Fight The Good Fight

March 29, 2021

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate.

~I Timothy 6:12‭-‬13~

There is a strong expectation of one who follows Christ to fight and stand with Him no matter what comes our way. This chapter in 1 Timothy is one of my favorites to read over and over again. Reminders of how not to fall into traps of this world, how not to speak to others and how to stand strong for our Lord Jesus Christ, just as He stood strong for us. Making a commitment to Christ means looking abnormal to the world. It turns us into a target. We should be ready for many questions that come our way; "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (I Peter 3:15)

Humbly expressing our passion for God in a way that Jesus Himself did so, as He stood before Pontius Pilate, He confessed all truth with meekness knowing what would come out of it. He never wavered from truth. As we imitate Jesus we are to do the same, even if we stand before one who may want to take our lives for it. We are in God's hands.

"For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice."

(Psalms 95:7)

We should be ready to fight the attacks of the enemy when it comes at us, because it will my friends, we are all in a spiritual battle everyday we follow the Lord. "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Ephesians 6:16)

The attacks may come at you through a friend, a co worker, a health issue or mental incapacity. The devil knows exactly what will make all of us tick and he is always looking for a way to do so. Let us be guarded in our faith everyday and be ready to fight back.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." (II Corinthians 10:4)

We should be ready to hold on to the right thought patterns in our minds just as Jesus did. Whatever we think on, that will come out of our mouth and that we will produce in our hearts. "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (Matthew 15:18)

If we begin to think only on the word of God, the love of Jesus and we remind ourselves all day long of these positive truths; there will be no room for defilement within us. We will begin to fight with our words just as Jesus did in the wilderness when the devil tried to get Him to fall away from the truth. "But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4)

Jesus said it Himself, God's word is our lifeline, it allows us to live properly and efficiently. Without thinking the thoughts of Christ we will be lost in our own fleshly thoughts, being vulnerable to an opening for satan to come in and twist it to match his thoughts. We will be more prone to deception and false knowledge. "The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless."

(Proverbs 22:12)

Let us be wise in how we think and speak. It is a fight in our mind each day. Let us put on the mind of Christ; (see 1 Corinthians 2:16).

We are in a faith that is a fight, whether we want to admit it or not; that is what we signed up for. We can either be on the opposing side, being in a fight and bondage or on the side of the winning King and be guided by the only One who will defeat in battle. Once we can accept that we are in warefare that is not merely physical, but rather unseen, we can guard ourselves with the truth and tactics God has taught us.

These words of Jesus speak beautifully;

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." (Luke 11:21‭-‬23)

Let us be fully armed and ready everyday we wake up in this wonderful creation with a breath of fresh air given to us by the Almighty God. Let us guard what is ours in Christ and be ready for any firey dart that comes our way and be able to stand against it. Let us stand with Jesus to the very end just as He stood for God to the end as He approached Pontius Pilate without any concern, knowing that He was right where He was supposed to be; trusting in the Father's perfect will for Him. That is where we need to be each day. Letting go of what we believe is the right will for our lives and surrendering all to Jesus, fighting the good fight of faith till we go Home to be with Him eternally.

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you for the fight that You have placed in me through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you for the Model example I am to follow as I am hit with situations of the devil. I know I can remain strong as I put on my armor each day and stand with You, as I think on all things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and good; I will put on the mind that is in You. Thank you for the ability to fight my adversary with power that comes only from You. Lord guide me in Your strength today. Your mercy and grace wrap around me tightly. I am a child of God in a battle for You. I stand to the end with perserverance knowing that all control is in Your hands. Let the Holy Spirit lead me in what to say when that time appears and let Your Name be glorified in it. I receive this prayer and rejoice for my King is faithful to answer it. In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.