Good Soldiers of Jesus Christ     

Pastor Phil Derstine  11-10-24

Four Qualifications of Good Soldiers

II Timothy 2:3 (NAS) “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (4) No soldier in active

service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”

  • Willingness to ENDURE HARDSHIPS
  • Desire to PLEASE GOD
  • Decision to STRIVE LAWFULLY
  • A love for BEARING FRUIT

The Good Fight of Faith

I Timothy 6:11 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love endurance and gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

  • Fight - Greek: agōnizou - to contend or struggle for a prize. (Where we get the word agony - as in pain, distress, conflict) 

The Spiritual Battle

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

II Corinthians 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) For the weapons of 

our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Victory over the Devil

  1. Offense - Command him out!
  • Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils…”
  • Romans 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritual minded is life and peace."
  1. Defense - Starve him out!
  • Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) “For the grace of God that brings salvation…. teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
  • II Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
  • James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
  1. Build the Hedge - Keep him out!
  • Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge (build up the wall) and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
  • Isaiah 59:19 “When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
  • II Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Be Spiritually Minded

  • Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
  • Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
  • Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
  • Isaiah 60:1 (NIV) “Arise, Shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (2) See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you.  (3) Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”