|
Bible Study Time, Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Sister Edith Tolbert
It's a battlefield ,brother, not a recreation room,
It's a fight and not a game,
Run if you’re goin’ to, run if you will,
But I came here to stay.
Run if you’re goin’ to, run if you will, but I came here to stay.
When I fall down I'm gonna get up,
Cause I didn't come here to play, It's a battlefield ,brother, not a recreation room,
It's a fight and not a game,
Run if you’re goin’ to, run if you will,
But I came here to stay.
.HE THAT ENDURES TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED
II Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
First you have to enlist to be a real soldier. There has to be an absolute commitment. As someone put it; ‘when you sign up for service in the U.S. Army, you become the property of the United States government. In a similar way, when we repent forsaking all sin, we accept Christ as our personal savior, we belong to God. We are not our own.
The apostle Paul does not say, “Enjoy softness as a sloppy soldier of Jesus Christ” Paul endured many, many hard trials.
Endurance means – the mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardships without murmuring, to hold out, to continue.
A United State’s Soldier is not ashamed of his uniform, of his duty, of his officers, or of his cause. Our enlistment to be a soldier of Christ is cheerfully made from our heart and we are not ashamed of Christ, living a holy life, the people of God or his cause.
Apostle Paul tells us three things that we need to take heed to in order to be a good soldier.
1. II Timothy 2:4 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.
Don’t be tied up in worldly affairs, letting our hearts be over charged with cares and pleasures of this life. Luke 21:34-36 tells us they will come as a snare on all that dwell on the earth. We need to watch and pray that we may escape these things.
>We cannot be a good soldier if trials, cares, problems and affairs of this life are so important causing us to take our eyes off Christ. Put first things first -- Matthew 6:33. A fighting man realizes, there is a war going on. Don’t be distracted from the fight.
2. II Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work. Just like an athlete has to follow the rules in order to win or else he is disqualified. The Bible is our rule book.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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.>
Every one that is to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ must be temperate in all things. A soldier needs self-control . Deny self from things that would keep you from doing your best
When a soldier is sent to boot camp it is to develop an attitude change and stamina by extreme harshness, hardships, rigor, and discipline. Training that develops self-control and character will make you tough and hard in mind and body.
There is a time to be tender and a time to be tough. We need a tender heart and a tough will. We need a tender conscience and a tough determination. We must endure hardness as a good soldier.
3. II Timothy 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
A farmer has to work hard to grow a good crop;. He has to cultivate the land, get out the weeds and keep them out, plant the seeds in straight rows and irrigate.
We need to work hard at being a good soldier. Making sure we don’t let anything come in that would side track us. We will face offenses, malicious talk, evil speaking, hurts, and attacks.
II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
When the battle rages a soldier’s loyalty will be tested. Condition yourself to toughness, not to softness, ease, or comfort. Consider these three examples so you can be willing to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Trackback(0)
|
High School 
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
