THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

Fight the good FIGHT of FAITH, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses – 1 Timothy 6:12

Faith is for fighting, not for mere talking. Faith is not about quotations or religious piety. Faith is a veritable weapon of spiritual warfare. I Timothy 6:12 is our Commander’s instruction, charge and executive directive: “Fight the good fight of faith…” God demands that we understand this charge so clearly and accurately that we are empowered to obey and apply it practically in life. We need faith to access every blessing that God has packaged for our destinies. Faith is a mighty spiritual weapon. A spirit armed with faith goes confidently into any battle and emerges triumphant.

To fight means to do battle, to engage in conflict, struggle or wrestling. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, no human being has been exempted from fighting, either to survive or thrive. Life here on earth is a battle-field – a succession of battles from the cradle to the grave. There are battles everywhere. The world is warfare! Life is often somewhere between Genesis and Revelation: the battles of life consist of forces that resist your revelation, having been unable to stop your genesis.

The Christian life is a warfare; a wrestling against the powers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). Salvation does not mark the end of temptation, but the beginning of a great spiritual conflict; hence, the admonition: “Fight the good fight of faith…” (1Tim.6:12). The Christian contends with three principal enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. All three exert powerful influences against our standing in faith. Every believer is open to the pull of the world from without, the persuasions of the flesh from within (the remnants of the fallen nature), and Satan, the devil behind both. There is no vacuum in the spirit; no room for neutrality or “sitting on the fence” (Mt.11:12). Therefore, the call to the Christian life is a military call. Spiritual warfare is inevitable for the Christian, but the one whose “obedience is complete” is sure to win (2Cor.10:6).

The fight of faith is a GOOD FIGHT, first because it is a battle that is based on love – faith works by love – it is never driven by a spirit of hate, except the hatred of SIN. Second, it is a battle fought on the platform of Peace – the Rest of Faith – not a fight of fear, ambition, competition, emotions, desperation, despair, doubts and suspicion. Moreover, the good fight of faith is a spiritual rather than fleshly fight. Finally, it is a good fight because the outcome has been pre-determined; it is a fight with a concluded victory! Our Victory has been won prior to the fight: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col.2: 15). The single victory at Calvary answers to all battles of life! Faith-fighter are guaranteed to become Winners-on-the-Way and More-than-Conquerors (1 John 5:4-5).