Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Are You A Soldier



This is part of a soldier’s duty, “To preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.”  Paul wrote these things to Timothy in his day and we need to heed these words today just like they did then. The Word was no more important in Paul’s day then it is today.

I have said this before that the truth of God’s Word is so important that it should never be watered down and it should be preached with all humility and sincerity from those who count it a privilege to be called to preach or teach it.  Now is the time to be sincere and preach, or teach, the truth because there will be a time coming when preaching and teaching the Word will be outlawed.  Today people need to hear the truth because they need to live the truth in their lives, plus it is the only thing that will set them free.  

Seems like in our day there are many more false teachers than there were in Paul’s day.  There are many cults in our world today that have some truth but deny the most fundamental truth’s that our Christian faith is founded on.  Many people today flock to the motivational speakers because they want their ears tickled with only part of the truth, the parts that make them feel good.  Without hearing what they think is the negative, that may bring them to repentance through the Holy Spirit‘s conviction which in the end they will have to make a choice to repent or not repent.

Read what it says in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  This is happening today, but even if this is some people’s choice, they will all need to hear the truth and then everyone will be responsible for the choice they make.

Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  When the Word of God is taught accurately, it will be used to reveal the problems in our lives; many will be convicted of their sins and be confronted with the truth about themselves so that they can make a choice with what they have been confronted with.  It says this in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Even if people hear the truth, reject it and turn to myths, a true soldier must be faithful regardless of the outcome.  Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  I believe that Paul would want every soldier of the Lord to do the same thing.  

So if you are a preacher, teacher or soldier in the Lord’s army, take these things to heart and be faithful to preach the truth in season and out of season so you can say like Paul said in verses 7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Have a great day and may God bless you and yours.          

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