Warriors For Christ: How God Uses Broken People to Advance His Kingdom

Good morning, Church! Let me tell you something today – God loves using broken people. In fact, if you flip through the pages of the Bible, you’ll find that God’s greatest warriors were often the ones with the most scars. Why? Because a smooth-sailed life doesn’t make a seasoned warrior.

Some of you are sitting here today wondering, "Why have I been through so much? Why does it feel like the battles never end?" I’ll tell you why – because God is shaping you into a warrior for His kingdom. James 1:2-4 says,

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

And Romans 8:28 reminds us,

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

God’s Strategy with Broken People

Let me be clear – God doesn’t call the flawless. He calls the fighters, the survivors, the ones with dirt under their nails and battle scars on their hearts. Moses was a stuttering runaway. David was an adulterer and murderer. Peter denied Jesus three times. And Paul? Paul was out here persecuting Christians like Hitler with the Jews before Jesus flipped his entire life upside down.

So if you’ve been through the fire, take heart. That means God’s preparing you for something greater.

Why the Pain?

Here’s the truth – the pain you endure isn’t pointless. Every battle you face is sharpening you, toughening you up for the real war against the enemy. A soldier who’s never seen combat isn’t ready for the frontlines. But a battle-hardened warrior? They know how to fight. They’ve been through the fire and come out stronger.

Your heartbreak, your failures, the betrayals you’ve endured – all of it is shaping you into someone Satan fears.

The Greater the Pain, the Greater the Purpose

Church, let me tell you something – the greater the pain, the greater the calling. If you’ve been wondering why your suffering feels relentless, it’s because the magnitude of your calling is enormous. God doesn’t allow great suffering without attaching it to great purpose.

Comfortability breeds complacency. And let’s be honest – comfortable Christians often become lukewarm Christians. When life is easy, conviction tends to fade. But pain? Pain ignites passion. Pain fuels conviction. God will sometimes shake us to wake us, not because He’s cruel, but because He’s calling us to something higher. Comfortable people rarely change the world – but the broken and convicted? They set it on fire.

Revelation 3:16 says, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Veterans for Christ

A seasoned warrior in Christ knows loss. They’ve faced demons, stared evil in the eye, and kept walking. And let me tell you, those are the people God trusts on the battlefield. God needs people who have felt the sting of sin and have grown to hate it. That hatred for sin fuels the fight against it.

God doesn’t need perfect Christians; He needs fierce warriors who aren’t afraid to call out evil, who refuse to bow to the enemy, and who will stand firm even when the world crumbles around them.

Knowing the Enemy

You can’t fight an enemy you don’t know. Some of you wonder why you’ve faced so much darkness in your life. Maybe it’s because God needed you to see the enemy up close. You can’t be a veteran for Christ without knowing the tactics of Satan.

But here’s the good news – the battle is already won. Jesus claimed victory on the cross. But the battles you face? They’re necessary for the victory to manifest.

The Refining Fire

Malachi 3:3 says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver."

The process of refining is painful. Gold only becomes pure when it’s been through the fire. And some of you are in that fire right now. But don’t quit. God is refining you because He sees your worth.

You Are Chosen

Listen to me – YOU ARE CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE A SOLDIER, A WARRIOR FOR CHRIST. You are more than a conqueror. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. And greater is He who lives in you than he who is in the world. Even death cannot destroy you. You are a soldier in the army, and you will not give up!

Encouragement to the Weary

To those who feel weary today, I want to remind you – your scars are proof of your survival. The fact that you’re here today means the enemy didn’t win. And if God’s brought you this far, He’s not about to leave you now. Isaiah 41:10 says,

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Call to Action

Today, if you’re feeling broken, if you’re tired of the battles, know this – you’re exactly who God is calling. You’re the warrior He needs for His kingdom. Stop doubting your worth because of your scars. Instead, wear them proudly, for they are the marks of a soldier who didn’t quit.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank You that You see value in our brokenness. We thank You for the battles we’ve endured and the strength You’ve built in us through every hardship. God, make us warriors for Your kingdom. Use our pain to advance Your glory. Let us stand firm against the enemy, knowing the victory is already Yours. We trust You in the refining fire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.