Identity as a Soldier

Intro

For the last few months we have talked about our responsibilities as soldiers in the Lord’s army. I think often we have this misconception about what that looks like. We armor up, we get our weapon, we feast, pray, and rest, but, what does looking like a soldier of the Lord’s really look like?

Does it mean we are always on the defense? Does it mean we are always on the offense?

I think it is much more simple than all of this.

Our life as a soldier goes deep to our core. It has to be who we are and why we exist.

Simply put, our identity must be a soldier of God.

Another way to put that is, our identity must be a child of God.

We always crave God’s peace and direction, these are promises of God right? But, we find in Scripture, and we will find in life that without placing our identity in the person and work of Jesus Christ, we will never possess these things.

Why?

When our identity is in Christ, we can rest assured that no matter what happens in life, we are okay, we are safe, we are stable on the strong foundation of Jesus Christ and our salvation from Him. We can rest in knowing that our Savior, our General, has saved our souls and He will never leave us nor will He ever forsake us.

However, when our identity is in other people, we will constantly live in fear that when they inevitably reject us, we will have nothing.

When our identity is in our finances, then we will never have peace because we will be too concerned on how to make the next buck.

When our identity is in anything or anyone other than Jesus then we will constantly be worried about living up to certain manmade expectations. But, when our identity is in Christ as a soldier in His army, a child of God, we can rest that we don’t have to do anything other than obey and trust God. Why? For we will never ever be enough for Him, but He is enough for us, and we can rest in that.

Our identity this morning must not be in ourselves, our families, or our peers, it must be in Christ. You must remind yourself of that trust, over and over and over again. I am a child of God. I am secure. I am stable.

But, how do we do this the most practically?

Recognize and Forsake

In the most practical way possible, we must understand who we were before Christ came into our life, before we were soldiers, and we must forsake it!

Ephesians 4:22–24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

We are called very specifically to put of, to disregard, to forsake if you will, the old man, the former life that we led.

When we decide to follow Christ as the Lord of our life, that was it, we allowed Him lordship. If we allowed Him lordship, then all else must be abandoned.

When a soldier would join the ranks of military in the first century near eastern culture, and even today all around the world, they put off their civilian life and took up the life of a soldier with full dedication to the mission.

This is the call to forsake, to put off the sinful life and take up the life of a follower of Jesus with full dedication to the mission.

Putting off the old life means putting on the armor of God as we have talked about.

But, we cannot put off what we don’t recognize.

The most eye opening verse in Scripture that speaks to our spiritual state before Christ is Romans 3:10–12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

You must remember who you were and where you came from in order to put it off. Primarily because, even as a soldier of the Lord, the old life will decide to occasionally creep back in, you must recognize what is happening and put and end to it.

You must recognize the old you as you determine in yourself to forsake it.

Don’t allow the former self to take a foot hold, for when you do, you are allowing sin and the devil a foothold in your life.

Forsake the sin. Forsake the lingering temptation. Forsake the devil and his attacks.

Recognize when you are slipping, when the sinful self, the flesh, creeps back in, and attack it soldier, forsake it!

When you do, then you can begin to embrace your new identity.

Embrace your New Identity

You cannot be what God wants you to be if you are not truly forsaking the former self. You cannot lead a double life and trick God.

As you embrace your new identity as a soldier of God, you will find that it is the most important aspect to your Christian walk, it is foundational.

Before we dive into those thoughts, see with me how and from where we get this new identity.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When we make the decision to follow Jesus, we are in Christ, we are a new creature, old things must be killed off and we must be made brand new.

What is new?

Our desires are new, our love is new, our peace is new, our will to continue on is new, our hope is new all because we are new!

But, we know the old self will creep back in, and one of the primary ways the old self attacks is by trying to take back our identity.

Think with me about this. You are working a job, you are a parent, you are a child, you are a student, and you live in constant fear of failure, disappointment, and rejection. But, you also live in confusion because you know that Jesus promised to set you free from those things..

Friends, you are having your identity stolen.

What do I mean?

When you primary concerns in life are “What are they going to think about me?” Or even “What do I think about myself?” Then your identity is placed in someone else, even yourself.

Tim Keller words it this way in talking about the Apostle Paul, “[Paul] cares very little if he is judged by the Corinthians or by any other human court. And then he goes one step further: He will not even judge himself. It is as if he says, ‘I don’t care what you think — but I don’t care what I think. I have a very low opinion of your opinion of me — but I have a very low opinion of my opinion of me.”

He is saying that the only opinion that matters is God’s opinion!

He goes on and says “The fact that he has a clear conscience makes no difference … his conscience may be clear — but he knows that even if he does have a clear conscience, that does not necessarily mean he is innocent.”

When you are living for the good opinions of others, even fellow soldiers, you may miss the commands and blessings of the General.

When you live for a care about God’s opinion of you then you can rest that even if you are rejected. Even if you do fail. Even if you do disappoint people. Even if everyone in your life abandons you, you are a child of God, you have God, you have His Spirit living in you, and you have the hope of Heaven.

You may say “Oh, so all is not lost!” but I would argue that, nothing is lost at all no matter what you lose, for you still have your identity in God.

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

With this identity, you can obtain the promised gifts of joy, peace, patience, and everything else God promises because, He has accepted you, so you are safe, you are “all-good”

You, my fellow priests, can lay your heads down at night, even if it is on the streets, and say “I am held by the Savior” and you then can tap into the peace and promises of God.

“I cannot live up to my parent’s standards — and that makes me feel terrible. I cannot live up to your standards — and that makes me feel terrible. I cannot live up to society’s standards — and that makes me feel terrible. I cannot live up to other societies’ standards — and that makes me feel terrible. Perhaps the solution is to set my own standards? But I cannot keep them either — and that makes me feel terrible, unless I set incredible low standards. Are low standards a solution? Not at all. That makes me feel terrible because I realize I am the type of person who has low standards. Trying to boost our self-esteem by trying to live up to our own standards or someone else’s is a trap. It is not an answer.” Tim Keller.

The answer is Jesus. The answer is salvation. The answer is a relationship with the Savior of your soul.

You feel terrible? Be reminded that you are a born-again child and soldier of the Creator of the universe who loves you and cares about your every moment. You are safe with Him. And your eternity is wonderful Heaven. Find hope.

And, if that thought makes you feel even worse because you aren’t following Jesus, today may be the day of salvation for you!

If your identity isn’t entirely in Jesus Christ as His soldier, then friend, you are missing out.

And, as a follower of Jesus Christ, and as we wrap up our soldier series, may I encourage you.

Keep Marching, Soldier!

Matthew 16:24–26 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

This is what Paul reiterated in Ephesians 6:10-20 when he challenges us to take up and put on our armor and sword with prayer.

Is your desire to follow Jesus church?

Then do it.

Deny the old you, the sin. Take up your burdens and your fears. And follow Jesus.

Rest in Jesus

Identify in Jesus

Find peace in Jesus

Love like Jesus

Defend like Jesus

Whoever wants eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth must forsake the old man and he embraces the new!

Don’t trade your soul for worldly pleasure when eternal pleasure has been bought with a price.

Every day, make it a priority to, no matter what, identify as a child of God. Whether in evangelism, people pleasing, or fear of any kind. You can rest, you can fight, you can march on, soldier, because you’re being held by the Savior of your soul who wants your very best.

So, come what may in the words of Job 1:21 “..., Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

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Conclusion

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

If your identity is in yourself. You are weary.

If your identity is in others. You are weary.

If your identity is in your ability to be liked. You are weary.

If your identity is in your ability to do well. You are weary.

For your identity must be this and this alone, 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

If you are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people for the Lord, then you have nothing to fear.

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Nothing else matters. No opinion, no criticism, no lingering worry. Nothing matters other than God’s opinion of you. And, God calls us loved and chosen.

Jeremiah 30:22 “And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

If He is not your God this morning, would you chose today to rest in Him?

*Salvation Plea*