Fighting for the Right Cause

Fighting for the Right Cause

(1 Timothy 6:11-21)

Yearly Theme:  “Joy is…”

Series Title:  “The Fight for Joy”

November 22^nd, 2020

Something to think about:

Before we get into the discussion of our passage this morning in 1 Timothy 6, we see Paul warning Timothy (the leader of the church in Ephesus) about false teachers and their effect on the Church in Ephesus.  He describes that what these false teachers do for material gain and fame in the church ultimately leads to their demise.  Paul explains that their love of money has become for them the root of evil in their lives, and that any reward that they would gain is only temporary and fleeting this side of heaven.

Paul urges Timothy not to get caught up in this type of life as a leader in the church and explains that “true godliness with contentment is great wealth.”[1]

It’s at this point that Paul concludes His letter to Timothy by saying,

1 Timothy 6:11-21 (NLT),

¹¹  But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. ¹²  Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. ¹³  And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴  that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ¹⁵  For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. ¹⁶  He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

¹⁷  Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

²⁰  Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. ²¹  Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.

May God’s grace be with you all.

Key Point:  “The good fight of faith results in eternal life.”

What are some of the ways that Paul encourages Timothy to fight the good fight of faith?  Let’s take a look:

1. Run from  and pursue  and a godly

1 Timothy 6:11 (NLT), But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2. Fight the  fight for the  .

1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT), Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

3.  what God has  to you, and  godless, foolish discussions.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 (NLT), 20  Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 21  Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.

Something to take home:

What are you fighting for today?  Are you busy attacking the enemy head on, or are you distracted from the good fight of faith by fighting outlying issues that don’t make an eternal difference in life?

The good fight of faith that we are called to as followers of Christ is one that looks different from what the world fights.  The good fight of faith is one where our eyes are fixed on Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  Let’s remember in this fight of faith the word of the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament:

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV), ¹  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Key Point:  “The good fight of faith results in eternal life.”

[1] 1 Timothy 6:6 (NLT).