Soldiers for Christ

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Soldiers for Christ
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So how are we like soldiers?

• We are in a battle (see Eph 6)
• We are caught behind enemy lines
• The mission of Jesus was, in a sense, a covert
  ops mission
• We are called as Catholics to preach and defend
  our faith
• We are called to a life of discipline and
  sacrifice
• Unless you denyand take up your cross

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Eph 610-13Finally, draw your strength from the
Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor
of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the devil. For our
struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the
principalities, with the powers, with the world
rulers of this present darkness, with the evil
spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the
armor of God, that you may be able to resist on
the evil day and, having done everything, to hold
your ground.
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Whats the Mission?

• CCC 768 So that she can fulfill her mission, the
  Holy Spirit "bestows upon the Church varied
  hierarchic and charismatic gifts, and in this way
  directs her. Henceforward the Church, endowed
  with the gifts of her founder and faithfully
  observing his precepts of charity, humility and
  self_denial, receives the mission of proclaiming
  and establishing among all peoples the Kingdom of
  Christ and of God, and she is on earth the seed
  and the beginning of that kingdom."

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Save yourselves from this corrupt generation!

• On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish
  people, "Let the whole house of Israel know for
  certain that God has made him both Lord and
  Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Now when
  they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and
  they asked Peter and the other Apostles, What
  are we to do, my brothers? Peter said to them,
  Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the
  name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your
  sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy
  Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to
  your children and to all those far off, whomever
  the Lord our God will call. He testified with
  many other arguments, and was exhorting them,
  Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.
  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and
  about three thousand persons were added that day.
  (Acts 236-41)

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A paradox

• in order to win the battle
• you must surrender

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The Nuts and Bolts of Confirmation

• The candidate is anointed with oil
• The oil that you are sealed with is a mark that
  makes you different
• Read Revelation 71-8 and 204
• You are sealed with the Holy Spirit
• you are eternally different ever afteryoure a
  new you!
• This seal signifies that you belong to Christ,
  totally!

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What will be said?

• Sponsor Bishop, may I present you (Name).
• Bishop (Name) be sealed with the Holy Spirit.
• Candidate Amen.
• Bishop (Name), peace be with you.
• Candidate And also with you!

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So whats the outcome of Confirmation?

• It is the final sacrament of initiation in the
  faith (CCC1212)
• It prepares us to spread and defend the faith by
  word and deed (CCC 1285)
• These are ACTION words that we need to take
  seriously

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Confirmation brings usreal GRACE

• That is strength from God to do what is right
• The sacraments renew that grace in our life
  regularly

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Use your GIFTS

• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1830-1832 and
  Isaiah 111-2)
• The Charismatic Gifts (1Cor 121- 11)
• The Administrative Gifts (Rom 124-8 and Eph
  411-13)
• These help you to lead a holy life and to be
  faithful to your promisesto God and to yourself

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So Whats It All Boil Down To?

• Confirmation completes the initiation into the
  Church that started with your baptism
• you will be an adult member of the faithful
• You will have new responsibilities and priorities
• You will be called to serve and share at all
  levels of parish life. ?

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After Confirmation, you will be a new person.

• Youll look the same and have the same
  personality but inside youll be differentan
  indelible mark.
• Youll be filled with the Holy Spirit in a way
  that you were not before, and youll have special
  grace to
• live your faith
• spread your faith
• and defend your faith in all that you do! (see
  CCC1302-03)

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Break for small groups
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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• Eph 612 For our struggle is not with flesh and
  blood but with the principalities, with the
  powers, with the world rulers of this present
  darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
  Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may
  be able to resist on the evil day and, having
  done everything, to hold your ground...

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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• 14 So stand fast with your loins girded in the
  belt of truth,

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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• clothed with righteousness as a breastplate

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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• and your feet shod in boots of readiness to share
  the gospel of peace

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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to
  quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one

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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
  the Spirit, which is the word of God

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Are YOU dressed for the battle?

• With all prayer and supplication, pray at every
  opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be
  watchful with all perseverance and supplication
  for all the holy ones.

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Run to the Battle!

• Some people want to live
• Within the sound of chapel bells
• But I want to run a mission
• A yard from the gates of Hell
• And with everyone I meet
• I'll take them the gospel and share it well
• And look around you as you hesitate
• For another soul just fell
• Let's run to the battleRun to the battle

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Run to the Battle!

• Do you have your armor on
• We're in the middle of a raging war
• We've been training for so long
• Have we learned to use His sword?
• We may not be ready
• But we serve a mighty Lord
• And He's made us more than conquerors so what are
  you waiting for?
• Let's run to the battleWe got to run, run to the
  battle

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Run to the Battle!

• He has trampled down the enemy
• And has given us the victory
• When we pray we learn to see
• That His army, we are marching on our knees

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Run to the Battle!

• There'll be times when we grow weak
• Let's keep our faith alive
• Let your faces shine with glory
• For He's helped us to survive
• And in that final hour
• When you feel like you're ready to die
• Will you hear the trumpet sound
• Will you hear the warrior cry
• Run to the battle, we got to run, run to the
  battle