Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
A Good Warfare
Today’s Verse:
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ~1 Timothy 1:18
The Bible pictures us as soldiers in an ongoing war against Satan, the flesh, and the devil. It is a spiritual war that is ongoing. We are called to be good soldiers in the grace of our Lord. Paul encouraged Timothy to “war a good warfare.” We must be ready to fight. We must fight with the idea that we will win and not lose. Let us see, this morning, what it means to war a good warfare.
We see the training.
Paul spoke about the prophecies which went before Timothy. Part of our training in discipleship is in how to prepare for the war we are in. There is the whole armor of God which we are to put on. Each piece of the armor must be put on. We are to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. We are to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. We are to memorize Scripture and use Scripture in fighting against the enemy. We are to be sober-minded and not allow ourselves to be caught off guard. We are to hold the sword of the Lord, His Word, with a tight grip and not let go. Give yourself wholly to your training.
We see the tactics.
Paul said to hold faith and a good conscience. First, we must have faith in God in everything we do. Second, we must walk by faith and not by sight. Third, we must exercise faith or God is not pleased with our decisions. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Fourth, we must contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. This means stay straight in your doctrines and the faith handed down to you by your spiritual forefathers. Fifth, keep your conscience clear and good. A defiled and seared conscience will lead to your downfall and defeat. Don’t let your conscience become weakened because of a lack of attention to the Word of God and prayer. Take a stand, and having done all, stand.
We see the triumph.
To war a good warfare means to triumph victoriously. First, let us war a good warfare with our desires. Keep your desires pure and disciplined. Don’t succumb to sins of lust and carnal desire. Second, let us war a good warfare in our dialogue. Keep your speech and tongue from being poisonous with criticism, complaining, and cursing. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Third, let us war a good warfare in our disposition. Guard your spirit from becoming complacent, critical, and carnal. To war a good warfare, we must follow our “Leader” and the Captain of our salvation to victory. We live in victory because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
We see the tragedies.
“Which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck….” Paul refers to two men who once stood stalwart with him the faith but were made shipwreck. They were not careful, and they allowed the winds of false doctrine to drive them into the rocks. It is tragic when servants of the Lord make shipwreck with their faith due to doctrinal or moral reasons. These men became apostates and fell away. Be careful of what you read, who your associations are with, and being too free a thinker. Be careful of being tolerant of winds of change that suggest there is another way when there is not. Don’t wind up finishing your life defeated, discouraged, and driven away. Be prepared, and war a good warfare.
Have a vigilant God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 11-13
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