Battle-Ready Believers: Strategies for Spiritual Warfare

A call to arms: to enlist in God's Army. How are we to deploy as true soldiers of Jesus Christ? How to enter the frontlines of the spiritual battle. Calling Aussie Battlers to serve in the army of the Lord, and enter into the battlezone by faith!

God's Army is not by conscription but by enlistment.

2 Timothy 2:1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

BE STRONG, in Grace.
We have some fighting to do, there’s some battles going on. His grace is the strength that we need. Sometimes the biggest fight is on the inside of us.

BE FAITHFUL. As soldiers we are called to report for duty. Paul tells Timothy to transfer what he learns to others - to other faithful men. Let us be true and faithful and stedfast.

In a way we're all meant to be recruiters - to recruit new soldiers.

Faithful Men are men with reliability think - who stick at it. Wherever the soldier is in the world they wear their uniform. They're an ambassador - a representative of their commander and their nation. May we always be ready to serve our Lord.

As to faithfulness - it's been said that small drops of water hollow out a stone. You might think my little bit is just a little drip – and yet keep faithful and you'll make an impact.

Be that faithful soldier, who'll man your post, and faithfully so.

You can count on the faithful to be faithful, no matter what, whatever the role. It’s a soldier's orders that determine where he lives and how he spends his time. The faithful are there when the work needs doing. The faithful will show up. They'll be ready to serve. Like Theodore Roosevelt said: Do what you can, with what you have, where you. Do what you can with what your God given ability. Do your little bit and keep on doing it, and you'll make an impact.

BE ENDURING. …thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Be prepared that hardness will happen. It may mean affliction or hardship. You might suffer trouble. Being a soldier means trenches and foxholes.

We're all on active duty - against the spiritual forces of evil. You've got an enemy pitted against you. The fight means enduring hardness. It means the hard yards, the long haul.

Our Lord says, you shall have tribulation. This is war. We have need of thicker skins. Be willing to endure, and keep on enduring.

An old proverb says, Unless the clay be well pounded no vessel can be made.

The US Marines have the motto, “Always faithful”. God will reward you that endure hardness. For those battle scars.

BE RESOLVED.

We have a focus - a purpose. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

The good soldier's greatest desire is to please the Lord Jesus Christ, our commanding officer. We aren’t serving him begrudgingly but because we love Him.

We've got our marching orders here - the Great Commission. His command, Go and preach the gospel.

Jonathan Edwards says, Resolved, that all men should live for the glory of God; resolved second, that whether others do or not I will.

A zealous Christian …sees only one thing, cares for one thing, lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing - and that one thing is to please God (J. C. Ryle).

Prepare for battle daily. Put your armour on. Our Commanding Officer has fought the battle. He's won the victory already. Will you seek His face? Seek to please Him?

We already have the victory that overcomes the world - even our faith. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Through life's trials and tests, and when the burdens are heavy the Lord will give us grace – and strength to endure the hardness. We're on the victory side.