"...you were slain, 
 and with your blood you purchased men for God
 from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Revelation 5:9

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Commander's Intent

Pray without ceasing...how?

A new way to look at the acronym TDY...

". . .as  it is written: ^ “None is righteous, no, not one. . .

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Situational Awareness

Death is separation. A physical death is the separation of the soul from the body. Spiritual death, which is of greater significance, is the separation of the soul from God. In Genesis 2:17, God tells Adam that in the day he eats of the forbidden fruit he will “surely die.” Adam does fall, but his physical death does not occur immediately; God must have had another type of death in mind—spiritual death. This separation from God is exactly what we see in Genesis 3:8. When Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord, they “hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God.” The fellowship had been broken. They were spiritually dead.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Situational Awareness

Fear and forgiveness seem to be an opposite impossible couple. These two traits, when correctly applied, provide a key to deeper understanding of God.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. - Ephesians 2:1

In those words, the Apostle Paul is speaking of a 'former' state of those believers, a state of being spiritually dead.  So we have to ask - former to what? Well, that is rather self-evident in the context and can only mean before they believed in Christ, since he is speaking to professing believes in Ephesus.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Situational Awareness

 A major league baseball player?  Without ever getting on the field?  How?

A pastor friend in Hawaii recently posted on Facebook this emphatic statement:  "Make no bones about, the purpose of the church is EVANGELISM." (Emphasis his.)

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Commander's Intent

We all have probably heard the phrase that speaks of believers having three enemies - the world, the flesh, and the devil. I probably should have said "some of us" instead of "we all" since there seem to be quite a few churches who embrace the world these days, but I will leave it that way because we should consider the world an enemy, since the world system(s) are under the control of the evil one, so the Bible tells us.

What I would like to ask, and then answer is this: "Of those three; the world the flesh and the devil, which one should we as believers be most concerned with? Can we consider one above the others a more 'formidable' enemy? Have you ever thought about it? Why or why not?

Consider those rhetorical questions, I am not after an argument or debate. I think scripture tells us which of the three causes us the most problems; not in exact words, but implicitly nonetheless.

Some years ago now, when I was traveling in Christian circles that made much of battling Satan, and blaming him for just about everything from the evils in the world to individual sins (If he didn't tempt us we wouldn't sin, would we? ), I had one of those "moments", the kind that happen when you hit a passage of scripture that sort of settles an issue, or question you might have about your Christian walk. There have been a few of those through the years, some more memorable than others. This was one of those more memorable "moments".

Now that you're sitting there on pins and needles for the answer I said I would give you, here it is:

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." - James 1:14

As far as I'm concerned, that one passage tells me which of the big three I should be more concerned with. All that the world has to offer me would be nothing to me if I didn't have "my own lust" - those desires still lurking within that are at odds with, yet live along side the new nature in Christ. If you don't believe me just ask the Apostle Paul - read Romans 7. Likewise, Satan would not be able to tempt me with anything If I did not have "my own lust". All of his schemes and cunning devices would be worthless!

So there's an old soldier's answer to the original question. I hope that didn't sound too simplistic. Our own flesh, with it's evil desires, is our most formidable foe in the battle against the Big Three.

So what do we do? How to defeat the flesh? How do we "walk in the spirit"? There are probably several sound biblical answers to those questions and I'm glad you asked. (You were asking, weren't you?)

Of all the things I can come up with that we should be doing, the activities or behavior we should or should not be engaged in, one thing stands out as of most importance:

" For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" - 2 Cor 10:3-5 (Emphasis mine) 

What does that mean? How do you do that? Again, thanks for asking! I don't think that's rocket science either. Read the Book. If you are His, you already have a desire to do so, a grand desire to know Him, His thoughts, His commands, His desire/plan for you as His child (Phil 2:13). read His book! Get to know Him and you will truly taste eternal life here on earth (John 17:3)

Friends, the front line of spiritual warfare begins at home, in our own minds, in our own thought life!

If you were waiting to hear the Ephesians 6 thing about putting on the armor of God, while that's part of it, we'll get to that in another post.

May God richly bless you as you "bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"!

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Situation - Enemy Forces

The ultimate Crimson Tide was about 2,000 years ago. 

January 15, 2010 - Claire Shackleford is at it again!  We have been blessed to have such a wonderful array of inspiring Christian guests on our talk shows. The Lord is GOOD! We are happy to announce that Daryl Knudeson and Jody Mayhew will be on the show LIVE 1/15/10 at 9pm EST.  Join our show live, participate in chat ... you can join us by going to our main website, ChristianMilitaryWives.Com and just click LISTEN.  It's that simple!

While that might be true, it might not be the best way to ask the question, or discuss the issue. Passages that support the position that once a person believes in the person and work of Jesus Christ as God's Son (has been 'saved' from condemnation), that person will remain 'saved' are these:

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Commander's Intent

What's the Connection?

Answer: Certainly, since God knows everything, it would have been possible for God to base His predestination and election of individuals upon His foreknowledge of the future. In fact, that is the exact position that many Christians believe. The problem is that it really is not what the Bible teaches about predestination, election, and foreknowledge. In order to understand why the view that “God made His choice based on merely knowing the future” is not what the Bible teaches, let’s first consider a couple of verses that speak to the reason God elected or predestined people to salvation.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Commander's Intent

We would love to see a survey of professing Christians in which the above question appeared, either as a stand alone question, or with multiple choice answers.

Does these passages give us a clue to the main reason God forgives and saves sinners?

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Commander's Intent

Romans 8:29-30 is called The Order of Salvation (Ordo Salutis), as well as the Golden Chain of Redemption (terms not specifically in Scripture). Textually, these two verses are Paul's logical explanation of why 'all things work together for those who are called according to His purpose' (Rom 8:28). Let's take a look:

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Commander's Intent

In addition to the motives of followers of Christ and secular corrborating evidence for the crucifixion and resurrection, we have a third proof, indeed the most compelling and irrefutable - the empty tomb! As in the last two posts, we present only a small amount of the available historical data to support the proof presented.

The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Execution - Fire and Maneuver

 Sounds like a TV crime show, doesn't it?

Corroborating evidence is evidence that tends to support a proposition that is already supported by some evidence. For example, W, a witness, testifies that she saw X drive his automobile into a green car. Y, another witness, testifies that when he examined X's car later that day he noticed green paint on its fender.

The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Execution - Fire and Maneuver

The simple Gospel Message that the Apostle Paul preached:

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me." - 1 Cor 15:3-8

The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Execution - Fire and Maneuver

One of the reasons we can trust the reliability of biblical accounts are supernatural acts of God (miracles) that are not only recorded in Scripture, but that also have historical and archeological evidence. The intent of this blog post is to peak your interest and encourage personal Bible study and research. In addition to increasing personal confidence in the truth of Scripture, such endeavors will serve to equip the believer for conversation/debate with non-believers.

The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright Execution - Fire and Maneuver

Indeed we are hesistant, therefore we must encourage ourselves, Mal. 3:16 "They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another." A gracious person has not only piety only in his heart—but also in his tongue, Psalm 37:30. "The law of God is in his heart, and his tongue talks of judgment:" he drops holy words as pearls. It is the fault of Christians, that they do not in company provoke themselves to good conversation: it is a sinful modesty; there is much visiting—but they do not give one another's souls a visit. In worldly things their tongue is as the pen of a ready writer—but in matters of piety, it is as if their tongue did cleave to the roof of their mouth.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

Excerpted from “The Christian Soldier” by Thomas Watson

Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5.

This is a duty of great importance: it is a parleying with one's own heart, Psalm 77:6. "I commune with my own heart."

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

Perhaps some would find a book on the temptations men face and their fight for purity a strange place to find the aforementioned comment on prayer.  However, I find it most timely indeed.

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer

Excerpted from “The Christian Soldier” by Thomas Watson

Meditation may be described as a holy exercise of the mind; whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves.  It is a serious thinking upon God. It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone—but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

The battle ensues in our culture to secularize the religious for the sake of tolerance in the public arena.

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer

When we look into the mirror, what do we see?

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer

Excerpted from “The Christian Soldier” by Thomas Watson

Prayer is a duty which keeps the trade of piety flowing. When we either join in prayer with others, or pray alone, we must use holy violence. It is not eloquence in prayer—but violence carries it. Theodorus, speaking of Luther, "once (says he) I overheard Luther in prayer: with what life and spirit did he pray! It was with so much reverence, as if he were speaking to God—yet with so much confidence, as if he had been speaking to his friend." There must be a stirring up of the heart, 1. To prayer. 2. In prayer.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

Excerpted from “The Christian Soldier” by Thomas Watson

When we come to the Word preached, we come to a business of the highest importance, therefore should stir up ourselves and hear with the greatest devotion. Luke 19:48. "All the people were very attentive to hear him." In the Greek it is "they hung upon his lip."—When the Word is dispensed, we are to lift up the everlasting doors of our hearts, that the King of glory may enter in!

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

 Excerpted from "The Christian Soldier" by Thomas Watson

What an infinite mercy it is that God has blessed us with the Scriptures. Our Savior bids us "search the Scriptures", (John 5:39). We must not read these holy lines carelessly, but peruse them with reverence and seriousness. The noble Bereans "searched the Scriptures daily," (Acts 17:10-11). The Scripture is the treasury of divine knowledge; it is the rule and touchstone of truth; out of this well we draw the water of life.

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

How quick we are to see fault in others! How crafty we are to justify our own actions and rationalize their effect.

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer

No matter how much we anticipate the pending loss of a loved one, knowing the result of age, ill health, or injury will have its way in the end, their death still comes unexpectedly.  Our hearts are never ready to say goodbye. Isaiah says that "we all do fade as a leaf."  James says that our life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Why is it then that as vapors we should cling so tightly to our sojourn here?

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer

The call to battle, the order to go to war issues from the Commander and Chief and moves downward through the chain of command until iit rests upon the military unit(s) that will engage the enemy. Unit commanders prepare their combat forces to engage and defeat the enemy, with the goal of walking victoriously off the battlefield. However, no matter how well trained their combat soldiers might be, no matter how advanced their weaponry, victory in battle will elude them if individual soldiers will shrink from their duties in the face of the enemy. In addition to being sufficiently trained and well equipped, the combat soldier also needs to have the 'heart of a warrior'. 

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The Battle Cry - Dan Cartwright The Soldier

We often wallow in our "vain resentments" and miss the blessing of Christ's work of Grace upon our hearts.

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer

The heart of prayer is found in the bending of the knee. It is found in the contrite heart of him who would confess that his heart is like a valley of dry bones that needs to be brought back to life (Ezekiel 37).

Combat Training - Bob Flynn Thoughts on Prayer