Why We Fight the Good Fight

So tonight is the last part of our series on 1 Timothy. Some of tonight's passage is a review of what we have been talking about the last few weeks. We may briefly talk about those things at the end of class tonight, but for the most part tonight we will focus on verses 12 and 16.

This is War

Verse 12 we see fight mentioned twice along with faith. The beginning says “Fight the good fight of the faith.” I think their are some important takeaways from this passage. Primarily that the Christian life is not an easy one. It is a battle that needs to be waged well. Paul just described it as the fight of the faith. The ESV Bible Commentary says:

Believing in Christ is a fight. It is a bona fide struggle. There will be many trials that will tempt the “man of God” to abandon faith in Christ.

So getting saved does not mean life is gonna be a walk in the park. It is still gonna be a fight, but you will be on the winning side and will not be fighting alone any more. Not gonna focus a lot on this point because we have covered in the weeks previous. But we need to remember it is a fight, and like we heard Sunday, when you get saved it is putting a bulls eye on your back and he is gonna be coming at you hard. The devil wants to do all he can to hurt you and try to make you turn your back on God. The story of Job always comes to mind. What did the devil do? He tore Job’s life up.

Job 1:13-17 all Job’s animals are killed or taken from him.

Job 1:18-19 all Job’s kids are killed.

Job 2:7-8 Job’s health is attacked.

So the devil was able to mess with Job’s possessions, the life’s of his children, and with Job’s health. Does this sound like a easy life or one free from struggle? It does not.

Job faced struggle and had to fight through even when people around him gave bad advice or given up on the situation (Job 2:9-10).

The devil is a ruthless enemy who does not mind plundering, killing, or using biological warfare to make your life miserable.

But he is a defeated enemy that is powerless against God. How was the devil able to do all He did to Job?

Only reason the devil could attack Job was God removed the hedge of protection form around Job (Job 1:9-12)

The devil can only do what God allows him to do.

Why does God allow the devil to do bad things?

Know regardless of what happens God has a plan to work it out for good for those who trust in Him (Romans 8:28). It is hard sometimes to wrap our minds around why God does what He does, but we know God is a God of His word. And He does not lie. He gives us eternal hope, and we must cling to that. if you are having doubts or struggles, talk to me, or leave a note and we will talk about those struggles.

What are some keys to fighting the good fight?

Who is God?

Who do you say God is?

Who is God?

I know that is a simple question, but also such a deep question with so much we can answer it with. But tonight we are going to focus on verse 16 and discuss what we can learn from it about the characteristics of God. But it is important for us to know who He is if we are waging spiritual warfare under His name.

How crazy would someone look if they were asked about who or the cause they were fighting for or making a stand for and they stuttered or were unsure about the person they were fighting for?

Immortality

What does immortality mean?

Dictionary of Theological Terms Immortality

1. God’s immortality is true eternity. He is without beginning or end. His is a necessary immortality.

2. The immortality ascribed to creatures is everlasting continuance in existence. They had a beginning, and by the mere good pleasure of His will, God has constituted them immortal. This is a contingent immortality (not to be confused with the false theory of conditional immortality*). It does not belong to their constitution by necessity but by divine appointment.

God was, is, and always will be immortal. God has always existed. I know that is mind boggling and hard to wrap our minds around. But since you have been born your life has revolved around time. Time helps define about anything around us in this world. Our minds have trouble separating from the concept of time. But what are the first words we here in the Bible? In the beginning.

Time was created.

One of the first things God created in designing this linear universe was time. While God exist within our timeline He also exist outside of it and has always. If no time exist the laws of beginnings and endings are nonexistent. God is incapable of dying.

Unapproachable Light

Does this mean God is a distant God that we have nothing to do with? No, from our relationship with Him and reading the whole of His word we know in many ways He is a very approachable God. So let us break down this phrase and unpack the meaning

Unapproachable

When you look into the meaning of the Greek word here you get a little deeper understanding

Unapproachable (ἀπρόσιτος)- incapable of being penetrated or reached

As we gonna see in a bit light refers to glory. So one this glory is incapable of being penetrated. In other words we can do nothing to tarnish God’s glory. We cannot persuade God to act contrary to who is. God is glory filled and that fact will never change. There is no accusation that i can throw at God that will defame Him

Light

1 John 1:5 ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Revelation 21:23 ESV

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

So these two scriptures make it evident that light represents God, specifically light. Sin (darkness) cannot exist in the presence of God. Darkness flees from light.

God dwells in a state of glorified being that we are incapable of measuring up to. Romans 3:23 shows us we will always fall short trying to reach the mark of God’s glory. The mark (bullseye) of God’s glory that is unattainable to us. The level of glory we reach in heaven is only capable because of who God is and what He has done.

No One Has Ever Seen

When you read this, you are thinking wait a minute, what about all those times in the OT that God appeared before people and spoke. You look at all those instances it was never a direct look or revelation. It was glimpses of God’s glory. Moses came close in Exodus 33:18-20

Exodus 33:18–20 ESV

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

Think about what would happen if you steadily stared at the sun you would go blind. God’s glory is must brighter than the sun.

You stare straight into God you will be so overwhelmed, you would die.

Scripture gives us glimpses of God. God has given glimpses of Himself throughout history, but no human being has fully been able to look upon God while on this earth.

Honor

Honor is to what value is given. All value is given to God.

Everything owes its being to God, apart from God we would be nonexistent.

God gives meaning to life

Eternal Dominion

Dominion means controlling power

The eternal controlling power is God’s. What did God create the universe with? He spoke it into existence. If God created everything we see and don’t see by just speaking, He can control it all with his voice. If God wills something we are powerless to stop it. When we recognize the magnitude of God’s power and how powerless we are, it fills you with an overwhelming amount of gratitude. God’s race makes you thankful God has chosen to redeem us and to reach out to us. God has always been and control and always will be. There will never be a “god” out there bigger than God. Satan led 1/3 of the angles trying to overthrow God. How did that work. They were cast out and damned. Do you realize how big God is and how small we are. God is not restrained by the dimensional laws we are restrained by.

Review

Tonight we are wrapping up a 10 week study on the book of 1 Timothy. To see what you learned I got some questions from all over this series.

1 Timothy 1:1-2- Importance of godly mentors

Mentoring pushes you to learn

We mentor under the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit

1 Timothy 1:3-11- being vigilant of false teachings

A true teacher’s character reflects the fruit of the Spirit

1 Timothy 1:12-20- preparing for spiritual warfare

Testimony should be Christ centered not you centered

1 Timothy 2- four keys to successful warfare

A strong church helps build strong faith

1 Timothy 3:14-16- discussed what the mystery of godliness was

Worship don’t worry (Philippians 4:6-7)

Your environment should not dictate if you defend the truth

1 Timothy 4:1-5- the root of false teachings and the problem of evil

Demons promote lies and know they can lead the most astray by promoting lies based on a little truth or twisting of the truth.

1 Timothy 4:6-16- why theology matters

Theology means the study or science of God.

What is the key to understanding theology? Holy Spirit

1 Timothy 5- interacting with the family of God

A healthy church lifts one another up with Scripture.

Ministry flows from God to the individual to the family to the church family and then to the world.

1 Timothy 6:1-10- discussed the danger of discontentment

Like all sin the journey to discontentment is an active journey with plenty of chances to turn around.

Who should capture our hearts? Jesus