Message Through Word
Title: A Good Soldier of God
Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 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.
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
Introduction:
Christians are in a spiritual warfare. The devil, the world, and the flesh are real enemies, and they seek to take Christians out and make them a prisoner of war. We are called upon to be good soldier of war.
I. He endured Hardship (v.3)
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
A dedicated Christian Soldier is in the battle that requires spiritual endurance.
Watch out for Satan when we are suffering and being persecuted (1 Peter 5:8)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Seek other Christians for support, keep your eyes on Christ. And resist the devil.
In the Christian life, we battle against rulers and spiritual forces; to withstand their attacks we must depend on God's strength and use every piece of God's armor (Ephesians 6:10-11)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
II. He avoids worldly entanglements (v.4)
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
A Christian must be totally commuted to His Commanding Officer, the One who enlisted us.
Those around us should have no questions about our loyalty as His Soldiers.
Just cleaning up one's life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for Satan to enter.
III. He magnifies Jesus Christ (v.8-10)
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Jesus was treated as an evildoer, and His soldiers will be treated the same way Jesus Christ is to a suffering Christian Soldier.
Paul was bound, but God's Word cannot be bound. (Psalms 147:15)
15 He sends out His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
"The word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:24)
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
The best way to magnified Christ is through the ministry of the Word.
IV. He trusts His Commanding Officer (vv. 11-13)
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
God is faithful to His children, and although we may suffer great hardship here, God promises that someday we will live with Him eternally.
We do not fear the enemies, for Jesus Christ had already conquered them.
Through our identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, we have won the victory.
Conclusion:
"It is not by trying to be faithful, but in looking to the faithful one, that Christians soldiers won the victory" (- J. Hudson Taylor)