Fight the Good Fight
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Introduction:
Introduction:
1Timothy 6:
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.
Timothy has to choose
“Now as then the truth demands a verdict.” —John Stott
Command a military word...”it conveys a sense or urgent obligation.” —John Stott
Timothy was given an order
Timothy was given an order
“Certainly to defend the revealed truth of God against those who deny or distort it, and to ‘demolish strongholds’ of error, is to engage in dangerous and difficult fight, which demands spiritual weapons, especially ‘the sword of the Spirit’, which is the word of God.’” —John Stott
Its an order not an option
Two choices - obey or disobey
“Now as then the truth demands a verdict.” —John Stott
Command a military word...”it conveys a sense or urgent obligation.” —John Stott
The order gives one’s assignment in the Church - This charge I commit to you
The great order, declaring the glorious gospel, determines the assigned orders
Declaring the glorious gospel
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Its an order not an option
Two choices - obey or disobey
Everyone has an assignment
Taking personal responsibility for the assignment
Taking personal responsibility for the assignment
Following the instructions of the assignment
Might include location
Might include type of ministry
The order comes from an authority - son Timothy
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
1 Timothy 1:
The order comes with the ability to fulfill it - according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them
The order comes with specific instructions - you may wage the good warfare
An order can either be obeyed or disobeyed, it can not be considered an option
An order once assigned leaves the individual with the personal responsibility to fulfill it
The order was Timothy’s purpose for being in Ephesus
The main objective of his order was to defend the truth against false doctrine and error
Understanding the order is
Understanding the order is
Remain in Ephesus with the purpose of defending the truth
The truth that promotes faith and love
The truth of the glorious gospel to which Paul had been entrusted and had experienced its life changing power
Taking personal responsibility to fulfill the order - I commit
Timothy was equipped to fulfill the order
Understand:
The responsibility is an order not an option - This charge
Defend the truth
The importance of the order entrusted - I commit to you
Defend the truth
Declare the truth
Declare the truth
Declare the truth
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Prophecies
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Timothy was given a warning
Timothy was given a warning
Protect
Faith (Apostolic faith) is objective
Good conscience is subjective
“Thus belief and behavior, conviction and conscience, the intellectual and moral, are closely linked.” —John Stott
Failure
Failure