Thursday October 08th, 2020
Memorize: 2 Timothy 4:7 New Living Translations (NLT)
« I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. »
Read: 1 Timothy 6:11-21 Good News Translation (GNT)
11 But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
12 Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.
13 Before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who firmly professed his faith before Pontius Pilate, I command you
14 to obey your orders and keep them faithfully until the Day when our Lord Jesus Christ will appear.
15 His appearing will be brought about at the right time by God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
16 He alone is immortal; he lives in the light that no one can approach. No one has ever seen him; no one can ever see him. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others.
19 In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life.
20 Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call “Knowledge.”
21 For some have claimed to possess it, and as a result they have lost the way of faith.
God’s grace be with you all.
Message
Fighting involves violent struggles against a real or perceived enemy, either offensively or defensively.
Most people have one thing or the other that they would fight for.
It could be their fundamental human rights, source of livelihood, prestige, possession etc.
However, the question is: Should a true Christian have any justifiable reason to fight?
The answer is YES!
Ecclesiastes 3:8KJV says there is:
« A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. »
Indeed, Christians are not called to take up arms and launch offensive attacks on their neighbors, but we have a right to self-defense.
The kingdom of God is now under immense attack; His creative order, commandments and principles are being maliciously attacked by heretics. Surprisingly, some of these enemies of the gospel have managed to rise to positions of authority both in the Church and the society at large. Their celebrity status in the world today has aided their evil attacks on the Christian faith.
Do we stand aloof or fight whenever these attacks occur around us? 1 Timothy 6:12 NLT says:
« Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. »
Christians are called to fight.
Everyone is fully aware of the ongoing conflicts around us: physically, mentally, and spiritually. We are daily confronted with contrary doctrines and diverse kinds of temptations.
The survival of a child of God therefore depends on his or her preparedness for battle and the ability to fight.
Your weapons of warfare are however not carnal. Study Ephesians 6 and evaluate the completeness and readiness of your weaponry.
It is time to fight against ungodliness. We must fight for holiness, peace and love.
We are soldiers and must always be alert in the spirit at all times.
The devil will not succeed over you and your loved ones in the mighty name of Jesus.
Raise the banner of JESUS!
Prayer point: Father, please help me to be victorious in the battle of life, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Text edited by Naomie
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