Band of Brothers - Why We Fight

SIAFU Mens Conference, Band of Brothers: Why We Fight Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis, p. 48

A Profile of An Honorable Warrior for Christ: No Retreat, No Fear, Hold Nothing Back

2 Timothy 2:11-13 – The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 – We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 – Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Perseverance is part of maturity (Jas. 1.2-4). Job’s perseverance is another example for suffering Christians (Jas. 5.11). John frequently highlighted the patient endurance of Christians (Rev. 2.2,19; 3.10; 13.10; 14.12). Christian patience is ultimately a gift from God (Rom. 15.5-6; 2 Thess. 3.5). ~ Warren Williams, “Patience” in Holman Bible Dictionary, elec. ed. 2012.

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