Soldiers Who Endure.

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

2Ti 2:4  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. 

Enduring hardness- as a GOOD soldier of Jesus Christ.

A good soldier.  What comes to mind when we think of someone being a good soldier?  We imagine a good soldier being one who obeys their orders, being one who protects & serves others from harm. We imagine a good soldier as one who is a good overall human being. A good soldier of Jesus Christ would be a person who obeys the Lord, one who follows the orders of the Lord, one who serves and protects those of the Lord's.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 

2Co 10:5  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

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 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. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

1Ti 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare

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We need to endure hardness as Christ followers.

Endure hardness.

So if you come to Christ expecting to be a follower of Him and having an easy life you're not going to get what you want. Enduring hardness as a good soldier.

Soldiers endure GREAT hardness. A soldier's life is incredibly difficult. No one becomes a soldier expecting it to be easy, no one and if they do they are sorely mistaken. So why do Christian soldiers expect things to be easy? The Bible doesn't tell us our spiritual warfare is easy. It's a war of such proportions we can scarcely comprehend it.

Through faith we must be good solders.

Soldiers who endure.

All through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR, now and forever!