A CLARION CALL TO ALL CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
 

In Christendom there are a lot of fuzzy ideas of what a Christian really is. Some have the idea that a Christian is a person born in a Christian country, or in a Christian home, or he belongs to a Christian Church, These are but a few of the suggestions made. The Bible gives a very clear answer in definitive terms of what a Christian really is.

Seeing we are in the book of Ephesians we limit ourselves to this letter. Throughout the book there are several telling cameos of a true Christian.

1. A Christian is a Saint in the Fellowship. 1:1, 15,18;

2. A Christian is a Citizen and not a Foreigner. 2:11-19;

3. A Christian is a Stone on the Foundation. 2:20-22;

4. A Christian is a Son in the Family of God. 3:6,15,18;

5. A Christian is a Steward who must be Faithful. 4;7-13;

6. A Christian is a Student who Follows His Master. 5:1f;

7 A Christian is a Soldier in the Fight. 6:10-20;

It is this last aspect of the Christian life that engages our attention for this study. The militant aspect of the Christian experience has become unpopular with many Christians. They prefer to think that the Christian life is a playground rather than a battle ground.

Ephesians Chapter 6 is a rallying call to all Christians. "Finally Brethren..." Throughout the Epistle Paul was teaching different aspects of the Christian's life:

The Christian's Wealth in Christ The Christian's blessings He is to sit. (1-3)

The Christian's Walk with Christ The Christian's behavior He is to walk. (4,5:9)

The Christian's Warfare for Christ. The Christian's battle He is to stand. (6:10;)

Sadly we live in a time when there is little sense of Christian conflict. There are some who wanted to take all the jingoistic hymns from the song books - "Onward Christian soldiers" "Hold the Fort for I am Coming" "Who is on the Lord's side?" You cannot read the New Testament and fail to sense the clarion call to spiritual warfare.

Repeatedly, in Scripture, the Christian life is seen in terms of warfare. Whether you're at the beginning of your Christian experience or at the end of it, you're going to be in the same battle; and if you think it will get easier, you're wrong! The more effective you become as a Christian, the harder Satan will work against you. It's always been a war, and it will never stop being a war. However, the longer you fight, the more victories you will gain; and the greater the string of victories, the more confidence you will have in God.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18;

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

"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; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." l Tim.1:18;

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12;

"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" 2 Tim. 2:1-3;

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course," 2 Timothy 4:9;

Ephesians 6:10-18 is a perfect conclusion to what Paul has already written in chapter one through chapter six, verse eight. He is saying that if you are a true Christian, as defined in chapters 1-3, and are living the way a true Christian should live, as defined in chapters 4-6, then you can be sure of one thing.. .you are going to run right into the enemy. It's impossible to live in the manner that Ephesians outlines without having conflict with Satan. So, Paul concludes Ephesians with the exhortation that since we are in a spiritual war, we need to be strong in the Lord by putting on the amour of God.

So that we have an overhead view of our study we set it out below:

1. THE ENLISTMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER 6:10;

All Christians are to put on all of the armor and are to be ready at all times

"Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 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" (2 Timothy 2:3,4).

Speaking of the British Army and American Chief of Staff overstated, "It just makes you want to cry; they are no longer a great power. All they've got left are generals and admirals and bands."

Paul lists two marks of the true Christian soldier.

First, he endures hardness. He accepts the discipline of army life in order to prepare himself for battle.

Second, he seeks to please his captain. He devotes himself exclusively to his work as a soldier in order that he may receive his commander's commendation.

In the light of these two simple requirements, how many soldiers are there in Christ's army? We don't need more generals, and we don't need more bands. What we need are more soldiers, disciplined and devoted to Christ.

2. THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE STRONG 6:10

"Be strong in the Lord." It is not only that we are on the Lord's side, but that He is at our side.

3. THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE SATANIC FOE. V.11,12;

The Christian's is not only engaged in a titanic battle. He is up against Satanic powers. It is important for us to be aware that behind sin, its foul action and filthy stains, there is a real, personal and supernatural Devil. It is against him we are wrestling. Let us remember that Satan is supernaturally strong, skillfully subtle and seriously sinister. He is the Christian's arch enemy.

James 4:7 - James tells us to resist the devil.

1 Peter 5:8,9 - Peter tells us to be sober, vigilant, and aware of Satan's schemes.

The Christian Soldier

Study No 1

"A Clarion Call to All Christian Soldiers"

In Christendom there are a lot of fuzzy ideas of what a Christian really is. Some have the idea that a Christian is a person born in a Christian country, or in a Christian home, or he belongs to a Christian Church, These are but a few of the suggestions made. The Bible gives a very clear answer in definitive terms of what a Christian really is.

Seeing we are in the book of Ephesians we limit ourselves to this letter. Throughout the book there are several telling cameos of a true Christian.

1. A Christian is a Saint in the Fellowship. 1:1, 15,18;

2. A Christian is a Citizen and not a Foreigner. 2:11-19;

3. A Christian is a Stone on the Foundation. 2:20-22;

4. A Christian is a Son in the Family of God. 3:6,15,18;

5. A Christian is a Steward who must be Faithful. 4;7-13;

6. A Christian is a Student who Follows His Master. 5:1f;

7 A Christian is a Soldier in the Fight. 6:10-20;

It is this last aspect of the Christian life that engages our attention for this study. The militant aspect of the Christian experience has become unpopular with many Christians. They prefer to think that the Christian life is a playground rather than a battle ground.

Ephesians Chapter 6 is a rallying call to all Christians. "Finally Brethren..." Throughout the Epistle Paul was teaching different aspects of the Christian's life:

The Christian's Wealth in Christ The Christian's blessings He is to sit. (1-3)

The Christian's Walk with Christ The Christian's behavior He is to walk. (4,5:9)

The Christian's Warfare for Christ. The Christian's battle He is to stand. (6:10;)

Sadly we live in a time when there is little sense of Christian conflict. There are some who wanted to take all the jingoistic hymns from the song books - "Onward Christian soldiers" "Hold the Fort for I am Coming" "Who is on the Lord's side?" You cannot read the New Testament and fail to sense the clarion call to spiritual warfare.

Repeatedly, in Scripture, the Christian life is seen in terms of warfare. Whether you're at the beginning of your Christian experience or at the end of it, you're going to be in the same battle; and if you think it will get easier, you're wrong! The more effective you become as a Christian, the harder Satan will work against you. It's always been a war, and it will never stop being a war. However, the longer you fight, the more victories you will gain; and the greater the string of victories, the more confidence you will have in God.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18;

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

"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; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." l Tim.1:18;

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12;

2 Cor. 2:11 - Paul tells us to not be ignorant of Satan's devices.

Acts 20:31 - Paul warns the Ephesians of the attack of their church by wolves from the inside and false teachers from the outside.

4. THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE STRIFE 6:11,13-20;

When David volunteered to face Goliath, King Saul tried to fit out David in amour that was not made for him and did not belong to him nor was it any use to him. God has provided us with what we should wear to the war. All of the amour is needed if we are going to be able to stand and to withstand the Evil one.

5. THE ENDURANCE OF THE SERVICE 6:13 18

Deut.20:8; reminds us that the battle is not for the faint nor fearful. Victory is for those who persevere.

6. THE ENJOYMENT OF THE SAVIORS VICTORY 6.10,13

We are not fighting for victory. We are moving in victory. There is no sense of us taking ground. We are holding the ground that Jesus has already conquered for us.

A television journalist interviewed a British Officer during the Falklands conflict and posed the question, "Will you win this war?"

To this the Officer replied sharply, "There is no doubt about it. We will win."

The journalist was taken aback and further pressed "Why are you so confident that you will win the war?"

The British Officer explained, "There is no doubt that we will win because of four reasons:

1. The rightness of our cause - it is just.

2. The superiority of our weapons.

3. The commitment of our soldiers

4. The demoralization of our enemy.

Enough was said. The battle was won but is the lesson learned or lost on us?