A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST

2 Tim. 2:3-8
QUALITIES OF A GOOD SOLDIER


1.. HE IS A FOLLOWER
  1. A.Implies Relationship (The first step is to join the army)No one can be a soldier for the Lord until they first get into the army. This is accomplished only through receiving Jesus as one's Savior, John 3:3; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 16:31

  • Romans 10:9-10    9.That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
  • 10.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

B. Implies Rank(There is always someone higher than you.)The same is true in the Lord's army. Every child of God is under ranked under Jesus and is responsible for following Him and His will for their lives, 1 Cor. 6:19-20. (Ill, God always has a way of cutting down to size - Ill. Gideon, Judges 7:1-9 - From a General to a Sargent to a Private!)
C. Implies Rule (To refuse to follow orders is treason!)When we are in the Lord's Army, we have the obligation of obeying His orders even unto the death! Notice the call of Christ that has not changed, Matt. 16:24. When we refuse to live as the Lord desires, then we have crossed the line from follower to traitor - James 4:17.

2.. HE IS FAITHFUL
A. His Patience - Endures hardship and does not quit.The good soldier realizes that there will be troubles along the way and is not detoured by them. He understands that pain is often part of the Christian experience, John 16:33.( Please remember that the Christian is called upon to face life with extreme patience - Heb. 12:1. (In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.)
B. 2:4 His Priorities - Seeks to please the Commander.Notice that the
good soldier has no higher goal in life than pleasing His Superior. The good soldier knows that anything which interferes with his performance in the military must be done away with. The good soldier wants to please his Superior and does whatever he has to do to get that job done! (Ill. Who comes first in your life? Whatever or whoever it is, that is your god! Pleasing Jesus ought to be the first priority of every child of God - 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Cor. 6:20.)
C. His Practice - Guards the truths of the faith.The good soldier takes care of the things delivered unto him. He is determined to do a good job, and he refuses to do anything to bring disgrace and dishonor upon his Superior.( So it is with the Christian soldier. He wants to live his life in a manner that brings honor to the Lord and not dishonor. Are you keeping the faith this morning? Ill. Phil. 1:27; Col. 1:10; 1 Thes. 2:11-12.)

3.HE IS FAMILIAR(3. There are some things that the good soldier knows. He is familiar with:
A. With The Sound Of The Commanders's Voice- (John 10:3-5) The way to get more familiar

Created 4 months ago