1 Timothy 6:11-21 Fight the Good Fight

Read 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Scripture: Greg Eisen

Testimony: My health report

Intro: Good Fighters

George Foreman

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul

The verb fight is from which our English word “agonize” derives.

It was used in both military and athletic contexts to describe the concentration, discipline, conviction, and effort needed to win

Good could be translated “noble,” or “excellent

The noun fight refers to the spiritual conflict with Satan’s kingdom, in which the man of God must play his Part

It is a constant battle against the flesh, the devil, and the resistance of the fallen world that loves sin and error and hates truth and holiness

Pursue Godliness vs. 11-12

The first way that we fight the good fight is to pursue Godliness

Paul calls Timothy a man of God

Although the phrase man of God is commonly used in the Old Testament, it describes only Timothy in the New

By calling his young protege a man of God, Paul places Timothy into that rich Old Testament tradition. He, like those before him, was called, ordained, and responsible to preach the Word of God

He is to flee from false teaching and pursuit of money

He is to run towards spiritual virtue

If he stops, what is behind him (sin) will catch him, and he will miss his goal of holiness

Righteousness: Do what is right in relation to both God and Man

His lifestyle is marked by obedience to God’s Word

Godliness has to do with the attitudes and motives

Righteousness looks to outward behavior, godliness has to to our inner attitude

Refers to reverence for God flowing out of a heart of worship

These two are central to a Christian’s power and usefulness

Faith is simply confident trust in God for everything. It involves loyalty to the Lord and unwavering confidence in His power, purpose, plan, provision, and promise

Love

Agape

Perseverance means “to remain under.” It does not describe a passive, fatalistic resignation, but a victorious, triumphant, unswerving loyalty to the Lord in the midst of trials

enables the man of God to stick with the task, no matter what the cost

Gentleness means kindness or meekness

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

Trust in Sovereign God vs. 13-16

The second way that we fight the good fight is to Trust in a Sovereign God

God’s sovereignty refers to his absolute and unrivaled rule over all his creatures and their circumstances.

When we trust in a sovereign God we see him taking care of things… protecting us

Romans 8:31 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Isaiah 54:17 ESV

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

Let me show you five ways that God is sovereign

vs. 13 Gives life to all things

God is sovereign because he gives life to all things

We can trust God because he is the creator and gives us life

vs. 14 Jesus is Coming Back

God is sovereign because He is sending His son back to rule and reign over the earth

He will

vs. 15 King of Kings

God is sovereign because one day Jesus will reign as king of kings

Revelation 20:4 ESV

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

vs. 16 Immortal who dwells in unapproachable light

God is sovereign because he alone is immortal

Revelation 15:8 ESV

and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Be Rich in Good Works vs. 17-19

The final way that we fight the good fight is to be rich in good works

Paul one last time hits the issue of wealth

Last week we saw that the desire to be rich and the love of money leads to temptation and all kinds of evil

This week Paul addresses those who are rich

The charges them not to be arrogant or set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches

Jeremiah 9:23 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,

They are to keep their hope in God

Instead they are to do good with their wealth by being generous and ready to share

This is an act of storing up treasure in heaven

Jewels in Your Crown

This is how we truly take hold of life