ENLIST AS A GOOD SOLDIER.
THE LAST WORDS ABOUT GOOD SOLDIERS ...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aolcom
I would like to thank Gene Hammon, Hazard, Ky. for the fodder that started this message. This is part one of a two part series.
Our nation claims: WE NEED A FEW GOOD MEN.
It is time that good men and women arise and work toward the goal of One Nation Under God --- fearing, respecting and honoring the God that gave His only Son...
The church is the ARMY OF GOD. We need young people as well as old people to ARISE.
During WW II a parade of well trained soldiers was marching through the downtown. The soldiers were trained and now preparing to leave for war. As they marched by one old lady’s house she was so proud of the men.
She grabbed her broom stick, placed it on her shoulder and started marching right beside the handsome men in uniform.
Someone shouted from the crowd, OLD WOMAN YOU CAN’T GO TO WAR WITH THEM.
The old woman said, I KNOW I CAN’T GO, BUT I CAN LET THE BOYS KNOW WHOSE
SIDE I AM ON... I CAN SUPPORT THEM.
I. LISTEN TO THE LAST WORDS, A DYING MAN SPEAKS IMPORTANT WORDS WORTH
LISTENING TO ...
2 Samuel 23:1-2 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, [2] The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
A. David knew as he was wrapping up his life to speak wise words. David had also learned to LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE LORD.
B. David also knew that his greatness was because he surrounded himself with SOME GOOD MEN.
TEXT:
2 Tim. 2:3 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.
1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
II. What is a soldier? WHAT IS A GOOD SOLDIER?
A. A person serving his nation. One that accepts a CHARGE OR ORDER.
Drafted or volunteered in the service of a nation.
Recruited --- Consecration required.
B. WE ARE IN A WAR! THE WAR IS MORE INWARD THAN OUTWARD.
The BATTLE IS WITH OUR DESIRES AND ATTITUDES.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
C. WE DO HAVE WEAPONS...
2 Cor. 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
III. WHEN A GOOD SOLDIER PUTS ON HIS MILITARY GEAR, IT IS NO LONGER ABOUT HIM, HE MUST LOSE HIS OWN DESIRES AND IDENTITY AND BECOME PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
A. A good soldier must leave home and go to basic training and skills school to prepare his heart and body for service to his nation.
B. A good soldier gets his head shaved? There is an issue of pride.
C. He takes AN OATH OF OFFICE TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND HIS NATION.
D. A good soldier learns how to TAKE ORDERS, accept a CHAIN OF COMMAND and go where ever he is needed to serve.
IV. A GOOD SOLDIER REALIZES WHERE ADEVER IN THE WORLD HE WEARS HIS UNIFORM HE IS AN AMBASSOR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS COMMANDERS AND HIS NATION.
A. Part of a good soldier’s training will teach him and remind him that his flag and nation will be reflected by the soldiers behavior, words and action.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
B. Will your conduct reflect God, country, duty, HONOR?
V. A GOOD SOLDIER CAN NOT LOOK AT THE ODDS, BUT REALIZE HE WILL ANSWER TO
THE COMMANDER AND TO THE KING...
A. As the great King David nears death, he realizes many men have stood with him to accomplish God’s plan.
B. David starts telling about GOOD SOLDIERS THAT ACCOMPLISHED
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
BEYOND THEIR ABILITY, BEYOND THEIR TRAINING, ---
THEY MOVED IN THE REALM OF THE DIVINE ABILITY ...
C. DAVID RECALLS A GOOD SOLDIER NAMED --- ADINO ( AD-i- no)
2 Samuel 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The
Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
D. Adino trained with the SPEAR, at one time he stood and killed 800 of the enemy.
E. ADINO BECOMES NOT JUST A GOOD SOLDIER, BUT A GOOD LEADER.
Good soldiers start as a PRIVATE FIRST CLASS and grow from there.
VI. A GOOD SOLDIER LEARNS TO STAND WHEN OTHERS RUN AWAY AND HE STANDS
EVEN WHEN HE IS WEARY AND TIRED...
A. DAVID MENTIONS ONE OF HIS GOOD SOLDIERS --- ELEAZAR (E-le-a-zar).
2 Samuel 23:9-10 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: [10] He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
B. Eleazar and his weapon became one unit.
C. God can use any soldier that stands with his sword as part of his body.
D. Our sword is the word.
VII. A GOOD SOLDIER KNOWS THERE IS A PLACE TO TAKE A STAND.
THIS COULD BE THE HILL ON WHICH WE STAND AND WE MAY DIE HERE.
A. As a good soldier--- We must evaluate where we are --- and measure the cost, the value and the worth ... AND BE WILLING TO TAKE A STAND WHERE WE NEED TO STAND.
B. THERE WAS A GOOD SOLDIER NAMED SHAMMAH --- HE STOOD STILL AND WAS READY TO FIGHT WHEN ALL HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS WERE RUNNING AWAY IN FEAR.
2 Samuel 23:11-12 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. [12] But he stood in the midst of the ground, and
defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.
C. A GOOD SOLDIER CAN SEE AHEAD OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY.
A GOOD SOLDIER SEES THIS FIELD IS FULL OF LENTILS AND WILL BE A GOOD FOOD SOURCE FOR HIS FAMILY COME WINTER.
Ephes. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
D. If we will be true and faithful God will honor us with His Presence and wrought V-I-C-T-O-R-Y BY OUR HANDS.
CONCLUSION:
I WILL BE A GOOD SOLDIER (Unknown) (adapted)
I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus is my commanding officer!
The Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, Prayer and the Word of God are my weapons!
As a good soldier I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire! I am a volunteer in this army and I have enlisted for eternity!
I will either retire from this army at the rapture or I will die in this service. I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out of this army!
I am a good soldier. I will be faithful, reliable, capable, trustworthy and dependable! If my God needs me I will be there! If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School, to work with youth, help the seniors, go to jail or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I will be there.
I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up or pepped up! No one has to call, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me!
I am a good soldier! I am not a wimp! I will report to my post of duty. I will salute the King, obey His orders, praise and worship His name and build the church and Kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts! I don’t need to be cuddled, cradled, babied, cared for or catered to!
I am a soldier, I am committed. I will not allow my feelings to be hurt bad enough to turn me around! I refuse to be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I refuse to quit or be defeated. When Jesus called me into this army I had nothing! If I end up with nothing, I will at least break even.
I am a soldier, I WILL WIN! My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph in the end. I can do all things through Christ! Demons and devils can not defeat me. People will not disillusion me. Weather can not weary me. Sickness can not deter me. Battles can not beat me. Money can not buy me. Governments can not silence me. Hell can never handle me.
I am a soldier! Even death can not destroy me. Some day my commander in chief shall call me from this battlefield, He will promote me and advance me to rule with Him.
I am a soldier in God’s Army. I shall never surrender to God’s foe. By God’s help I shall never turn back. I am a soldier, a good soldier marching heavenward, claiming souls as I go.
I volunteer! I stand here! Will you enlist with me to be a good soldier?
ADAPTED --- (unknown)
HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED TO JOIN GOD’S ARMY? ENLIST AS A GOOD SOLDIER!
GOD NEEDS YOU TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER!
This is part one of a two part series.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
HELP ME? PASS THIS ON?
