Second Timothy
Second Timothy was taught by Dr. James Modlish

Lesson Three (Chapter 2 continued)
(A GOOD SOLDIER)

Introduction:

When you were saved you enlisted in an army. You may or may not realize it but it doesn't change the facts. (See Timothy's enlistment in Acts 16: 1-3). Unhappily, too many believers are AWOL in the conflict against Satan, the world and the flesh. Like their contemporaries in the world, they want to enjoy the benefits of freedom but reject the discipline and responsibilities freedom demands. Paul takes time to remind Timothy that he is a soldier and therefore he should live like one.
 

I. The Recruits - (vs. 2)

The command is to search out and teach men. To be sure, women have their place in Christianity and the Bible. But most churches today have a noticeable absence of men. The primary target in the New Testament is men. Only people who are stupid enough to support ERA believe that women belong in the heat of the battle. God has a plan (I Tim. 2:12) and when that ' plan is departed from there is chaos in the government, home and church.
 

II. The Soldier - (vs. 3)

Every soldier in the Roman Army (the one Paul was familiar with) had a specific responsibility. This was often determined by the amount of experience the soldier had. Every one of God's soldiers ought to have a job, regardless of how little experience they have. There is something that everyone in the army can do. A closer look at the army Paul used for a comparison will help: There were three categories of Roman legionaries in Paul' day: the HASTATI, the PRINCIPES and the TRIARII. The HASTATI, so named after the javelins they carried (HASTA, Latin for "javelin"), were the young recruits who had yet to experience their trial under fire. In combat, they formed the first line of battle; in their role as skirmishers, they threw their javelins and then moved to the rear. There are many HASTATI on the battlefields of the spiritual conflict - young but growing believers who have not yet reached spiritual maturity. Like their Roman counterparts, they are but skirmishers in the unseen warfare!

The PRINCIPES were young, vigorous and strong, well-trained soldiers who had seen combat. They were the heavy infantry in the second line of the legion in battle formation. Experts with their missiles and swords, the PRINCIPES presented to the enemy a solid iron line. Who are the PRINCIPES of the Royal Combat Battalion? They are those Christian Warriors who have attained spiritual maturity!

The TRIARII constituted the most experienced veterans and combat heroes of the Legion. Completely armed, they formed the third line of battle and acted as stabilizers to their combat units. It is the TRIARII of the spiritual front who have seized the high ground of Christian living and who can be counted on to hold their ground, come what may! These believers enjoy to the maximum the blessings that accrue from their tactical victories. They will advance to dying grace and reach heaven triumphantly, heroes who will be decorated in eternity! (I Cor. 3:14; 2 Tim. 2:12)

Spiritual combat requires expert knowledge and application of numerous doctrines. Temporal combat demands, among other things, strategical and tactical knowledge. Drawn up for combat, the Roman Legion's three battle lines were composed of ten maniples: 1200 HASTATI in the first; 1200 PRINCIPES in the second; and 1200 TRIARII, plus 600 reserves in the third; 300 cavalry were posted on the flanks as combat support. Combat support is essential for the effective function of the teams of spiritual combatants (Eph. 6:18; Jas. 5:16). Prayer as our combat support is the Christian's secret weapon! Certainly, the Apostle Paul considered prayer support as a vital factor in his own ministry (Eph. 6:18,19).

III. The Duty - (vs. 4)

The duty of the soldier goes beyond one day a week. Too many church members look great when the are on parade (Sunday) but are not worth much on the battlefield Monday through Saturday.

Soldiers are expected to:

[1]. Follow Their Leader - (Heb. 2:10; Matt. 4:19,20; Lk. 9:23).

[2]. Follow Orders - It's a pretty sad army when the troops stand around and argue with the orders that have been issued. God has a chain of command established and expects that to be followed as well as the Captain of Your Salvation (I Cor. 4:16,11:1; Phil. 3:17; I Thess. 1:6).

[3]. Endure Hardness - In the field, each Roman infantryman carried approximately sixty pounds of equipment besides his weapons and armor He carried all of this equipment over all types of terrain, in all kinds of weather, to the farthest points of the known world. Most Christian soldiers have a hard time carrying their body to church.

[4]. Learn To Be Experts With Their Weapons - Since the majority of battles in ancient days were hand to hand combat the sword was the predominate weapon. As a rule, the ancients were impressed by the size and strength of a sword. The most impressive of the swords of antiquity was the Romphaia. Invented by the Thracians, the Romphaia was a broad sword of considerable length - never shorter than four feet and often up to six feet in length. This sword had one cutting edge and was held by a double handle. It was the preferred weapon of the Gauls and the Barbarians, staunch enemies of Rome, and was employed in hacking blows. Because of the Romphaia's unwieldy length and weight caught the Barbarian or Gaul temporarily off balance after a stroke, precious moments were lost before he could regain combat effectiveness. It was in these moments that the soldier was vulnerable to the danger of the swift Roman Machaira. This Roman sword turned out to be the most ingenious invention of warfare of its day. The blade of this perfectly balanced weapon was usually only eighteen inches long. It had two cutting edges instead of one, and it tapered off to a sharp point. Its outstanding advantage was that the Roman soldier was never off-balance while he used his sword. He was taught not to cut but to thrust with his sword. To accomplish that he had to be advancing because it's impossible to thrust in retreat. He did not have to fear the awesome looking sword of the enemy because his own body was well covered with armour (Eph. 6) and he trusted the effectiveness of his sword (Heb. 4:12).

[5]. To Be Unashamed - (Rom. 1:16) Upon completing his basic training the Roman soldier was branded for life. His mark announced to all who saw it that he was ready to follow the eagle as the Roman standard into battle. Paul referred to that distinctive mark of honor in (Gal. 6:17): "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."

 

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