Fight the Good Fight

1 Timothy 1:18–20 (NKJV) Series: The Household of God

Introduction

Church family, take your Bible and turn with me again to 1 Timothy chapter 1.

In the previous passage, Paul lifted the curtain on grace. He showed us how Christ saves sinners, transforms lives, and turns enemies of the gospel into servants of the gospel. Grace was displayed, celebrated, and crowned with worship.

But now—Paul turns from what grace does to what grace demands.

Grace saves freely, but it never leaves us passive.

The same grace that rescues us also recruits us.

And Paul now speaks directly to Timothy—not as a lecturer to a student, but as a spiritual father to a son—about the reality that ministry, faithfulness, and perseverance involve a fight.

Christianity is not a playground. It is a battlefield.

And the title of this message is: Fight the Good Fight

Reading of the Text

Let’s read together 1 Timothy 1:18–20

1 Timothy 1:18–20 NKJV

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

I. The Charge That Must Be Received

Verse 18a

“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy…”

Paul begins with the word charge.

This is not advice. It is not a suggestion. It is a solemn trust.

The gospel is not something Timothy invented—it is something entrusted to him.

Paul uses the language of stewardship (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:1–2). Timothy is not the owner of the message; he is the guardian of it.

Notice also the tenderness: “son Timothy.”

Paul combines authority with affection.

Illustration (Biblical): When Moses charged Joshua before entering the land (Deuteronomy 31:7–8), he did so publicly and personally. God’s work always passes forward through entrusted faithfulness.

Truth: Faithful ministry begins by receiving what God has already given—not redefining it.

II. The Calling That Must Be Remembered

Verse 18b

“…according to the prophecies previously made concerning you…”

Timothy’s calling had confirmation.

This does not mean Timothy was guided by mystical predictions, but that his calling was:

Recognized by the church (1 Timothy 4:14)

Affirmed by godly leadership

Anchored in God’s purposes

Paul reminds Timothy of this because discouragement forgets calling.

Illustration (Biblical): When Elijah fled in fear in 1 Kings 19, God did not rebuke him first—He reminded him of his calling and reassigned him to the work.

Truth: Remembering God’s call fuels perseverance when opposition intensifies.

III. The Conflict That Must Be Fought

Verse 18c

“…that by them you may wage the good warfare…”

Paul now shifts metaphors—from stewardship to soldiery.

The Christian life, especially Christian leadership, involves warfare.

Not a war of violence, but of truth, faith, endurance, and obedience.

This warfare is called good because:

The cause is righteous

The enemy is real

The outcome is eternal

Scripture repeatedly affirms this reality:

Ephesians 6:12 – We wrestle against spiritual forces

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 – Weapons are spiritual, not carnal

2 Timothy 4:7 – Paul himself finishes as a soldier

Illustration (Historical/Biblical): Roman soldiers were trained never to drop their shield. A fallen shield exposed the soldier and endangered others. Likewise, believers cannot afford casual faith in a hostile world.

Truth: Grace saves us into a fight, not away from one.

IV. The Conscience That Must Be Guarded

📖 Verse 19a

“Having faith and a good conscience…”

Faith and conscience must travel together.

Faith anchors what we believe. Conscience governs how we live.

When conscience is violated repeatedly, it becomes dull (cf. 1 Timothy 4:2 “2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” ).

Paul himself lived with this awareness:

“I strive always to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16 “16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” ).

Illustration (Biblical): David’s conscience smote him even for cutting Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:5 “5 Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.” ). A tender conscience is evidence of spiritual health.

Truth: You cannot fight well outwardly if your conscience is compromised inwardly.

V. The Consequence of a Rejected Conscience

Verse 19b

“…which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck…”

Shipwreck is not sudden—it is progressive.

No sailor sets out intending to crash. Neglect, drift, and ignored warnings lead to disaster.

Scripture repeatedly warns of spiritual drift:

Hebrews 2:1 – “Lest we drift away”

Proverbs 4:23 – Guard the heart

1 Corinthians 10:12 – Take heed lest you fall

Illustration (Biblical): In Acts 27, Paul warned of shipwreck before it happened. Ignoring truth never removes consequences.

Truth: Faith collapses after conscience is rejected—not before.

VI. The Discipline That Aims at Restoration

Verse 20

“Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander…”

Paul names names—not to shame, but to warn.

False teaching is never abstract—it affects real people.

Paul says he “delivered them to Satan,” echoing 1 Corinthians 5:5. This refers to removal from church protection—not hatred, but loving discipline.

The purpose is clear:

“…that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

Discipline is not punitive—it is redemptive (cf. Galatians 6:1 “1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” ; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 “14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” ).

Illustration (Biblical): God disciplines His children because He loves them (Hebrews 12:6–11). A church that never disciplines does not truly love.

Truth: Love sometimes confronts in order to restore.

Conclusion & Pastoral Appeal

Paul’s message to Timothy is clear:

The gospel is a trust

The calling is confirmed

The fight is real

The conscience must be guarded

Drift leads to disaster

Discipline aims at restoration

And the charge still stands today.

Church family, we are not called to be spectators. We are called to be faithful soldiers.

“Therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).

Fight—not with anger, but with faith. Fight—not with pride, but with purity. Fight—not for victory, but from victory in Christ.

Grace saved you—but now grace calls you to stand.

Amen.