It was indeed a moving ceremony to witness the
graduation of recruits as they are recognized as Marines! The new Marines were
thrown together, to live together, enduring together, tolerating each other,
supporting each other, working together and striving to that day when they are
finally recognized for what they strove to achieve a full member of the United
State Marine Corp!
In the New Testament we find Paul drawing a
lot on military metaphors in describing the qualities of a Christian believer.
2Ti
2:1-10 Thou therefore, my son, be strong
in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
(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.
(3) Thou therefore endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
(4) No man that warreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier.
(5) And if a man also strive for
masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (6)
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. (7)
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all
things. (8) Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of
David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: (9)
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word
of God is not bound. (10) Therefore I endure all things for the elect's
sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.
Last week we saw that Caleb's attitude,
actions and subsequent address to Joshua concerning Hebron demonstrated some
unique qualities of the enduring warrior. We are engaged
in a constant warfare with an enemy that is unrelenting in his quest to steal,
kill and destroy. In the passage quoted above we are called upon as soldiers of
the cross to do and to be certain things.
1. WE ARE
CALLED UPON TO ENDURE HARDNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER!
A soldier endures hardship for the cause of
freedom of the country, justice and liberty for ALL.
Thou
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:3
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we
have received mercy, we faint not; 2Co 4:1
We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2Co 4:8-10
You as an individual have your own preferences
and tastes. As a soldier you do not get things the way you always want it to
be! Regardless of your own individual preferences, likes and dislikes, it is
expected that you will push them aside in deference for the common good of the
company. When commanded to move forward the soldier does not make excuses but
works with the team. All of God's warriors are team players. We work together
as a body with the individual skills of each member combining to make the unit
function in harmony. A healthy well
coordinated body functions efficiently with each individual supplying that
which the other lacks.
But
watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
make full proof of thy ministry. 2Ti
4:5.
But
we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their
salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb 2:9-10
Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us. Rom 8:35-37
2. WE ARE
CALLED UPON TO TO BE SEPARATE UNTO THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER
No
man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:4
(entangleth himself with the affairs of this
life "...with civil affairs, in distinction from military ones. The Roman
soldiers might not follow any trade or business of life, or be concerned in
husbandry, or merchandise of any sort, but were wholly to attend to military
exercises, and to the orders of their general; for to be employed in any
secular business was reckoned an entangling of them, a taking of them off from,
and an hindrance to their military discipline: and by this the apostle suggests
that Christ's people, his soldiers, and especially his ministers, should not he
involved and implicated in worldly affairs and cares; for no man can serve two
masters, God and mammon; but should wholly give up themselves to the work and
service to which they are called; and be ready to part with all worldly
enjoyments, and cheerfully suffer the loss of all things, when called to it,
for the sake of Christ and his Gospel: "-Gill)
So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Rom 8:8
Ours is a call to be separated from the
affairs of this life: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty. 2Co 6:17-18
And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run,
not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep
under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1Co 9:25-27
3. WE ARE
CALLED UPON TO PLEASE HIM WHO CALLED US
A soldier is committed to his calling. He is
compliant with commands, dedicated to duty.
A dedication to the country, cause and comrades
Now
the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no
pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of
them that believe to the saving of the soul .Heb 10:38-39
Jesus
said: And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I
do always those things that please him. Joh 8:29
So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Rom 8:8
For
do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased
men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal 1:10
Furthermore
then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye
have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound
more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by
the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That
every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and
honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the
Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother
in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also
have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto
uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not
man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 1Th 4:1-8
4. WE ARE
CALLED UPON TO STRIVE LAWFULLY
Soldiers are called upon to be faithful to their command but may usually be given a questionable order.
As believers, OUR Commander in Chief (YAHWEH) NEVER makes mistakes. His orders and commands are to the point and necessary. We therefore align ourselves with His commands and submit to them. We do not break His rules.
And
if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive
lawfully. 2Ti 2:5As believers, OUR Commander in Chief (YAHWEH) NEVER makes mistakes. His orders and commands are to the point and necessary. We therefore align ourselves with His commands and submit to them. We do not break His rules.
Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2:8
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of
uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in
trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which
trieth our hearts. 1Th 2:3-4
Some
indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The
one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to
my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set
for the defence of the gospel. Php 1:15-17
Therefore
seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2Co 4:1-2
Paul charged Timothy to war a good warfare,
fight the good fight of faith. There is a final reward worth looking forward to
and striving for!
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,
according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them
mightest war a good warfare; (19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which
some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (20)
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan,
that they may learn not
to blaspheme. 1Ti 1:18-20
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. 1Ti 6:12
2Ti
4:1-8 I charge thee therefore before God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(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, 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.
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