Remember The Good Fighters
2 Samuel 23:8-10, 1 Timothy 6:11-12
May 28, 2006
The Rev. Kong Namkung

Some people, as they saw my USB on my neck, asked me, “what is on your neck?”  I replied, “This is a USB, a memory chip because I am very forgetful. So I carry my memory with me all the time.”  There are times when we can be quite forgetful. I have been there and done that. Have you?
 

What is your worst experience of forgetfulness? Did you ever get in your car, reach for your keys and didn’t have them? Or you couldn’t remember your own cellular phone number or home phone number? Or you forgot the street where you lived? Or the names of some of your children or grand children?

 A man who was born in a huge city visited his relatives on a farm and the farmer blew a whistle and his dog herded the cattle into the fence and then latched the gate with her paw.

"Wow, that’s an incredible dog. What’s her name?" The forgetful farmer thought a minute.  And then asked, "What do you call that red flower that smells good and has thorns on the stem?" "A rose?" "That’s it!" The farmer turned to his wife. "Hey Rose, what do we call this dog?"
 
 Here is another one. At a commuter train station a policeman noticed a woman driver with her head bowed over the steering wheel in obvious discomfort. The police officer asked her, "Is there anything wrong?"

Half crying and half laughing, she said, "For ten years I have been driving my husband to this station every morning to catch this train. THIS MORNING I FORGOT HIM!"

Brothers and sisters, the worst forgetfulness of all is to forget people! Tomorrow is the official Memorial Holiday. Many people see it as just a 3-day weekend. But for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, or 911, conflagration, and others, tomorrow means much more than a day off. In fact, every American ought to recognize this day in honor of those who spilled their blood to make America what she is today—the land of freedom.  She is the strongest country, and it is a nation worth fighting for.
 

Because men and women have died for this country, we have the right to preach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes. We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness. If they did not fight for us, we could be dominated by wrong doers, injustices, without freedom of speech and religion.
 

St. Augustine said, “War and conquest are a sad necessity in the eyes of men of principle, yet it would be still more unfortunate if wrong-doers should dominate just men.”

I don’t know about you, but when I go to bed each night I thank God for that man or woman in uniform who is standing between our nation and the wrong doers of this world. I pray for the families and loved ones of the one who was killed this week to fight for the peace of the world.
 

 How will we celebrate our hero’s this Memorial weekend?

1. Honor the Good Fighters

1. Good fighters for the nation.  We are what we are and where we are because God has been using our soldiers and others for fight the good fights for the nation, where we put “In God we trust” in our money. 

A few years ago, I had a chance to met Mohammad Ali in LA.  As soon as I walked out of the airport for transpiration, I saw a legendary boxer, Clay.  What a great fighter.  He fought with his arms that were coordinated with his legs.  He was a good fighter for himself.  But the people who died for their nations are the best fighters.  They fought until they lost their life.   As Christians I want you to consider good fighters in the spiritual realm. 

2. Good fighters for spiritual battles

Heb 11: 32- 34, “What more should I say?  For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David, and Samuel and the prophets- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”  All these people had weapons like soldiers had their own weapons. 

What kind of weapons did they have?  “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against he spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”   (Ephesians 6:12)  Then Paul urges us to have the whole armor of God, “Fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and pt on the breastplate of righteousness, as shoes for the gospel of peace, take the shield of faith, take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, the word.”

I know the best fighter in the entire world.  There is none like Him.  He defeated the power of death and he rose from the dead and before his name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord.  Do you know who that is?  Jesus Christ is the best fighter in the entire world.

Mt 4:1-11, Jesus fought against the temptations and Jesus won the temptations with the word of God. –

Mk 14:32- 36:  Jesus fought against his own will to follow the will of God in the garden of Gethsemane.

 Lk 23:46:  Jesus fought against the unforgiveness on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” 

 Jesus is the best fighter over all, over human history. 

C. Bad Fighters – Michael Tyson bit Hayfield’s ear when he fought against him.  It was the bad fight.  In the Bible, some people fought the bad fights.

Pharaoh (Ex 5:1-2) -  Against God’s plan.  Disobedience to God’s voice.

Rabshakeh (2 Kings 18:28-36) he was the ambassadors from Assyria and spoke to God’s people saying, “Do not let Hezekaih make you rely on the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us.”   He fought against the promise of God. 

Jeroboam (2 Chr 13:8- 19)  - make as gods for you.  Fought against God’s chosen people and fought for worshipping gods.                     

You and I can be bad fighters, if we do not obey his great Commission, “Go therefore make disciples of all nations.”  (Mt 28:19) or we can be worse, or worse fighters if you do not listen to his commandments to “love him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”  (MT 22:39-40)

2. Remember family/friends who lost loved ones in battles. 

As you well know, Memorial Day has evolved into a time to honor all families and friends who have passed on.
 
Memorial Day is made in order to share with your children and grandchildren the fact that we would not be living life as we now know it if someone had not paid the price of liberty for us. Our freedom - the social order we now enjoy - the democratic process - justice and justness - health - freedom from fear - the ability to seek the employment we prefer - All these things and more, we owe to those who paid the price for them. And often times, that price can be measured only in blood and human lives.

The scripture says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interest of others.”  (Philippians 2:3-4)

To be a mature Christian means “To regard others better than you are and looking for and being concerned for the interest of others.”  For example, Jesus healed the blind to see again, the lame to walk, leper to be whole, and the dead to be raised for their own families.  But Jesus did not perform a single miracle for himself.  What does mean to be like Jesus?  It means “to concern others and to care others than you.”  Do you want to be like Jesus?  Then ask God to help you to love and care for other people rather than yourself.

II Cor. 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES, SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE IN ANY TROUBLE..."

Did you hear God speaking to you? God comforts us so that we can comfort others. God ministers to us so that we can minister to others! God loves us so we can love others! GOD PUT US HERE FOR OTHERS!
 

This week I encourage you to remember the families and friends who lost loved one in your prayers.  If they are living closer to you, then take desert, ice-cream, a note, or a card to them and let them know that you care for them and remember them in your prayers.  I think it is much more valuable than spending time with your family.   

3. Lastly, on Memorial Day we give Thanks for the Sacrifice.

All the heroic acts on battlefields throughout history have made our country what it is today. We enjoy freedom and wealth. Our freedom and our luxuries have come at a great price. We enjoy freedom in America because men have died for our country. The cost of freedom is blood.

In a similar way, Jesus gave his life to set us free from slavery of sin and death. For this we must be eternally thankful.  1 Corinthians 11:25, “ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

It is through the blood of Christ that we are Redeemed. It is Jesus who grants to us mercy and peace through His broken body and His blood. As we prepare to take the Lord’s Supper together I want to introduce a new song to you with words that invite our Redeemer to meet with us at His Table of Remembrance.

In conclusion: Memorial Day -2006 - is not only a time to remember those who have gone before us, paving the way for those who follow, by their privations, sacrifices, and their lives. Memorial Day 2006 - is also a time to celebrate Americans coming together in the face of a common enemy.
 
Do you know my wife and I will take a test for being an America citizen on June 13^th? After twenty-one years later in America, my wife and I decide to be an American and we are proud of being an American because it is the nation of freedom, peace, and justice.  We see God’s leading our lives and find God’s mission in this land.  And deep in our hearts my wife and I salute to the people those who died for this land.  And we thank God for bringing us into this land, the land of God’s blessing upon.  I will not forget what the people had done on this beautiful land and what God had done on this land.  Thanks be to God.  Amen. 

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2 Samuel 23:8-10

8 These are the names of David's mighty men:

Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, 10 but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. NIV

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1 Timothy 6:11-12

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. NIV

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