THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER IN GOD

October 8, 2024

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus….Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:1, 3-4

1. NO LONGER YOUR OWN. A young man from our church is in the Navy and went to basic training. He had to get a specific haircut, put on particular uniforms, and follow a regimented schedule. That’s what a soldier does. They endure hardship and discipline themselves. They don’t get the luxury of autonomy in their role. They represent a country and preserve and protect its freedoms. That is the same thing for us Christians. We are no longer our own. Therefore, we are to glorify God in our bodies, understanding that God has called us to fight the good fight of faith (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Timothy 6:12).  2. IT IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE. Our battle is not against people: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). There are evil spirits and forces invisible, yet real. This truth is not just implied but is emphatic in the Scripture. Jesus cast out demons. Ephesians describes “the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (2:2b). When we watch the news and see heinous behaviors – sure, it is fallen humanity’s flesh, but there are spiritual elements to it as well. 3. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY. As a soldier, you have been given tools to fight this battle. Jesus delegated authority to His followers when He sent out 70 people to go into villages and follow His example and teaching: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19). Then, right before He ascended, Jesus gave specific marching orders: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit'” (Matthew 28:18-19). 4. LAY ASIDE ANY WEIGHT. Paul wrote about not getting entangled in the affairs of everyday life and the author of Hebrews expounds on that same focus: “Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Let God take you on a journey with that and do an assessment to identify things you could lay aside – what weights, encumbrances, and sins – so you can stay tender before God. Be quick to repent and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9-2:1) so you can reset when needed. Lean on God’s grace, His Holy Spirit, and His Word to help you through the battles of life as you are strengthened to be a good soldier in these end times. DAILY CONFESSIONI am strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. I lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and I run with endurance the race set before me, looking to Jesus, the author, and perfecter of my faith. I am a soldier in God, and I put on every piece of God’s armor so that I will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then, after every battle, I will still be standing firm. I stand my ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, I put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that I will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, I hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. I put on salvation as my helmet and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. I stay alert and persistent in my prayers for all believers everywhere. (2 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-18 NLT) God bless you,Pastor Jeff Perry 

au·thor·i·ty, noun
The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. The right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another.

^{Copyright © 2024 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. “Authority, N.” The New Oxford American Dictionary, 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2010, p. 108.}