The Character of a Soldier

1 Timothy 1:18-20

INTRODUCTION: Like every church across this country, we are in desperate need for soldiers. As the general character of a society declines to the depths of despair, the character of its Christians is not too far behind. Better yet, it might be that the further the character of a society’s Christians slides, the more the character of the society as a whole will slide.

I. AWARENESS

A. Awareness of Our Enemies

1. The world
a. This is not the people of the world (see Ephesians 6:12).
b. This would include the world system and machine set forth by spiritual wickedness in high places.
2. The flesh – self (Romans 7:23; Colossians 2:8, 18; 2 Timothy 2:4; James 4:1-2; 1 Peter 2:11)
3. The Devil (Ephesians 6:12)

B. Awareness of Our Brothers (Philippians 2:25-30)

C. Awareness of Our Mission

1. Not as one that beateth the air (1 Corinthians 9:26)
2. Pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)
3. A fight of faith (1 Timothy 1:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:12)
4. To please the One who hath chosen us to be soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

D. Awareness of Our Weaponry

1. They are not carnal in nature (2 Corinthians 10:4).
2. They are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
3. They consist of… (Ephesians 6:11-18)
a. Truth (Ephesians 6:14)
b. Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)
c. The gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)
d. Faith (Ephesians 6:16)
e. Salvation (Ephesians 6:17)
f. The word of God (Ephesians 6:17)
g. Prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

II. ENDURANCE

A. Taking a Stand

1. We are to stand fast in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13).
2. We are to stand fast in our liberty (Galatians 5:1).
3. We are to stand against the Devil’s wiles (Ephesians 6:11-14).
4. We are to stand fast in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 3:8) and His will (Colossians 4:12).

B. Not Wavering from the Stand (1 Corinthians 15:58)

C. Enduring the Hardness (2 Timothy 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:7)

III. HUMILITY

A. In Service

1. Serving with all humility of mind (Acts 20:19).
2. Submitting ourselves one to another (1 Peter 5:5).

B. In Reward

1. Labouring to please, not necessarily for reward (2 Timothy 2:4).
2. Recognizing any rewards received are owed both to the Saviour and to fellowsoldiers who aided in the receiving of them.

CONCLUSION: Will you enlist in this branch of the Lord’s service? Far too often we identify the number of troops we have by our church attendance, but the number of people willing to war in the trenches is much smaller. We have too much to do for the Lord and too few soldiers. Will you enlist or reenlist today?