Win The War

2 Timothy 2

 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect,that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
¹² If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

 

 

God says He has released us among snakes, scorpions and vipers, demons that are out here to take us out.  But we must be strong in the grace He has allotted to us.  God states in 1 John 3: 9-11 “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in Him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.  In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:  Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.  For this is the message you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”  We God’s children are in a nasty fight with His enemy satan, so we are to take our eyes off this world and place them on God and His scriptures until they are written upon our hearts and acted out.  We are soldiers of love ordained to take down the enemy through God’s wisdom and knowledge of love, written throughout His Bible.  Understand that the Bible shows us many examples of rebellion against how God asks us to act with Him and each other.  He asks us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling though we tend to keep our eyes on this world and work out its wrong, displeasing God and pleasing our flesh, no matter how good or bad our situation may be.  God says die daily to our fleshly desires and please Him to obtain our inheritance.  Our words are supposed to outwit the enemy to obtain our salvation and crown.  But if you’re speaking like the rest of the world and not dropping bombs of love on your situation or a situation around you, you’re working with the enemy.  God said he will not be mocked, whatever we sow in word, deed, or act, is what we will reap.  Idle talk and complaining about this or that only slows down your race against satan.  God says if we claim the name of Jesus, then walk the walk and talk the talk.  We must cleanse ourselves mind, body, spirit and take on the mind of Christ, loving Him as we love ourselves.  Become His partner, His ace in the hole, His backup, just like you would want in a faithful friend, a rider die, homeboy, or homegirl in your corner.  Rise up soldiers and win the war. 

 

Bless you all as you take down God’s enemy,

Vincent Young, Christian Analyst.