TIME TO FIGHT I
Memorise: To everything there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under the
heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Read: 1st Timothy 4:1-6, 4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from
meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which
believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be
refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things,
thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of
faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Bible in one year: Luke 4:16-6:16, Job 22:12-30
Fighting means to
engage in a struggle against a perceived enemy or enemies either defensively or
offensively. Most human beings, irrespective of who they are, what they know,
where they have been, and their level of spiritual maturity, have something
they would fight for. We fight for our fundamental human rights, we fight for
possessions, we fight for our family, and we fight for our job. We are
sensitive to criticism and insults, and sometimes we even fight for things we
don’t really own. The question is, should a true Christian fight for anything?
And if you were to write a list of things worth fighting for, what would that
list include? In this respect, Ecclesiastes 3:1&8, says:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every
purpose under the heaven…. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war,
and a time of peace.”
Conflicts come in
different categories. Though we have the right of self defence, Christians are
not called to take up arms against their offensive or aggressive neighbours
because our weapon is not physical. However, God is under attack in today’s
world because His creative order, His principles and commandments are being
maliciously attacked by heretics. Surprisingly, some of these enemies of the
gospel of Jesus Christ have managed to rise to enviable positions of authority both
in the Church and civil government. This has emboldened them and their
supporters to intensify their evil attacks on the Christian faith. Do we fight
for our Lord? Do we stand aloof or fight whenever these attacks occur around
us? 1st Timothy 6:12, says:
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before
many witnesses.”
Christians do not have
any choice in this matter; we do not have the luxury of a personal decision on
this one. In reality, the battle of the heretics and false prophets is raging
right now and our Commander in Chief, the Lord of hosts, has commanded us to
fight, and we must fight. The above passage started out by qualifying the kind
of fight that Christians could engage in as the good fight of faith. It is a
good fight because it prevents the rapid spread of heretic teachings, and
delivers people from ignorance and false doctrine. It is good because we are on
the winning side, we can never lose because we are more than conquerors. It is
good because we will be handsomely rewarded for our efforts here on earth and
when we get to heaven. It is a good fight because we are well fitted with the
most potent weapon in the universe – the Word of God. Above all, though we are
saved by grace, our performance in this battle will ultimately determine our
rank among the host of heaven and the manner of our reward. Apostle Paul seems
to have discovered this truth as reflected in his final declaration in 2nd
Timothy 4:7:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith”
Only a general in the
army of God who had fought valiantly for the truth could say this.
Prayer Point
Father, please let me finish well and be able
to say that I have fought a good fight.
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