Posts Tagged ‘good fight’

Scripture reading for October 25th: 2nd Timothy 4:1-22

Paul’s  closing instructions to Timothy encouraged this young pastor to use a simple strategy of ministry.  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage– with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn to myths.” (2nd Timothy 4:2-4)  There is never a season when the Word of God will not be appropriate.  The Word is the complete prescription for correcting and encouraging the people of God.  It is full of sound doctrine and if patiently taught is able to save and equip people for works of service and prepare them for the coming of the Lord.

However, in the last days, many will not receive sound doctrine.  They want to design their own god and make their own spiritual program.  People will find teachers that will tickle their ears with things that sound good to them, but are really false doctrines of demons.  This teaching will only lead to bondage and death.  Timothy was to keep his eyes on the Lord and the Word and fully preach the Word.

Paul, knew that his departure was near.  He was ready to meet the Lord.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2nd Timothy 4:7-8)  Paul was soon to face the guillotine.  He spoke of being poured out like a drink offering!  Yet he also knew by faith that his head would wear a crown in glory!   His journey through life was a fight of faith.   He had finished well and was expecting a reward from his Lord!

Paul’s attitude and final instructions to Timothy model for those who are still in the fight the way to victory.  Death brings reward, and is nothing for the Christian to fear.  We must continue to preach the Word and live by faith!  The best is yet to come!

Scripture reading for December 7th: 1 Timothy 4-6

Do you sometimes feel that you are fighting to keep your focus on the goal of seeing Jesus Christ either when He comes or when you go to be with Him?  Do the things of this world compete for your attention and sometimes derail your focus?  Timothy, a young pastor, was encouraged to wage a “good fight” by the great Apostle Paul.  What does this “good fight” look like today?

In Timothy’s day, as ours, one of the distractions happened to be money and riches.  There were those who got caught in the pursuit of riches and wealth and were never content.  The love of money became a driving force.  As people let the love of money drive them and their choices, they fell into temptation and the trap of the Devil.  This opened the door in their lives for ruin and destruction!  (1 Timothy 6:6-10)  Some had wandered from the faith and brought grief into their lives!

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith.  Take hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12

Paul encouraged his young pastoral protege to flee from this trap of the Devil.  He was to pursue righteousness and all the qualities of godliness.  We get what we pursue and focus on!   The question for us is this: where is our focus?  What kind of fight are we really involved in?  Is it a fight of faith or for money and material things?

The strategy for those who do have money and are rich in the things of this world is to fight the fight of faith by generous giving!  (1 Timothy 6:17-19)  Timothy was to be faithful to warn them not to put their faith in riches.  Riches are very uncertain and can soon vanish or become worthless, particularly when you die.  The only way to insure eternal value is to use your riches to win people to the Lord.  A firm foundation for the future of life with the Lord will be eternal riches of those won to the Kingdom through generous giving!

“Timothy, guard what has be entrusted to your care.  Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21

The war we are in is waged in every-day living.  We must always be on guard.  Some claim knowledge that is opposed to God’s word.  We must know the true word of God and live accordingly to keep from being seduced.  Fight the fight of faith in your life today!  We win eternally!