Golden Pillar Class Study, teacher Rick Coleman.
As we read the apostle Paul’s writings, we know he was a good soldier and kept the faith. Today’s lesson is dedicated to true soldier’s who have fought a good fight and stood for what’s right.
II Timothy 4:5-18 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The words spoken at Brother Bill Cornelison’s memorial were probably similar to what was spoken when Paul died. Can God count on you to be faithful and will they say at your memorial that you were faithful? There are ones we have known who were warriors for the Lord throughout their lives. We have patterned our lives after these because we saw the strength in them. They realized their weakness and saw their strength was in God. They were ones we would want to be with in the battle, ones that weren’t afraid to take a stand for what was right. We all face battles in life, whether we’re saved or not saved. We have people that let us down or have financial, family, and health issues. Through it all, we have a great captain who said he would never leave us or forsake us. According to Webster, a warrior is “a person engaged or experienced in warfare.” We’re in a warfare but there’s peace because of the Lord. When Sister Sandy Coleman was going through the valley of the shadow of death, she told Brother Rick, “I’m so happy!” The word and the Spirit were there to comfort her and she feared no evil. Brother Bill Cornelison was a mentor who encouraged Brother Rick in the battle and stood on the rock. We need to look to the great captain of our salvation as our example of a warrior, but also to the example of these other warriors. There’s a challenge for us to live with all boldness so Christ is magnified in our life.
Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
A warrior is not selfish but willing to lay down their life for their fellow warriors. During the war in Europe and the Pacific that was fought by the greatest generation (our parents’ generation), hundreds were awarded the highest honor for bravery, the Congressional Medal of Honor. They saw beyond a sense of duty and preferred their fellow before themselves. It is no different in the spiritual realm. We have a challenge to prefer our brother before ourselves. There’s real joy when we abide in the Father’s love. The ultimate sacrifice is to lay down our lives for the brethren. Paul said we die daily. That means we take up our cross and die to what the flesh wants to do. To be a warrior for God, means the flesh is crucified.
John 15:10-14 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
We are to love without being hypocritical or just because it’s expected. A warrior is obedient to those in command and obedient to their leaders. Obedience to leadership results in unity with those in the ranks.
Romans 12:9-10 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
We have a great leader in Jesus. Obedience to his call will lead to blessed results. In the Bible there are a lot of places that say “if” you do this, then something good will happen.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Peter said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Do we have the boldness to say that and whatever God says we will do? The saints were beaten, stoned, and thrown in prison but they stood for right. A faithful warrior is honored. There’s a reward and honor to the one that fights the good fight of faith. Being honored by your government with the Medal Of Honor is a great thing but warriors don’t seek the accolades. They just want to be an encouragement and help. That’s how saints are. They just want to help wherever they can.
Acts 5:25-29 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
John tried to describe what heaven will be like. The glory of God lighted heaven. The light of the warrior’s life is a part of that light. The light of Christ and the faithful, saved are part of the light. We have a big responsibility to keep our lives pure and it’s worth taking a stand for what we know is right.
Revelation 21:22-27 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.