BEING A GOOD SOLDIER OF CHRIST JESUS 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-4

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE “That’s alright…that’s OK… Because your gonna work for us someday!”

Manassas Junction, Va. July 21, 1861 By late morning many buggies full of spectators showed up with summer dresses, parasols, and picnic baskets to watch the show. By late morning many buggies full of spectators showed up with summer dresses, parasols, and picnic baskets to watch the show. By evening, hundreds were dead and thousands were wounded and screaming for help. By evening, hundreds were dead and thousands were wounded and screaming for help. This is the reality of war. Picnic baskets offer very little support. This is the reality of war. Picnic baskets offer very little support. Because they did not understand the times, they did not know what to do…and someone got hurt.

Caves of Israel around 1000 B.C. Mighty men came to the aid of David. Mighty men came to the aid of David. They had impressive fighting skills. They had impressive fighting skills. They had impressive numbers of men. They had impressive numbers of men. They had the “men of Issachar who understood the times, and knew what Israel should do.” (I Chronicles 12:32) They had the “men of Issachar who understood the times, and knew what Israel should do.” (I Chronicles 12:32) Understanding the times and knowing what to do is vital during times of conflict and opposition.

Your Average Church Anytown, USA For every 10 men in the average church… For every 10 men in the average church… 9 will have kids who leave the church. 9 will have kids who leave the church. 8 will not find their job satisfying. 8 will not find their job satisfying. 6 will struggle with debt management. 6 will struggle with debt management. 5 will have a major problem with pornography. 5 will have a major problem with pornography. 4 to 5 will get divorced affecting over one million children every year. 4 to 5 will get divorced affecting over one million children every year. All 10 will struggle to balance work and family. All 10 will struggle to balance work and family. Because we do not understand the times… we do not know what to do…and it shows.

The Reality Of Our Times “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1-3 We need to understand the times we live in and know what to do because we are to be on a mission!

Are We Really On A Mission? “We’re in a knockdown, drag-out battle for the heart and soul of our culture and society. And we didn’t start it. In a sense, as I’ve suggested here before, the present war started in the Garden of Eden, when Satan first tried to foist the big lie on Adam and Eve. The lie from the beginning was that human wisdom is smarter than God’s wisdom. The lie has always been that we could reject God’s standards with impunity. The war is between a God who says, “Defy Me and die,” and the Great Deceiver who argues back, “You shall never die.” To me, that sounds like a life-and-death disagreement.” -Joel Belz founder World Magazine

Are We Really On A Mission? “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world force of this darkness, against the spiritual force of wickedness in the heavenly places.”Ephesians 6:11-12

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Cor. 10:3-4 “I have fought the good fight.”2 Timothy 4:7 Look at the newspapers…or the campus …or the community.

Qualities Of A Good Soldier “Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he man please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4

#1 Don’t Get Captured “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life…” “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according the to tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”Colossians 2:8

What Can Entangle and Capture Us? Philosophy and empty deception Philosophy and empty deception Scarecrow’s brain Scarecrow’s brain Tin man’s heart Tin man’s heart Lion’s courage Lion’s courage The yellow brick road is not the same as the straight and narrow path.

#2 Obey Your Orders “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” “If you love Me, you will obey Me.”John 14:15

What’s In Common Here? Generals, infantry, cooks, supply officers, mechanics, privates, boot camp trainers, special forces, pilots, and communication specialists? Generals, infantry, cooks, supply officers, mechanics, privates, boot camp trainers, special forces, pilots, and communication specialists? Nurses, high schoolers, Dads, police men, pastors/elders, college students, teachers, business owners, employees, doctors, Moms, spouses, and singles? They are all soldiers! They can all become good soldiers in the good fight!