The "forlorn hope." Someone has to charge up to the hole to secure the opening. There is a high casuality rate. You have to volunteer and if you survived it was guaranteed promotion.
"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing is the wrong thing; and the worst thing is to do nothing." Theodore Roosevelt.
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1
Be strong!
Without Him I am nothing. With Him, I am invincible!"
There is no such thing as an Army of one. God can overcome anything.
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2
We need to share the Gospel and the work. Don't hoarde it. Share it.
"Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:28
"It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder." D.L. Moody
The rule of multiplication: if you disciple 2 people and both of them disciple 2 people, in ten steps it becomes 1024 people!
"Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:3
Stay Faithful (even when the battle is hard).
If you are not currently experiencing spiritual warfare ask yourself if you are doing anything for God.
Seek the resistance and overcome it.
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of lifethat the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12
By not quitting, we win.
If you fail, get up and push again. Persevere. We can't win if we stand still. Must go forward.
"No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:4-5
Stay out of worldly junk. Just do your job. Look forward. Don't be distracted.
Do your eyes get taken off the battleground and go onto the playground?
If something overtakes you, it becomes sin.
"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." Revelation 3:11
No one ever goes into battle expecting to lose.
"The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops." 2 Timothy 2:6
Do your share. Earn your pay. Do your part. Do the best you can with the part you've been given.
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." 2 Timothy 2:7
Remember your training.
Remember the truth you've learned. Same foundational training for everyone. The elemental training is the same for all of us. Remember and build on the knowledge. You can read the Bible over and over and learn something new each time you read it.
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
1 John 5:20
"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained." 2 Timothy 2:8-9
Remember what your purpose is. Remember why you are here.
Just go!
Remember where you are going.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 2:2-3
We can finish our races because Jesus finished His.
"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:10
Endure for your brothers and sisters.
I shall finish my race strong so it will give others courage to finish theirs. Sometimes we need to carry each other.
"Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:10
I do what I do to strengthen others.
If you hesitate and stand back, others may too. Cowardess begets cowardess. Courage can beget courage.
"Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13
You are reborn for a purpose in God's kingdom.
Which do you want to hear?
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:22-23
OR
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21