Christian Soldier v2.9

Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it. 1 Chronicles 28:10

I have been serving the Lord as a full-time missionary since September 1980. I continue to learn as I serve God day-by-day, but I have learned a lot, both by what I’ve done right and what I’ve done wrong. Some of what I’ve learned right has to do with longevity in ministry. In all the years I’ve served Jesus, I’ve seen ministers and ministries come and go. I’ve seen many start things for God, only to falter, fall away and quit later. Many who were going great guns for God in the past are nowhere to be found today. They’ve just disappeared. I intend to finish the race God gave me to run, and at the end of my life hear Him say to me: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” At this stage of my time on earth, more than ever, I want to share things with you that will help you hear the same things when you stand before the judgement seat of Christ (Romans 14:10/2 Corinthians 5:10). One thing to learn to ensure success is the importance of spiritual strength. Physical strength and fitness is important, but not as important as spiritual strength. Why? Because our battles always originate – and are won or lost – in the spirit realm. Our real enemies are spirits, not people

(Ephesians 6:10-13). Over the years, God has given me statements, phrases or words to help me stay strong and steady for Him. One such declaration is this: BE STRONG! STAY STRONG! If Christians want to finish the assignments given to them by the Lord, they must first get strong in spirit, then stay strong in spirit.

And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God, will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:20

Getting there is what we’ll talk about today. Staying there is what we’ll talk about in upcoming months, spending as much time on this as the Lord desires. All through the Bible, we’re told to be spiritually strong. Besides the two passages we’ve already seen here from 1 Chronicles, here are just a few of many examples:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:1

The reasons for why God repeatedly tells us to be spiritually strong should be obvious to anyone serious about Bible study. We face an enemy who is very strong, very organized and very committed to our destruction. Satan lives for no other reason than to torment, hurt and deceive people as much as possible, and then gleefully watch them go to hell forever. He’s had a six-thousand-year head start on you and me, so we better not underestimate his abilities to do what he does! Therefore, the need for spiritual strength is paramount. Especially in these perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1), believers must understand these things. Over and over, the Bible prophesies about people falling away from God through sin and compromise just before our Lord’s return. We’re in that time now. Men’s hearts are failing them from fear, and the expectation of things coming on the earth (Luke 21:25-28).

When Joshua inherited the task of leading Israel after the death of Moses, God emphasized the importance of being spiritually strong.

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:5-9

Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage. Joshua 1:18

Four times in this chapter, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. Because this is inspired content, written by the Holy Spirit through the hands of man, we’re being told the same thing today. Listen! When God repeats a point

four times in one exchange, we’d be wise to realize it's important to Him! How important? Important enough to make it a command to obey! God said: “Have I not commanded you?” That’s a rhetorical question, which is a question asked to make a point, rather than get an answer. God doesn’t suggest or request we become strong and courageous; He commands it – and He expects us to understand the difference.

Jesus says that if you really love Him, you’ll keep His commandments

(John 14:15). The sad fact is most believers who say they love Jesus don’t – at least not in ways that satisfy Him. If we say we love Him, we prove that by knowing and keeping His commands - and being spiritually strong is one such command. Do you? Do I? That’s the question every Christian needs to answer in the affirmative. To start with, Christians don’t keep this command because they don’t know it’s a command. And then, even if they know this is a command, they don’t comply because they don’t know how God defines spiritual strength. On these two points, God’s people perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). That means most Christians fail to rise to the level of spiritual strength that protects them from the attacks of the devil. They may be saved, but after that they’re not of much use in fulfilling the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-18). In my opinion, after serving the Lord for all these years, that’s the greatest tragedy within the body of Christ.

In part two of this study, we’ll discover the Biblical definition for spiritual strength, so we can get there and stay there. For starters, Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength, so that’s a scriptural definition we can start with, but there’s much more! For an exhaustive study on this all-important subject, I recommend getting the first book I ever wrote: BE STRONG! STAY STRONG! Order hard copies through our website www.mkmi.org, or if you prefer, on EBOOK format through Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), iTunes (iBook) or KOBO.

Never forget this truth: Jesus is God’s gift to us, but our choice to be strong and stay strong is our gift to God.

This is Who We Are. This is What We Do.

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Through time spent in the Philippines, Rev. Keyes learned how to survive and how to thrive in that hostile and dangerous environment. He also learned seven spiritual priorities which he called “priorities of life” which, when practiced consistently, would produce a level of personal spiritual strength that ensured longevity and lasting success in ministry. God’s perfect will is for every believer to be triumphant and victorious in life, walking and living as the stronger man or woman that He declared and ordained us to be in Jesus. In Be Strong! Stay Strong!, Rev. Keyes gives the seven spiritual priorities and the importance of practicing them consistently – bringing any believer to the place of superior strength and victory over any attack of the enemy in these last days.

Order your copy of Be Strong! Stay Strong! today. Go online at www.mkmi.org to order, or call our Tucson office to place your order directly.

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