1 Peter 5: Roaring Back: How Christians Lock Shields Against the Enemy

The shield wall forms as Christian warriors gather to conclude our powerful journey through 1 Peter. Amid today's spiritual battlefield, this final chapter delivers exactly what modern believers need—a battle plan for standing firm against the enemy's assaults.

With military precision and pastoral heart, we explore Peter's blueprint for spiritual resilience. Servant leadership stands in stark contrast to worldly authority as we examine how true shepherds lead from the front, not seeking personal gain but modeling Christ-like sacrifice. The call to humility reverberates as the essential posture for receiving God's grace, with a powerful reminder to cast our anxieties on Him who genuinely cares for our wellbeing.

The stakes couldn't be higher as Peter warns of our adversary prowling like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We confront how modern distractions—endless entertainment, social media, and worldly pursuits—dull our spiritual alertness, making us vulnerable to attack. Yet Peter's assurance that fellow believers worldwide face and overcome identical struggles bolsters our courage to resist firmly in faith.

What truly transforms this message from mere instruction to life-giving hope is the promise that after suffering "for a little while," the God of all grace will Himself restore, strengthen, confirm, and ground us. This divine promise puts our temporary trials into eternal perspective, enabling us to stand firm until the Chief Shepherd appears.

Join us as we lock shields together, strengthening one another to proclaim Christ's excellencies with both lips and life. Though the world may war against us, we serve the Lion of Judah, and the ground beneath our feet is blood-bought. Stand firm, Christian warriors—we shall not be moved!

Christian Warrior Talk is Sponsored by Trident Shield, your trusted ally in violence preparedness. Trident Shield helps safeguard your loved ones with expert training and consulting. Trident Shield, defending faith through empowered preparedness because together, we save lives."

Chapters

• 1:18 Welcome to Christian Warrior Mission
• 4:44 The Lord's Prayer: A Warrior's Foundation
• 5:00 Review of 1 Peter 1-4
• 8:39 Shepherds on the Front Lines
• 12:27 Humility Under God's Mighty Hand
• 16:56 Resisting the Roaring Lion
• 27:10 The Promise of Restoration
• 33:22 Stand Firm in True Grace
• 36:38 Lord's Supper and Final Blessing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:39

Happy Lord's Day everyone and welcome to Christian Warrior Mission, a home, church, community ministry and farm that forges Christian warriors for today's challenges. Here we forge disciples who will faithfully worship, work and war until every knee bows to King Jesus. We lock shields to protect the innocent and disciple the nations. Today we will wrap up our journey through 1 Peter with a rallying call to stand firm together in faith. We are not a people who hide from the battle. We are those who stand firm shoulder to shoulder, shields locked together, eyes fixed on Christ and hearts ablaze for his kingdom.

Speaker 1: 1:23

I'm not going to do any announcements today. We're going to dive right in. I know we're late and I apologize for that. Technical challenges I just saw my screen go black and it's back. So since we got a new computer trying to make all the gizmos work together and get all the settings right, it's not as easy as you think. All right. So I always do the Lord's Prayer and I always pray a sin, and I want you to go a little bit deeper into that today.

Speaker 1: 1:55

Before we proceed deeper into worship, let us be rooted in the fundamental prayer, fundamental prayer that Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples, the model prayer for every Christian warrior Luke 11.1. Lord, teach us to pray. Brothers and sisters, prayer is not an option for the Christian soldier of Christ. It is essential Communication with the commander of the armies of heaven. Let us now read together and, commander of the armies of heaven, let us now read together and teach through the Lord's prayer Matthew 6, 9 through 13, and I'm reading out the LSB. Pray then in this way our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors, and do not lead us in temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power of glory forever. Amen. Now did I get jumpy Just a little bit. Let's get into the teaching points of this. Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. We pray with reverence and humility to the sovereign Holy Father of the universe. Your kingdom come, your will be done. We align our lives with Christ's kingdom purpose, not our own agendas. Give us this day our daily bread. We live in daily dependence on God, our provider and sustainer. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. We live out forgiveness because we ourselves have been forgiven much. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. We seek God's protection and strength against temptation and spiritual attack, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. We affirm God's eternal dominion, power and victory. Now that if you wanted a perfect prayer, that's a perfect prayer, but you can get alone in your room, get on your knees, repent of your sins and get humble and reach out to the creator of the universe and he'll be there. So let's review 1 Peter, chapters 1 through 4 real quick.

Speaker 1: 4:26

1 Peter 1, suffering refines faith. Okay, verse 6,. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the proof of your faith being more precious than gold, which is perishable even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Trials are temporary, but faith is eternal. Faith refined by suffering becomes precious and powerful. We must learn to embrace hardships as God's refining fire, rejoice knowing that your suffering has an eternal purpose. So even suffering is a forge that strengthens our faith into something imperishable.

Speaker 1: 5:19

In 1 Peter 2, our identity and witness. In 1 Peter 2, our identity and witness, verse 9,. Believers are set apart with a purpose, with dignity. Our identity fuels our mission to proclaim Christ and we must live as one, called out of the darkness of our former lives, boldly proclaim Christ's excellencies through word and deed. We suffer, but we suffer as chosen and holy people.

Speaker 1: 6:09

Three 1 Peter 3, household and hope, verse 315,. But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to anyone or everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. Yet with gentleness and fear. I can't tell you how much this comes up. And the longer you're a christian and the more you walk it out, people are going to come up and ask you what's different about you? Why do you believe? How did you become a christian? How do you know? You must be ready to give that testimony. Okay, christ must reign supreme in our hearts.

Speaker 1: 6:53

Believers must always be prepared to defend their hope, their belief. Regularly study scripture to be ready. You're not going to be ready if you don't know anything. Answer others with gentleness and reverence. Our hope shines bright when challenged by the darkness, and then 1 Peter 4, before we get into 5. Preparedness and endurance, therefore. Also, though also who suffer according to the will of god must entrust their souls to the faithful creator in doing good. Suffering according to god's will leads to deeper trust. God remains faithful even through suffering. We must trust god fully with your life and soul and continue doing good regardless of the circumstances. As Ignatius said, stand firm as an anvil when struck. So now we get into 1 Peter 5, the last chapter of 1 Peter.

Speaker 1: 8:00

Shepherds on the front lines. We're going to go line by line, and I'm going to break it down as we go. Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing, not under compulsion but willingly, according to God, and not for dishonest gain but with eagerness, nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but as being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you'll receive the unfading crown of glory.

Speaker 1: 8:48

Leadership in Christ's church is not about worldly authority. It is a sacrificial service. Elders are called to shepherd the flock of God willingly and eagerly, not for shameful game. Eagerly, not for shameful game. Christian leaders and we're all Christian leaders must lead by example, not by domination. Christ, the chief shepherd, himself, will reward faithful shepherds with the unfading crown of glory. What do we do with this? If you are in leadership whether in your home, church, ministry, work lead like Christ with humility, sacrifice and vigilance. Fathers, pastors, teachers, parents, care for your flock, your family, your congregation, personally and protectively.

Speaker 1: 9:44

Serve, not for what you can get or for what you can give. I can't say that any better than that. Serve not for what you can get. You serve for what you can give. Too many people do things for what they can get. That is the opposite of a Christian. A Christian does what they do for what they can give. Remember that your reward is not from men, but from Jesus Christ himself, who sees every act of faithful shepherding. When no one else sees what you're doing, he does, he knows, and every vile thought and every selfish one that you do, he knows, he knows. And remember, love covers a multitude of sins. So some real life examples a father praying over his children when they sleep, leading family worship. A church elder calling a struggling member midweek just to encourage them in Christ, a Christian teacher standing firm on biblical truth despite the pressure to compromise. Some famous quotes to support this are John Christosom the shepherd risks his life, the hireling counts the coins and the great Charles Spurgeon. A true shepherd must be ready to lay down his life for the sheep, not for fame, but for faith.

Speaker 1: 11:31

Now we continue on for verses 5 through 7. Humility under God's mighty hand. You younger men likewise, be subject to your elders and all of you Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. For God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. That's why we must always start everything with being humble. You are entitled to nothing. You deserve nothing but damnation. Everything that you're getting is a blessing and a gift that you did not earn. Jesus Christ came down and died for you, period. You didn't deserve it, but he did so. Be grateful. But he gives grace to the humble. Picking up in verse six, therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of god that he may exalt you at the proper time, that's, lift you up, praise you, casting all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Speaker 1: 12:41

Now verse 7 is really important, because to be human is to have anxiety. To be human is distress. How many things do we stress that we have no power over? We stress things that never happened, that we have no power over. We stress things that never happened. We stress things that could never happen. I remember when I was a kid after seeing Jaws and very young kid after seeing Jaws I remember being in a pool and stressing over putting my back to the deeper, deep end of the pool because sharks would come get me. Now that is impossible and that is ridiculous. But so are many of our fears right. Many of our fears are just as ridiculous as a fresh chlorine pool in the middle of a city and having sharks in it. Right, so put your faith in God, because fear and anxiety is a lack of faith. So what do we learn? What do we have in these verses?

Speaker 1: 13:51

Five through seven, younger believers must submit to the wisdom of leaderships of elders. All believers must put on humility like armor. Pride provokes God's active opposition, meaning if you are prideful, god will squash you, while humility draws his empowering gaze. Grace. True humility expresses itself by trusting God with all cares and anxieties. How do we apply this? Submit willingly to God's authority in your life. That might be your pastors, your parents, your teachers who's ever mentoring you? But submit willingly to Godly authority in your life, the Bible first and always, and then from there the other people that God puts in your life, places in your life. Practice humility daily. Choose to serve, listen and learn rather than insist on your own way. Cast your burdens, worries and fears onto the Lord in prayer, not once, but continually. Trust that in his perfect time God will lift you up and exalt you for his glory.

Speaker 1: 15:09

Martin Luther said I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess. But whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess. I mean, that's one of those quotes that just rocks me. I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess. And then John Calvin Humility is the beginning of true intelligence. And John MacArthur, who's still with us, pride usurps God's preeminent position, leaving you no one to rely on when anxiety creeps in. So let's jump back in to verses 8 and 9.

Speaker 1: 16:02

Vigilant resistance against the roaring lion. Be of sober spirit, be watchful, okay. So here he's telling you don't let your guard down. Be watchful, don't compromise your judgment and, as somebody who used to be a partier, I would go out to drink to get rid of my judgment, to get rid of my inhibitions, to go out and purposely make bad decisions right To numb my morality so I could do anything fleshly that I wanted to. But why do we need to do that? Be of sober spirit, be watchful.

Speaker 1: 16:46

Your adversary, the devil, literally the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. So just picture this in the old days Somebody stumbling out of a brothel or a bar, going down the streets, walking through the countryside on the way home. What an easy target that he would be for a lion being the devil. But resist him. How do we do that? Resist him, firm in faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering are being accomplished among your brethren who are in the world, meaning that Christians have been dealing with this forever and are dealing with it right now and winning.

Speaker 1: 17:36

Christians must remain sober, vigilant and alert at all times. We live in contested territory. Satan is real, active and prowling, seeking to destroy our faith and joy. In Israel, active and prowling, seeking to destroy our faith and joy. We are commanded not to fear or flee, but to resist him firmly through faith. We are not alone. Believers everywhere are enduring and overcoming by the same grace that you have. So what do we do with this? We must stay spiritually sharp.

Speaker 1: 18:07

Avoid laziness, prayerlessness and worldly distractions that dulls your senses. The number one challenge of our day is avoiding worldly distractions. That is your video games, that is your endless sports, that is your Netflix binge watching of 52 seasons of this show just to roll into 32 seasons of the next show, to whatever else is out there. The internet, social media, whatever you got. It's all pulling you further from him, further from him, and it's all going to make you more miserable. In the end, there is no peace, there is no joy. Trust me, and I keep learning this To this day. I keep learning this there is no peace and joy away from the purpose that God created you to be. That's a father, that's a mother, that's a grandmother, that's a son, that's a brother, that's a friend. That's this All serving Christ, meaning the best moments of your life when you are lying on your bed dying and taking your last breath.

Speaker 1: 19:24

You're not going to care about season three, episode six, of the Sopranos. You're not going to care one bit. You're not going to care about beating that level in the video game. You're not going to care about the Super Bowl that was won 22 years earlier. You're not going to care about all this other stuff. You're going to wish one thing Well, two things really. You're going to wish you spent more time with the people you loved instead of doing your own selfish crap, and you're going to wish that you paid more attention to God, because your time is up and you learned about everything else but him and you're getting ready to meet him. And you learned about everything else but him, and you're getting ready to meet him. And as I get older 52, still, 52, still my time could happen the next minute, just like it could happen for anyone, but let's face it, people aren't living to 150 or even 120. You know more than likely, I'm on the back half of my life, which would be 104.

Speaker 1: 20:36

What is more important now than getting to know God? We all think, oh, he understands. No, no, yeah, he does. He understands your selfishness, he understands your sin, he understands your fickle ways, your lack of loyalty, your betrayal, your selfishness yourself, self, self, self, self. That is our problem and it's done by the devil. The devil uses all these tools, social media. You can do this for days, scrolling, and what do you see? You see everyone else who appears to have it better than you, not knowing that every one of those people are crying themselves to sleep. They're all miserable as well. They just happen to have a filter on and no cameras, and they show you the good parts of their life. They don't show you the horrible parts of their life, which is a majority of it.

Speaker 1: 21:39

Every time I step away from God and every time I get lazy or I drift or I revel in self-pity and all these things, no matter what I do, I can go to my video games or start watching a show or reading a book, whatever, and all those things aren't bad in themselves if I'm seeking God first, if I'm seeking God first, if I'm seeking God first, then I'm going to have my joy and I'm going to have my purpose. And guess what? I'm not going to be doing things that I shouldn't be doing. But as I separate from him and fill it with these things, I'm going to get angrier, I'm going to get more sinful and I'm going to get more miserable. Sure, as I'm standing there and it's going to accelerate, accelerate, accelerate until it comes to a head and then something bad will happen. Goodbye, oh thanks. So this is without exception.

Speaker 1: 22:47

So we must stay physically sharp, avoid laziness, prayerlessness and worldly distractions that dull your senses when temptation or attack comes, stand on scripture, declaring the truth against Satan's lies. When you sit, when you're there and you're feeling guilty and you're like, you know my sin's too much right, because that is rightful thinking. There your sins are too much. You know you're not worthy. You're right, you're not worthy, but Christ did it anyways. And know your sins aren't too much because Christ's blood is pure enough and good enough to redeem anything. What you get, really, where the most dangerous thing is, is this oh, I'm not that bad, I'm not Hitler, I'm not a rapist, I'm not these things, I'm not a serial killer. Now, that is the devil whispering to you and that is your selfishness, trying to pick your favorite sins that aren't so bad.

Speaker 1: 23:57

Surround yourself with godly brothers and sisters. Do not try to fight alone, and we know this. What do we do when we start messing up? We flee. Why? Because we don't want to be held accountable. We don't want to be held accountable. We don't. We feel guilty and shameful and all this stuff. But what I'm trying to tell you is that the people who want you in their life and that care about you don't care about any of that. They just want you back. They just want you back. They want you to own it. So you grow from it.

Speaker 1: 24:35

Your repentance is proof of a changed heart, and then you move forward and you are reconciled. What does that sound like? What we all do with Jesus all the time? That sound like what we all do with Jesus all the time. You can't hide from him. He's the final stop. When you close your eyes one day and you open them up, that's where you're going to be and there will be no excuses. Take courage, knowing that your brothers and sisters around the world face the same enemy. Take people have been winning this forever with God, and you can too.

Speaker 1: 25:20

As Charles Spurgeon said, seek to obtain clear knowledge in the doctrines of the gospel and then get a good grip on them. Answer Satan with. How great would it be if Satan challenged you with something? And you say thus saith the Lord, and boom, you repeat your scripture. William Gurnall said we must walk, work and sleep in armor, or else we are not true soldiers in Christ. And John Owen said temptation and occasions put nothing into a man, but only draw out what was in him before and that comes from oh, the devil made me do this. No, the devil didn't make me do this, that was you. The opportunity came and you took it. There's a saying out there no, I won't even get into that Back in. We're getting to the end now. Peter 5, 10, and 11.

Speaker 1: 26:19

The promise of restoration and eternal glory, the good news. And after you have suffered for a little while, glory, the good news. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, strengthen, confirm and ground you. To him be might forever and ever. Amen. Suffering, though painful, is short compared to eternal glory that awaits us. God himself will personally restore, strengthen, confirm and ground his people. There's no doctor like him, there's no drug like him. There's no, nothing Instantly perfect. That's what you will be. Our suffering has a purpose and an end. Your suffering, when handled well and done in a godly way, glorifies God and his dominion forever. God's grace is active. It's not theoretical. It comes in power to his people. That's you. So what do we do with this? Keep your suffering in perspective. It is for a little while compared to eternity.

Speaker 1: 27:49

I remember when I was going through BUDS there was a great instructor there, instructor Walker. Forrest Walker, great dude, very motivational, complete opposite of me. He was a triathlete guy, skinny as a rail, couldn't believe he was a sail when I first, skinny as a rail, couldn't believe he was a sail. When I first met him, and I couldn't believe you, he was an instructor because he didn't look like anyone else. He was so inspirational, he was so inspiring and he took a line graph on there and he put a line here and this is when you were born and then this is when you die. And then he took buds, which is 26 weeks, which is basically in the water demolition school, seal training, and he took it in there and he said, okay, it's usually somewhere between 18 and 25 here, 26 if you're here.

Speaker 1: 28:37

And he draws an inch margin on something that's you know 10 feet long, that's you know 10 feet long, and he's like that's how long you have to suffer for the glory that will be with you the rest of your life, that you made it through here. When you're in it it's going to seem like forever. And he's like and if you want to break it down, hell week is even smaller inside of that 26 weeks. So you take hell week and you break it down 52 weeks a year times 80. That's one week out of 80 years. Then you break that down and that's what's going to decide part of your fate. And when you look at things that way, it's no different with the Lord, even if you made it to 120 or 119 versus eternity. It's a small price to pay when you feel broken.

Speaker 1: 29:34

Cling to the promise that God will personally mend and strengthen you. I'm broken. I've got a replaced knee what six, seven months, seven months ago, eight months ago. I've got a replaced knee what six, seven months ago, eight months ago. I've got a bad back from parachuting axes. I'm a 100% disabled vet. I'm in pain and everyone's got their other pains, everyone you're not getting.

Speaker 1: 30:00

Life is pain. We're all going to accumulate it, some stupidly, some more noble, others purely accidental and tragic. But you don't get out of this life without scars, bumps and bruises. God is personally going to heal you. One day You're going to wake up, be staring at him and all the pain's gone, gone. All the suffering's gone Gone. Nothing but joy. Personally, personally, man praise and worship God, even in the midst of trial, affirming his sovereignty. Rest in the certainty that our God reigns. No suffering is wasted and no pain will have the last word.

Speaker 1: 30:58

And again I'm going to talk about my friend, john, who lost his six-year-old granddaughter to cancer. He showed me and walked us out where I saw him at her funeral, walk out of faith larger than anyone I've ever known and set the example to hundreds of people of what it is to be a godly man and to praise God in suffering and to be joyful. And I saw God's glory in that moment. That horrible death, that sucky thing that happened, that tragedy glorified God more than anything. It was incredible because it was completely unnatural. It was incredible because it was completely unnatural.

Speaker 1: 31:51

Samuel Rutherford said our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome home in heaven, our first night for eternity. It's not even worth it. John Calvin said whatever adversity the godly suffer, they know that God is testing them and in the end will be blessed. Spurgeon said I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the rock of ages. The final exhortation Stand firm in true grace, verse 12. Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I regard him, I have written to you briefly exhorting and bearing witness that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She also, who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

Speaker 1: 32:58

Peter affirms the message that he has delivered to the true grace of God is the true grace of God. Christians must stand firmly and move a boy in that grace, not drifting, not retreating. Fellowship among believers must be marked with genuine love and unity. Peace is the final blessing and armor for those who are in Christ. And what do we do with this? We anchor our soul in truth of the gospel, no matter what waves hit us. Stand firmly with your brothers and sisters. Love fervently, greet warmly, forgive quickly. Always remember the peace that guards us is the peace Christ purchased with his blood. Live in that peace daily, resisting fear, division and spiritual apathy.

Speaker 1: 33:52

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said Christian community is not an ideal we must realize. It is a reality created by God in Christ, in which we may participate. And Augustine said in essentials unity and non-essentials liberty and all things, charity. Brothers and sisters, today you have heard the charge. You have been reminded that suffering is but for a little while, but glory is forever. You have been equipped to resist the enemy, to lock shields in brotherhood and to stand firm in the true grace of God.

Speaker 1: 34:30

Now is the time to act. Rise up, warriors of Christ. Strengthen your knees for prayer, your hands for service, your heart for battle. Do not drift, do not retreat. Our King calls us forward. Stand in the gap for your family. Stand boldly in your workplace. Shine the light of Christ into the dark corners of this world. Proclaim his excellencies with your lips and your life. Proclaim his excellencies with your lips and your life. This world may war against us, but we serve the Lion of Judah. The ground beneath our feet is blood-bought and we shall not be moved. Take your post in the shield wall. Lock shields with your brothers and sisters. Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith and when the chief shepherd appears, may he find us standing firm, unshaken, roaring back in victory. To God alone be the glory, dominion and might, forever and ever Forward. Christian warriors. Amen and amen.

Speaker 1: 35:44

So we're going to do the Lord's Supper. You guys already have it 1 Corinthians 11.28. But a man must test himself, and in doing so he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. Before we partake, let us take a moment of silence to quietly bow before the King of glory. Let each man, woman and young warrior here search his or her heart, confessing sin, laying down burdens and preparing to eat or drink in a manner worthy of the Lord. Go ahead, take a moment.

Speaker 1: 36:43

Almighty God, sovereign, lord of hosts, we approach your table today not because we are worthy, but because Jesus Christ is worthy. We come not trusting in our own righteousness, but clinging to the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. We remember his broken body, his blood poured out for the new covenant. We bow in humble gratitude, we lift our hearts in reverent awe. Sanctify this bread and this cup and sanctify us, your people, as we proclaim the death, resurrection and the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray in his mighty and matchless name Amen. 1 Corinthians 11, 23, 24.

Speaker 1: 37:29

The Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was being betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Remember this symbolizes his body pierced, beaten, sacrificed for you. Let us partake of the bread together in remembrance of Christ's body broken for us. Go ahead and eat In the same way. He took the cup after supper, saying this cup is a new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. Remember this symbolizes his blood, the blood that purchased our forgiveness and sealed the everlasting covenant. Let us partake of the cup together in remembrance of Christ's blood poured out for us. You eat and drink of this cup. You proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. By this eating and drinking, we publicly proclaim Christ has died, christ is risen, christ will come again. We are soldiers in his everlasting kingdom. Let us pray.

Speaker 1: 38:51

Brothers and sisters, now go forth from this place as soldiers of Christ, armored with faith, wrapped in hope, blazing with love. May the Lord, our host, go before you to lead you, beside you to guard you, beneath you to sustain you and within you to strengthen you. May your shield of faith never falter, may your sword of the spirit never grow dull, may your feet never stray from the path of righteousness and may the roar of the Lion of Judah echo behind you as you advance His kingdom wherever your feet travel, kingdom wherever your feet travel, stand firm warriors, lock shields, fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith until we stand before the king himself, crowned by his grace, and hear those blessed words. Well done, good and faithful servant In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you.