SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST
(Memorial Day)
by
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (May 24, 2015)
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 2:3, King James Version (KJV) [Timothy exhorted to constancy]).
Greetings In The Holy Name Of Christ Jesus,
My sisters and brothers, Where are the real soldiers for Jesus Christ? Ministers, are there any Timothy s among you, ---holding on to the fold, those that are the least and taking care of the widows?
Recently, there was a man who was captured by the law of the land robbing a church. Later, the lawmen discovered he was a pastor. Further to discovery, they found out he not only robbed the church they caught him selling the goods of in a yard sale but he robbed more churches before he robbed the one they caught him selling the goods of in his yard sale. All I know is---he's not the only one stealing from God but he did get caught and charged with theft when he needs to learn not to blaspheme as those in the days of Timothy. In those days the priests called Jesus Christ a blasphemer for saying he was the Son of God.
The vocation of a minister is not to be taken lightly by the ministers that step into the fold of Jesus Christ as ministers. You must be disciplined of heart with a sound mind to endure hardness in hardship---knowing when the money runs out and you are traveling on the battlefield fighting the good fight, mighty in good warfare, to preach and teach the Word of God you must return home to earn more money to care for yourself, your family, and your pastoral duties mindful of the qualifications of church officers---those left to inspire those Christ gave to your ministry through scripture. In the deep south in southwestern Georgia I found out many ministers are of the mindset that it is alright for them to rob neighbors in the community to support the ministry when hardly any are on the battlefield in good warfare just minding those who sit in the pews from one Sunday to the next. Jesus Christ had a public ministry---out and about among the people, the backsliders and transgressors, sick, diseased, deranged, possessed, lame, crippled, spiritual dead, physical dead---healing their hearts; their flesh and raising them up, lifting them up in spirit. Paul the Apostle in his First Epistle to Timothy (verses 18-20):
“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;
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning
faith have made shipwreck; Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I
have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
How many are taking in the Name of Jesus---stealing from God to suit themselves; some because their wives told them to do it---to take the money from the church? Likewise, for the women ministers, how many husbands tell you to do the same---take the money from the church? A good steward is a good steward and one on the take will open any till to fill his pockets---even the offerings to God for his private affairs. I am sure those with a good conscience---search the pride in their hearts that will not let them ask for help, just take the money they need for their private affairs and are bothered about the guilt, convicted in their hearts because they know that the same Jesus Christ they steal from is the one and the same whom their salvation is through.
Most importantly, the shame you feel when you need to ask for help should not lead you as you go forward as a soldier for Jesus Christ. During the time of post-exile from bondage in Babylon, Ezra and the people fasted and afflicted themselves by the river Ahava to ask God a right way for them, for their little ones, and for their substance; for Ezra was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and
2
horsemen to deal with the enemy in their way because they had spoken before of God's hand for good and God's power and wrath for those who forsake him (Ezra 8:21-22, KJV [Ezra proclaimeth a fast]).
The ministers of today are such fast movers and shakers supposedly on the battlefield for Jesus Christ, I do not think they have time to fast and pray to ask God for what they need. In times gone by, I remember a lot of fasting and praying going on---just tarrying in prayer on the knees all the time in the protestant churches but now-a-days, asking the family of God to stay on their knees is too much so that God will answer their prayers for what they need; sometimes, asking them to stand to pray is too much . So, who is inspiring who? Is the Word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ inspiring the people or are the people setting forth what they want to say---leaving the constancy of God's Word---the Truth, which is Jesus Christ, just running a muck in their own beliefs.
How many of you learned the lesson of faith that the centurion---a soldier of the land---a man under authority and a man of authority taught when he needed Jesus Christ to heal his servant? He said, “I am not worthy for you to come under my roof but speak the word only and my servant shall be healed.” (Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:8, KJV [The centurion's faith]). Jesus Christ was so impressed with the centurion's faith that he said many of the children of the kingdom would be cast into outer darkness and there would be gnashing of teeth (verse 12). I know you pretend your faith is unshakeable, strong and firmly rooted in the Truth but when the first wind comes or trouble comes---even lack comes, you are pride-hardy full of panic attacks and make decisions that do not even consider God because you do not ask; just take. The centurion was a soldier of the land under authority with soldiers who were under authority to him---who obeyed him when he asked them to go, they would go or when he asked them to come, they would come. He also had servants who obeyed him when he asked them to do and they did it yet he still felt unworthy for Jesus Christ to come under his roof---but he still asked him to heal his servant.
How many of you learned the lesson of the soldiers of the land who asked John the Baptist, “What shall we do?” John told them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:14, KJV [The preaching of John]). Amazingly, the soldiers of the land lined up under the authority of John the Baptist when he preached as a voice crying in the wilderness (3:4). What is it for a soldier of the land to line up behind the Word of God when the soldiers of Jesus Christ tempted by tradition and religion fail to line up behind the Word of God? Whom do you seek?
What about the centurion named Cornelius---another soldier of the land whose alms were held up as a memorial before God---in remembrance in the sight of God. God told him to send to Joppa for Peter to teach him and his household the Word of God, baptize and the Holy Ghost fell upon them as Peter spoke the Word (Acts 10th chapter, KJV [Cornelius sendeth for Peter)? During these days when soldiers (ministers) multiplied, perhaps, your ministry is blameless, unlike during those days when soldiers (disciples) multiplied, Stephen the first Evangelist was stoned to death because false accusers said they heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God and ceased not to speak blasphemous words against the holy place and against the law (The Acts 6:11,13; 7:58-59, KJV [Stephen accused of blasphemy]). Stephen was one of those chosen to answer why the disciples---soldiers for Jesus Christ failed to minister daily to the widows as they should, however they felt they 'should not leave the word of God and serve tables but give themselves continually in prayer” (The Acts 6:1-4, KJV). The Words of God are constant, so too, are the teachings of Jesus Christ so in modern times why do ministers' blaspheme? What do you need or Whom do you seek?
Obviously, it is still a test of faith even if you are untested clean without ever having a charge laid against you, how strong is your faith? Is faith the substance of a good soldier for Jesus Christ? In The Name Of Jesus. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Amen.
