There has always been a battle between light and darkness.

Satan hates God and fights against his work.

It is vital that God's people recognize their place in this conflict

and are equipped for spiritual warfare in our day. Let's join Scott Pauli now

as we open God's word and prepare for the front lines. I am told that the knights of old were

marked by two characteristics. In fact, these were the two

traits that were looked for in great soldiers. They were fierceness and gentleness.

Let that sink in for just a moment. The fierceness we understand, they're fighting, they're

warriors,

but gentleness? In fact, that's exhibited in the life of the great warrior King David. Here's a man ready for the battle, a man who is willing to shed blood if need be, and yet the sweet

psalmist of Israel, the man after God's own heart, a man who could weep, a man who could worship, and

in the greatest soldier of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, oh, what a, what a willingness to endure

hardness and suffer and sacrifice, and yet the meekness and gentleness of Jesus Christ.

We come back today to 2nd Timothy chapter 2, and we've been looking at the opening part of this Christ. We come back today to 2nd Timothy chapter 2,

and we've been looking at the opening part of this chapter.

We've seen this soldier who must endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,

but I want to draw your attention to the end of 2 Timothy chapter 2 today.

Beginning in verse number 24, the Bible says,

And the servant of the Lord must not strive.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I thought we were in a fight. Oh, yes, we're in a fight. We're fighting

against the devil. We're fighting against this world and we're fighting against our own flesh,

but listen to the rest of it. He must not strive, but be gentle unto all men,

...