2 Timothy 2:1-7
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.
“Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.
“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
Specifically we want today to look at verses 2 and 3
“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer.”
What would a “Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” look like?
For the purposes of this morning’s message we’ll be using Army as a synonym for Armed Forces; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and the various National Guard forces.
We’ll also be using Solider as a synonym for Sailor, Airman, Marine and other personnel designation. OK?
So, what would a “Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” look like?
First of all they would be a volunteer.
That is true of the United State Army at this time. You cannot be forced into service, you must volunteer.
You must be of 18 years of age (17 with parental consent)
You must meet physical requirements
You must meet educational requirements
You can be denied due to medical, educational, physical and conviction histories.
There is no draft for entry into the Army of the Lord, ever.
You cannot be forced into entry.
The charge of “Forced Conversion” is one of the most severe charges in Muslim controlled countries, sometimes punishable by execution.
If those who embrace Islam knew anything about Christianity they would know that the phrase “Forced Conversion” is totally meaningless in Christianity! It applies to Islam but not to Christianity. You cannot be tortured, bribed, cajoled or hypnotized into becoming a Christian. Entry comes via the heart.
You cannot be denied entry because of anything you’ve done in the past.
The path to becoming a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ is available for everyone!
Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
1 John 5:1 says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.”
And this believing is essential as we know from
John 3:18, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
So, in those three verses we have whosoever, everyone and whoever describing those who can come to Christ and become a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ.
But, what about my past? I know that a criminal record can keep me from serving in the US Army, so, what about my sinful past?
1 John 3:4 (NASB) says, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Can you imagine an army filled with lawless soldiers? It would be chaos! No one would pay attention to the chain of command. Regulations and orders would be ignored. There would be more fighting within the army than there would be against the enemy. There would be only destruction and defeat! Criminals would not, could not, be allowed into the army. So, what did God do?
He made a way for our past criminal record (sinful record) to be forgiven and sealed!
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Hebrews 10:17 says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
Not only does the Lord of the Armies of Heaven forgive our sins, He purifies us from all unrighteousness and forgets our sins. He makes us into new creations, new soldiers, who are no longer slaves to sin and lawlessness and puts within us the ability to be good, obedient, faithful and holy soldiers.
Romans 6:16-18 says,
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
So, God, our Commander Himself, has made the way for us to become Good Soldiers of Jesus Christ by paying the penalty for our sins on the cross of Calvary, forgiving our sins, forgetting our sins and transforming us into new creatures that are no long slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness!
Even though we were once barred from service to the LORD of Lords we can now have entrance into His army, the Kingdom of God!
So, what does God expect from us once we are a Soldier of Jesus Christ?
First, we must completely love our Commander:
Matthew 22:37-38
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Second, we are required to lay down our lives!
Romans 12:1-2 says,
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Lay down our lives? You mean total sacrifice?
Partial commitment is not allowed.
I remember a man in a church I attended long ago who had a grandson who was in the Army and his grandson was about to be deployed into a war zone. This man got up in church and with tears streaming down his face begged us to pray that his grandson would not have to be deployed! Apparently this young man had gone into the service in order to get help paying for college once he was out of the service and he never intended to actually face combat and once that reality presented itself he was begging God to allow him to avoid what he had committed himself to do.
Sometimes Christians are like that, they join for the perks but balk at the actual hard service! That is not a good soldier in the Army and that is not a good soldier of Jesus Christ!
Finally, once you sign up to be a soldier of the army of Jesus Christ you are in for eternity! You’re service never stops. You don’t sign up for two years or three years or four years; you sign up for forever! And, that’s active duty in a combat zone for the rest of your life here on earth.
Ephesians 6:11-13 says,
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
If we are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ we need to stay alert and not to be found sleeping on our watch.
1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
And Ephesians 6:17-18 says, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
I guess the question at this point is, “how are we doing as soldiers of Jesus Christ? Are we in the Army of Jesus Christ? And, if we are, are we alert and ready to engage the enemy of Jesus Christ our Commander at a moment’s notice? Or, are we asleep or perhaps absent without leave?
So, why would anyone want to be a solder for Jesus Christ?
Why?
Here’s the truth, if your not in the Army of Jesus Christ you are in the army of the enemy of Christ and that camp is filled with envy, strife, hatred and despair. So, if that’s where you’re at, how’s that working for you? Not so well, huh?
Now, being in the Army of Jesus Christ is really, in the view of this world, a very strange place to be, because we are called to be constantly on alert and we have an enemy who is constantly searching to destroy us. Sounds bad, doesn’t it? But, really it is awesome and here’s why …
Romans 14:17-18 says,
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.”
Romans 15:13 says,
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
What???? Peace, joy and hope while on the battle field? Sounds absurd doesn’t it? But it is true and those who are faithful servants of Jesus Christ, his good soldiers, know it to be true!
Are you tired of the struggle of trying to find joy and peace while living in the camp of the enemy; the one who’s goal is to destroy your soul and your life here on earth?
Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, was brutally beaten for our transgressions, shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins, died, was raised from the dead and is now interceding for us before God the Father in heaven so that we don’t have to endure the torment of the evil one here on earth or throughout the endlessness of eternity!
Are you tired of the struggle? Come to Christ. Turn away from your sin. Forsake the camp of the evil one and trust Jesus to be your Commander. He will save you. You will find His peace. You will find His joy. You will find the spiritual riches and the contentment that comes from being a good soldier in the army of Jesus Christ!
Why wait? Enlist now!
