Methods Of Warfare

2 Timothy 2:1-10 3/15/26 A.M. “Methods of Warfare”

Well, as most of you all know, Old Jake Taylor back there joined the army and will be leaving next week for basic training in South Carolina. I have watched him grow and mature since he was a little boy and I am confident that he is grounded in his faith and commitment to Jesus.

We all will be praying for God’s protecting hand to be over him but even more important than that, I’m praying for him to be a light to his fellow soldiers. There will be times when he will be in some very dark places and I pray the LIGHT of JESUS will shine bright. I’m excited for him and I know he’s gonna do great things. Let’s all keep him in our prayers.

So eventually, the plan is for him to be stationed up here at Fort Riley Kansas so hopefully it won’t be too long before we see him again.

You know, I appreciate young men and women who are willing to serve. There’s a lot of talk about HONORING our SOLDIERS and VETERANS. They get discounts at restaurants and stores. At a certain point they get free health care. And you know what? THEY DESERVE EVERY BIT OF IT!!! They put their live’s on the line for this country. And what is this country? It’s individuals. It’s you and I and it’s our children and grandchildren. It’s our FUTURE.

There are churches that teach Pacifism. The Quakers, Mennonites and Amish are examples. My question to them is, “What will they do if another country invades our land?” Run?

Now looking into the Book of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul is giving Young Timothy some advice. Some direction.

Paul knows all too well that a war is RAGING. He’s an Old Veteran of the BATTLES that are fought for the SOULS of men and so he writes this letter to what you might call a NEW RECRUIT. A young fellow by the name of Timothy.

And so let’s look at the ADVICE and DIRECTION that was given to Timothy because it was also given to you and I. This is for all of us so let’s go ahead and read 2 Timothy 2, Verses 1-10, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

As I read through this I saw 4 things that Paul felt was really important for Timothy to know. You might call them the “Methods of Warfare.” The way to WAGE WAR against Satan.

And so let’s go to the Lord in Prayer and then we’ll get into our message today.

I’m gonna ask Brother M. P. Lee, a Veteran of the Vietnam War, to lead us?

PRAY

And so first of all I want to point out one thing. This war that we’re fighting is NOT a conventional war. It is a Spiritual Battle. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against Spiritual wickedness in HIGH PLACES.

Now this morning I’m not gonna talk about the WEAPONS that are used in this Spiritual Battle. Back in Ephesians 6, you can read on down there and it talks about WEAPONS. No, I want to talk about the METHODS of Spiritual Warfare. The is BATTLE is fought through the POWER of GOD and if we FOLLOW HIS PLAN we will win.

ILLUS: General Eisenhower was Supreme Commander during WW2 but he didn’t go out with a gun and fight. No, his job was to stay back and study the maps and formulate a plan to WIN the WAR. And so Paul gives Timothy and us the METHODS to win this Spiritual War.

I. And so first of all in Verse 1 he gives us the first thing we need to know to WIN.