(Lesson on fight)

LESSON 4.
THE FIGHT

Fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)

Whoever wishes to understand the nature of holiness must understand that the Christian is engaged in a fight. It is this spiritual warfare which Paul meant when he wrote to Timothy, Fight the good fight of faith.

1. True Christianity is a fight

I speak of `true' Christianity. There are many who would call themselves Christians who know nothing of spiritual struggle, conflict or self-denial. They may be married in church, buried in church, call themselves `Christians', but you never see any `fight' about their religion. Theirs is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and which the Apostles preached. It is not a religion which produces holiness.
With whom does the Christian fight? Not with other Christians! As a general rule, the cause of sin is only helped when Christians waste their strength in quarreling with one another. The true Christian fights a constant battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. These are the chief enemies of true Christians, for, with corrupt hearts, a busy devil and a world always seeking to entrap them, Christians must either fight or be lost.

a) Christians must fight `the flesh'. Even after conversion all believers still carry within them a nature prone to evil and emotional feelings which can lead them astray. To deal with such temptations there is the need for daily spiritual struggle and daily earnest prayer. As Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse: Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). (And one could add things which in our day are likely to be addictive, such as various kinds of gambling, drugs, etc. - Ed.)

b) Christians must fight `the world'. The subtle influence of the world's ungodly love of material things is hard to resist. Christians may fear the unbelieving world's laughter or blame; may wish to copy the behaviour of unbelieving people, may fear to appear extreme in the eyes of the world - but these are the spiritual enemies they must fight. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who has chosen to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4). Christians must fight the world!

c) Christians must fight the devil. We must not doubt the reality of the devil. He is alive; he never sleeps; he is the Christian's unseen enemy. Satan has asked to have you, that he may sift you as wheat (Luke 22:31). This enemy must be resisted every day if we wish to be saved. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith ... (1 Peter 5:8).

This fight is absolutely necessary: There is no such thing as neutrality in this matter. We have no choice. To be at peace with the world, the flesh and the devil is to be opposed to God. We must either fight - or be lost!
This fight is for every Christian - whatever nationality, class, age or rank. All are living in a world full of traps and pit-falls. All have a busy devil near them. All have the influence of their old natures before their conversion. All must fight!
The fight is ceaseless; it is until we die. The Christian's enemies take no holidays, never weary and never sleep. Conflict is the constant companion of those who wish to be holy. It is a sad thing when a so-called Christian knows nothing about this spiritual battle.
At the same time Christians may take comfort from the knowledge that experiencing this inward fight is a good sign, for it can be evidence that they are on the right path to reach holiness of life. So I repeat; let us take comfort from this struggle. There are two great marks which identify the true Christian; an inner spiritual warfare, and an inner sense of peace! Here we are concerned with the former of these.

2. True Christianity is the fight of faith

In this respect Christian warfare is utterly unlike the conflicts of this world. It does not depend upon physical strength and does not use military weapons. Success in this spiritual warfare depends upon spiritual faith.

a) Success depends entirely on belief in the Word of God -the Bible. Christian soldiers do what they do, think as they think, hope what they hope, for one simple reason - they believe what is taught in the Bible. Faith is the very backbone of their existence. There is no such thing as right living without right believing.

b) There needs to be a special faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done. If believers look only at their own weaknesses, and at the strength of the world against them, they might well despair. But instead they have a mighty Saviour, by whose sacrificial death they are redeemed, and by whose continual intercession they are preserved, from whom to draw their strength.

According to the degree of this faith a Christian fights well, or poorly. Whoever has most faith will be the happiest Christian soldier. The more faith, the more victory! I think it impossible to overrate the value and importance of this faith. Read the whole of the chapter eleven of the letter to the Hebrews, in the Bible, and see how early Christians held fast to their faith in every situation. Believing in an unseen Jesus was their strength. Lord, increase our faith! (Luke 17:5).

3. True Christianity is a good fight

It may seem strange to use the word `good' of any warfare. But the Christian fight is good because there is no evil in it. I must not hide from anyone the fact that if they would be holy they must fight. But I also want my readers to know that the Bible calls the Christian fight `good' for real reasons.

a) It is a good fight because it is fought under the best of generals'! The leader and commander of all true Christians is the Lord Jesus Christ. And he has perfect wisdom, infinite love and almighty power. He never errs in judgment, never makes any useless moves. Those whom lie has redeemed are far too precious to him to be wasted or thrown away. Surely this is good?

b) The Christian's fight is good because it is fought with the best of helps. The Holy Spirit lives in each believer. No believer goes to this spiritual warfare in his or her own strength. God the Father guards every believer. God the Son prays for every believer. God the Spirit guides and teaches every believer. That is a threefold help which can never fail. Surely this is good?
c) It is a good fight because it is fought with the best of promises. Sin shall not be your master ... The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet ...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:14; 16:20; Philippians 1:6). Surely those are good promises?

d) It is a good fight because it will have the best of results. No soldiers of Christ are ever missing, or left dead on the battlefield. Every believer is, without exception, more than conqueror through him that loved us (Romans 8:37). No Christian soldier will be missing from Heaven. Surely this is good?

e) The Christian's fight is good because it does good to those that fight it. Earthly wars bring out the worst side of human nature. They harden consciences and destroy morality. But spiritual warfare brings out the best things in the believer. It brings humility, lessens selfishness and worldliness and draws believers to think much of spiritual things. Surely this is good?

f) This fight does good to the world. An army fighting its way across some country does terrible damage to that country and its people. But Christian soldiers are a blessing to others wherever they live. They raise the level of morality, and check dishonesty. Even unbelievers are obliged to respect them. The presence of even a few Christians is a blessing wherever they are. Surely this is good?

g) This fight is good because it ends in a glorious reward for all who fight it. Who can estimate the good things that our commander has in store for all his faithful soldiers? Whatever he gives will last for ever, for it is beyond the reach of death. The believer will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:4). Surely this is good?

So I urge you, if you are not already a Christian soldier, become one now! Fight the good fight of faith so that you may be happy as well as safe. Why be a slave to this world and its ways? There is room for you in Christ's army - choose liberty and fight to the last. May we never forget that without fighting there can be no holiness while we live and no crown of glory when we die!

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