Overview to 7 Character Qualities

Jesus was intentional about training the disciples so that they could train others. “And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach.” - Mark 3:14

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells the disciples to “make disciples of all nation.” He also told them what content to teach. He said to them, “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”

So what did Jesus command his disciples? Looking into the Gospels, we discover 7 character qualities that Jesus focused on. Things in which Jesus said that if they did not do, they could not be His disciples. Here is a summary of the 7 character qualities of a disciple.

1. Supreme and incomparable love for Jesus Christ. Matt 10: 37; Luke 14:26

2. A regular study of God’s Word. John 8:31

3. A denial of self as the authority and focus of attention in one’s life. Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23-24

4. A life of sacrifice and submission to the cross. Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23-24

5. A response of allegiance to follow Christ. Matt 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21; Luke 9:23

6. Recognizing the true ownership of your possessions. Luke 14:33

7. Loving other believers in attitude and action as Christ has loved you. John 13:34,35

This blog is dedicated to discovering how we can understand these character qualities in the context of military life. As you can see from the blog, The Faith of a Soldier in the book of Luke, character qualities that are developed in a military person strengthens the ability to have the same character quality as a disciple.

Leader as Learner

Leadership Trait – the ability to have character that abides in the great things, so that you can deliver great things.

The 2nd Character Quality of a Disciple is a regular study of God’s word. Not just to say that you are reading daily, but for the purpose of training your senses to do all the great things God has for you. 2 Tim 3:16-17.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Napoleon believes that a general must have the nature and character to know and live the military life so that he can adapt to circumstances that present itself.

The tactics,…the science of the engineer and artilleryman can be learned from books…like geometry; but knowledge of the higher elements of war can be acquired only through the study of history of the wars…of the great commanders and through experience. There are no precise, determined rules; everything depends on the character that nature has given the general:…the nature of the troops, the arms available, the season, and a thousand other circumstances that may never have arisen before.
(Connelly, Owen. On War and Leadership. Page 13)

Both the military leader and the disciple of Jesus must abide in teachings and writings of the great leaders. For the military leader, they must study the values, lessons, weapons, etc. of the military in order to have the character, nature, and knowledge that will give them the ability to do great things for the country, military, and men and women in their command.

For the disciple of Jesus, they must study the values, lessons, weapons, etc. of their leader, Jesus Christ. They must abide in the word of God in order to acquire the character, nature, and knowledge that will give them the ability to do great things for their God, country, military, and men and women all around them.

A leader is a learner, scholar. What are you abiding in today?

The Faith of a Soldier.

Luke 10:2-10

When the centurion soldier communicated his desire for Jesus to heal his servant that he loved, he expressed a level of faith that caused Jesus to marvel. In fact, Jesus said he had not seen greater faith. What was this faith that a soldier was able to express and how did he come to have such faith?

This is an important passage as we look at military life and faith. It is obvious that this career soldier was able to be a soldier and a man of great faith. I would even say that the military developed character traits in the soldier that deepened his ability to have such great faith. Let’s take a quick look.

The Centurion made a request of Jesus that was filled with faith. “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” He did not even need Jesus to be present, but at just His word, forces would work to heal his servant. How did he come to have such faith?

The Centurion explains why he believes that by just the word of Jesus his servant would be healed. The Centurion had been working in a structure of authority for years in the military. In fact, it would have been at least 16 years. When a soldier signed up for the Roman military, he committed 25 years of his life. He was only eligible for Centurion status after at least 16 years of hard service. This Centurion knew what it was like to be under authority of others. “For I also am a man placed under authority.” How many commands do you think he had already obeyed? How many times had he already had to trust those above him with his life, with his requests?

The Centurion was also a man in authority. “…with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” How many commands had he given? It appears he had been a Centurion for some years because of his involvement in the community as a Centurion. How many of his men and slaves have had to trust him. How many promises had he already made to those below him that he had fulfilled? This is a man who experienced years of war, death, and hardship, having to trust those above him and below him in life and death matters.

The military life had built into this soldier the deep ability to trust, to put his faith in others. So when he saw Jesus, the one who had the authority over all powers with the ability to heal others from a distance, his deep faith expressed itself in the one who he recognized to be the Son of God. “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Men and women in the Armed Forces are in a culture where they have to exercise faith and trust in those around them. Their lives depend on it. They are learning to exercise faith in the deepest ways. If they truly see Jesus, what expressions of faith might we witness from them. How many times will Jesus from heaven look down and “marvel” at their faith. How many times will others witness great acts of faith that will encourage them to deepen their faith?

The Centurion placed himself under the authority of Jesus. Jesus tells us, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Are we willing to place ourselves under the authority of Jesus, believing him at His word?

What is the opposite of Fear?

When you are getting ready to enter the battle, when you are entering a situation where you do not know if you will return alive again, what thoughts crowd your mind? How do you overcome fear so that you can do the right thing? Fear has caused many to turn from battle, from their comrades, from their country. Fear also keeps us from living. It causes us to protect ourselves at all costs.

So, what it the opposite of fear? What will help us overcome fear so that we remain strong in the battle, so that we do the right thing?

What are the thoughts of one going into battle? They think of their loved ones. They often write last messages of love to their spouses, kids, or parents. When they are done thinking of loved ones, they turn their thoughts to the men and women they fight with. How they will stand firm to protect and fight shoulder to shoulder with their comrades.

To overcome fear, one must put aside his/her own life and serve another. The opposite of fear is love. 1 John 4:18 states, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” To cast out fear, one must put aside his/her own life and focus on their actions benefiting others. This is what Jesus did for us. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). 

Jesus tells the crowd following Him, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). He also says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). So, to follow in the way of Jesus, we must deny ourselves, putting ourselves to death, and follow Jesus by loving others just as He loved us.

Overcoming fear comes through the same process as following Jesus on a daily basis. We must:

1. Put aside our own lives, because Christ loves us and purchased us with His death. 

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  Galatians 2:20

2. Through love, serve one another. 

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Galatians 5:13-14

What does the Bible have to say about the Military? Part 2

The Military Person is Called by God.

If the Military is a God-Ordained Institution (see Part 1), then the Military Person is called by God to serve Him. Rom 13:1-4 says,

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;  for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”

The soldier is to be a minister of God who administers God’s justice. Therefore it is very important for our military men and women to walk with God. God established the government to provide us with good things and to protect us from evil people. The Government (including military) can be a tremendous blessing to a nation or the greatest curse.

One of the greatest things you can do for our military an d country is to encourage military men and women to walk with God. Pray for them. 

What does the Bible have to say about the Military?

The Military is a God-Ordained Institution.

God established the government as a provision and protection for the earth.

Until the time of Noah, God had been the One who issued judgement against evil on the earth. When Cain killed Abel, God judged Cain and would not allow man to harm him. In Genesis 4:15, it says, “Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.”  

When Noah stepped off the ark, God ordained a new method of administering justice… the government. In Genesis 9:6, God says, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”  

The military is a government designed institution that protects us from evil from outside our boarders. The police protect us from evil from within our boarders.

Romans 13:1-4 states, 

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. “

God designed the military to administer His justice.

If God has entrusted to man the right to bring evil to justice, how important is it for those who have that authority to walk with God? 

…to be continued