Being a Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
Tonight we looked at another metaphor for God’s people: soldiers of Christ Jesus. In 2 Tim 2:1-4, Paul urges Timothy to be a ‘good soldier of Christ Jesus’, reminding us that this is a collective description. A soldier is one who serves in an army, which is defined as ‘an organised military force equipped for fighting on land.’ Whilst an individual soldier may make an invaluable contribution to a battle, it is the collective force of an army which ultimately makes the real difference. We are not called to individual Christianity but to be soldiers alongside our brothers and sisters.
Soldiers are called to serve and to obey, and all Christians must be servants of God and obedient, as Mary was (see Luke 1:38). Suffering is also a part of the soldier’s life and must be of the Christian’s (‘join me in suffering’, Paul writes.) Whole-hearted focus is also needed; the aim of the soldier is to please his commanding officer and not to get ‘entangled in civilian affairs.’ Life has many pressing demands on us, but our first focus must be on God (see Matt 6:33)
Eph 6:10-20 reminds us that spiritual armour and spirtiual weapons are needed in life, for we live in a world that is hostile to God. There are only two kingdoms and we are called to stand firm against the devil’s schemes. This requires protection for the heart and mind and to overcome, we must use spiritual weapons (prayer and the word of God.) 2 Cor 10:3-5 reminds us that the spiritual battle cannot be won by the world’s methods, though many have tried to do so. We can only win as we take captive every thought to Christ and withstand temptation as Christ did in the wilderness by standing on the word of God (Matt 4:1-14).
All of us are called to be good soldiers of Christ Jesus, serving collectively with other believers, seeking to bring honour and glory to the name of Jesus. We are called to obedience and humility, to service and suffering. We are called to ‘fight the good fight of the faith.’ (1 Tim 6:12) This is a spiritual battle, requiring spiritual weapons and spiritual armour, but God has not left us ill-equipped. He has given us all we need to be more than conquerors in Him. (Rom 8:37)
Putting Your Life Where Your Faith Is
Dave spoke this morning from 2 Timothy 1:12, when Paul, writing from prison, urges Timothy to be a beacon for the faith even when suffering. It reminds us in our situations, when facing uncertainties and problems, that we must learn how to be victorious even in suffering.
There are many ‘solutions’ to life’s problems touted by different people, but the bottom line is ‘do they work?’ Christianity is unique and it works! There is no other Saviour and no other salvation than Jesus. Perhaps Timothy, who was much younger than Paul, was daunted by the thought of his mentor’s death, but Paul reaffirms that his faith remains and he is not ashamed. He was able to rejoice, even in suffering, and was able to face every situation with confidence.
Paul has faced many trials throughout his life but has always found God faithful. The gospel gives hope to us all (no matter what our temperament) and can bring security to the most insecure of circumstances. Paul urges Timothy to stir up the gifts God has given and put our beliefs into practice. We can rest in our faith and not be let down, for God is the One who holds us. We must remember Him and live out our faith.
Reconciliation?
Diplomacy and compromise are at the heart of ending wars, as recent events in Israel and Palestine has shown, but unless there is a genuine heart for peace, such efforts often fail. In 2 Samuel 14 we see Joab trying to bring about reconciliation between David and his son Absalom, which he does through subterfuge, getting a woman from Tekoa to come with a fictional scenario to the king to make him realise the inconsistencies in his attitude towards his son. Apparently, this is successful, for Absalom – who has killed his half-brother Amnon for his rape of Tamar – returns from Geshur to Israel. But as the chapter unfolds, it becomes obvious that this is not real reconciliation, for David still refuses to see his son, and even when Absalom schemes to get back into David’s presence and apparent reconciliation takes place (Absalom bowing down before the king and David kissing him), we are aware of an unease that reminds us true reconciliation is about more than outward appearances.
Reconciliation involves two people meeting each other halfway and genuinely seeking forgiveness for wrongs done. When we read about the Prodigal Son coming to his senses and returning to his father, he admits his sins and humbles himself in repentance. His father throws a lavish feast to welcome him home and offers unconditional forgiveness and acceptance. The two are reconciled. But if we allow resentment to grow in our hearts, if we never talk about the issues, if we do not forgive whole-heartedly, reconciliation is brittle and easily broken.
The gospel brings with it the message that we can be reconciled to God and to each other, with our forgiveness and love modelled on God’s forgiveness of us and acceptance of us as sinners (Rom 5:8, Matt 5:23-24, Col 3:12-14, Heb 12:14-15). It is not always possible (as this and subsequent chapters reveal) because it requires both parties to both want reconciliation and to work towards it. May we learn to forgive, to communicate freely and to be peacemakers, in small and big ways.
The Bible
This evening at our Little Big Church service we discovered some facts about the Bible through a treasure hunt, including the fact that the word itself means ‘books’ and that there are actually 66 books in the Bible (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.) We learned a song to help us remember all 66 books in order and talked about the importance of daily Bible reading (this applies to adults as well as children!)
Routines are so important in our lives, and just as we make time to brush our teeth, wash, eat and get dressed every day, so we must make time to read God’s word and allow its light to guide us in all we do. It doesn’t matter so much when we do this (though to do so in the morning allows each day to start with God!) as that we do it. The Bible can seem confusing and intimidating at times, but if we use a Bible reading plan (such as the Bible In One Year plan by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel) or Bible reading notes (such as ‘Daily Bread’ or ‘Every Day With Jesus’), this can help us to tackle ALL the Bible, and not just the parts we like!
Finding a Bible version we understand is easier than ever before (after all, most of us do not know Hebrew or Greek and cannot read the Bible in its original languages, so it’s essential we find a version we can understand.) We can read the Bible on our phones or listen to audio Bibles if we find reading difficult. Whatever method we use, it’s essential to hide God’s word in our hearts so that we do not sin (Ps 119:11) and can live the way God wants us to.
Christian Discipleship
Garry spoke this morning on discipleship as he continued looking at Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-14. Discipleship is a form of apprenticeship, where an inexperienced person works alongside one who is more experienced in a trade. Knowledge and experience are both imparted in this form of learning, which Jesus modelled for us with His disciples, who watched Him, followed Him, learned from Him and were then sent out by themselves (see Mark 6:1-13)
The model for Christian discipleship is thus:
1. come and listen
2. work alongside
3. go and do
We must not simply do things because we have been told to, but must be able to adapt what we know to different situations. We must learn principles so that we can adapt to new circumstances (e.g. how to cope with ‘modern’ problems of Islam and immigration, neither situation being ones we find in the Bible.) We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit who will teach and remind us of all truth (John 14:26). Often, we need reminding or to have memorials (see Josh 4:4-7) so that we do not forget what we have learned (Gal 3:1-4).If we do not remain rooted in truth, we will drift from the truth.
People can be a great encouragement to us in our discipleship, with an older Christian often mentoring a younger one (see Paul and Timothy.) As we continue with Christ, we grow in our discipleship and know God’s will through godly wisdom and understanding, journeying together and helping each other on the way.
PUSH!
The cry of the woman in labour is one of pain. She waits for the midwife to give the command to ‘push.’ Labour can be swift or can take hours, but when the time to push comes, birth is not far away.
There is an acronym based on the word ‘push’ which Christians need to learn: Pray Until Something Happens. Many of us give up during the travail of spiritual labour. We do not keep on praying and persevering until we see the promises of God fulfilled. We give up, discouraged, because there is nothing to be seen, no visible evidence of God working.
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah is told by God that after three years of drought, the rain will come. (1 Kings 18:1) 1 Kings 18 is a long chapter. First of all, we hear the command for Elijah to go to the king Ahab (who wants to kill him). We see Elijah meeting his fellow prophet, Obadiah – a reminder to us that there were other faithful believers in Israel, that Elijah is not on his own. We see the mighty confrontation between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal, that tremendous display of God’s power on Mount Carmel which definitively demonstrates to all God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. But still there’s no sign of rain.
Elijah tells Ahab to ‘go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.’ (1 Kings 18;41) But actually, only Elijah hears this sound. There is no sign of rain. Elijah is living by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7)
Elijah stays on Mount Carmel, climbing to the top, bending down to the ground, with his face between his knees. (1 Kings 18:43) Elijah is praying. He is wholly dependent on God doing what He has promised. He cannot bring rain; only God can.
He tells his servant to go and look toward the sea. The servant goes. He returns. “There is nothing there,” he says.
This is now the labour of prayer. Will Elijah hold on to God when there is no visible sign of the rain He has promised? Elijah has seen miracles that day, but there is still no rain.
Seven times Elijah sends his servant back to look while he remains in prayer. Six times he hears the words, “There is nothing there.” How easy it would have been to give up at this point. Maybe he had got it wrong. Maybe this wasn’t the moment. Hadn’t he achieved enough good for one day? Surely he was entitled to stop now!
But Elijah persevered. On the seventh occasion, the servant returns with a different report: ” A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” (1 Kings 18:44)
The signs are there now. Elijah has the assurance of God’s word and despite the discouragement of an ongoing drought, despite the apparent lack of results after praying for rain, he has persevered in prayer and is rewarded by the arrival of black clouds, wind and a heavy rain. (1 Kings 18:45) God brings the rain He has promised.
James tells us that Elijah was a human just like us. He was a man who knew how to persevere in prayer, and who therefore saw God’s word fulfilled and miracles happen. He was a man who learned to PUSH in prayer. ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’, James says. (James 5:17) Don’t give up. Keep pushing in prayer until God’s word is fulfilled and the results are there to be seen. Don’t allow the apparent lack of results to deter you. Learn to hold on to God and be inspired by Elijah’s example. Bow down and pray earnestly until spiritual life and new birth occur. Don’t give up.