Soldiers

2 Timothy 2:3-4

2 Timothy 2:3-4, You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

• Enduring hardship
• Forsaking the world
• Discipline
• Identity/Uniform

In Scripture, we find several references to the Christian as being a soldier in warfare.

Ephesians 6:12-13, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The battle is not ours, but the Lord's.

We are called upon to be God's agents on this earth to press forward with gospel claiming victory through Christ. We have been given our 'marching orders'by the Captain of the host.

Matthew 28:19-20, And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Three Types of Soldiers

• a. Compromisers (rationalize position rather than take a definite stand)
• b. Quitters (can't take heat of battle)
• c. The faithful (no assignment is too tough and no battles too fearful)

The Good Soldier's Identity. His Uniform

By looking at a soldier's uniform you can determine several things.

• You know what branch of service they are in.
• You know their job or duty.
• You can also tell how long they have been serving.

In similar manner a good soldier of Christ can be identified readily. We are to 'put on'Christ.

Galatians 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." That means that when others see us, they see Christ.

Ephesians 4:24, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The longer we serve Him, the more like Him we should be. His Orders A soldier's orders determine where he lives and how he spends his time. Not just a list of things to do if we have time, or if we would like to do them.

Orders are given to be obeyed.

As believers, we must understand that what the Lord commands us to do in His Word are not suggestions but are our responsibility to perform. We do it out of our love for our Lord, not for any other reason! His Experience Look at a soldier's chest and you can read where he has been and how he has served.

We called it 'fruit salad', but it is ribbons, medals, and bars to indicate the various campaigns and awards they have participated in. The more action, the more 'fruit salad'. There is another, less enjoyable, way, and that is to look for the scars from battle.

Our experiences in serving the Lord may bring us some reward or it may bring us some scars, but it will identify us as serving in His army doing His will.

The Attributes of a Good Soldier

A good soldier endures hardness. Paul was toughened through hard experiences.

It was predicted when Jesus called him to ministry.

Acts 9:16, "For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

It started for Paul as soon as he was converted.

Acts 9:23-24, Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. He spent three lonely, arduous years on the backside of the Arabian desert.

Galatians 1:17, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Paul was stoned, shipwrecked, beaten, and placed in dungeons. Funny things is that Paul calls all of this as his 'light affliction'

2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

He declares that he has 'fought a good fight'.

2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" With Paul as his example, Timothy had determined to be faithful, no matter what. Many calls criticism adversity and melt under it. Paul would have call us 'raw recruits'and rebuked us. During World War II a tough sergeant caught a young private reading his New Testament in trench during lull in shelling. The sergeant shouted at him, "Put that thing away, I don't want no sissies in my outfit!" Shortly afterward a mortar shell landed in their trench. The young private threw self over shell and gave his life to keep the others unharmed.

The sergeant then ordered New Testament’s for all his men saying, "If that book could give this kind of courage to that kid, maybe it will give it to the rest of his buddies." A Good Soldier Enlists Others He is proud of his outfit.

The recruiters are not men who hate the service, but they are the 'lifers'. Andrew went to recruit Peter.

John 1:40-42, One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Philip brought Nathaniel.

John 1:45, Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

What are we doing for the cause of Christ?

Are we recruiting others? Soul-winning Inviting friends and relatives. Bringing others. A good soldier will not collaborate with the enemy. The world hates the Christian.

John 15:18, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

1 John 3:13, Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. A good soldier cannot fight the enemy during the day, and then go to a party with them by the night. In preparation for the fight the trainee is taught to despise the enemy and be ready to fight them on every hand and at every opportunity. Faithfulness earns the approval and commendation of our Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:2, "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

Matthew 25:23, His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ A good soldier believes in the cause. (Note our cause is not some noble principle, it is the person of Jesus Christ!) Good soldiers get 'psyched up'for the battle. Many battle leaders are successful because they know how to motivate their men.

No soldier gives their best if they are not convinced the cause is right. The Christian must prepare for battle daily. By studying our manual (the Bible) By prayer that brings the power of the Holy Spirit. By trusting God's direction and instructions for battling the enemy.

During a terrible battle, the great French general, Napoleon instructed the drummer to beat a retreat. The young man stood silent. The general gave the command a second time, and the response was the same. Finally, the general drew his sword and placed it at the throat of the young man and commanded that he sound the drum beat for retreat.

Trembling the young man answered, "But sir, you have never taught me to sound retreat before."With that the general thundered, "Then sound forth the charge!"The army motivated by the confidence of its general advanced and won the victory that day.

Our Saviour has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." We are challenged to go forward for the cause of Christ and be good soldiers for Him.

Endure

Our soldiers must endure much to fight the good fight.

• They must endure Separation from family & friends.
• They must endure heat & conditions of a brutal climate.
• They must endure uncomfortable conditions in make- shift barracks.
• They must endure the hatred of many people that consider them intruders and enemies.
• They must endure the psychological strain of secret explosives and constant threat.
• They must endure the traitorous negativity of people.

We are soldiers in a foreign land that is not our home. We are liberators and freedom fighters to those who had been held captive by an evil tyrant. We must endure much. We Must Endure the Doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

One of the first things a good soldier learns is how not to be captured by the enemy. We are given the same instructions. Colossians.2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ.”

We are seeing many attacks upon the basic doctrines of the faith. Here are just a few that have occurred in our lifetime. “The Bible is a moral book but cannot be relied upon for historical or scientific content. It contains many errors and fables.”

Some doctrinal statements now say the Bible “contains the Word of God” instead of “is the Word of God.” “Science has proven that evolution is the way that men came into being, not creationism.” “All religions are equally good as long as one is sincere.”

“God wants everyone to be happy, wealthy, healthy.” Prosperity preachers, the teachers who entertain itching ears.

Beware of those men who appeal to the masses, but will not stand up for truth. Example: Joel Osteen wouldn’t say people go to hell. Don’t get captured by these false doctrines. The Christian Soldier must stick to his guns and hold up the doctrine of the Bible.

Jude 1:3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

We must Endure the Deceivers.

James 1:12, Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

There will never be a day in your earthly life when you will not be tempted by the enemy. We must stand ready to endure this onslaught. God has given us something to endure the armour of God.

Each piece of the armour is specifically designed to endure these deceptions from the enemy.

• The helmet of salvation—protects from deceptions of the mind.
• The breastplate of righteousness—protects from deceptions of the heart/lusts.
• The girdle of truth—protects from deceptions of the emotions.
• The sandals of the gospel of peace—protects from the deceptions of easy, smooth way/laziness.
• The shield of faith—protects from the deceptions of fear.

Many say that we can’t endure but the Bible says differently. I Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

Romans 6:11-14, Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

We Must Endure the Duty.

Galatians 6:9, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Soldiers have some tough duties to endure.

• Guard duty.
• Kitchen duty.
• Combat duty.

Christians soldiers have duties we must endure. We have duties within the church. · The ministry of prayer · The ministry of our gifts · The ministry of encouragement · The ministry of bearing one another’s burdens. We have duties outside the church.

· The ministry of our witness. · The ministry of our missions.

· The ministry of our support/aid. · The ministry of our salt—changing culture. · Just because you don’t like the duty doesn’t mean you don’t do it.

2 Timothy 4:5, But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. Timothy was not a natural evangelist, but he still had to do the work of an evangelist. It was his duty.

We Must Endure the Discipline. A soldier’s life is characterized by discipline. A Christian’s life should be characterized by discipline.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Running track—disciplines of diet/exercise 1. Discipline in his attendance. 2. Discipline in his reading, meditating. 3. Discipline in his praying. 4. Discipline in his giving.

5. Discipline in his dress. 6. Discipline in his language. If we stray, we will have to endure the discipline of God.

Hebrews 12:7, If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

We Must Endure Destructive Forces. There are times when the battle is hot and heavy, and you must just hunker down and endure. There are times of persecution which we must endure.

2 Timothy 3:11, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

1 Peter 2:19, For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

We have some great examples.

1. Paul (2 Corinthians 11:24-28)

2. Moses (Hebrews 11:27)

3. Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

We Must Endure the Distance. A tour of duty may be long and dangerous. A soldier must endure to the end. A Christian soldier should not give up or give in before the finish.

Matthew 10:22, and you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13, But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Revelation 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

It is easy to do the sprint, but not the distance run. The Christian life is not a spring for most, but a long marathon.

Conclusion

Are you enduring as a good soldier? Those who endure will receive the commendations. Those who endure will receive the promotions. Those who endure will receive the prize. You can endure! Keep your eyes on the prize.

Hebrews 12:2-3, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.