A Good Soldier
2 Timothy 2:3-5
A Good Soldier is…
I. Drafted
In verse 4, Paul reminded Timothy that they had been chosen to be a soldier.
A. Chosen speaks of Salvation
Make no mistake – when it came to salvation, God initiated that whole process.
I'm not talking about predestinated to be saved; I'm talking about God called us to salvation.
He called! He reached down. He came to where we were. He had His eye on us long before we saw Him!
I’m glad that I wasn’t a draft dodger!!
When He called me unto salvation, I’m glad I accepted it!
I’m glad that when God chose me, I chose Him!!
Saul was drafted on the Road to Damascus.
God said to him:
· Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
God did the calling. We did the answering.
· 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
B. Chosen speaks of Service
· Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Paul wrote later:
Galatians 1
· 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
· 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Jesus said unto His disciples:
· John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
A Good Soldier is…
II. Dedicated
Paul reminded Timothy in our text (vs. 3) that he was “a soldier OF JESUS CHRIST.”
A soldier’s first act is to be sworn in.
They raise their hand, and they take an oath.
"I, _____, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
Just as a US soldier takes an oath, a good soldier of Jesus Christ is commanded to be dedicated to the cause.
That cause involves supporting and defending the Word of God.
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi:
· Philippians 1:17 “…knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”
That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.
That I will obey the orders…
A good soldier takes this oath seriously.
A good soldier will not break his oath.
He will reflect a daily dedication to this promise.
A Good Soldier is…
III. Disciplined – boot camp; training; inspections; authority
Notice verse 3 – a good soldier will endure hardness
Once a soldier is enlisted, they undergo rigorous training.
They are put through boot camp.
That is where they learn how to be a soldier.
A. They are taught how to obey authority and take orders.
NOTE: Obedience to authority is so important that it is detailed in the oath.
· I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me
A soldier that cannot follow orders is not a good soldier.
His priority is to learn – “how to please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (vs. 4)
That means he cannot allow himself to be “entangled with the affairs of this life.”
B. They are taught how to prepare for inspections.
A good soldier is taught how to do everything according to the will of their superiors.
· Making the bed.
· Their uniforms.
· Their equipment.
· Their daily routines and personal space.
If you cannot handle rigorous inspections of your personal space, you cannot be a good soldier!!
C. They are taught how to conduct themselves as soldiers.
They are not taught to ACT like a soldier; they are taught how to BE a soldier.
Notice the verse:
· 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Not LIKE a good soldier, but AS a good soldier.
We do not need to learn how to act LIKE a good Christian; we need to BE good Christians!!
A Good Soldier is…
IV. Dangerous
· A good soldier is a warrior.
· A good soldier is a fighter.
· A good soldier knows how to handle weapons.
· A good soldier knows how to go on the offense.
· A good soldier knows how to defend himself and what he was assigned to protect.
· A good soldier is dangerous to those that would inflict harm on him or his.
· A good soldier knows what it means to fight a good fight.
· A good soldier knows how to predict the enemy and make evasive maneuvers.
· A good soldier is skilled in crippling the enemy and foiling their plans.
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
At the end of Paul’s ministry, he testified of this fact.
· 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Paul wasn’t good at hiding.
Paul wasn’t highly skilled at avoiding conflict.
Paul wasn’t an expert at negotiating his way out of battles.
Paul was good at fighting.
Before Paul got saved, he wreaked havoc on the church.
After he got saved, and was enlisted in God’s army, he wreaked havoc on the devil.
He encouraged Timothy to do the same.
· 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
A good soldier knows how to launch an attack.
A good soldier knows how to protect the ones under his command. (warning the church with tears Acts 20)
A good soldier knows how to use his weapons to do the most good. (the sword of the Spirit)
A good soldier knows how to stand their ground. (having done all to stand...STAND!)
A good soldier will inflict fear in the hearts of the enemy.
QUESTION: What kind of danger are you to the devil and his agenda?
Are you a threat to him and his cause?
A Good Soldier is…
V. Determined
A good soldier is determined to win.
· 2 Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
· Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
A good soldier is determined to win at all costs.
A good soldier is not worried about personal sacrifice or personal cost.
· Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
· 2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you…
Jesus set the perfect example while dying on the cross.
In spite of all that man and Satan could do, Jesus didn’t allow anything to deter Him from accomplishing the mission.
· John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
A good soldier is willing to die for the cause.
Paul said it like this in 2 Timothy 4.
· 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
· 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
· 7 I have fought a good fight,
Philippians 2
· 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
· 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
A Good Soldier is…
VI. Dependable – won’t go AWOL (ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE)
· 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
A good soldier is there when you need them.
A good soldier is ready for duty when the need arises.
A good soldier is not distracted or tuned out or playing around when it’s time to fight.
A good soldier does not fall asleep on guard duty.
A good soldier does not let the enemy sneak in and invade the camp on his watch.
A good soldier does not have to be motivated and pep-talked every five minutes.
A good soldier is reliable, dependable, equipped, willing and eager to do whatever it takes.
God is looking for FAITHFUL MEN!!
· 2 Timothy 2:2 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.
A Good Soldier is…
VII. Decorated
· 2 Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2 Timothy 4
· 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
· 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
We should all strive to one day hear the Master say, “…Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
Comentários