The Soldier’s Best Friend

[Heb 5:8-9; 2Tim 2:3-4; Rom 12:1-2]

More Notes Coming SOON!

The first duty of a soldier is obedience. (Heb 5:8)

Heb 5:8-9 (NASB) – [8] Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. [9] And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.

The word “son” should not be capitalized. It is another in a series of the comparisons between a family member versus a family servant (cf. Heb 1:2; 3:6; 5:8; 7:28).

“He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” This whole section of scripture has emphasized both Jesus as a “son” of God (cf. Heb 4:14) and yet human (cf. “in the days of His flesh” Heb 5:7). He was tempted; He prayed; He cried; He suffered; He learned obedience! It is difficult theologically to hold Jesus’ true deity and true humanity as one truth (one nature). Throughout Church history, heresies have developed when either side is minimized (cf. 1Jn 4:1-3).

It is hard for believers to realize that they must follow Jesus’ example. This is the problem that we face. Will we, like Jesus, follow through to the end, even it if involves suffering? Suffering is part of the package (cf. Heb 2:10; Mt 5:10-12; Jn 15:18-21; 16:1-2; 17:14; Rom 8:17; 2Cor 4:16-18; 1Pet 4:12-19).

How could Jesus be perfected, if He was deity? This must refer to His human development (cf. Lk 2:40,52). Suffering served a purpose of developing trust as nothing else could do. If it is true that God’s will is for every believer to be Christ-like (i.e., Rom 8:29; Eph 4:13), then why do modern western Christians despise the very mechanism that produces maturity?

Verse 9, “and having been made perfect” This word “perfect” means “mature” or “fully equipped for the assigned task.” The perfection or maturity of both Jesus and His followers is a central concept in Hebrews (cf. Heb 2:10; 5:9,14; 6:1; 7:11,19,28; 9:9,11; 10:1,14; 11:40; 12:2,23).¹

“To all those who obey Him” Obedience is an evidence of true discipleship (cf. Lk 6:46). Jesus is our example in all areas. Obedience gives evidence of a true salvation!

The most evident duty of a soldier is to endure hardship. (2Tim 2:3)

2Tim 2:3-4 (NASB) – [3] Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [4] No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.

Hardship is explained in verse four. MORE Notes to be added soon.

The ultimate duty of a soldier is to offer the supreme sacrifice. (Rom 12:1)

Rom 12:1-2 (NASB) – [1] Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Notice the “therefore” transition, refers to the first 11 chapters. MORE Notes to be added soon.

When we realize the fact that our duty and lifestyle is to be soldiers, then we learn to put away our toys, and become familiar with the weapons of war. In a battle a soldier’s best friend is his weapon, because it equips him to dispose of the enemy. It is also for his safety, and his fireteam, as they fulfill the orders of the commanding officer.

The Bible has given us an example of how Christians are to engage the enemy. In the wilderness, Jesus faced the same evil power that is alive and active in the world today. But before considering the actual combat situation, we should look at the condition of Jesus and the factors in His life that made Him ready to face His enemy.

What made Jesus battle ready?

Luke tells us that Jesus was filled with the Spirit when He was led into the wilderness. The choice to go off into the wilds and have a bash at the devil was not made by Jesus Himself. He was “led of the Spirit” (Lk 4:1).

Jesus was obediently and willingly submissive to a higher command. Submissive to the will of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led away from civilization. Do not be presumptuous and seek out the enemy if you are not filled with the Spirit. This is not a war game.

Consider the youthful years of Jesus at home in Nazareth. He spent his days with more than being a carpenter. He used this time to fill his heart with the treasures of the Word of God. He didn’t wake up on His 30^th birthday (which was not Christmas morning) and realize who He was.

It is time for the Christians to wake up, trash the traditions, and be loosed from doctrines of demons. It’s time to realize who you are in Christ!

Let’s think about the condition of Jesus as He was confronted by the devil.

He was filled and controlled by Holy Spirit. The initiative for the confrontation with the devil was not his own. He was brought to it by the Spirit of God. These factors are prerequisites for victory over the enemy.

His mind was a storehouse of the Word of God. For the Holy Spirit to wield His mighty sword effectively through a human vessel, He must first have absolute control of the vessel, and the mind of the man must be well set with the Word of God.

His body was starved to exhaustion, and not by His choice. Victory does not depend on physical fitness. This does not mean that a body brought to a state of weakness by some self-imposed idea will help the chances of victory.

Now let’s look at His competence in resisting and defeating Satan.

At the first approach of the enemy, Jesus took the sword of the Spirit to be His one sure weapon, His best friend in battle. This sword was sharpened by Holy Spirit Himself. The Word of God is specially designed to resist and confound Satan and all his demonic hordes.

A spiritual weapon called, “the Sword of the Spirit.” The Word of God forged into a blade that is sharper than anything man-made.

In this case, the specific word was from Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (Gr. rhema) that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” We are all more familiar with the Greek word logos than rhema. Rhema is more specific than the more general word logos.

Three times the Lord Jesus met the assaults of Satan in this way. Amazingly, all that it took to defeat the devil was “the word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Anything other than the word would be like shooting noisy blanks.

Victories over the devil are not won by having a Bible and knowing some of it. Nor are they won by resolutions and good intent. It takes the sword of the Spirit, God’s specific utterance, thrust at the enemy in the power of the Holy Spirit with an unashamed “it is written!”

Everything that Jesus used to defeat Satan is available to us. We have victory available to us – Jesus is our example! He was filled with the Spirit, and we are commanded to, “be filled with the Spirit.”

Don’t even think that a single experience of being filled completes our obedience – the requirement of this command. The Greek verb tense is continuous and means “be being filled” (Eph 5:18). Being filled with the Holy Spirit requires our constant attention. And then we, too, will have our minds filled with Word of God. We dare not be careless or lazy about storing God’s Word in our hearts and minds. This is about our lifestyle, not a holiday.

We cannot ignore the relationship between condition and competence. If we want to be competent in withstanding the attacks of the enemy, then we must focus on our condition.

• Am I being led of the Spirit?

• Is He in complete control of my being?

• Is Jesus really my Lord?

• Am I diligently storing the Word of God in my mind?

• Is the Word of the Spirit my best friend?

When you truthfully can answer the conditions with “yes,” then it is time to activate in boldness and authority with the Word of God, which is sharper than any man-made weapon. Be led into the heat of battle.

Whatever stands between you and your Bible, is a tool of the enemy!

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond

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¹See, End or Full (telos) In Hebrews, Study Outline