MARCH
NOT COAST TO ZION
BREAD
1 You
then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard
me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also
be qualified to teach others. 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ
Jesus. 4 No one
serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his
commanding officer. 5 Similarly,
if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless
he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive
a share of the crops. 7 Reflect
on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)
18 Timothy,
my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made
about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good
conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (NIV)
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. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)
6 For I
am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my
departure. 7 I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to
me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his
appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
24 Do you
not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run
in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict
training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a
crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I
do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after
I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the
prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
10 Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
14 How,
then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is
written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)
BUTTER
“The Lord gets His
best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.” Charles
H. Spurgeon
“Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as
to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before! Christ, the royal Master, leads against the
foe; Forward into battle, see his banner go!
At the sign triumph Satan’s host doth flee; On, then, Christian
soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s
foundations quiver at the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, loud
your anthems raise! Like a mighty army
moves the church of God; Brother, we are treading where the saints have trod;
We are not divided; all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in
charity. Onward, then, ye people, join
our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song; Glory, laud,
and honor, unto Christ the King; This through countless ages men and angels
sing. Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before.” Sabine Baring-Gould
“Christianity is a
warfare, and Christians are spiritual soldiers.” Robert Southwell
“No
joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ:
Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment,
that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in
their hours of rest.” Charles H.
Spurgeon
“Strong faith enables the servants of God to look with calm contempt upon their most haughty foes. We know that our enemies are attempting impossibilities…When the Lord arises, they shall fly as chaff before the wind, and be consumed as crackling thorns. Their utter powerlessness to do damage to the cause of God and His truth may make the weakest soldiers in Zion’s ranks laugh them to scorn. Above all, we know that the Most High is with us, and when He dresses Himself in arms, where are His enemies? The kingdom is safe in the King’s hands.” Charles H. Spurgeon
HEART SAVOR
- · Christians are marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion. We are marching onward to Zion the beautiful City of God.
- · May those who come behind us find us faithful. We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel and to leave the aroma of Christ in our circumstances rather than the stench of death.
- · Our times are in His hands.
