Soldiers
-tf[The word "soldier" is a job description. It supplies information about how we should think.]
Philemon vs. 1-3 "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house. . . ."
THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOLDIERS:
Acts 10:7 "And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually. . . ." (Soldier "waiters")
Philippians 2:25 "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants." (Soldier "ministers")
2nd Corinthians 5:1-25 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature . . . we are ambassadors for Christ. . . ."
(Soldier "ambassadors")
[From Webster’s: "ambassador 1. the highest diplomatic representative that one sovereign power or state sends officially to another. * * * 3. an official herald, messenger, or agent with a special mission."] (emphasis added)
CONSIDER: the difference between an "ambassador" and a "spy".
HINT: We say openly that we are not of this world.
SOLDIERS OF THIS WORLD:
Luke 3:14 "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages."
[CONCLUSION: Worldly soldiers tend to be violent, false accusers, and on the prowl for extra income.]
(just like the police, "Mafia", and "protection" racketeers)
SOLDIERS FOR THE LORD:
REMEMBER: Uriah the Hittite
(1st Kings 15:5 "Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.")
2nd Samuel 11:1-11 "But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord. . . ."
2nd Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
v. 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."
OUR ARMOUR:
Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
2nd Corinthians 6:7 "By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness. . . ."
Ephesians 6:10-17 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
v. 10 ". . . be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
-- John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches . . . without me ye can do nothing."
v. 11 ". . . that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
-- John 8:44 "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
-- 2nd Corinthians 11:1-4 & 13-14 ". . . for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
-- 2nd Thessalonians 2:8-9 ". . . Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. . . ."
-- Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast. . . ."
-- Revelation 6:2 "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
-- 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
-- 13:4 "And . . . they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"
-- 13:7 "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."
-- 1st Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. . . ."
v. 15 "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. . . ."
(THINK OF IT: going to war with the gospel of peace!)
v. 16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
-- 2nd Corinthians 5:1-17 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight. . . .)"
v. 17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. . . ."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful. . . ."
(It is also the only offensive piece of hardware listed in Ephesians 6.)
Fearlessness (There is one overwhelming reason why men are fearful: they have not fully known the fear of the Lord.)
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 ". . . and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me. . . ."
v. 24 "For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." (That's just old testament, right?)
Hebrews 12:28-29 ". . . let us . . . serve God . . . with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."
QUESTION: Why do sissy "Christians" in this context always refer to:
1st John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
ANSWER: Because they are afraid of absolutely everything EXCEPT the Lord!