A GOOD SOLDIER SUBDUES HIS FLESH
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Text: 1 Corinthians 9:27
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Introduction: One of the marks of a real soldier is discipline. There are two types of discipline: discipline from others and discipline from
yourself.
In military basic training, a soldier learns to accept discipline from superiors and to administer discipline upon himself. The more he learns
self-discipline, the less he has to receive it from others.
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Our theme for the year is “PREPARE FOR WAR IN 2004.” Every Christian is supposed to be enlisted in God’s military and fully armed for battle.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
This morning I want to encourage you to be a good soldier by emphasizing one area of the Christian life that is related to warfare:
A GOOD SOLDIER SUBDUES HIS FLESH
I. A GOOD SOLDIER SUBDUES HIS TONGUE
Controlling the tongue for God requires supernatural help, for the Bible says:
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
A. He is respectful
1. “Sir! Yes, sir!”
B. He is restrained
1. About complaining
2. About criticizing
C. He is responsive
1. Speaks up loud and clear when it is appropriate
2. Ecclesiastes 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
3. “I can’t HEAR you!” – sergeant on Gomer Pyle USMC show
II. A GOOD SOLDIER SUBDUES HIS TEMPER
Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
A. He slows it down
B. He studies his own feelings
1. Jonah 4:4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
C. He shuts it down if it’s wrong
D. He saves it for the right time
III. A GOOD SOLDIER SUBDUES HIS TIREDNESS
2 Samuel 23:9-10 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
A. He schedules sleep
B. He stays awake when necessary
C. He seeks opportunities for rest when available
IV. A GOOD SOLDIER SUBDUES HIS TEMPTATIONS
2 Samuel 11:11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
Uriah was a good soldier. He had better control over his temptations than did his king, David. There are other temptations, however.
A. The temptation for glory
1. Saul – had a good start but a bad finish
2. David – stayed humble before Saul even after being anointed
B. The temptation for greed
1. 2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier.
C. The temptation for grumbling
D. The temptation for going AWOL (Away Without Official Leave)
E. The temptation for giving up
1. 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church |