Lesson Outline for Sep 17, 2026
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Goal – Understand Christian Soldiers are in active battle. We are instructed to operate by God’s rules in warfare Code of Conduct – we are expected to submit to Him, resist the enemy and escape from the enemy’s snares and will
- What does a “code of conduct” (CoC) mean to you?
- Do you think we are in a battle with demonic forces?
- Do you think you are included in the battle?
- What CoC do you go by on the battlefield?
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- jailer #G930 “basanistes” torturer, one who elicits information by torment, brings anguish, torment, distress
- soldier #G4757 “stratiotes” a soldier, champion of Christ, member of an army, fellow soldier, spiritual conflict, one who endures the hardships of Christ; #G4754 “strateuo” soldier in active service, to fight, do military duty, lead soldiers in battle
The green is the author’s notations in the verses below. Bold text added for emphasis
Believers in Christ Jesus are to be good soldiers
Soldiers submit to authority and resist the enemy
2 Tim 2:3-4 ESV – “3 Share in suffering as a good soldier (stratiotes) of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier (strateuo) gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him (commander).”
- Christian soldiers, like the US servicemembers – humble themselves, submit to a new authority, a new way of life, give up freedoms, get a new ID, clothing, new laws/rules, instructions, thinking pattern, receive discipling
- Soldiers develop soul-bonds; David and Jonathan – fellowship, accord and communion
- Move from parade field to battlefield – moving & leading others in active warfare
- Comport themselves by a Code of Conduct
You have been commissioned
And if commissioned, given authority
Matt 28:18-20 ESV – “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.“
Mark 16:14-18 ESV – “14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.“”
- What is the purpose of a military officer’s commission?
- What comes with a commission?
- Remember the lesson on a Christian’s authority https://advancefreedomministry.com/2025/07/01/introduction-to-a-believers-authority/
- Also lesson on “Commissioned” – https://advancefreedomministry.com/2025/07/01/commissioned/
You have a Code of Conduct
To operate on the battlefield and keep you from being captured by the enemy
James 4:7 ESV – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
2 Tim 2:25-26 ESV – “25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
Matt 18:34 ESV – “And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.”
- God gave Israelites “Laws of Warfare” Deut 20
- In the natural (aka physical) realm/1st heaven there are warfare laws – Int’l Laws, Geneva, Laws of Armed Conflict, etc
- The US Military CoC – Keeping faith, trust, free will, resist the enemy – trust in God
- Compare Captors / Demon – use like methods, means and ends – 1st battleground is your mind
- Use – isolation, abandonment, fear, gain control, dependency, mind games, deceit, friendly approach, loneliness, work on their behalf, confuse you to accomplish their cause, indoctrinate, break down beliefs/faith, trust, helplessness, hopelessness, ungodly control, depression, heaviness,
- To – achieve their goals – exploit, concessions, exploit, disrupt/delay/destroy God’s mission/purpose for your life, weaken God’s human army, break moral, come to nothing, trap you, exchange God’s will for you into their will – to kill, steal and destroy the abundant life God has for us
- Jesus Christ, His truth, His Way is our rescue force
Discussion topics for you this week at home or with others regarding a Christian soldier’s CoC: 1) How have you felt trapped, snared or doing the enemy’s will? 2) What areas are you not submitting to your “Commander”? 3) Soldiers endure hardships, testing and trials for what purposes? When do we stop resisting and confronting the enemy? 4) Have you noticed an increase to your spiritual perimeter?
Last thoughts and considerations
- We are soldiers in God’s army on earth- we never stop resisting the enemy
- Good soldiers submit to their commander; Jesus Christ is worthy of all our submission
- Jesus Christ has commissioned us for this fight and it lasts a lifetime
- God supports us w/ His holy angels – the battle is His
- Jesus Christ opens the prisons bringing healing and freedom
- Fight and live by God’s code of conduct – submit to God, resist the enemy and make the enemy flee
Additional verses for self-study
Isa 61:1-3 ESV – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”
1 Pet 5:6-10 ESV – “6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
1 Sam 17:46-47 ESV – “46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.“
United States Armed Forces Code of Conduct
President Eisenhower by EO 10631 Aug 17, 1955 – Every member of the Armed Forces of the United States are expected to measure up to the standards embodied in the Code of Conduct while in combat or in captivity. It’s a legal and ethical framework governing how a service member must act in battle and captivity.
I
I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
- We are fighting in God’s forces, advancing His Kingdom – spiritually
- We are living sacrifices – laying down our lives for Jesus Christ, for His Way of Life
- “Conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…, even unto death” Rev 12:10
II
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
- We submit our will to God’s will for our lives
- We never surrender to the enemy; we don’t fight alone
- Men we will not surrender our families – we resist and teach them to resist the enemy
III
If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
- We must resist and escape – it’s a mindset, a will
- We never give up
- We assist / aid others – confront STPs
- We don’t accept favors / or parole – ungodly strongholds or ungodly relationship
IV
If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me, and will back them up in every way.
- We move in faith, and lead others to increase their faith
- We don’t harm others, teach / lead them in not harming themselves or others
V
When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
- Self-curses / oaths – don’t give the enemy more to work with
- Our words matter – gossip, slander, corrupt talk, sarcasm, crude joking, rivalries, dissension
- The enemy sees, hears us and knows us – But,they’re not stronger than Jesus Christ and His holy angels – God sees, hears and knows us, He created us
VI
I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
- We fight from victory for freedom
- We are held responsible for our actions / words
- We are dedicated and trust in our Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
