Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Many forget the fact that being a Christian is a struggle, a real fight. Many “Christians” portray an attitude that says since they have been faithful for a time, they will now rest on their laurels and wait for God to “take them home.” Sadly, such people are deceiving themselves. This will not happen. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “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). While we want to enjoy times of peace and calm, let us not forget that the life of a Christian is one of fighting and turmoil against Satan (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Since this is true, let us look to the Bible and find what will help us “fight the good fight of faith.”

Humility

There is no question that if we wish to please God we must be humble. Jesus taught that only by being as humble as a child can we hope for a home in Heaven (Matthew 18:3-4). Similarly, Peter wrote, “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6). Peter was inspired of God to teach that it is not up to us to exalt ourselves, but God will exalt His faithful. Solomon teaches that “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Also, “…before honour is humility” (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12). How humble are we?

Prayer

Prayer is desperately needed if we wish to fight the good fight of faith. Throughout the Bible, we read of those great faith heroes who spent time in prayer. Daniel certainly stands out as a great example of a faithful and prayerful person (Daniel 6:10). When he knew that he could lose his life for praying to God, he refused to give in! Jesus also taught men the importance of prayer in Luke 18:1-8. He taught that, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Paul echoed Christ when writing about prayer and telling the brethren to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is essential if we want to please God. We must talk to God regularly if we hope to have the strength to fight against Satan.

Devotion To Christ

If we are going to fight the good fight of faith, we need to be devoted to the cause of Christ! The word devotion means, “a strong attachment to apply time or oneself completely to some purpose or cause” (Webster’s). The apostle Paul stands out as a great example of devotion. Please read his words in II Corinthians 12:15. He wrote, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” His devotion toward Christ and other Christians was amazing. He told the Corinthians that he would gladly “spend” his time, strength, and life for their well-being. He would also “be spent.” This means he would exhaust himself and wear himself out in his labors in order to get souls to Heaven by teaching God’s word. As we think about fighting the good fight of faith, we need to be like the apostle Paul and be a devoted people, committed completely to Christ!

Reading The Bible

When we don’t read and study our Bible, we will fail in the fight of faith. Paul teaches, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,” and “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (Ephesians 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:15). Reading the Bible provides spiritual food for our soul. We understand that if a soldier won’t eat, he will die. Likewise, when a soldier of the cross does not “eat” the spiritual bread and drink the water of life, he will die spiritually (John 4:10; 6:35, 48). Let us work to take advantage of our opportunities to read and study God’s word on a daily basis. If we do not read and study God’s word daily, we have our priorities in the wrong place! The Bible says, “Blessed is he that readeth” (Revelation 1:3). What should a man’s attitude be toward God’s word? “His delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Let us strengthen and fill up our souls on the word of God so we will be able to fight the good fight of faith!

Don’t Let The Devil Run Your Life

Many today are allowing Satan to run their lives! All too often, people allow Satan to run their lives by simply doing nothing. They think that they can put off believing in the Lord, repenting of sins and being baptized for the remission of sins (2 Corinthians 6:2; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Yet, when we choose not to make a decision, the decision is made! Satan can see the smallest opportunity, and will take his opportunity to discourage us from becoming a Christian if he has the chance.

Wouldn’t it be great to know what defeats Satan? Wouldn’t it be great to know what we can do to keep Satan from running our lives? We can know, and in fact, it has been revealed what we can do. James says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:7-8). Obeying these things is key to defeating Satan.

Conclusion

Let us not to give up in this fight. There are too many soldiers of the cross falling due to Satan’s “fiery darts” (Ephesians 6:16). “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Let us never forget to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12).