Soldier or Sympathyzer?

Soldier or Sympathizer?

ARE YOU A SOLDIER OR A SYMPATHIZER?

Are you a Christian soldier...or a sympathizer?

Both believe in the same things. They both agree on the greatness of God, the redemptive power in the Blood of Jesus Christ, the expansion of abilities that comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

But the soldier has characteristics that set him apart:

Characteristics of a Soldier:

Single-Mindedness

2 Tim. 2:19

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

If a Soldier is to be of any value in the battle he must be entirely loyal. The question of which side is right must be settled in his mind and heart to the degree that he would give his life for his army's cause. He cannot be split in his mind concerning his allegiance, but must be single-minded.

In the Kingdom of God this single-mindedness translates into departing from sin. To sin is to act like the enemy. To sin is to go against the Spirit of the cause. To sin is to be a traitor. A real soldier in God's army will search out and eradicate any sin with God's word and the Holy Spirit.

An Overwhelming Sense Of Mission

2 Tim. 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.

In wartime the call to arms causes different reactions. Some don't agree the cause is just and don't come forward, some believe and volunteer, some believe but don't volunteer. The soldier differs from the last group in that his heart won’t let him sit back in apathy. He is so overwhelmed by the importance of his nation's struggle that he radically interrupts the course of his life to sacrifice, if need be, his entire future. His sense of duty overpowers his instinct of self-preservation.

A Christian soldier, enlightened by revelation from the Holy Spirit, is aware of the war that is going on for the souls and minds of people. Because of his God-given nobility he lays down his life, subjecting every aspect of his behavior to the King's standards,examining every thought, word, and deed and judging them according to their effect upon the war. He is consumed by his love.

He is a warrior!

Toughness

2 Tim. 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

All growth requires a loss. A seed's sprouting loses for it the shield of invisibility. A child's maturing comes from the acquisition of knowledge, losing for it blissful illusions.

Anything worth gaining requires the discipline to give up something to obtain it. A soldier loses most of what normal people live for; comfort, security, control, financial wealth, universal approval, etc..

A soldier sacrifices the world because of his love for those in it.

He lives in his heart, where he receives both his strength and his reward.

Toughness to God's soldier is the ability to obey

in a world of disobedience, to exchange what he sees with his eyes for that which he sees with his heart, to be true to the truth from the obvious to the subtle, whatever the effect upon his earth phase.

A Tendency To Unity

1 Cor. 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren by the name of our

Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The heart and mind of a soldier is so set upon the outcome of the battle that his desire for personal recognition is secondary. He has learned that he is more powerful as an obscure part of a united force than as a prominent individual on his own. People united share each others strengths and strengthen each others weaknesses. The actions taken as a member of a team are immensely more effective than the attention-seeking activities of independent movement.

The heart of a Christian soldier reflects that of his heavenly Father who makes us a part of His work, (because He loves us), even though He could do it much better all by Himself. Love makes persons want others to be a part of their work. A Christian loves his brothers and sisters. This love for God and fellow Christians and this understanding of the superiority of united effort causes the Christian soldier to sacrifice self-interest that harmony may be achieved. As Christians all hear from the same God and judge and say the same thing, divisions cease,

and the world is presented with persuasive beauty of the body of Christ.

Skill

2 Tim. 3:16, 17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, or reproof, for

correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That man of God may be perfect, thoroughly

furnished unto all good works.

To a soldier his skill is valuable not only for his own self-esteem and his own preservation, but as a tool for the battle. The discipline required to acquire and perfect skill in the use of weapons is well worth the effort when the intensity of battle requires more than his bare fists can give. The Christian soldier knows that his fleshly ability avails nothing in the battle with the unseen forces of evil. His weapons are are spiritual, received by immersion in the water of the Word and the Spirit. He sharpens his skill because he loves the souls in bondage who could be liberated by the proper use of his weapons.

Vigilance

1 Pet. 5:8

Be sober be vigilant, because your adversary

the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour.

A war is not really over until one party ceases to fight. A soldier maintains his wartime mentality until his leaders tell him the enemy can no longer function. It is obvious from the scripture that the devil has the ability to devour and must be resisted. Therefore the war is not yet over. To take a peace-time attitude now would be playing into the hands of the enemy. A war demands ceaseless adherence to watchfulness and a great intensity of concentration that peace does not. A Christian soldier knows the war is not over for him until he dies or until the rapture of the saints.

The Sympathizer

A sympathizer is loyal but not to the point of interrupting the fulfillment of his personal ambitions.

His sense of mission causes him to encourage others in the cause without getting physically involved.

He is tough until the price is too great, (loss of security, money, comfort, etc.).

He desires unity only because he dislikes the stress of internal conflict, not because of its value in the battle.

He seeks skill to the point of being self-assured that he is as competent as his peers.

The burden of vigilance he avoids, as well as the burden of blame for the destruction the enemy inflicted while he slept!

To a sympathizer obedience is a doctrinal dream;

to a soldier his only course of action!

The sympathizer seeks security;

the soldier pursues the enemy!

The sympathizer rationalizes his passivity;

the soldier maximizes his ability!

The sympathizer lives for blessings;

the soldier lives for victories!

The sympathizer seeks the favor of man;

the soldier seeks the freedom of man!

The sympathizer loves with his heart;

the soldier loves with his life!

CREED OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

I'm willing Lord to do,

Whatever you want,

However you want,

Wherever you want,

Whenever you want,

With whomever you want,

For whomever you want,

With all that you give me to do it with!

The choice is yours to make. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior, ask Him now to wash away your sins and make you a part of his army.

If you do know Him, determine to give Him your all,

step out of the crowd of sympathizers, and be a soldier for His glory!

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