                    

                            The Good Fight of Faith


          Read these verses:
          
                Matt 24:11-14   "And many false prophets will arise,
          and mislead many.  And because lawlessness is increased, 
          most people's love will grow cold.  *But the one who endures 
          to the end, he shall be saved.*  And this gospel of the 
          kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness 
          to all the nations, and then the end shall come."

                1 Tim 1:18-19  "This command I entrust to you, 
          Timothy, my son, in accordance with the *prophecies 
          previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight 
          the good fight,* keeping faith and a good conscience, which 
          some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to 
          their faith."

                1 Pet 5:8-10  "Be of sober [self-controlled, sane]
          spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls 
          about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  *But 
          resist him, firm in your faith,* knowing that the same 
          experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your 
          brethren who are in the world.  And after you have suffered 
          a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His
          eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, 
          strengthen and establish you."

          -----------------------------------------------------------

                Our victory in life through Christ depends on our 
          faith.  Living in Christ brings warfare in this world, and 
          we win by faith.  Christ and the disciples teach us to 
          "endure to the end", "fight the good fight (of faith), and 
          to be "firm in your faith".  Faith is the assurance of 
          things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  It is 
          trusting in God and His Word and acting accordingly.  
          
                When times get tough, do I cry out to God in 
          frustration and doubt, or do I cry out to God in trust, 
          thankfulness and faith?  See 1 Pet 5:6-7, Phil 4:6-7, and 
          2 Cor 9:7-11.  "... casting all your anxiety on Him, 
          because He cares for you.", "Be anxious for nothing, but in 
          everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 
          let you requests be made known to God, ...", and "... God 
          is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having 
          all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance 
          for every good deed; ...".
          -----------------------------------------------------------
          page 2


          How does the devil attack our faith?
          

                1.  Temptation and sin.  The wages of sin is death.
                        A person enslaved to sin is powerless to 
                        fight the good fight of faith.  Repentance
                        (in action and attitude) and faith go 
                        hand-in-hand.
                2.  Doubt and unbelief.  This also is sin.  They are 
                        the very opposite of faith; the spirit of the
                        world is the messenger of doubt and unbelief.
                3.  Social and emotional anxieties.  Grief and trials 
                        are part of this life; but if we react to 
                        them by worrying and anxiety, we remove 
                        ourselves from God's grace and provision.  
                4.  Sickness.  Physical sickness is a trial to our
                        faith, a battle.  
          
          
          How do we fight the good fight of faith?
             (James 4:7, Col 1:23, 1 Cor 2:all, 1 Tim 1:5)

          
                1.  Obey God and submit to His Word.  This is the 
                        perfection of faith.  By submitting to God, 
                        we can resist the devil and he will flee.
                2.  Grow strong in faith.  We can grow in faith just 
                        like exercise increases our physical 
                        strength.  We become more firmly established 
                        and steadfast in faith toward God.
                3.  Rely on the Holy Spirit!  Read 1 Cor 2, entire 
                        chapter.  We are led by the Spirit and trust 
                        God for His supernatural power in our battle.
                4.  Stay close to the throne of God.  Maintain a clear 
                        conscience.  In daily, true repentance, we 
                        will have a clear conscience before our God, 
                        instead of being fearful of judgement.
                5.  Fulfilling the Great Commission.  Tearing down 
                        worldly strongholds.  Doing what God has 
                        called me to do.
                6.  Prayer, Praise, and Worship.

          
     