Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
(2 Timothy 2:3-4 Amplified) 3 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.
You have been enlisted in God’s Army! It is time to begin your Boot Camp Training, the same as if you had enlisted in any of the world’s Armed Forces. The first thing you learn is the Armed Forces Code of Conduct. Just Like in the world’s Armed Forces God has a Code of Conduct, “on earth as in heaven”.
| Armed Forces Code of Conduct | Christian Code of Conduct |
| I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. | I am a God fearing man. I serve the Father, the Son, & the Holy Ghost, which guards my family and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. (John 15:13) No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. |
| I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist. | Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality. (Romans 12:11-13 Amplified) |
| If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy. | For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. |
| If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command, if not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way. | Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:4-7) |
| When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause. | When questioned should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to only speak that which the spirit gives me to say, and all other times will remain in prayer and silent. I will make no statements oral or written disloyal to my Lord or harmful to His cause. (Luke 21:12-15) but previous to all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away before kings and governors for My name’s sake. This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony. Resolve and settle it in your minds not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and how you will answer. For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute. |
| I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America. | I will never forget that I am a God fearing man, dedicated to the principles which make me free. I will trust in my God and await his return. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2-3 Amplified) |
Once you have learned the Code of Conduct you are ready to learn combat tactics.
In the worlds Armed Forces there are many training manuals to read and many instructors to teach tactics required to survive. In Gods Army we have the 66 books in our training manual (the Word of God), one teacher (Jesus Christ) and one aid (The Holy Spirit).
In the World’s Armed Forces we fight physical enemies. In God’s Army we fight against Spiritual Enemies (Ephesians 6:12 Amplified) “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere”, and the devices of physical enemies (injustice, oppression, unrighteous, and the ungodly).
In the World’s Armed Forces you learn to know your enemy; how he thinks, where he camps, how he will react, and what to expect when he attacks.
In God’s Army you learn from the Word of God, to know your enemy, how he thinks, where he camps, how he will react, and what to expect when he attacks. You also learn that the battle has already been won. Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]? (1 John 5:5 Amplified)
In the World’s Armed Forces you learn how to use your weapon and how to take care of it; as if it were your best friend. You learn to depend on it to save your life.
In God’s Army you learn to use God’s weapon ( The Word of God), God’s Armor (Prayer) and that they are more powerful than any worldly weapon that you will encounter. You learn to depend on them not only for your salvation, but to provide all your needs; something that no worldly weapon can do. (Isa 59:19 So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives];
2 Tim. 4:18 [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).;
2 Thess. 3:3 Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].)
In the World’s Armed Forces you are told that you are fighting for truth, justice, and freedom.
In God’s Army we are told to fight against “Injustice”, “Oppression”, “Unrighteous”, And the “Ungodly”, who would have you to be slaves to them. We are also told that our enemy has limited power “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you” (Luke 10:19 Amplified).
In the World’s Armed Forces Cowardice is shunned and courage is rewarded.
In God’s Army cowardice has no place, for true faith is characterized by courage.
“But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, and as for the unbelieving and faithless, and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations, and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and the idolaters (those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God) and all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)—[all of these shall have] their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death. [Isa. 30:33]” Rev. 21:8
Now you are ready for combat. Your Commander is the Lord.
The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is His name. Exodus 15:3
Paul said to fight the good fight! 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.
HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. Psalm 91:1-4 Amplified
Quoting Edmund Burke
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.“
Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
Evil abounds in the world today. Look around at the violence, drugs, same sex marriages, child abuse, and the capricious laws against religious freedoms. God is being removed and replaced with the works of the hand.
And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.]
This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. Matthew 22:37-38 Amplified
It is time to WAKE-UP – Get Up, and engage in the battle that has been ragging for over 2000 years!