Sharpening Swords Equipping to Serve Marching to Heaven

Sharpening Swords. Equipping to Serve. Marching to Heaven. 2 Timothy 2: 3 -4

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • Must Volunteer for Service – God gives to all free will to choose Ø Deut. 30: 19; Josh. 24: 15; Heb. 11: 25 – Salvation is open to all (i. e. , “whosoever”) Ø Matt. 7: 24; Mark 3: 35; 8: 34; John 3: 15 -16; Rom. 10: 13; Acts 10: 35; Rev. 22: 17 – No soldier is ever conscripted Most important decision you’ll ever make! Ø Best decision you’ll ever make! Ø It is your decision to make! Ø

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • Must Volunteer for Service • Must Follow the Captain’s Orders – Jesus is Ø Ø Ø Our Captain (Hebrews 2: 10) Our King (John 18: 37) Our Lord (John 20: 28) Our Master (Colossians 4: 1) Our Commander (John 15: 10 -17) – He alone has authority to give orders! – Mt. 28: 18 – His orders bring life – Matt. 19: 17; Rev. 22: 14 – Let us submit to (military term, “rank under”) His orders – James 4: 7

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • Must Volunteer for Service • Must Follow the Captain’s Orders • Must Not Fraternize with the Enemy – Resist the devil, give no place – Jas. 4: 7; Eph. 4: 27 – Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul – 1 Pet. 2: 11 – No fellowship with works of darkness – Eph. 5: 11 – Be not conformed to this world – Rom. 12: 2 – Fraternizing makes us enemies of God – James 4: 4 – Fraternizing leads to traps/captivity – 2 Tim. 2: 26 – Come out, be separate, be holy – 2 Cor. 6: 14 -7: 1

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • • Must Volunteer for Service Must Follow the Captain’s Orders Must Not Fraternize with the Enemy Must Guard Against Deserting the Ranks – Disorderly conduct (military term, “breaking ranks”) is possible – 2 Thess. 3: 6 – Take heed lest fall – 1 Cor. 10: 12 – Let us strengthen our resolve to diligently grow in the stumble-proofing godly attributes of 2 Peter 1: 5 -11 & never give up!

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • • • Must Volunteer for Service Must Follow the Captain’s Orders Must Not Fraternize with the Enemy Must Guard Against Deserting the Ranks Must Be Willing to Die for the Cause – Have a conviction so strong that working/serving the Lord is more important/valuable/essential than life itself – Acts 20: 24; 21: 13; Phil. 1: 20 -21; Rev. 2: 10 (“unto death”) – Must stand for truth & righteousness regardless of consequences

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • • • Must Volunteer for Service Must Follow the Captain’s Orders Must Not Fraternize with the Enemy Must Guard Against Deserting the Ranks Must Be Willing to Die for the Cause Must Never Take a Furlough or Leave – There is too much work to be done – John 9: 4 – Diligence/Steadfastness is always required – Rom. 2: 7; 1 Cor. 15: 58 – Rest will come in heaven – 2 Thess. 1: 7; Heb. 4: 111; Rev. 14: 13

Soldiers in the Lord’s Army • • Must Volunteer for Service Must Follow the Captain’s Orders Must Not Fraternize with the Enemy Must Guard Against Deserting the Ranks Must Be Willing to Die for the Cause Must Never Take a Furlough or Leave Must Remember They’ll Go Home Eventually – 2 Cor. 5: 8; Phil. 3: 20 -21; 2 Tim. 4: 6 -8

Are you a soldier in the Lord’s Army? • Believe Jesus is God’s Son – Mark 16: 16 • Repent of your sins – 2 Peter 3: 9 • Confess your faith in Jesus – Romans 10: 9 • Be immersed in water – Acts 2: 38 – Sins are forgiven – Acts 22: 16 – Added to His church – Acts 2: 47 – Registered in heaven – Hebrews 12: 23 • Fight, finish, keep faithfully – 2 Tim. 4: 6 -8