff", always going in "twos". Mowing, raking leaves, repairing stuff - you get the idea.
And through such service, God will give us opportunities to pray with Christians and lead others to Christ.
"God's Marines" would be men whose current character is attested to by other men, who are willing to serve humbly and joyfully as a means of loving God, loving others, and doing battle with the Enemy.
"God's Marines" would be humble enough to be accountable to one another, confident enough in Christ to face any challenge of service, strong enough in character to live a virtuous life, but honest enough to realize sin when it occurs and repent. "God's Marines" would be committed to improving or maintaining a physically fit body, honoring it as a temple in which the Holy Spirit lives.
The man who would seek to be a part of "God's Marines" would be a man whose heart belongs to God, who is both tender and strong, and who is called by God to serve. Such a man may have been the vilest of seiners in his past, but all that should count is the man God has created and sustained by His strength until this day. In Men's Fraternity, such men were described as men who "reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and expect God's reward".
The number would not be a great as those who would come to typical "mens meetings", but like the men Joshua chose, only 300 out of 10,000, they would be sufficient to win the battle for God.
If you are looking for a fire to be ignited with the men at JFBC, such a concept is not a bad place to start.
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan from a speech in 1984, "Some churchmen spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, God's Marines won't have that problem".
Only Christ can truly fulfill the meaning of "Semper Fidelis" in any man's life.
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Well said - however we end up labeling and organizing it - you've captured the heart of it - the mobilization of an effective army for the Kingdom - pray and lead with me toward that end
tom
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Tom, You are correct that "our country has already been invaded by spiritual forces and moral influences that threaten our very existence, but we're not flocking to the battle." The answer is not prayer alone, but putting feet to our prayers with civic action. We the citizens are responsible to hold our politicians feet to the fire, and let them know when they are not serving our needs well. As the Rev. Matthias Burnet warned Christians in an 1803 Sermon, "Finally, ye . . . whose high prerogative it is to . . . invest with office an authority or to withhold them and in whose power it is to save or destroy your country, consider well the important trust . . . which God . . . [has] put into your hands. To God and posterity you are accountable for them. . . . Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights and prostrating those institutions which your fathers delivered to you." These are crucial times, and Christian men must BOTH pray and act to save our country.
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Amen! powerful and so true
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Tom
I really appreciate your message, "Freedom isn't free and Freedom isn't easy" I certainly believe and use prayer daily as do many of my friends. I do believe, however, that we who believe in Freedom are going to have to clearly identify what this freedom is in our society today and what is happening to it now and especially what may happen in the future. We cannot divorce ourselves from the world even though we are not of it. Every day we see our freedom eroding by policies that take away a little bit more of what most of us call our freedom of choice. The issues are clear and the direction is obvious. We are going to have to have to pray for our country to recognize and turn away from the direction our current leaders are taking us. We cannot avoid saying that things are not going in the direction that freedom loving and moral men and women believe in. Sometimes, we must tell it like it is, maybe not from the pulpit, but from our Christian men and women as believers in our God and our country. I pray that we all can unite in our prayers to not only lift up those in our country's leadership that try to protect our freedom, but also reject those who would tear down what many of our forefathers saw through God's grace as a nation under God, by the people and for the people. I am not trying to take a political position since I now have no political party any more. Many of us talk about our country's situation in groups and breakfasts, but we are without an encouraging voice. I pray that we as men of the church, can unite in prayer not for a political party, but for the men and ideas that will keep our country safe, free and morally free from satan's influence. We need to identify our values and follow them in prayer and in discussions. God Bless America.
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Amen Tony!
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Tom
What a GREAT message for Independence Day reminding us of the spiritual warfare that is on going, and our need for prayers. And I also agree with all the comments regarding "action" in addition to much needed prayer.
Might I also add that such action needs to include "recruitment" of additional men via sharing the Good News in our daily lives.
And as taught by Ted Sprague in his Witness Breakthrough Ministry (www.WitnessBreakthrough.org), it is best done out of love, and not duty. For God so loved the world that He gave the Son...." So we need to likewise "love" the world and "give" the Son in our daily walk, where we live, move, and have our being." (Acts 17:28)
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7/6/09:
Tom:
Thanks for this message! I think very few of us have learned how to fully develop the power of prayer. We definately should pray for world peace, and for our missionaries our church supports,and for all our families. Our missionaries put their lives on the line each day with all the violence going on around them. Jesus once said "My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting." The way of the cross is the way of suffering."Christians are called to die, not kill, in order to show the world how they are loved by Christ."
Thanks again for your timely message.
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I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own blog now.
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An excellent presentation. Clear. Practical. Insightful. Shows a depth of experience. Thank you. I learned a great deal.
Binary Options
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I did not thought about it in that way.
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Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
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