“Enemy-occupied territory, that is what this world is but, Christianity is the story of how our rightful King has landed –you might say in disguise– and now He is calling us all to take part in His great campaign of sabotage!” C.S. Lewis
Just as Navy SEALs have been tasked with the call of duty to bring sabotage to the plans of terrorists such as suicide-bombers; God has tasked His soldiers with a call of duty to bring sabotage to the plans of the ultimate terrorist and suicide-bomber, Satan. The devil knows that he is on a “suicide mission” – he’s read the back of the book and sees that lake of fire coming,– but like any suicide-bomber, he is not content with going down alone. His aim is to take out as many people with him as he possibly can in the process of his own destruction. This is personal, he is going after your co-workers, friends and family members! He desires them all to be struck through by the devastating shrapnel of sin. But God, has his soldiers in place (all believers), forward deployed and armed with a weapon, a weaponized-message that sets captive people free and sabotages the evil plans of the enemy of our soul. The weaponized-message God has given us to foil the plans of the ultimate terrorist is The Gospel.
In “Marching Order” Navy SEAL Chad Williams relates the biblical pattern of God’s call to Moses; with Jesus call to Christians, to declare a message of independence from captivity. From a unique Navy SEAL perspective, parallels will be drawn between SEALs and soldiers for Christ.
Moses was called by God, but Moses doubted his own qualifications
• Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?
Who is qualified to become a Navy SEAL?
• Common man, with an uncommon desire to succeed (SEAL Creed).
– This is illustrated with examples of SEAL training, comparing those that made it with those that didn’t.
Who is qualified to be a soldier for Christ?
• The common man with uncommon desire.
– God uses ordinary people like little David to accomplish extraordinary things, taking on the giants in life like Goliath.
– The key qualifier is a desire/heart in the right place.
– David was small, the runt of the litter, last to be considered in the family-line; but we learn his desire and heart were oriented correctly, qualifying him as the man to be used by God. “A heart after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22).
Moses, like many of us, asked the wrong question
• The question is not, “who am I?” The correction question is “who is my God?”
– If your heart is oriented correctly, then you are qualified, and your checkered past résumé doesn’t really matter because it is God that does the heavy lifting.
– “The eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles. 16:9).
Who is our God that gives us these marching orders?
• The same “Great I AM” that called Moses to deliver a message in Exodus 3:14 is the same “Great I AM” that calls you and I to deliver a message (cf. John. 8:58; Matthew 28:18-20).
– This is illustrated by a remarkable and humorous divine appointment Chad had with Jehovah Witnesses at the door.
SEALs on the battlefield
• Maintaining the ability to control my emotions and actions regardless of circumstances” (SEAL Creed).
– Why this is important for SEALs and how it is achieved. Why this is important for Christians and how this is achieved.
What is the weapon that we carry into battle?
• The weaponized-message of the Gospel
– It is vital that Navy SEALs know their weapon well and SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures).
– It is critical the soldier for Christ know their weapon, which will be taught in a very clear and memorable way.
– How to function our weaponized message through the SOP’s known as the 4 R’s. (1) Realize (2) Recognize (3) Repent (4) Receive
SEALs are ultimately motivated by love for God, country, and family.
– You fight differently when you fight for what you love!
– This will be demonstrated through examples of motivating factors that get SEALs that have made it through things like Hell Week
– For example, SEALs will write on the inside of their hats things they love that will get them to dig deep and reach beyond themselves.
– The closing challenge to the audience will be to consider if they are fighting for what they love, what will they write on the inside of their hat?
– In the end, it is all about Faith, Family, Friends, Fellowman.