Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Dr. Jim Tillotson addresses new college students with a message about spiritual warfare and endurance, using the theme "Soldier on, Train and Endure." He draws parallels between military service and Christian discipleship, emphasizing the qualities needed to be effective soldiers in God's army.

Scripture Text

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Main Points or Ideas:

1. Endure Hardship (Verse 3)

• Hardships are inevitable in the Christian life and ministry training
• The Greek word suggests enduring hardship "together" with others
• Specific hardships for college students include being away from home, adjusting to campus rules and restrictions, academic challenges and coursework, and roommate conflicts and differences
• Keys to enduring hardship include relying on Christ's strength (Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 13:5, Isaiah 40:31), maintaining daily devotions and prayer, and building friendships and community support (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
• Don't focus on long-term challenges; take it one day at a time

2. Avoid Entanglements (Verse 4a)

• Good soldiers don't get distracted by things that hinder their mission
• Potential entanglements include sin (pornography, bitterness, anger, laziness, lying, stealing, cheating) and excessive time spent on video games, movies, social media, or recreational activities
• The principle: if activities prevent daily Bible reading and spiritual growth, they become entanglements

3. Please Your Commanding Officer (Verse 4b)

• Christians are enlisted by God and should aim to please Him
• Training prepares soldiers to perform correctly under pressure
• College serves as training for effective ministry
• Students should actively serve in local churches while in school to make their academic training more meaningful
• The goal is not just good grades but pleasing God and helping others

Conclusion

Christians are called to be soldiers in God's army, which requires enduring hardship, avoiding distractions, and focusing on pleasing God who enlisted them. The training process, though difficult, prepares believers to serve effectively under pressure and accomplish God's mission.

You will struggle to find an ideal courtship in the Bible. The rarity of such a thing in the Word of God corresponds to the rarity in life itself. Ruth and Boaz were a good example (understanding the context they were in) but this was a unique happening. 

Scripture Text

Genesis 29:9-20

Main Points or Ideas 

1. It did not begin with love-making, it began with service (v. 9-10).
2. Jacob loved Rachel (v. 17-18). 
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 
• Jacob saw Rachel and loved Rachel.
• Sometimes we give up and don’t bother with what we have. 
• There is an aspect of waiting. 

3. How to wait and enjoy it (v. 20)

• Have the assurance of God’s will
• Keep occupied
• Keep your distance. 
• It was love that made Jacob wait, not love that hastened him on. 
• Learn to enjoy the person, not the physical pleasure. 

Conclusion

Philippians 4:8 

Follow a few suggestions and take some cautions, God will bless you in your courtship. 

Your choice in marriage needs to be lifelong. There is an overemphasis of the Christian act of marriage - sex. There are so many marital failures amongst Christians. 

Scripture Text

Mark 10:2-12

Main Points or Ideas

10 Suggestions 

1. Be sure that your future partner is a believer in Jesus Christ. 
2. Companionship/Common Interests 
3. You want an opposite.  
4. Find a contented and happy person. 
5. Honesty/Trustworthiness
6. Industry 
7. Intelligence 
8. Dedication to God’s Word
9. A People-Lover
10. Unselfish 

Other Comments:

1. This is a case for social dating, no romance involved (education). 

2. Look for lasting pleasure, not immediate indulgence. 

3. A diamond isn’t forever, but it is lifelong.

4. Choose, don’t just be chosen. 

5. Have patience in picking. It is important. 

• Many of the marriages made later, last longer. 
• Fewer of the marriages made hastily last. 
• It is not a good testimony when so many rings are returned. 

Conclusion

Take care in the most important choice of your Christian life. It must last. Let us exercise care in the choices we make and have some understanding of true love.

The King James Version of the Bible has lasted a long time and is poetic and beautiful.

Scripture Text

Psalm 19

Main Points or Ideas

Psalm 19 is an example of how beautiful the KJV is. 

The artistry of the language does justice to the truth therein. 

All of the Psalms are an example of the beauty of the KJV. 

The Bible is a living and moving book. 

Conclusion

Let the Scripture affect our lives like a river glorious. Let us send forth the gospel in a language that has a style. 

A lot of people with good intentions think that America will be taken over any day now. 

Scripture Texts

Revelation; Daniel 7 and 11; Matthew 25

Main Points or Ideas

1. Why is America not mentioned in prophecy?

• We are not mentioned in end times. 
• Only the countries that are mentioned in the Bible are the ones that surround Israel. 
• Why isn’t South Africa mentioned? Why isn’t Australia mentioned?
• America is not mentioned because it bears no geographical significance when it comes to the nation of Israel. 

2. What will happen in the End Times?

• Revelation ???
• Daniel 7 and 11
• Matthew 25

Conclusion

We need to do our personal part to make the gospel known around the world and help those who are less fortunate than we are through prayer and support.

What can we do to help with the greatest influence on our country?

Scripture Text

1 Chronicles 12:23

Main Points or Ideas

We want to be scriptural rather than speculative. 

What Can We Do for Our Country? (1 Chronicles 12:23)

1. We need to be informed individuals. 

• God doesn’t put a premium on ignorance. 
• God wants us to know what is going on in the world. It is important to keep yourself informed. 
• Individuals who have comprehension of the circumstances of our nation and the conviction to do something about it. 

2. We should be discerning disciples (Matthew 16).

• They asked for an irrefutable sign that Jesus was the Savior. But they already had so many different signs. 
• We have no way of knowing the Savior’s second timing, but they could have had knowledge of the Savior’s first coming. 
• We fail to see the signs of the times. 

3. We can pray for our country (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

• Prayer for kings and all those who are in authority over us. 
• Mention the country and its leaders every day in prayer. 
• Above all, pray. 
• We are in the mess that we are in today because Christians have not prayed for our nation as we should have. 

4. We need to honor the king (1 Peter 2:17).

• We respect our president and our nation because they have God-given authority. 
• Romans 13:1-5
• They are servants of God. 
• We can and we should disagree with them, but we must do it respectfully. 
• We need to repudiate anarchy. 

5. We must live righteous lives (Proverbs 14:34). 

• Righteousness is a personal matter. 
• The more believers you have in a nation the more righteous that nation is and the more Christ will exalt it. 
• We must practice righteousness and be men and women of righteousness. 
• We should be messengers of reconciliation. 

Conclusion

The best way for us to help our nation is to be informed individuals, discerning disciples, praying patriots, committed citizens, and spiritual saints. 

America’s greatness is because of our ties with Israel. 

Scripture Texts

Genesis 12:3; Deuteronomy 32:8-11; Psalm 122:6

Main Points or Ideas

Israel turns to the United States for help. 

We are blessed because of our treatment of God’s chosen people. 

The main reason for God’s abundant blessing for our nation is because of Genesis 12:3. 

Israel is at the center of the world. 

Since we as a nation have helped Israel, God in return has helped us. 

Israel is the apple of God’s eye. 

Conclusion

If we want to have a part in the blessings that God has promised to those who love the apple of His eye, then we need to remember the words of Psalm 122:6. We need to pray daily for the peace of Israel.

This message is a continuation of Dr. Nettleton's message on December 28, 1975.

Scripture Text

Matthew 5:31-32

Main Points or Ideas

Care After Getting Married 

- You lost one kind of freedom to gain a better kind. 

- It is good to be trusted and be able to trust one another in this matter. 

1. Give more emphasis to being the right partner than finding the right partner. 

• Marriage is just as much a matter of being the right person than finding the right person. 

2. Communicate

• The natural reaction is always to defend yourself how apparent the fault may be. 
• Be swift to hear and slow to speak. 
• Everyone will find it difficult to accept criticism graciously. 
• Learn to communicate. 
• A right relationship will depend on good communication. 
3. Worship Together
• Go to the same church - the man should lead 
• Worship in the home together. 
• Families that pray together, stay together 
4. Live and Let Live within the Marriage Relationship
• There are no two people that think exactly alike. 

5. Take Your Scriptural Place 

• Accept your role that is defined for you in the Bible. 
• God’s way is better and happier. 
• God is not cruel but kind, not foolish but wise. 

6. Avoid Two Great Problems 

• Sex and Money 
• We are to practice moderation in all things. 
• Love moderately and live modestly. 
• You will avoid the trouble of indebtedness and arguing about things on the other side and you will find yourselves happy. 

Conclusion

If you sign a marriage contract and give your solemn word orally that you will abide by that partner until death do you part then you solemnly resolve to be a man and a woman of your word no matter what. Once you enter into that binding agreement, you resolve in your heart that no matter what develops you pledged and promised and swore and witnessed in front of others that the idea of divorce will never enter your mind and if it does that by the grace of God you will cast it out.

You should determine to stay together to obey the Word of God, your word of promise to another and your example in front of others. Even if you do have ample cause for divorce, he encourages you to forgive and try to make amends and not divorce. 

Christ is not contradicting the law of God given through Moses. 

Scripture Texts

Matthew 5:17-19, 31-32; Deuteronomy 24:1

Main Points or Ideas

1. Cause for Divorce

• You are heading for divorce because you haven’t chosen well
• Deuteronomy 24:1
• The only cause for divorce was fornication or moral uncleanness

2. Caution for Getting Married in the First Place 

• Don’t fall in love with love
• Be selective
• Don’t rush it
• The length of courtship 
• Consider the contract

3. Care After You Get Married 

Conclusion

God values marriage and desires that divorce would never happen.

This is the season of growth. 

Scripture Text

Philippians 3:10-14

Main Points or Ideas

Paul writes as though he is only beginning his growth. 

Our goal should be like Paul’s: to know Christ and the power of His grace and resurrection. 

Conclusion

Set some summer goals to serve the Lord.