Good Warfare

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

military command. An order to be carried out. He is obligated by his commanding officer who is the Lord of Heaven’s army.

Luke 17:7–10 NASB95

7 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8 “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9 “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”

B. Because of Our Commission

1 Timothy 1:18 NASB95

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

My calling to the ministry:

The manner in which Knox became a preacher is well known. When in St Andrews’ Castle for protection, with his young charges and their parents, his tutoring took the form of a systematic study of the Gospel according to John, to which others were admitted as hearers. He was also involved in public disputations with local churchmen. This convinced the Protestant congregation within the Castle and their preacher John Rough, who felt his need of assistance, that Knox had gifts which could be well employed in the work of the gospel ministry. He tells us that, when he was urged by some of the leading men to take up the work of preaching, ‘he utterly refused, alleging that “he would not run where God had not called him”‘.

However, the congregation resolved to call him to this work and, when they were met on one occasion, Rough preached a sermon in which ‘he declared the power which a congregation, however small, had over anyone in whom they perceived gifts suited to the office, and how dangerous it was for such a person to reject the call of those who desired instruction’. Rough then addressed him:

In the name of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, and in the name of these that presently call you by my mouth, I charge you that ye refuse not this holy vocation, but, as ye tender the glory of God, the increase of Christ’s Kingdom, the edification of your brethren and the comfort of me, oppressed by the multitude of labours, that ye take upon you the public office of preaching, even as ye look to avoid God’s heavy displeasure, and desire that he shall multiply his graces upon you.2

Knox, who gives this report, records his reaction:

Whereat John Knox, abashed, burst forth in most abundant tears and withdrew himself to his chamber. His countenance and behaviour, that day till the day he was compelled to present himself to the public place of preaching, did sufficiently declare the grief and trouble of his heart; for no man saw any sign of mirth in him, neither yet had he pleasure to accompany any man for many days together.

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB95

2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

This confirmed Timothy’s rank and responsibility.

II. We Must Choose to Fight

A. Because It’s Noble

1 Timothy 1:18 NASB95

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

Fight (verb) is in the subjunctive mood. You have been commanded to fight and so you might fight or you might desert.

The fight = campaign. not a single battle, but a long expedition that will take our whole lives.

we get our word strategy from this Greek word.

Good = excellent, noble. Well suited to its end goal.

This is a Cosmic battle between Satan, demons, and unredeemed men AND God, holy angels, and the saints of God.

It started with the fall of Lucifer

B. With the Correct Weapons

1 Timothy 1:19 NASB95

19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Keep = holding fast

Faith - what you believe - Doctrine

2 Corinthians 10:4–6 NASB95

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

AND

Good Conscience = the Practice of doctrine from the heart - Obedience

1 Timothy 1:5 NASB95

5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Paul boils down our spiritual weaponry to these 2. Believing the right things and doing the right things.

Ephesians 6:10–17 NASB95

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

How do you fight? What is the noble strategy that will win the the most epic campaign against evil?

Doctrine And Obedience

Holding to the truth of God’s Word the Bible with unshakable faith no matter how the world tries to dismiss it.

AND

Obeying the Bible because of your love for your Savior. children obeying your parents, husbands loving your wives, wives submitting to your husbands, remaining undefiled by this sinful world, meeting together for worship and service, intentionally discipling younger believers, telling the good news of Jesus Christ.