Remember Our Soldiers Remember the soldiers that died defending our nation. Created by David Turner

But there is another kind of Soldier we must remember. A soldier for liberty A soldier for freedom A soldier, not just for a nation but for mankind A soldier for peace A soldier, not for a flag, but for the cross A soldier defending with his life for the souls of mankind

Remember our Soldiers Remember the soldiers that died defending our Faith

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” Tertullian ( AD). Remember the soldiers that died for our Faith

Remember our Soldiers Remember the soldiers that died defending our Faith

The Apostles were Soldiers of the faith. Defending the faith. Persecuted, but not persecuting for the faith. Considering it an honor to die for the faith, but not killing for the faith.

The Early Christians were soldiers Paul refers to himself and coworkers as Soldiers: Philippians 2:25 (NET) But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need. Philemon 1-2 (NET) 1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.

The Apostles were soldiers Paul instructed Timothy to be as a Soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NET) Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.

As soldiers they expected to be persecuted for the faith. Jesus told them to expect it: –Matthew 24:9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. –Matthew 5: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. –Luke 21:12 12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

They expected to be persecuted for the faith. They believed persecution was the natural consequence of following Christ. –2 Timothy 3: You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, 11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all. 12 Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Their battle was not against flesh, so they did not kill. Ephesians 6: Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

Their battle was not against flesh. The Word was their sword 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NET) 3 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.

They were soldiers. It was considered an honor to die for their faith in Christ.

They died for the faith Stephen was preaching the gospel in Jerusalem on the Passover after Christ’s crucifixion. He was cast out of the city and stoned to death. About 2,000 Christians suffered martyrdom during this time (about 34 A.D.).

They died for the faith James, the son of Zebedee and the elder brother of John, was killed when Herod Agrippa arrived as governor of Judea. Many early disciples were martyred under Agrippa’s rule, including Timon and Parmenas (about 44 A.D.).

They died for the faith Philip, a disciple from Bethsaida, in Galilee, suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified (about 54 A.D.).

They died for the faith Matthew, the tax-collector from Nazareth was preaching in Ethiopia when he suffered martyrdom by the sword (about 60 A.D.).

They died for the faith James, the Brother of Jesus, administered the early church in Jerusalem and was the author of a book in the Bible. At the age of 94 he was beat and stoned, and finally had his brains bashed out with a fuller's club.

They died for the faith Matthias was the apostle who filled the vacant place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.

They died for the faith Andrew, the brother of Peter, preached the gospel throughout Asia. On his arrival at Edessa, he was arrested and crucified on a cross, two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground (thus the term, St. Andrew's Cross).

They died for the faith Mark was converted to Christianity by Peter, and then transcribed Peter’s account of Jesus in his Gospel. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria in front of Serapis, their pagan idol.

They died for the faith Peter was condemned to death and crucified at Rome. Jerome holds that Peter was crucified upside down, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord

They died for the faith Paul suffered in the first persecution under Nero. Because of the converting impact he was having on people in the face of martyrdom, he was led to a private place outside the city where he gave his neck to the sword.

They died for the faith Jude, the brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa in about 72 A.D

They died for the faith Simon, surnamed Zelotes, preached in Africa and Britain, where he was crucified in about 74 A.D.

They died for the faith John, the "beloved disciple," was the brother of James. Although he suffered great persecution, including imprisonment where he wrote the book of Revelation, he was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.

Remember the Saints that are dying for their faith. Martyrdom is not a thing of the past. Historians have stated that more Christians died for their faith in the 20 th Century than in all previous centuries combined.

Remember the Saints that are dying for their faith.

Prayer for our persecuted Soldiers around the world. Remember the soldiers that died for us. Be a Soldier. –Consider the cost –Study the manual –Get instructions from the General –Discipline yourselves –Know the opponent – Prepare for battle