I Timothy 6:11-12 “ But you, MAN OF GOD, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Exodus 15:3 “The Lord is a, a warrior; the Lord is his name.”
Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Revelation 19:11 “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and He makes war. His eyes are like a blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter. And on his robe and on his thigh he has the name written,“King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
Write these 2 things down.
1. God has called us to FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT.
Nehemiah 4:14 “Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
2. If men are not fighting FOR SOMETHING we will fight AGAINST EVERYTHING.
Acts 8:3 “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.”
How do we make sure we are FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT?
Sometimes you THROW A PUNCH
Ecclesiastes 3:8 “There is a time for peace, and there is a time for war.”
Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”
I Timothy 6:11-12 “ But you, MAN OF GOD, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Paul says 3 things…
Flee and Pursue Fight the fight Take hold
I Timothy 6:11 “But you MAN OF GOD Flee from all this and pursue righteousness”
I Timothy 6:3-5 “Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 “Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people. 10 The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused themselves much sorrow.”
1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world, or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
3 things that so many men pursue. 1. Lust of Flesh 2. Lust of the Eyes 3. Pride of Life
4 Men in te Bible
1. Adam
2. King David
3. Samson
Judges 14:1 “Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
Judges 16:1 “One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
Judges 16:4 “Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah"
How can you ever overcome them?
4. Jesus Jesus didn’t live to please his FLESH, he lived to please the FATHER. John 8:29 “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
I John 2:15-16 NLT “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
Galatians 5:16-17 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
Galatians 5:24 "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
