Introduction: Called to be soldiers! A good soldier must be ready at all times to engage the enemy. Are you a soldier? Are you ready to both defend the attacks of the enemy and to deliver a crushing blow? But how can we be ready?

1. By Enduring Hardness! (2Tim 2:1,3) – “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus….. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

The word “strong” is the word ἐνδυναμόω (en-doo-nam-o’-o), which means to empower or to fill with power… to strengthen, or it means to make strong. We all need more STRENGTH! Do you?

“Strength for the Journey”! Yes!! Give it Lord!!!

The words “endure hardness” is συγκακοπαθέω, (soong-kak-op-ath-eh’-o), which means for someone to bear evil treatment along with another. In this case, we as believers in Jesus Christ are to suffer hardships together with Him.

Easier said than done, right?

2. By Not Engaging in Worldly Affairs! (2Tim 2:4) – “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

The word “entangled” is ἐμπλέκω (em-plek’-o), which means to weave in, to entwine, or to involve with. When we get entangled with the things of the world it gets us side tracked. Are you staying focused with the right VISION?

Are you fulfilling the right MISSION?

Conclusion: The saying comes to mind: “Toughen Up Soldier.”

Introduction: Are leaders really in control? How is God in control with so many things going wrong? Wars and lawlessness seem to be escalating. Sin is abounding, but Praise our Lord, because His grace superabounds! The Word of God reminds believers that things are moving according to God’s plan.

1. The King’s heart is in His Hand! (Prov 21:1) – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

Remember a king named Solomon wrote this. He would know because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The natural man does not understand this because it is spiritually discerned. Do you believe this?

2. The King’s heart is fulfilling His will! (Rev 17:17) – “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast,  until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”

In the context of Revelation 17, John is describing the false religion and how God will use puppet kings for His own purpose. Can you see this happening?

3. The King’s heart will recognize that the God of the Bible rules and reigns! (Dan 2:21) – “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”

To Daniel it was revealed that his God changes the times and seasons along with setting up and removing kings. What a revelation! The sooner CNN, CBS, NBC, and even FOX recognizes this truth the better the news will get!!

Introduction: Cyber Monday is supposedly one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. Great deals are available. The term was coined back in 2005.

Do you ever wonder if CHRISTmas time is one of the biggest events of the year where people are “shopping” for spiritual things?

There is no doubt that scores of retailers get ready for this phenomenal event in the marketing world. How much more should followers of Jesus Christ get ready for engaging in conversations about the one and true living God?

Why? Because of the following:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Jesus is our Savior and our only Hope for this life and the life to come. Do you agree?

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When Jesus takes over, things begin to change.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

People are looking for Peace in a bottle, a pill, or money. Jesus brings everlasting PEACE!

Conclusion: Are you getting ready for this CHRISTmas season? Purpose in your heart to reach out to people who are searching… even those who are not searching.

Introduction: What does anxiety have to do with Thanksgiving? Can we be worried and Thankful at the same time? Does “Prayerfulness and Thankfulness” go together? But how? The secret to this union is found in the fourth chapter of the letter to the Church of Philippi.

“Be careful for nothing.”

The word “careful” is μεριμνάω, which means distracted, anxious or care for. Are you feeling distracted? Worried? Anxious? The definition of anxiety can include nervousness or unease. Do you feel nervous? What can you do?

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

First, pray. Second, pray in faith. Third, pray telling God your needs. Fourth, pray with Thanksgiving because our Lord knows all about us. Fifth, thank Him for His PEACE because you cannot explain it!

Conclusion: What an important message in the Bible! It is the cure for care. Prayer with Thanksgiving is a cure for care!

Wow. Let’s pray.

Introduction: How can you tell that you have a heart of Gratitude? See if any of these responses reveal you?

1. A Heart of Thanksgiving! (Luke 17:15 -19)“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

As you know, it just so happened that 10 lepers approached Jesus in order to be healed. But only one came back to “GIVE THANKS”! Look around today, you can see the same response.

2. A Gift of Gratitude! (Mark 14:3)“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.”

With a heart overflowing with gratitude for “who” Jesus was, and “what” He had done, this woman gives a most generous gift. Will you first give of yourselves to Jesus and then your service to Him?

3. A Posture of Worship & Thanksgiving! (Rev 7:11,12) “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

Introduction: Did you know there is going to be perpetual THANKSGIVING in heaven! 

Every CHRISTian is blood-bought! The blood of Jesus REDEEMS! Are you THANKFUL?

“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”

Jesus desires that our THANKSGIVING turn into THANKSLIVING! Are you serving our Lord with the right motives?

“And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

This is both a posture and a place where we (blood-bought) CHRISTIANS will spend eternity.

Conclusion: The bottom line: Everyday is THANKSGIVING DAY! Even in heaven we will celebrate THANKSGIVING for Jesus Christ’s SACRIFICIAL GIVING!

Introduction: When you are in a storm give THANKS! When you are on the mountaintop give THANKS. When you are in the valley give THANKS.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonica believers, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Does this really mean in everything give thanks?

“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9-10)

Job faced some of the most difficult days anyone could ever endure. Yet, he did not curse God! Would we do the same?

“They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:”

Truthfully, do you take your blessings for granted? Most of us do. Stop and thank God for His wonderful works.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Did you notice? “…this is the Will of God.”

Conclusion: Have you given Thanks for your daily bread? Health? Family? Home? Church? Job? Government? Adversity?

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Introduction: God bless America! Lord make America blessable! How should we pray for our country?

Here are some ways we need to pray for America:

1. For Righteousness to reign! (Prov 14:34)

“34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Doing those things that please the Lord is mandatory!

2. Don’t forget God! (Psa 9:17)

 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Have we forgotten the God of the Bible? God help us not to forget Your blessings!

3. Check the Foundation for cracks! (Psa 11:3)

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Sin erodes the foundation. America’s foundation is cracked.

Conclusion: America is in need of prayer. Will you pray for our nation?

Introduction: Have you ever felt down? Discouraged? What can you do? How can we stay encouraged in a discouraging world?

Checking out the life and times of David helps us to know what to do in a time of discouragement.

“And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.”

It was a bad day for David and the men along with their families.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

Even in bad times, our Lord is there with us! Never forget, He promised not to leave us or forsake us. David knew where to turn in troubled times. Do you? Will you?

“And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

God’s Word cannot fail. Jesus Christ will prevail. After inquiring of his Lord, he was given a promise. Therefore, he had to trust the Lord. Will we trust the Lord?

Conclusion: Will you follow these steps to get up when you are down? God’s Word was given to us as an example with principles to follow.

Our God is faithful!

Introduction: Why does Jesus save us, and forgive us? Just to take us to heaven when we die – those who trust in Him? The answer is that is not all. We become His children by His “Grace” thru “Faith” to multiply His family with “Good Works.” But how are good works produced?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be fore ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be fore ordained that we should walk in them.”

The word is ποίημα,(poy’-ay-mah). It means a thing made, a work, workmanship. In other words, God made us. But why did He make us?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

Our God made us in order to produce “Good Works”! How does that make you feel? It should create within us a sense of responsibility. After all, there will be a day of accountability – at the JUDGEMENT SEAT of CHRIST (2Cor 5:10).

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The word “ordain” is προετοιμάζω: (pro-et-oy-mad’-zo). By definition it means to prepare before, or to prepare or appoint beforehand, to predestine. In other words, our Lord is telling us that His purpose for making us a “workmanship” was to produce “Good Works”!

How are you doing?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The words “walk in them” are the word “περιπατέω” (per-ee-pat-eh’-o). Breaking it down, it means how we conduct our life, or how we live. In other words, it means lifestyle. It does matter. We are stewards of the Grace of God.

Conclusion: Putting those words together it spells the following: God made us. He placed us in God the Son, Jesus Christ. His intention was that since we were in Christ, we would produce good works, which was His main objective for leaving us here on earth.

Jesus came to earth to live a life without sin and ultimately die for our sins. From there He arose sending His Spirit to live in us and thus produce the GOOD WORKS. And in so doing, that He would be glorified!

A Great Plan from a Great God!