In an old Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas, there hangs a bronze plaque with these words:

“Commandancy of Alamo, Bexar, Feby. 24th 1836. To the people of Texas and All Americans in the world - - -
Fellow Citizens and Compatriots I am besieged . . . The enemy has demanded surrender . . . I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls – I shall never surrender or retreat.
. . . I call on you in the name of liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character to come to our aid. . . If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his honor and that of his country – Victory or Death.
/s/ Wm. Barrett Travis, Lt. Col. Comdt.”

Those were hard times that demanded hard action. We wonder at what kind of men it would be that would make such a sacrifice for what they believed in, and often are made to wonder if Americans today have that same mettle. Some do.

We are going through hard times today as well. Maybe not a depression, or even an economic recession, or the housing slump. These are hard times for truth and integrity, so the lessons from above are applicable in a spiritual sense for the church as well.

SATAN HAS DEMANDED OUR SURRENDER. He has mustered all of his forces, and in comparison the odds are worse than those faced by the 182 defenders of the Alamo against the 5000 forces of Santa Anna. Many members of the Lord’s church are surrendering, and going over to the side of Satan. Many preachers are giving up Scripture and appealing to the masses of people by using devices and schemes of which Satan is the author. In the midst of this wholesale apostasy, it becomes more and more discouraging as we see so many leaving the faith! Yet, there are 7000 that have not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). There are many who will now bow down to the images of Satan and will stand firm against all Satan has to throw at them (Daniel 3). Will you be one of them? Will you stand firm against all of Satan’s demands for YOUR surrender?

GOD IS CALLING YOU INTO HIS SERVICE. At the Alamo General J. N. Fannin tried to take 400 men with supplies to reinforce the besieged Alamo. He never made it. Jesus in Matthew 9:37-38 said . . . "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (NKJV). God needs more laborers in his harvest. He needs more men and women who are willing to train themselves to be soul winners and take the fight into Satan’s strongholds and into the world. I commend those who are taking the Fisher’s of Men training course, and I know that many of them have learned much in teaching others. More of us need to be willing to train to teach others the gospel.

Can God depend on us to stay faithful and not surrender?