THE INVISIBLE ARMY

SERMON STARTER

 

          By the end of the 19th century, the observance of May 30th as a day to honor the Civil War dead had become a widespread practice across the nation, but after World War I, the tribute was expanded to include all American military men and women who had died in any war. Memorial Day has been acknowledged as a national holiday since 1971, when an Act of Congress established its observance on the last Monday in May.

          In 2000, Congress passed the “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” asking all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence in remembrance of all those who have died in military service to America. So today we pause and reflect. 

          Typical Americans today will consume millions of pounds of beef, chicken and pork in the form of burgers, dogs, brats and steaks. They will wash it down with millions of gallons of beer, wine and pop. The will assemble, mostly outdoors, to enjoy the smell of charcoal and grilling meats. Hopefully, they will remember the Invisible Army that made this family celebration time possible. This sermon is dedicated to them. May our honored service people, living and dead, and their sacrifice never be unappreciated nor forgotten.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

May 24, 2009, Sheepfold Ministries

pastor Phil Roland

THE INVISIBLE ARMY

2 Kings 6:8-1

“If you’re not sure about the reality of an invisible army whose impact is still felt by all, go to Gettysburg and try to go through the memorial sites with dry eyes.”                                                                              Pastor Phil Roland

 

Memorial Day was begun by Presidential Proclamation, May 30, 1868, and was set aside to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead.  “A Memorial is something that preserves remembrance, and brings to mind an event or a person.  It is a boost to the memory.”

 

I.  GOD’S UNSEEN INVISIBLE ARMY

          A. Text events occurred 80 years after the Kingdom Divided

                 1. Timeline is 875 to 800 BC

                 2. The prophets Elijah and Elisha served the Northern Kingdom,                              Israel for 75 years

                 3. Syria was Israel’s hated adversary / Deported 10 tribes

            B. Syrian Armies had trapped Israel and cut them off

                 1. God revealed to Elisha every evil scheme of the Syrian enemy

                 2. Syrian King suspected betrayal by an enemy in his own camp

                 3. One of His servants knew the truth – 2 Kings 6:12

                     “And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the

                        prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you

                        speak in your bedroom."

            C. The Syrian Kings sent his soldiers to capture Elisha at Dothan

                 1. They went by night thinking they would surround and capture                              God’s prophet

                 2. Dawn broke and Elisha’s servant went outside the tent

                 3. He saw the Syrian Army surrounding the tent

                 4. Terrified he awakened the prophet who then comforted him

            D. Elisha prays that his servant’s eyes may be opened – 1 Kings 6:17

                “And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may

                  see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.

                  And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all

                  around Elisha.”

                 1. Greater is He who is with us

                 2. All of earth’s armies are powerless before the Armies of Heaven

 

II.  WE ARE PROTECTED BY AN UNSEEN MORTAL ARMY

            A. Freedom Isn’t Free, it’s bought with blood

                 1. The blood of the American Revolution in 1776

                 2. Precious lives lost in the Civil War of the 1860’s

                 3. Those who laid down their lives in the First World War 1914-18

                 4. The lives of the Great Generation who fought in WWII

                 5. The blood of the veterans of the Korean War

                 6. The lives lost in the Vietnam War

                 7. Those precious lives lost in Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terrorism

                        a. The Blood of Martyrs is the seed of the church

                        b. The blood of these willing lives is the Seed of Freedom

                        c. Jesus sacrifice revealed the pattern – John 8:36

                            “"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

                        d. We are set free by the Blood of His Cross

            B. We still enjoy the effects of our honored vets’ sacrifice

                 1. We honor them today and every day

                 2. They will never be forgotten

 

III.  WE ARE SURROUNDED BY AN UNSEEN SPIRITUAL ARMY

          A. God’s Army is both Refuge and Strength – Psalm 46:1

                 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

                        1. His Angels keep a vigil over you – Psalm 91:10-12

                            “No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your

                              dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep

                              you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest

                              you dash your foot against a stone.”

                        2. His “Witnesses” surround us - Hebrews 12:1

                            “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud

                              of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so

                              easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is

                              set before us,”

            B. God’s Army Encamps and Delivers His Saints - Psalm 34:7

                 “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And

                   delivers them.”

                        1. Greater is He that is in you  – 1 John 4:4

                            “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them,

                              because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

                        2. The Gates of Hell will not Stand Against Us – Matt. 16:18b

                   “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (My Church)

 

 

THE INVISIBLE ARMY, Text:

2 KINGS 6:8-17

8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place."

9  And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there."

10  Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

11  Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?"

12  And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."

13  So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan."

14  Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15  And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

16  So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

17  And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.