Wed.9.30.15...Battle Ready?...John 15:18-16:4

Yesterday we read Jesus saying, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command" John 15:13-14. (Love was used 8 times.) But we will see in today's passage that Jesus is forewarning his friends that they will be hated and persecuted. (Hate is mentioned 7 times). Will you let your friends be persecuted?! Ugh! Someone has humorously quipped, "Lord, you would have more friends, if you treated them better." But that is our problem. We think that the Lord should treat us better. Yet Jesus makes his closest friends with those who enter into battle with him. The same is true of soldiers in battle who make such incredible bonds of friendship with those they fight alongside. They would die for each other. 

Christians sing the song, "I am a friend of God." But Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command." And he commands us to go into battle to bear fruit- "I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit" 15:16. "You also must testify" 15:27. Tragically, a lot Christians don't go with the gospel, even though they know they should. Yet we've got it easy in America. We are not facing the hatred and persecution our brothers are facing elsewhere. If persecution came to our shores, how would we fare? I think a lot of people would wonder why a loving God would let them suffer. Yet Jesus has already told us, "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" 15:20. Jesus, why are you telling us such bad news? "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray" 16:1. We need to be battle ready. (Here is a picture of you in the spirit with your shirt off :) So don't you dare turn away! The enemy has reason to fear when we war as a team.

Christians are glad Jesus suffered and died for them, but I fear many will hide their faith if they should face suffering. They may now boast as Peter did, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death" Luke 22:33. Yet they might deny him before a servant girl. O Lord, help us to be manly! Help us to be like the apostles, who after being beaten for witnessing to the Sanhedrin, went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ (see Acts 5:41).

I really like the words from an old hymn, "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before." Men, let us keep marching into war. I love the epitaph Osiris chose for his tombstone- "Died at W.A.R."  We are at W.A.R. to-
Walk in a manner worthy of our Warrior King- Keep seeking to live a pure and pleasing life by God's power.
Activate the sidelined saints- keep seeking to recruit the fans in the stands.
Release the locked up lost- Keep sowing gospel seeds into the lives of the lost.

While so few regularly share their faith, I'm proud of you for the way several of you are doing so. Christians who don't share now, may be the ones to quickly cower in the future. But you are warriors. Fight the good fight of the faith.

1.- Share a time recently when you shared your faith or a Greatest Minimovies card or link to them.

2.- Read John 15:18 through chapter 16:4. Inspired by it, write a short warriors prayer for you and your fire team wingmen. Please mention them by name in this Attack prayer you're composing. 

The smarter person has written goals they review and pursue. How ya doin' on yours? Anyone can drift but you are pursuing great things. It's not always easy, but fighting to advance for God's glory, your good, and the good of others is certainly worth it. 

It's coming Monday, October 12th!