In 1 Timothy 6:12, the Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy with these words - "Fight the good fight of faith..."
Why would Paul instruct Timothy to "fight"? Isn't "fighting" bad? Isn't it something that Christians should avoid at all costs?
Suppose Timothy was opposed to the idea of "fighting." Suppose his entire personality and character was against conflict of any sort.
Read what the Great Texts Of The Bible had to say on this - "Everybody is fighting, some for wealth, some for place and power. Many a pitiful contest is being waged in the world. Here is the one noble conflict in which the honest warrior will ultimately triumph, and in which completest satisfaction will be his."
The Sermon Bible Commentary added this comment - "The question, therefore, is not whether we shall fight, but what for, and on whose side - on that of Jesus, Whose award is life, or on that of sin, whose wages is death. Now, with regard to the Christian's fight, I remark (1) he has to fight against the world, (2) he has to fight against Satan."
So, knowing that everyone is "fighting" for something, we ask you - for what are you "fighting" today? On whose side are you? Are you "fighting" against the world and Satan? And with what measure of intensity?
The word of God commands every Christian to - "Fight..."
The Greek word that Paul used here is to agonize. Hence, he was representing the Christian life as an intense struggle, conflict or warfare - an active effort against evil. In no way is it to be viewed as a life of ease, idleness, and laziness.
The Biblical Illustrator said - "War is a terribly earnest business which will not bear to be trifled with. Of all things under the sun, this work of fighting, if it is to be done at all, is one that must be done with all our heart and mind. It is no mere holiday affair...Only certain ruin will come to those who go into it in that spirit, with a light and careless heart...it is to such a work that Paul likens the Christian life, and it is in the same earnest spirit that he would have us to deal with it."
The Biblical Illustrator also said - "Remember the maxim of the wisest general that ever lived in England - 'In time of war, it is the worst mistake to underrate your enemy, and try to make a little war.' This Christian warfare is no light matter."
Paul called it - "the good fight." It is the cause alone that makes any "fight" or warfare "good" or right. Worldly wars are more or less evil. But the battle that is for the cause of Christ is a beautiful conflict - a profitable battle.
In no way can the Christian be neutral in this righteous cause. Too much is at stake. There is ignorance to remove...injustice to arrest or redress...and conflict with corruption and opposition of the powers of darkness to bring to an end.
It is a "good fight" - fought under the best of Generals - the Leader and Commander of all believers - the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a "good fight" against the many enemies of God and Christ - one of which is the world with its subtle influence, opinion, and custom which is - for the most part - antichrist.
It is "the good fight of faith." The bottom line is that we are in a fight for our faith. The world under the dominion of Satan is seeking to wipe out Christianity from the face of the earth!
As the saying goes - "Some things are worth fighting for." So we ask you - Is your Christian faith worth fighting for?
In 1 Timothy 1:18, Paul also told Timothy - "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare."
In other words, Paul was informing Timothy that war was inevitable. What lay before him was the choice of fight or flight...be the victor or the vanquished. However if he wanted to make his salvation sure and please Him Who called him, he had no alternative but to "war." Like all Christians, he was surrounded by foes. Conflict could not be avoided and flight would be his ruin. But, he had the assurance that his aid (from God) was omnipotent and his resources were infinite.
In a sense, Paul was telling Timothy that an habitual lively faith in Christ's presence and His readiness to help was the secret of the Christian soldier fighting successfully. Believing in an unseen Jesus was his strength...the strength of the believer...and the absolute strength of the Church.
Watchman Nee explained it in this way - "Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, in Christ."
In Hebrews 11:27, it is said of Moses - "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible."
Moses persevered and bore up with invincible courage under all danger. How was this possible? By faith, he set God ever before His eyes - believing in His power and faithfulness.
Matthew Henry made this comment - "Such a sight of God will enable believers to endure to the end whatever they may meet with in the way."
What a great encouragement this is in "fighting the good fight of faith."
In John 16:33, the Lord Jesus told us - "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Jesus was saying and continues to say to the believer - "Be of good courage"! The very 'world' that is set on removing Christianity from the earth is the very 'world' that I vanquished. Through My death, burial, and resurrection, I triumphed over all that would work your ruin. That which lies in the wicked one and that which is alien from Me has been 'overcome.' "
In helping the believer "fight the good fight of faith," the Apostle John added this in 1 John 5:4 - "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
Jesus obtained a complete victory over Satan - the "god of this world" and the "ruler of the darkness of this world." Hence, He laid the foundation for a victory by His people. By simply placing their "faith" in Him and His victory at Calvary, they become victors over every attack coming from the ungodly "world."
In Zechariah 10:5, the Prophet painted a picture of the people of God that can be applied to the Church of today - "And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded."
Here Zechariah painted a picture of a people who were victorious over their enemies. They were "mighty men" - strong in body...bold in spirit...and effective men of vigor and valor. They "tread down their enemies" as "mire""in the streets." The strong force of their enemies fell and were utterly put to shame.
These people - God's people - fought - not in their own strength - but in the power of His presence. They were enabled to "fight" because the LORD was with them - giving them boldness and courage.
The same Presence of Jesus will enable you to "fight the good fight of faith" - the "good fight" of the faith...for the true faith ...for the Christian faith.
In closing, Ralph Erskine said - "Faith, without trouble or fighting, is a suspicious faith; for true faith is a fighting, wrestling faith."
"Everybody is fighting..." "The question, therefore, is not whether we shall fight, but what for, and on whose side..."
For what are you "fighting" today? Are you "fighting" to keep Christianity alive in your nation and for future generations? Are you "fighting" to stop the "world's" onslaught against the religious liberties of the Christian?
Before leaving this world, the Apostle Paul proclaimed - "I have fought a good fight..." (2 Timothy 4:7)
Will you be able to say the same?
Remember, what makes the "fight" "good" is its cause.
As Christians, have we not a "good" cause?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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