VETERANS OF THE CROSS

TEXT- 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

INTRODUCTION

ON NOVEMBER 11TH, OUR NATION OBSERVED A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN SOME CAPACITY WITHIN OUR ARMED FORCES.

SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR MORE THAN 39 MILLION MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES.

OUT OF THESE MORE THAN ONE MILLION HAVE DIED SD THAT WE MIGHT ENJOY THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

ESTHER SCHOBER IN HER POEM ENTITLED "SALUTE TO OUR BOYS" WRITES:

HERE'S A SALUTE TO THE ARMY BOYS,
MEN IN KHAKI BROWN;
HERE'S TO THE LADS WITH MARCHING FEET,
AS THE CAISSONS GO ROLLING ALONG,
HERE'S A SALUTE TO THE NAVY MEN,
DECKED IN BLUE AND WHITE;
HERE'S TO THE LADS OF THE NAVAL FLEET,
WITH ANCHORS AWAY TO THE FIGHT.
HERE'S A SALUTE TO THE BRAVE MARINES,
FIGHTING ON LAND AND SEA,
HERE'S TO THE LADS THAT ARE ALWAYS GLAD
TO GIVE LIFE FOR LIBERTY.
HERE'S A SALUTE TO THE BOYS WHO FLY,
LADS WITH AN UPWARD SWING;
HERE'S TO THE MEN WITH COLORS TRUE,
AS UP TO THE BLUE THEY WING.
GIVE A SALUTE FOR THE SERVICE MEN,
CHEERING FOR ONE AND ALL;
GIVE A SALUTE FOR THEIR COURAGE TRUE,
GOD BE WITH THEM - ONE AND ALL!

WHILE MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SERVED AND DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOR OUR NATION COUNTLESS MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND HAVE DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD SD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE TRUTHS OF GOD'S WORD WHICH WE PREACH AND PRACTICE TODAY.

OUR TEXT THIS MORNING IS FOUND IN 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "VETERANS OF THE CROSS".

HERE WITHIN OUR TEXT WE FIND THE APOSTLE PAUL SPEAKING TO TIMOTHY.

PAUL AT THIS TIME IS WITHIN A ROMAN PRISON.

POSSIBLY, THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF A VETERAN OF THE CROSS THAN THE APOSTLE PAUL.

HERE WITHIN OUR TEXT WE FIND FOUR DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS THAT WERE FOUND IN PAUL'S LIFE AS A VETERAN OF THE CROSS.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THESE CHARACTERISTICS AND SEE HOW THEY CAN BE APPLIED TO OUR LIVES TODAY.