Soldier

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1 Chronicles 11:12 A Mighty Warrior

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors. 1 Chronicles 11:12

Throughout the history of every military force throughout the world there are always listed some great warriors. These are men and women who were heroes in some way. Often these are people who have sacrificed their lives to save others or led a group into a near suicidal battle situation and won.

Great warriors are ones who have gone far above the basic expectations to get the job done, regardless of the cost to their own selves.

Eleazar, son of Dodai, was listed as one of David’s three mighty warriors.

Being a soldier in the military requires a level of commitment that many don’t have. Taking that to the next level of being a great or outstanding soldier requires an even higher level of dedication. Out of all the people in the world, very few will ever be a part of a military.

However, every believer is part of an army–the army of God. They are in a war that has been going on since Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden. This army is not one that is out to kill other men to gain victory and become great.

It is an army that is against the spiritual strongholds in the lives of people. Believers who are great warriors for God are the ones who spend time in prayer, spend time being a witness, and spend time tearing down the evil strongholds in hearts and lives of people and nations.

These warriors are not armed with physical guns and bombs, but with the armor and weapons of God. Wearing salvation, the gospel message, shielded by faith, holding the weapon of God’s word and led by the Holy Spirit they can defeat any enemy stronghold.

You have the opportunity, regardless of your position in this life, to be a great warrior for God. Put on the full armor of God and allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit into battle against the dark spiritual forces in this world.

Face the enemy of God bravely knowing that Jesus has already won the battle and can give you victory. Be willing to stand out as different in following God into battle. Don’t be just an average believer, but an outstanding and mighty warrior for God. Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will wear God’s armor; that you will be led and strengthened by the Holy Spirit; that God will use you to tear down the enemy’s strongholds; and that you will be a m

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2 Timothy 2:4 Don’t Get Tangled Up

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:4

Every good soldier in any military unit is focused on pleasing his commander. If he gets caught up in things outside the military, he will often fail as a soldier.

While most soldiers will do their job and stay focused upon it, there are some that get entangled into affairs and things outside the military. During times that things like this occur, often the soldier will get himself into a lot of trouble and sometimes even be removed from service.

Paul calls Timothy a soldier of Christ. He tells him that every soldier does not get tangled up with civilian affairs, but works to please his commander.

Not every person has chosen to be a part of a military service in his nation. It is a difficult life to live and requires a great sacrifice. However, every person who has chosen to believe in and follow Jesus, has also chosen to be in the military service of God, in God’s army.

While in God’s army the civilian affairs are the affairs of this world. It is the stepping into sin and sinful activities or doing anything that is against God’s will for one’s life.

The enemy is the mindset and actions of this world that is against Him. Sadly, many believers choose to get tangled up with the things of this world and end up falling into sin against God. Some purposefully continue in sin and still claim to believe in God forgetting that their aim was to please God, their commanding officer, with their life.

Pleasing God is not done to earn salvation, but because of the salvation given. The good soldier will do whatever he can to please God with all of his life.

If you have chosen to follow Jesus, you are automatically enlisted into God’s army. It is now your responsibility to obey and please God, your commanding officer.

Do not allow yourself to get tangled up in the affairs of this world. All the affairs of this world will get you is disappointment and death. They will turn your heart away from God, not all at once, but little by little, until God has to cast you away as a deserter–one who has abandoned his faith.

Who are you trying to please today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will work to please God in every area of your life; that God will reveal to you the affairs of the world in your life; that you will be a great soldier in God’s army; and that you will not get tangled up with the temporary things of this world.

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1 Corinthians 16:13 Are You Ready For Battle?

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Very few people like the idea of going into a battle. Fewer yet prepare themselves for any type of battle. They sit back believing that they will never have to go into any battle or that the battle will never come to them.

Others are naive or will turn coward and run away fleeing any type of battle. Some will go into battle, but will lack the strength or wisdom in how to fight the battle.

As Paul closes out his first letter to the Corinthian church he gives them some guidelines to live by and be ready for. He tells them to be on their guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and be strong.

Any soldier who is in a war zone must always be on his guard. He never knows when, where or how the enemy will attempt to attack. He needs to use all of his senses to remain alert.

Every believer is a soldier in God’s army. There is a battle going on for his soul and the all the souls of every other person. All of his senses, along with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, must be used to keep him alert and on guard as to what the enemy is trying to do.

Along with being alert, all throughout the bible believers are told to have faith, be courageous and be strong.

The faith is in God’s word, abilities and strength. The courage is that God is on his side and as long as he does what God leads, he cannot fail. The strength is found in what God gives him the ability to do by His Holy Spirit–to do the impossible.

As a believer, you are enlisted into God’s army and are in the battle for your life and soul. The world does not care about you, nor love you in any way. All the world wants is to see your destruction.

Allow God’s Holy Spirit to open all of your senses to be on your guard for the enemies attacks in your mind, physical and spiritual realms.

Trust and have faith that God will give you what you need in the time of battle. Don’t back down, but go in with the courage and strength of the Lord. With God, all things are possible and God never fails.

Are you ready for battle?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will allow God’s Holy Spirit to keep you alert to the tactics of the enemy; that you will have faith in God’s abilities; that you will have God’s courage to stand and fight the battle; and that you will have God’s strength to continue the battle until it is won.

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2 Timothy 2:4 Proper Affairs

“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:4

There is no record of Paul ever being in the military during his life, yet he had a very good understanding on how the military works. He knew that a good soldier strives to please his commander. The bad soldier tries to do things outside of the military, in the civilian community.

In the Army, there are soldiers who get involved in things outside of their job. Some of those things get them in trouble. Watch the news and you will constantly hear of people getting in trouble for doing something outside of their command or position.

A soldier’s focus should be upon his job and what his commander desires. Any thing less than this is slacking on the job. He does not have his affairs set in correct order. These soldiers want both worlds, they want the freedom of being a civilian, while having the benefits of being a soldier.

As a believer, you are a soldier for Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible talks about a battle. It is the battle for the souls of men and women. Satan with this world is trying to get you to follow their ways. God is trying to have you follow His path for you.

Just like in the Army, there are many believers who have affairs of both sides. They want the best of both worlds. They want what the world has for them, while having the blessings of Jesus. These are not proper affairs.

A good soldier will choose which side he is on. Being a soldier, his focus will be on his commander. The commanding officer for every believer is Jesus. He is the one in control.

Who are you trying to please?

What affairs are you dealing with? The world’s? Or God’s?

God wants to reach the world for Jesus. Are you striving to tell the world about Jesus?

Are you trying to live for and like Jesus? Or are you trying to be a civilian, like the world?

I pray today that you will have a fresh vision of Jesus as your commanding officer; that you will allow Jesus full control of your life; that you will not seek to have an affair with the world; and that you will live to please Jesus.