GReateR love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life foR his fRiends.
MEN OF VALOR: SO SOME GAVE, BUT MANY GAVE ALL, G.R.I.T God’s Redemption in tRials
BISHOP DR. CLARENCE MCCLAIN
men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
Morning prayer
Memorial Day Prayer: Honoring Veterans and Disciples of Christ
Almighty God,
On this Memorial Day, we come before You with hearts that remember, honor, and give thanks. We thank you for the precious gift of freedom and remember with deep gratitude those who paid the ultimate price to preserve it. Lord, today we lift up our veterans, especially those who have laid down their lives in service to our nation. We remember their sacrifice—their courage in the face of danger, commitment to duty, and love for something greater than themselves. We thank You for their lives and ask You to comfort the families who mourn their loss. Let us not forget those who returned but still carry the invisible wounds of war. Heal them, Lord. Strengthen them. Surround them with love, care, and peace. And as we honor these earthly warriors, we also remember the calling You have placed upon us to be Christ's disciples. We give thanks for every faithful follower, those who have given their lives for the Gospel, and those who live each day in quiet obedience and humble service. Help us, O God, to walk in their footsteps. Teach us to serve with the same selflessness. Give us the courage to take up our cross, to speak truth in love, to defend the vulnerable, and to stand firm in faith. Let the legacy of fallen soldiers inspire us to live lives of purpose. And let the example of Christ’s disciples—both ancient and present—lead us to lives of compassion, sacrifice, and grace. We advocate for peace—peace globally, within our communities, and within ourselves. On this day of remembrance, may we not simply reflect but also respond—with lives that honor those who have served our country and the One who gave His life for our salvation. Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, guide our hearts today. Let our remembrance lead to resolve, our mourning to mission, and our gratitude to action.
We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
5/25/25
LCFM
Men of Valor: It is known that Some Gave what they were called to do, But Many
Gave All
JOHN 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Introduction:
Good morning, Church. Today, we honor the courage , The Call, The Sacrifice,
And The Legacy Of Those Who Have Served, Especially Those Who Made The
Ultimate Sacrifice In Service . As a retired combat Veteran Marine, I have seen humanity
at its best and at its worst. I've walked through fields of fire, but I've also walked through
fields of grace. And I can testify that some stood for the calling. But many gave THEIR
all. They will never see the home they left, their wife or significant other, their parents, or
their children, if they had any. What a grim picture to paint. This
The words of our Savior in John 15:13 ring loud today: “ Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends .” This is not just a verse—
it is a portrait of the warrior spirit, the sacrificial soul, and the valorous heart. “We are to
love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” The problem is that many of us have found it
hard to love ourselves. I must ask the question, why? Some of us are darker than others,
and we want to be lighter because we feel that they get more attention, get the better job,
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
and may be attractive to many of what you consider to be the most appealing
males/females. Church, I can go on with many more jealousies that make you feel less
than. The church may call me a liar, for what you don’t know is I’ve been there and done
that. Until I discovered that I was made in God’s image for a pacific, peaceful, and lovable
reason, I began to love who I am. And nobody that I have been jealous of for whatever
reason could not do what I have done. Nobody could deliver Egypt from a famine they
knew nothing about but Joseph. A man of God who was delivered from a pit of jealousy
to a pit of a liar. Bitterness nor hate held him back. It was faith & love that brought him
out. Where is your Faith & Love?
I. The Call of Valor – Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah was called to VALOR when he heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom
shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me !'” Without
hesitation, Isaiah said, “Send me.” God wanted to know who had G.R.I.T., who was
ready to withstand “God’s Redemption In Trials”: “Faith That Perseveres Through
Every Storm." So, after God told him that he was to “Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed”. I hear Isaiah; this
is an impossible task, for I have been one of these non-believing people, and at one
time, I was one. So he asked God HOW LONG, and he answered, Until the cities be
wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate.
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
“TO THE END OF TIME, YOURS OR THEIRS. UNTIL-- CHURCH, DO YOU
HAVE GRIT? Can you hold out like you started?
That is the first mark of a man of VALOR : WILLINGNESS . NOT PERFECTION .
NOT POPULARITY . JUST WILLINGNESS .
Men of valor respond to the call of Duty . Veterans raised their right hands and
swore to protect this nation. But we, as believers, have sworn a greater allegiance—to the
Kingdom of God. God is still asking, " WHO WILL GO? " Will you answer, " HERE AM
I, LORD, SEND ME "?
II. The Character of Valor – Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded thee? Be Strong And Of A Good Courage ; Be Not
Afraid , Neither Be Thou Dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee Whithersoever
Thou Goest .”
Courage Is Not The Absence Of Fear ; it is the mastery of it. Joshua stood before
giants and fortified cities, but God was with him. A man of valor walks in Character:
Truth, Honor, Loyalty, and Faith .
Veterans understand Discipline And Duty . Christian Men and women must adopt the
same commitment in spiritual warfare. We must stand up for what is right, even
when it’s unpopular . We must protect Our Homes, Churches, And Our Witness In
This World.
III. The Sacrifice of Valor – John 15:13
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
This verse captures the essence of military and Christian service. Sacrifice. It’s not
about what you get; it's about What You're Willing To Give .
Some gave their YOUTH. Some gave their HEALTH. Some gave their
PEACE. Many gave their LIVES. THAT’S WHAT VALOR LOOKS LIKE.
Jesus Laid Down His Life For Us . He died not just for our liberty, but for our
ETERNITY . He became the Lamb of God , Slain For The Sins Of The World.
You cannot serve God without some measure of sacrifice. You might lose Friends .
You might lose Comfort. But You Will Gain An Everlasting Reward.
IV. The Legacy of Valor – 2 Samuel 23:8-39
David’s mighty men were recorded in Scripture for their wealth and works. One
fought so hard his hand froze to his sword . Another stood alone in a field and defended
it when others fled .
Valor leaves a legacy . “ GOOD WORK DO NOT BUILD GOOD CHARACTER—BUT
GOOD WORK DO BUILD GOOD CHARACTER .”
Men of valor don’t seek the spotlight; they seek to Please The One Who called
them. Veterans, your legacy is more than medals. It's in your mentoring, your prayer
life, your service in the church, and your quiet endurance.
Let your children and grandchildren say, "My father was a man of valor. My
grandfather was a man of faith."
V. The Armor of Valor – Ephesians 6:10-18
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
We are at war, not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers.
Men of valor put on the whole armor of God:
• Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with the belt of truth, the breastplate
of righteousness
• The shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked.
• The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
• feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
And they pray without ceasing
•
Just as a Marine never enters battle without the necessary battle gear, a believer should
never face the world without THEIR spiritual armor.
Conclusion:
To all the veterans, to all the soldiers of the cross, I say thank you. Some gave, but
many gave it all. Let us not live our faith passively, but with valor. Stand firm, love deeply,
fight spiritually, and finish faithfully.
You may no longer wear the uniform, but you are still in the fight. God is calling
for men of valor.
Are you ready to stand?
A Prayer Honoring Veterans and Disciples of Christ
Let us pray:
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
Heavenly Father,
We come before You today with hearts full of gratitude and reverence. You are the
God of peace, justice, and mercy, and we thank You for the gift of freedom, salvation, and
the calling to serve Your Kingdom. Today, O Lord, we lift up a special prayer for our
veterans who have answered the call to defend and protect. We thank You for Your
courage, sacrifice, and willingness to stand in the gap for the sake of others. We ask Your
blessing for every man and woman who has served in the armed forces. Heal their
wounds—those seen and unseen. Comfort their families. Strengthen those who still carry
the weight of war in their minds and hearts.
May we never take for granted the freedoms they defended. May we, as a nation
and as Your people, honor their service not just in word, but through care, support, and
acts of justice and compassion.
And Lord, we also thank the disciples of Christ —those who follow You faithfully,
taking up their cross daily, spreading the Gospel, and living as salt and light in the world.
From the first apostles to the quiet servants in our churches today, we praise You for every
life surrendered to Your call.
Help us to be true disciples—not only in name but also in lifestyle. Let us be people of
love, humility, and boldness. Let our lives be a testimony to Your grace and power. May
we stand for truth, serve the poor, care for the brokenhearted, and speak the Good News
with joy and conviction.
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men of valoR: so some Gave, BUt many Gave all, G.R.i.t
As we honor veterans who served the cause of earthly peace, we also remember
that You, Lord Jesus, are the Prince of Peace. And as we celebrate the calling of
discipleship, we remember that we are empowered to follow You by Your Spirit.
Unite us, Lord, as veterans of earthly battles and soldiers in the spiritual fight of
faith. Let us be one in love, one in mission, and one in hope.
We pray for peace in our world, communities, and hearts. We ask for the courage
to serve, the strength to endure, and the faith to follow.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ—our Savior, our Commander, and our King.
Amen.
Altar Call: If you want to be a disciple of valor in your home, church, and community,
come. If you want the strength to carry the weight, the courage to answer the call, and the
faith to leave a legacy—come. Let us pray and commission the men of this house to be
warriors for the Kingdom of God.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.
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