The Good Soldier
II Corinthians 10:3, II Timothy 2:1-26
Pastor Rex Deckard
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3
I. Introduction
We are in a spiritual conflict. It is not a new conflict, but for some of us, it is new. The bad news is that this conflict will continue to intensify until the time of Great Tribulation- it will get worse and worse.
II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The good news is that Jesus Christ is coming and when He arrives, He will make everything right!
In Zechariah 14: 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives
In this day Satan is using many tactics.
· He is using apathy-
· He uses a false sense of security.
· He is using pleasure- the idea that somehow we deserve more free time for personal indulgence.
· He is using the tactic of terrorism- that is, bringing fear, intimidation and an exaggerated terror that the enemy is bigger and greater than what he really is.
· He is using the tactic of guerilla warfare…snipers pick out the weak and the feeble- those that are wounded and struggling.
II. We must be good soldiers
A. What is a good soldier like?
Paul wrote to his son in the Gospel near the end of Paul’s life, and gave him instructions on what it would take for him to survive as a soldier of the Gospel.
2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
A soldier has to maintain their strength. The can’t afford to get soft, because they never know when the next battle will start or the next call will come.
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.
B. Along with strength, the next critical element of a soldier is duty, commitment and dependability- what the Bible refers to as faithfulness.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ.
C. A soldier knows that his dress uniform is only for parades and photographs. The real battle is dirty anddifficult. Anyone can march when the bands are playing, but it is out on the front lines with no audience and no one looking over his shoulder where the real battles are won.
It is there that the real men are separated from the boys.
D. A soldier also knows that there are times they must hold their ground!
· The good soldier knows that there is a time to just hold on.
I Samuel 17:1 The Army of Saul was holding their ground while every day Goliath came and taunted them.
II Chronicles 32:1 Hezekiah was surrounded by the Assyrian army, but they held their ground and waited on God.
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.
E. A good soldier can’t get caught up with selfish things that only please himself. He can’t afford to compromise himself and his comrades by losing his focus. He is not on a sightseeing tour. He is not out collecting sea shells. He is fighting a war! And the one he must please is the one that has chosen him for his rank and his mission.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
F. A good soldier knows that there are no short cuts. We have to strive for mastery, and we have to do it the right way.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Paul is telling Timothy two principles here. First, (the laborour) can’t put in others what he doesn’t have in himself.
Second, that our first obligation is to God, and then to everything else. He gets our first and our best.
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.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
G. The good soldier knows that much of his service includes endurance and even some suffering. But he also knows that the Commander which he serves first suffered and endured. He asks nothing from us that He did not experience in an even greater measure.
The good soldier also knows also knows that he is fighting for a cause that is larger than himself.
12b. if we deny him, he also will deny us:
E. The good soldier knows that he can not rebel against his commander, and still expect him to send reinforcements into the battle. Treason is never acceptable.
Exodus 17:10-15 When Moses hands were lifted up, the battle advanced. When his hands were down, there was defeat.
You must hold up the hands of your leaders! Everything rises and falls on leadership!
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
H. The good soldier knows that if he fails, the commander has others that will step into his place. Although he is very important, he is not indispensable.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
A good soldier does not speak against his fellow soldiers, his commander, or his cause. He must never hurt the morale on the front lines of battle.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I. A good soldier never reaches a place in which he cannot improve his skills. There are plateaus, but there is no ceiling.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
J. Not only does the good soldier refrain from spreading discontent and hurting morale, he also refuses to listen to the naysayers.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
K. The good soldier realizes that his Commander always knows his whereabouts and will never desert His troops.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
The good soldier realizes that it takes many talents and skills to fight a war. There must be navigators, marksmen, medics, cooks, those who carry the loads, and those who clean up after the battle. All are critically important to the cause, and must rise to the occasion, or they put their comrades at risk of failure.
L. The good soldier realizes that he is responsible to the rest of the team. If he doesn’t pull his share of the load, the load is still there. Someone else just has to do double duty.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
M. The good soldier shows maturity. The word lust here means literally “selfish desires.”
The soldier can’t be a crybaby- he has to grow up.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
N. The good soldier follows the orders of those that are over him. He doesn’t question every strategy and every command, but he entrusts those who see the big picture.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
O. The good soldier sometimes rescues those that don’t want to be rescued. He works to help those who are their own worst enemy.
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
III. The good soldier realizes that the devil is the real enemy.
A. Satan might use people or circumstances that come our way, but it is really him that we fight against.
SOLDIERING FOR THE LORD
I am a soldier in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. 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 am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army;but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable
If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn.He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier.
I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier.
No one has to call me, remind me,write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp.I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs.
I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and I’m marching claiming victory. I will not give up.I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound. Here I stand!
