You’re In GOD'S Army: Don't Go AWOL
(6-Part Weekend Seminar)
As a Christian leader, the Apostle Paul commissions his spiritual son, Timothy, to think of himself, not as a civilian, but rather as a soldier in active service for Christ. It could be said that Christ is the Commander and Chief of an “all-volunteer army,” and He wants you to be on “active duty” for His kingdom.
However, we face an enemy of our souls who desires the most dedicated of Christian leaders to lose heart in the battle, to lose sight of the mission, and to go AWOL from serving the Lord and His people. For inspiring examples of good soldiers who stood their ground in the battlefields of life, evangelist/historian Richard “Little Bear” Wheeler draws upon reinforcements throughout history who fought the good fight of faith, who secured the high ground of principles, who finished strong, and heard it said, “Mission accomplished! Well done thou good and faithful servant!” (Recommended for high school and adult audiences.)
COMPLETE SERIES
Introduction: You’re In GOD’s Army: Don't Go AWOL
Whether you are a civilian or active in the armed forces—man, woman, or child—if you have received Christ as the Savior and Lord of your life, then you have been “drafted” into His service. The truth of this is seen in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Endure hardness with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved with civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.” If you haven’t already, you will be challenged to begin to see yourself as a soldier of the cross, a soldier on active duty with allegiance and responsibilities to our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ.
I Love the Army, But I Hate Boot Camp
The reality of the Christian life is that being a faithful believer is often difficult and sometimes even painful. In military terms it often feels like we have been inducted into the rigorous training of a spiritual boot camp. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us this way, “My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are corrected by Him; for the Lord disciplines those whom He loves, and chastises every child whom He accepts. Endure trials for the sake of discipline…” (Hebrews 12:5-7). Through the cameo portrayal of Sgt. Alvin York, Richard “Little Bear” Wheeler drives home the powerful testimony of a man yielded to the Lord’s correction in boot camp, who became better prepared to defeat the enemy, not only in World War I military battles, but also in the spiritual battles of life.
What Is My Duty?
Just hours before his death at the Battle of Trafalgar, Horatio Nelson—the great English admiral who won for England freedom on the high seas—said, “England expects every man will do his duty.” In like manner, our Great Commander Jesus expects no less from His all-volunteer army. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our duty to a faithful life in Christ is paramount. Using military examples, “Little Bear” illustrates and emphasizes the spiritual implications and challenges of the dutiful Christian life—a life of responsible commitment to remain on “active duty” for Christ.
Duty vs. Devotion
Just what is duty versus devotion? And how does a Christian go beyond duty to learn true devotion to his Commander-in-Chief, Christ Jesus? Recounting military history, we will learn how to avoid the pitfalls of two prominent wartime heroes, who although exemplary in their duty to their charge and their countries, missed the mark when it came to extending their duty to a more eternal devotion to God. The Apostle Paul writes, “But I am frightened, fearing that in some way you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to our Lord, just as Eve was deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Pastor Richard “Little Bear” Wheeler examines the motivators in our life that will take us beyond just doing our duty, to delighting in our devotion to Christ.
Where’s the Enemy? Let Me at ‘Em!
With tongue in cheek, do you recall Elmer Fudd, that eager-beaver cartoon character, always running around with his smoking shotgun, relentlessly trying to get that “silly rabbit?” However, Elmer was brainless as to the wiles of Bugs Bunny, who was always somehow able to circumvent his misdirected attempts, and escape unscathed. On a more serious note, if only our enemy were as cartoonish as Elmer Fudd. But far from it! Pastor “Little Bear” Wheeler take us from the comical to a reality check as he identifies who the enemy of our souls really is. And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail..." (Luke 22:31-32). Further study leads to ways of recognizing the wiles of the enemy, as well as some practical steps on how to combat the enemy Satan, thereby rendering him, as well as his hosts, useless in sifting through your life.
Special Ops Mission: Seek the Lost at Any Cost
It may come as a shocking surprise, but up to 85% of all Christians today have never led a single soul to Christ. In relaying the amazing account of one of the most successful military rescue missions of all time, Pastor “Little Bear” Wheeler challenges each and every believer to take seriously the eternal state of mankind, recognizing that without a saving faith in Jesus Christ, the lost will perish. As one of the most dangerous and desperate special ops missions of WW II—successfully rescuing 500 sick and malnourished American soldiers from certain death in a grueling Japanese POW camp in the Philippines—the Great Raid on Cabanatuan further illustrates the compelling Christian commission to seek and save the perishing at any cost—for eternity.