Fight The Good Fight Of Faith Series

When you have friends over for dinner, what are the 2 topics you’re not suppose to bring up?

Unless you’re looking for a fight, it is not a good idea to bring up politics or religion while you’re having dinner with friends; and those fights many times ruin relationships! Does God say anything relating to this? Let’s listen to God’s Word…

Please open your Bibles to the First Letter to Timothy….

We have noted so far at the beginning of this first letter that Timothy, who we Christians today are to follow, was to lead and teach about the Gospel of Christ, rebuke false teachers, share the truth in love, and not be surprised with struggles and persecutions! We Christians have been given the honor to represent God! Christians are to be Ambassadors for Jesus Christ who is in heaven above!

And so, may I suggest, unless truly necessary, we should avoid pollical conversations! But as Christians, we are to talk about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whenever we can! We know we are to share the truth in love (we discussed this a few weeks back); what else can we learn from God through Paul and Timothy? Read along with me 1 Timothy 1:18-20…

In v18 we can note 3 things:

a. It does not tell us specifically how Paul knew about Timothy’s future (perhaps God told him) but it was clear that Timothy was growing in his faith to be a minister for Christ.

And so, b. Paul continued to disciple Timothy by giving him further instructions.

c. The expected result of God’s instructions, through Paul, to Timothy, was to fight the good fight! This is the main calling for all Christians; to fight the good fight, even during casual gatherings with relatives and friends.

What is this good fight?

V19: The good fight is to hold on to faith and a good conscience! A godly good fight is not about defeating someone!

What can we glean from this truth “to fight the good fight”?

A “fight” was expected for Timothy as he was growing in his faith and ministering for Christ! The word fight here from the original Greek actually means “to serve as a soldier in battle”!

And so we can note that:

1. Timothy (and all who have growing faith in Jesus Christ) was/are in a battle, a spiritual battle for the truth!

2. Timothy (and again all Christians) was/are to be a soldier in a spiritual battle!

What is a soldier? We can note in 2 Timothy 2:3 that Timothy was called to be a soldier of Jesus Christ! Again, the original biblical word for soldier is to serve as a soldier in battle. Timothy was a soldier who had a duty to obey his Lord Jesus Christ and fight like a warrior for the cause of Christ!

And let us note the truths stated at the end of our passage this morning; God place it there for a reason… read v19b-20 again with me…..

V19b-20: Some people may initial state a faith in Christ, but never persevered in it and didn’t grow that faith, even to the point of actually rejecting that faith in Christ eventually to be handed to Satan! There can be much debate about this but simply those people who eventually rejected a faith in Jesus Christ likely never had a genuine faith in Christ!

A genuine faith in Christ will persevere and grow that faith (with Scriptures and the Holy Spirit); that growth may be slow, but true faith means belief in spiritual growth and never rejecting Christ!

What Biblical Principles should we apply to our lives today?

1. If we truly have faith in Jesus Christ, we are called to grow our faith! Here are questions we need to ask ourselves: How’s my prayer life? Do I daily feed myself with God’s Word? Do I long to worship the Lord (especially on Sundays with other Believers)? How often do I thank God for the Gospel of Christ? Have a genuine faith in Christ, now and wherever God leads us in the future!

2. All Christians are called to fight the good fight of faith which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its continuance! To fight means “to serve as a soldier in battle”!

Christians are soldiers who have a duty to obey the Lord Jesus Christ and fight like a warrior for the Gospel of Christ! Daily report to, listen to, and obey Commander Jesus Christ! Are we doing this everyday?

And, Christians are constantly remind ourselves of the honor and privilege to be a soldier for the Lord Jesus Christ! Are we honored and thankful to be called to duty for the Lord Jesus Christ? We should be!

3. Sadly, there will be those who will turn away from the faith. Therefore, we need to encourage one another to fight the good fight of faith! This is Our assignment for the week: Answer the question “How do we encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ?” then do it and never stop!