So That Is What A Christian Is

1. Exodus 15:3, Psalm 24:8

2. Our Lord is pictured as a conqueror riding a white horse, in His return. Revelation 19:11-21

3. Spiritual armor and weapons. Ephesians 6:10-12, 13-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

4. 2 Timothy 2:1-10

I. The Soldier’s Enlistment

1. Upon salvation we were “drafted” or say it another way, “every child of God is a soldier in God’s army.”

a. Either a good soldier or a bad one.

b. Deuteronomy 20:1-4

2. The 1st mention of the church in that of conflict.

a. Matthew 16:18

b. Gates of Hell

3. Israel delivered from Egypt found themselves in a battle.

a. Exodus 17:8-16

b. Aaron and Hur

4. As Christians soldiers, we are following a commander who has been rejected by the world.

a. In following Jesus, you cannot be neutral.

b. Matthew 12:30, Exodus 32:26

II. The Soldier’s Enablement

1. 2 Timothy 2:1

2. We are not to trust or depend on our own strength.

a. Yes, we must train.

b. 1 Timothy 4:7

c. We don’t depend on our own strength, experience, or expertise.

d. We depend on god’s grace.

e. John 15:5

3. God’s grace works in us and through us.

a. We have to cooperate by yielding to God and trusting Him.

b. 1 Peter 5:10

c. Hebrews 4:16

4. Moses tried to fight the Lord’s battles without using the Lord’s weapons and he failed. Exodus 2:11-14

a. Nothing wrong with Moses’ head

b. Nothing wrong with his heart.

5. We need God’s grace in order to be able to endure hardness.

a. 2 Timothy 2:3-4:5

b. 2 Timothy 1:8

c. The person who permanently goes A.W.O.L. is proving he was never really a true soldier. 1 John 5:1-5

d. 1 Peter 4:10

6. Ephesians 6:10; be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

a. Be strong in:

1) Convictions

2) Commitment

3) Character

7. Endure for the elect’s sake.

a. 2 Timothy 2:3

b. We must be strong for the sake of others.

III. The Soldier’s Enlightenment

1. The training manual

2. The manual is Gods’ word, the Bible. 2 Timothy 2:2

3. Our training manual is never outdated.

a. Psalm 119:89

b. Hebrews 1:1-2

4. The better you know your bible, the better you will know the enemy and his plan to defeat you.

5. The better you know your bible the better you will know yourself and what God wants to do for you.

6. Your bible is God’s gift to you.

a. John 17:14

b. Psalm 119:97-98

IV. The Soldier’s Entanglement

1. 2 Timothy 2:4

2. Jesus insists on total commitment.

a. Matthew 6:24

b. James 1:8

3. The men and women of the bible who conquered were committed people.

a. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

b. Put in trust with the gospel.

4. The word entangle means to entwine or braid hair.

5. How do we keep from getting entangled?

a. By seeking to place Jesus in our every motive

b. He needs to be in our actions as well.

6. When a soldier decides. The question is not:

a. Is it safe?

b. Is it popular?

c. Is it right?

d. Is this what my commander wants?

7. In 1 Timothy, five times Paul uses the word command or charge.

a. 1:3

b. 4:11

c. 5:7

d. 6:13

e. 6:17

V. The Soldier’s Encouragement

1. Being a Christian soldier, is not easy. Many battles against a powerful enemy. We need to be encouraged.

2. Jesus has already won the battle.

a. 2 Corinthians 2:14

b. 1 Corinthians 15:57

VI. The Soldier’s Equipment

1. Ephesians 6:10-18

2. The whole armor of God. It helps to enable the soldier to stand.

3. The girdle of truth pulls the believer’s life together.

a. The girdle was mor than a belt.

b. It was like a leather apron that covered the lower part of the body and tied everything together.

4. The breastplate of righteousness symbolizes the righteousness of Jesus that has been applied to our account.

a. Satan is the accuser of God’s people.

b. Revelation 12:10 and Zechariah 3

c. He causes guilt.

d. 1 Corinthians 1:30

5. The shoes of peace has to do with the Christian soldiers standing.

a. Firm footing as he faces the enemy.

b. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Romans 5:1-2

c. Galatians 5:1, Psalm 55:22

d. We know where we stand, we are able to face the enemy and not run away.

e. We have peace with God.

6. The shield of faith protects the Christian soldier form the fiery darts.

7. The helmet of salvation protects the soldier’s head.

a. The battlefield is in the mind.

b. 2 Corinthians 11:3

8. The sword of the spirit

a. Hebrews 4:12

b. Acts 6:4

c. The sword gives power to the soldier.

9. Being a soldier of Jesus is a serious thing.

a. We are fighting the battles of the Lord.

b. Exciting because we know what happens next.

c. As soldier’s we should expect victory and not defeat.