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11-25-2018 Weekly Message
The contemplation of the week: Psalm 97: 1-12
Text: 2 Timothy 2: 1-12
Message Title: The salvation with eternal glory for the good solider of Christ

Apostle Paul exhorts the pastor Timothy to endure suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Christians born again by the Holy Spirit are those who have seen the kingdom of God spiritually and who have already spiritually entered into the kingdom of God (John 3: 3, 5). Since then, born-again Christians have been called to the soldiers in the kingdom of God.

Even  those who are born in the world are  called to the soldiers of their nations, they  join with  the army and pass through all kinds of training and discipline  to become soldiers. After the soldiers of Christ pass through the great training in the kingdom of God, they   become the soldiers of Christ. Some of the soldiers in the world are wounded fatally in the war, but even before they give  their breath, they stood right there leaning at the gun for the final salutation to their commanders. They are dying for their country. Likewise, at the moment of being martyred during the spiritual warfare, the soldiers of Christ give the final salute their commander, Jesus Christ, saying , “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” as Jesus spoke on the cross to the Father. Stephan, a Deacon born again of the Spirit made the same prayer to the Lord Jesus when he was sstone to death.

The present world we live in has been under rule of Satan for the last 6,000 years. Satan has been attacking the Christians in the kingdom of God by using the Principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness, and evil spirits. This fight is not a physical battle, it is a spiritual battle. In other words, it is a battle between the spirit of Satan and the spirit of Christ.  Apostle Paul, who became a strong Christian soldier, witnessed spiritually of the spiritual warfare of Christians and the victory of this war, comparing spiritually with the armor and sword that Roman soldiers wore for the body:

” Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

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

12For 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.

13Wherefore 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.

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

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

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

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

18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;“(Ephesians 6: 10-18)

Apostle Paul testified to  Timothy saying, no man that warreth entanglishth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. He also warned that even if  he struggles to win in this spiritual battle, he will not get a crown unless he is following the rules. In other words, witnessing that only suffering in the Word of God is the way to receive this reward. In this world, even if we break the rules, even if we win, we can not receive the prize, sometimes the victory is canceled. Even if we work in the kingdom of God redeeming so much time, material and sacrifice, we cannot be rewarded with the crown unless we work biblically.. When the resurrected Jesus wrote to the angel of the Church of Philippe, he witnessed of this:

” Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11).

Apostle Paul also testified,  when  the soldier of Christ is not bound to the affairs of the world, sometimes it may be ;losing in the flesh, but that God is filling  up later saying” The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.“

Apostle Paul told Timothy to ponder what he was saying and said that in the spiritual battle,  Christians should meditate deeply to understand spiritual truths in God’s Word. In the world they work for their own benefit, but in the kingdom of God, it is necessary to realize the spiritual principle that will ultimately benefit him. In other words, receiving gives benefit for them, but in the kingdom of God, giving is gives benefit for the children of God. Apostle Paul encouraged Christians to understand this truth. In other word, in the world, while they struggling to benefit for themselves, Christians must realize the truth that they will receive a rewarding from heaven as they give up their own benefit in the present world when they look forward the eternal inheritance to be received in the everlasting kingdom of God. In order to realize this truth, it is only through understanding  given in the Holy Spirit.

          Apostle Paul once again reminds us of the gospel of Christ concerning the secret of Christ’s soldiers to overcome all sufferings:

” Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:.”

         That’s right! The core of Christian belief is the resurrection of the body. If there is no resurrection after the death for the soldier of Christ who presents  the body to Christ as a living sacrifice for Christ in this world, that is, to be the most miserable in this world without the hope of the rapture.  Apostle Paul is the representative person who offered the whole body as a sacrifice to Jesus Christ and offered reasonable service (Ro 12: 1). He testified of the tremendous hardship he had received:

” If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

          He testified to the persecuted Roman Christians about the hope of their resurrection:

” But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11)

         There was a time when the deceivers came and confused the Saints that the resurrection had already passed by. Apostle Paul warned them:

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.“(2 Timothy 2: 16-18).

          Through Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit has already spoken of the same deceitfulness in this age in which we live. The resurrection before us is the resurrection of the body of the saints, which will take place when Jesus Christ appears in the air shortly before the Great Tribulation. However, the small number of Christians who are the Bible Believers are not believing in the Rapture saying no resurrection any more in the future, nor they testify of it.  Apostle Paul testified to the Thessalonian Church members who had been greatly persecuted at the time by the Jews:

” But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. “(I Thessalonians 4: 13-18)

          Finally, Apostle Paul testified of the Eternal Glory, a blessed hope, received by Christ’s soldiers awaiting the glorious appearing our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ (De 2:13)

” Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:10)

         He also testified of what eternal glory is to reign with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords eternally coming to the earth and judge the world:

” If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: “(2Tim 2:12)

Amen! Hallelujah!