BEING A GOOD BEING A GOOD SOLDIERSOLDIER

OF CHRIST JESUSOF CHRIST JESUS

2 TIMOTHY 2:1-42 TIMOTHY 2:1-4

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVEA LITTLE PERSPECTIVE

““That’s alright…that’s That’s alright…that’s OK…OK…

Because your gonna work Because your gonna work for for us someday!”us someday!”

Manassas Junction, Va.Manassas Junction, Va.July 21, 1861July 21, 1861

By late morning many buggies full of By late morning many buggies full of spectators showed up with summer spectators showed up with summer dresses, parasols, and picnic baskets dresses, parasols, and picnic baskets to watch the show.to watch the show.

By evening, hundreds were dead and By evening, hundreds were dead and thousands were wounded and thousands were wounded and screaming for help.screaming for help.

This is the reality of war. Picnic This is the reality of war. Picnic baskets offer very little support.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 IsraelCaves of Israelaround 1000 B.C.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 They had the “men of Issachar who

understood the times, and knew what understood the times, and knew what Israel should do.”Israel should do.”

(I Chronicles 12:32)(I Chronicles 12:32)Understanding the times and knowing what to do

is vital during times of conflict and opposition.

Your Average ChurchYour Average ChurchAnytown, USAAnytown, USA

For every 10 men in the average For every 10 men in the average church…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 4 to 5 will get divorced affecting over one

million children every year.million children every year. All 10 will struggle to balance work and All 10 will struggle to balance work and

family.family.Because we do not understand the times…we do not know what to do…and it shows.

The Reality Of Our TimesThe Reality Of Our Times

““You therefore, my son, be strong in You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. be able to teach others also. Suffer Suffer hardship withhardship with me, as a good soldier of me, as a good soldier of Christ JesusChrist Jesus.”.”

2 Timothy 2:1-32 Timothy 2:1-3We need to understand the times we live in and know what to dobecause we are to be on a mission!

Are We Really On A Are We Really On A Mission?Mission?

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

-Joel Belz-Joel Belzfounder World Magazinefounder World Magazine

Are We Really On A Are We Really On A Mission?Mission?

““Put on the full armor of God, that you Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the rulers, against the powers, against the world force of this against the world force of this darkness, against the spiritual force of darkness, against the spiritual force of wickedness in the heavenly places.”wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:11-12Ephesians 6:11-12

““For though we walk in the flesh, we For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Cor. destruction of fortresses.” 2 Cor. 10:3-410:3-4

““I have fought the good fight.”I have fought the good fight.” 2 2 Timothy 4:7Timothy 4:7

Look at the newspapers…or the campus…or the community.

Qualities Of A Good Qualities Of A Good SoldierSoldier

““Suffer hardship with me as a good Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that the affairs of everyday life, so that he man please the one who enlisted he man please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”him as a soldier.”

2 Timothy 2 Timothy 2:3-42:3-4

#1 Don’t Get Captured#1 Don’t Get Captured

““No soldier in active service No soldier in active service entangles entangles himselfhimself in the affairs of everyday life…” in the affairs of everyday life…”

““See to it that no one See to it that no one takes you captivetakes you captive through philosophy and empty through philosophy and empty deception, according the to tradition of deception, according the to tradition of men, according to the elementary men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8

What Can Entangle and What Can Entangle and Capture Us?Capture Us?

Philosophy and empty deceptionPhilosophy and empty deception Scarecrow’s brainScarecrow’s brain Tin man’s heartTin man’s heart Lion’s courageLion’s courage

The yellow brick road is not the sameas the straight and narrow path.

#2 Obey Your Orders#2 Obey Your Orders

““No soldier in active service entangles No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life himself in the affairs of everyday life so so that he may please the one who enlisted that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldierhim as a soldier.”.”

““If you love Me, you will obey Me.”If you love Me, you will obey Me.” John John 14:1514:15

What’s In Common What’s In Common Here?Here?

Generals, infantry, Generals, infantry, cooks, supply cooks, supply officers, officers, mechanics, mechanics, privates, boot privates, boot camp trainers, camp trainers, special forces, special forces, pilots, and pilots, and communication communication specialists?specialists?

Nurses, high Nurses, high schoolers, Dads, schoolers, Dads, police men, police men, pastors/elders, pastors/elders, college students, college students, teachers, business teachers, business owners, employees, owners, employees, doctors, Moms, doctors, Moms, spouses, and spouses, and singles?singles?They are all soldiers!They can all become good

soldiers in the good fight!