A Soldier’s Exhortation

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11

I. Introduction: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

II. Watch

A. Watch for the enemy, 1 Peter 5:8-9

B. He desires to lead us away from God

C. In the garden, Jesus warned the apostles to watch and pray lest they enter into temptation, Matthew 26:40-41 Prayer should accompany our vigilance for we need God’s help to see the varied attempts to draw us away.

D. He will use false teachers to draw us away

E. Religious teachers

F. Acts 20:28-31 Matthew 7:15-16 – False teachers in sheep’s clothing

G. Worldly teachers

H. Colossians 2:8 – “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”2 Timothy 2:20-21 – “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith”1 Corinthians 1 – There are not many wise according to the flesh who are Christians because they are not impressed with the simplicity of Christ and His sacrifice; though the very thought of both is extremely profound!

I. He will use our own lusts to draw us away

J. Luke 12:15 “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” James 1:12-15

K. He will use us against one another

L. James 4:1-3, 11 – Carnality separates us from God and causes division in the Lord’s body.

M. The way you act towards the Lord will affect how you react to others and will have an effect on the church of the Lord.1 John 4:20-21 – It also affects our love towards God Galatians 5:13-15 – Do not consume one another We can know the Devil’s tricks but still fall into his traps.

N. Watch for Jesus

O. Mark 13:33-37 – He will come again and we must be ready Luke 21:34-36 – Watch that you may be ready for the Lord1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 – We must not be disobedient

III. Stand fast in the faith

A. We must hold our position and not retreat from the enemy

B. Philippians 1:27-30 – We must stand fast in the faith with our brethren We fight together to protect one another. It is encouraging to others when we hold our position, 1 Thessalonians 3:8

C. We take our stand on God’s word

D. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-172 Peter 3:15-18 – Some will try to twist God’s word so we must be know the truth so we can detect the error.

IV. Be brave

A. We must have confidence in facing the enemy

B. God is the source of our confidence.

C. Ephesians 3:11-13

D. Jesus was brave in the face of death. We must not lose heart in the face of our greatest battles.

E. Hebrews 10:35-39 – We must not give up for we will lose our eternal hope

F. We need to be brave every day

G. Do we have no Goliath’s to face?

H. Are there no teachers who come from the enemy’s camp and curse your God’s name and belittle your faith? Have you no great trials that tempt you to lay down your sword and give yourself up to the enemy? Some need bravery just to face the normal expectations of the day. Be brave and confident in the Lord.

I. Gideon, in Judges 6, was a man of bravery though he did not know it when he was first called; but God was his strength.

J. We must be brave facing the future of the world and our own future in this world.

V. Be strong

A. We will have to face the enemy so we must be strong to resist him.

B. Strength does not come by lying around and hoping for strength. We must work, meet opposition and trials, in order to gain strength.

C. Our weakness can give us strength, 2 Corinthians 12:10

D. The Lord should be our strength, Ephesians 6:10

E. Through strength we also have endurance so we can stand until the battle is over

F. 2 Timothy 2:1-62 Samuel 23:8-12 – Examples of strength and endurance

VI. Let all that you do be done with love

A. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Without love, actions are worthless

B. 1 John 2:3-6

C. Do what Jesus commanded Do as Jesus did

D. 1 Peter 4:8-9 – Have fervent love and serve without grumbling

E. Our service should not be done just from duty; love should be the motivation for all obedience

VII. Conclusion: We love freely, serve willingly, and stand firmly in the strength of God, fighting bravely against our enemy, ready for the coming of Jesus