2 Timothy 2:1-4; 7-8<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading
1 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.
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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INTRODUCTION
Let us look at some words used for the title. The first one is Qualities. The word quality is
defined as \u2018Peculiar and essential character. A distinguishing attribute.\u2019 Then my question to
you is, who is a Soldier? A soldier is \u2018a serviceman, a skilled warrior, one who engages in
military service, especially in the army.\u2019 One can say in other words that the quality of a Soldier
is a distinguishing attribute of a skillful warrior who is in the service to defend his or her country.
You see as this definition of a soldier, so also, we, as Christians. A soldier is enlisted to fight
and defend his country, so we are to defend our beliefs, faith, and the Bible. A soldier protects
the country from external attack from enemies, so we are to protect our folks from other false
prophets who are going around proclaiming that Jesus is not virgin born son of God, saying
He is not God, saying they don’t believe that He physically died and rose again on the third
day. A soldier is in a battle, so we are as Christians.
We are to stand for the right. We are to fight against evil, homosexuality including gay,
lesbianism, and all forms of sexual immorality with diverse names, and all the evil things that
are going on in our houses, neighborhoods, and our country at large.
We have our popular children’s song I\u2019m in the Lord\u2019s Army:
\u2018I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never shoot for the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army!\u2019
I want to show you from the Bible, four qualities of a good soldier. The word is a good soldier,
not just a soldier but a good soldier. Are you a good soldier for God?
(1) The quality of a good soldier is that he is a follower
He is to follow the command of a commander, and he doesn’t go to the battle on his own. We,
as Christians, need not go into the battle on our own. We need to obey the command of our
commander, that is, Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:3, the scripture says, \u201cThou therefore endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.\u201d To endure hardness, one has to be a disciplined
person, which is not an easy or pleasant condition, but one still needs to carry on obeying the
commander Jesus Christ.
(2) The quality of a good Soldier is to be faithful
Faithfulness is one good characteristic of a soldier. He must be faithful to his country, to defend
it to the best of his ability. He must be a good ambassador or representative. \u201c4 No man that
warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he
strive lawfully.\u201d 2 Timothy 2:4-5.
We, as Christian soldiers, must be faithful to the one who sent us to the battle. Remember
faithfulness is rewarding. \u2018Payday\u2019 is coming, and His reward is with Him to give to every man
according to his works – Revelation 22:12. The scripture also says we are stewards in 1
Corinthians 4:1-2, \u201c1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards
of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.\u201d
One of our hymns says.
\u2018Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting serving every day,
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.\u2019
(3) The quality of a good Soldier is that he is a fighter
2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, \u201c7 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.\u201d
Know that you are a \u2018Christian soldier\u2019. You are fighting a good fight. The fight might not be
good as per human reasoning, but it is a good fight in the sight of God. It is not pleasant but
He who called us to fight has conquered the world for us. \u201cThese things I have spoken unto
you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.\u201d – John 16:33. This should encourage us to fight with the
last drop of our blood.
(4) The quality of a good soldier is that he is a finisher
A soldier always makes sure that he stays on the battlefield and sees to the end of the battle.
He knows about the danger of running away from the battle. \u2018He who fights and runs away
lives to fight another day\u2019. Why not face the battle squarely, and see the end of the battle?
The Apostle Paul was a good follower. He said follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians
11:1). He was a faithful man, who was faithful to the cross of Christ. He was a good fighter.
He said, \u201c7 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.\u201d
A good soldier of Christ has to make sure that he finishes his course and graduates. He must
run his race and run to finish. Not only must he run to finish, but he must run to finish well. As
Christian soldiers, we must fight and see to the end of the battle so we will be able to say as
the Apostle Paul said. That \u2018We have fought a good fight, we have finished our course\u2019,
knowing very well that there are rewards, promotions, and above all a crown waiting for us in
heaven.
We will be singing the song,
The strife is o’er the battle done;
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun.
Ha-lle-lu-jah.
We know that, when the battle is over, we shall wear a crown in new Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CONCLUSION
Let us remember that \u201cFor we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places.\u201d Ephesians 6:12. But when we put on the whole armour of God, we shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
May God help us to be able to stand and fight to the end in Jesus’ name. Amen
Amen!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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