Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Aug. 08, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of outlines from previous years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

A GOOD SOLDIER IS SKILLFUL WITH HIS WEAPON
By Michael D. O'Neal                    Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                    Albany, Georgia
 

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Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 5:17-22

Text: 1 Chronicles 5:18

1 Chronicles 5:18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.

Introduction: I pray that our church services are used of God not only to glorify Him, but also to meet the spiritual needs of the people who attend them.

If you are unsaved and visiting today, we have one message to you: you are a sinner who is headed for hell, but Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Put faith in Him for salvation through His blood, and God will give you forgiveness and eternal life.

The spiritual needs of saved people, on the other hand, are many -- comfort, encouragement, cleansing, and growth, to name just a few. This year our theme for emphasis is "Prepare for War in 2004." One need that is not being met in many churches today is the need for a WARNING and for INSTRUCTION on how to be a good soldier for Jesus Christ! WE ARE IN A WAR! Each one of us needs to learn how to be a good soldier!

What constitutes a good soldier? One of the attributes I want to bring to your attention this morning:

A GOOD SOLDIER IS SKILLFUL WITH HIS WEAPON

Our text is the first occurrence of the word "skilful" out of a total of seven in the word of God. It speaks of men who were "skilful in war," a war, which the Bible says in verse 22 was "of God."

In the whole armour of God listed in Ephesians 6, there is only ONE offensive weapon given to the believer:

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

How does a soldier obtain the skill with his weapon that he needs to be a good soldier?


I. A GOOD SOLDIER BECOMES SKILLFUL WITH HIS WEAPON BY EMBRACING THE RIGHT WEAPON

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The Bible says to TAKE the sword of the Spirit, not your sharp wit, sharp tongue, or sharp temper.

1 Samuel 17:38-40 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

The King James Bible is the RIGHT weapon:

A. Because of its producer
1. 2 Timothy3:16
2. Ephesians 6:17

B. Because of its power
1. Hebrews 4:12

C. Because of its perfection
1. Proverbs 30:5

D. Because of its permanence and durable nature
1. Psalms 12:6-7
2. Matthew 24:35

II. A GOOD SOLDIER BECOMES SKILLFUL WITH HIS WEAPON BY EXAMINING HIS WEAPON

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A. READ your Bible
1. Like a soldier studying his weapon

B. RIGHTLY DIVIDE the Bible
1. Like a soldier taking his weapon apart
2. 2 Timothy 2:15

C. RECOGNIZE THE UNITY of the Bible
1. Like a soldier putting it
back together again

D. REMEMBER THE BIBLE
1. Like a soldier who remembers the specifications of his weapon -- what size round, how many, how fast, how far, how much damage

E. REPEAT THE DRILL
1. Read your Bible through every year
2. Don't get lazy
3. Don't assume that you know everything

One of our courses in the Bible Institute this year will be Bible Survey. Those who go through the lessons will get an acquaintance with the word of God from cover to cover.

III. A GOOD SOLDIER BECOMES SKILLFUL WITH HIS WEAPON BY ENGAGING THE ENEMY

1 Chronicles 12:8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

1 Chronicles 12:2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.

This year in Gospel Light Bible Institute, one of our courses will be CULTS AND ISMS.

Practice makes perfect. You will never become perfect in the sense of knowing EVERYTHING that is in your Bible, but you will become complete, and "master" the Bible by USING the Bible.

A marksman may indeed have better eyesight, better control, and more patience than other soldiers, but he usually also has a lot more PRACTICE.

USE the Bible on a daily basis by:

A. Seeing its application in every situation

B. Soul-winning

C. Standing for the truth

D. Stopping the mouths of heretics with it
1. Titus 1:9-11 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

IV. A GOOD SOLDIER BECOMES SKILLFUL WITH HIS WEAPON BY ENLISTING WITH THE RIGHT COMPANY

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

A. That means the right church

B. That means the right caretaker
(pastor) (1 Tim. 3:5)

C. That means the right companions in that church