[SUB12] SOLDADO DESPRENDIDO - Luciano Subirá

Guys I’m here at Rocinha, in Rio de Janeiro to bring you another word of edification to your heart. Some verses of the Bible reveal part of the plan, of the Purpose of God and we always need to understand adding it to the other pieces of the puzzle. But some have the capacity of bringing in a summarized form a more embracing message.

In the next few minutes I want you to follow me so we can reflect on a verse that reveals who we are and what we were called to do. In 2 Timothy, chapter 2 verse 4, Paul says that a soldier in service does not embarrass with things of this life. In this affirmation, Paul begins revealing who we are.

In first place he calls us soldiers. It is really important that we understand this identity perspective. Identity that presents not only who we are but what we were called to do.

Paul the apostle defines us as soldiers in duty. And he says that we should live to please the one who enlisted us, called us to war and he shows that there can’t be embarrassments throughout this journey. I want you to in fact comprehend the plan and the purpose of God to your heart.

The reason why you and me were saved involves work, it involves service to God and to the things of God. For example, when we look to Ezekiel 37, the vision of the valley of dry bones, the word of God shows us the power of the resurrection of God that looks like that beautiful work, extraordinary that takes place in our lives in the moment of the conversion. But God’s purpose by raising those dry bones, not only transforming them in people, but this purpose is clearly revealed, when we read: “so an army was raised, numerous and powerful.

” the plan and purpose of God of bringing new life to people, dog resurrecting them from spiritual death from sin they were in before is not only for salvation, not only for them to leave that route of damnation, but it is to transform then into an army that will serve the purpose of God. We can look, for example, to what happens to David in Adullam’s Cave, the Bible says that as he hid there from Saul, people began to get there and to join him. The Bible shows people of getting there in all conditions.

The Bible classifies them as frivolous, bitter in spirit, indebted, people running from their problems. Bible says David made himself their leader and David did not only led them but turned them into maybe the greatest conquering army that the nation of Israel came to know. Because the purpose God had for those people was not only to solve their problem, not only to offer aid or relief to their problems but to turn them into warriors.

Through these scriptures we understand that God is looking for people that are willing to fight for His cause. In the book of Joel, chapter 3, verses 9 e 10, God says: “arouse the brave. " The word "brave" means warrior.

God is saying: "look, arouse the men of war. " God affirms that He is calling us out to get involved with His army, what is classified in the passage as a holy war. Actually God wants me and you to respond to Him and to participate in what He wants to do in earth Locking a war and a battle to the kingdom of darkness to establish the kingdom of God on this Earth.

We were called to be soldiers. Not only soldiers that are there as a reservation, not only people that ready waiting for a possible future convocation but, from right now, joining service. Our mission is to win people, to and fight for their spiritual growth, it is to establish the govern of God in their lives through christian service and ministry.

Soldiers in duty. Although the warning is also given for us not to be embarrassed with the things of this life. Many people end confounding their place of passage, the world where they are to be a powerful influence as it passes.

The Bible speaks that we are pilgrims, in other words that is not our place, but it also shows that as we pass by we must bring heavens to earth. Jesus taught us to pray saying: “thy kingdom come, thy will be done. " As we pass through this place we cannot have a mentality of holding our selves with it.

Paul says: "Those who use this world to be As if not using" in first Corinthians chapter 7. "And they that use this world as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. " What is he saying?

We live a natural life, we’ll negotiate, we need resources, let’s advance with achievements that are not natural but we can embarrass, we can’t get stuck with things of this life. There are people who have been allowing things of this world to fascinate their hearts. Actually in parable of the sower, Jesus says that one of the seeds fell among the thorns the problem of the thorn is not only what it is in the moment, the problem is that Jesus defines that the thorns grew.

Because this kind of problem when not treated right in our lives does not remain neutral, it won’t be in the same position it was in the beginning it tends to Grow. And the Bible says that when the thorns grew they suffocated the action of the word in that person’s life. And Jesus defines them as care in the world and the seduction of riches.

The bible is not saying everyone will work full time. The word of God shows that we have a natural life to be lived on Earth, we have responsibilities here. By the way the Bible says: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.

” God is not saying that we need to turn against everything and that we can't do anything but the kingdom but God is saying that these things that are necessary for us to get involved, cannot have us, they can't take our focus, they cannot steal our attention to the point that we en up not developing what is our true calling, that is to fight in favor of the One that actually enlisted us. I hope that you allow in this moment the Holy Spirit to strengthen you heart with this warning: don’t be attached to what can compete with God’s calling in your life. And the passage finishes saying the reason why we cannot stuck with this is because we must please the One who enlisted us for war.

The Word of God declares that God shows no partiality. God loves us just the same, in the same way, he has no favorite children. Although it would be mistake from us to say that God is pleased with everyone in the same way.

Even though He loves us unconditionally, pleasing Him is another talk. I had to explain that to my son some day. He was worried about a low grade in school, when he brought me his bulletin he was really scared of that conversation and I remember I sat with him, ministered to his hear and said: "my son, you need to understand that your father is not going to love you more for what you do good and not less for what you do bad.

My love for you is based in who you are and not in your performance. Your place, your position as a son is enough. This is all you need for me to love you.

" But as I said that, I noticed his face with an expression of excitement, almost like someone who says: so is it all good? I can get any grade? I said: “but if you want to make me happy, it is another talk.

I’m not gonna love you less because of a low grade, I’m not gonna love you more because of a high grade, but with a good grade you can make me happier and with a bad grade you won’t make me as happy. " We need to understand that we’re not accepted by God in according to our value, of his love for us by what we do but if we want to please Him our response of productivity should be better. The Bible says that the reason why we can’t be attached is specially to please the one that enlisted us for war.

We learn with the Lord Jesus we need to have in our hearts a disposition of wanting to please God. Jesus spoke about pleasing the Father. The word of God shows that you and me can please and displease God with our conduct.

The Bible says: “without faith it is impossible to please God. " The Bible says: “those who are in the flesh cannot please God. " But in the same way someone decides to live in the flesh, someone who decides to live in unbelief cannot please God, those of us who are attached with the things of this life, losing focus on our calling to serve people, we stop pleasing the heart of God.

This does not only damage our identity of a soldier, our call to the mission that was given to us, but displeases the heart of God. Many times you and me must understand that maybe the biggest motivation of work, of service should not only be the necessity of people but it should be our desire of pleasing the Lord Jesus. Paul the apostle says in Acts, on chapter 20, verse 24: “however, I consider my life worth nothing to me", he says "my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus of proclaiming the Gospel.

“Paul was saying: “nothing is important, nor even my own life. Important to me is to please him who gave me a mission. Important to me is to know that I will find in Him a smile.

The important to me is to cross the gates of glory", Paul is saying, “and listening from his mouth: faithful and good servant, join the enjoyment of your Lord. " I want to leave in this moment the opportunity for you to reflect. Have you been in fact a soldier?

Are you in service for real? Are you attached to the things of this life or are you determined to win and to overcome whatever is in your way? And the final question, and the most important: are you in fact pleasing God?

Respond not only to yourself, responde that to the Holy Spirit, the one that can search your heart and allow this reflection to help you make the right decision of living to fulfill the plan and the purpose of God. In the Name of Jesus.