It was indeed a moving ceremony to witness the graduation of recruits as they are recognized as Marines! The new Marines were thrown together, to live together, enduring together, tolerating each other, supporting each other, working together and striving to that day when they are finally recognized for what they strove to achieve a full member of the United State Marine Corp!
In the New Testament we find Paul drawing a lot on military metaphors in describing the qualities of a Christian believer.
2Ti 2:1-10 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.
Last week we saw that Caleb’s attitude, actions and subsequent address to Joshua concerning Hebron demonstrated some unique qualities of the enduring warrior. We are engaged in a constant warfare with an enemy that is unrelenting in his quest to steal, kill and destroy. In the passage quoted above we are called upon as soldiers of the cross to do and to be certain things.
1. WE ARE CALLED UPON TO ENDURE HARDNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER!
A soldier endures hardship for the cause of freedom of the country, justice and liberty for ALL.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:3
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2Co 4:1
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2Co 4:8-10
You as an individual have your own preferences and tastes. As a soldier you do not get things the way you always want it to be! Regardless of your own individual preferences, likes and dislikes, it is expected that you will push them aside in deference for the common good of the company. When commanded to move forward the soldier does not make excuses but works with the team. All of God’s warriors are team players. We work together as a body with the individual skills of each member combining to make the unit function in harmony. A healthy well coordinated body functions efficiently with each individual supplying that which the other lacks.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2Ti 4:5.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb 2:9-10
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8:35-37
2. WE ARE CALLED UPON TO TO BE SEPARATE UNTO THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER
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. 2Ti 2:4
(entangleth himself with the affairs of this life "...with civil affairs, in distinction from military ones. The Roman soldiers might not follow any trade or business of life, or be concerned in husbandry, or merchandise of any sort, but were wholly to attend to military exercises, and to the orders of their general; for to be employed in any secular business was reckoned an entangling of them, a taking of them off from, and an hindrance to their military discipline: and by this the apostle suggests that Christ’s people, his soldiers, and especially his ministers, should not he involved and implicated in worldly affairs and cares; for no man can serve two masters, God and mammon; but should wholly give up themselves to the work and service to which they are called; and be ready to part with all worldly enjoyments, and cheerfully suffer the loss of all things, when called to it, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel: "-Gill)
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Rom 8:8
Ours is a call to be separated from the affairs of this life: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2Co 6:17-18
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1Co 9:25-27
3. WE ARE CALLED UPON TO PLEASE HIM WHO CALLED US
A soldier is committed to his calling. He is compliant with commands, dedicated to duty. A dedication to the country, cause and comrades
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul .Heb 10:38-39
Jesus said: And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. Joh 8:29
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Rom 8:8
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal 1:10
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 1Th 4:1-8
4. WE ARE CALLED UPON TO STRIVE LAWFULLY
Soldiers are called upon to be faithful to their command but may usually be given a questionable order.
As believers, OUR Commander in Chief (YAHWEH) NEVER makes mistakes. His orders and commands are to the point and necessary. We therefore align ourselves with His commands and submit to them. We do not break His rules.
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2Ti 2:5
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2:8
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 1Th 2:3-4
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. Php 1:15-17
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2Co 4:1-2
In Concluding...
Paul charged Timothy to war a good warfare, fight the good fight of faith. There is a final reward worth looking forward to and striving for!
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; (19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (20) Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1Ti 1:18-20
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. 1Ti 6:12
2Ti 4:1-8 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (6) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
