Post by Les Brewer on Mar 5, 2020 16:30:47 GMT
THE FIGHT OF FAITH
The first letter to Timothy was a letter of spiritual charges or mandates for operations of the Church and the how the mantle of ministry was used as one that would be the manifest head of a church. It laid the foundation concerning offices and relief work; addressing different aspects of ministry. Paul ended the first chapter with a charge making it clear that faith is a fight.
(17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(18) 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 1:17-18 KJV
As we go into chapter 2 of First Timothy we see another aspect of public worship which is prayer for those outside the sanctity of the sanctuary.
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1st Timothy 2: 1-4 KJV
Prayer whether it is private in respect to our personal relationship to God or public in our corporate relationship to God is a powerful force of spiritual warfare. We must learn to pray for all people regardless of their status or position in or out of the Church. Paul’s instruction to Timothy concerning the church is important; not only concerning its operations but the underlying knowledge to wage war against apostasy and how to conduct himself as a man of God in authority.
(14) These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
(15) But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
(16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1st Timothy 3: 14-16
Paul reminded Timothy of the function of the Church and the gospel of Christ in the above passage. Then in chapter four he turns to a revelation which addressed the last days.
(1) 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; 1st Timothy 4:1-2
We see three distinct warnings of the last days; apostasy, deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons. Those that depart from the faith in the last days make themselves subject to deception. Once a person is seduced by demonic influence they are open to doctrines of demons. Those speaking lies in hypocrisy certainly means those that willfully embrace falsehood to justify their sin or pride; but it also refers to those who claim to be teaching the Bible, while just using it as a prop to propagate doctrines of demons; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; becoming hopelessly reprobate concerning the faith.
These spiritual facts concerning the end times mandate the fact that we must fight for the faith which is the gospel of Christ. Our warfare is a good warfare; it is a warfare that brings about the good and overthrows the evil of this world. Another aspect of spiritual warfare is the simple obedience of dedication to personal devotion to God.
(11) These things command and teach.
(12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
(14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
(15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
(16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1st Timothy 4:11-16 KJV
Spiritual leaders are called to be spiritual examples. When laity mimics leadership that is biblical much is accomplished in the Kingdom of God. Fortified saints are a threat to the seducing spirits and expose the doctrines of devils because they’re well versed in scripture. Paul continues to make it clear concerning any spiritual gifting we possess is to be constantly utilized for the Kingdom; it is part of our spiritual armor and part of the fight of faith.
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(12) 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.
(13) I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
(14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(15) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
(16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1st Timothy 6:11-16 KJV
Brethren we have a faith that is constantly being contaminated by false teachers and preachers. We see many rallies to spiritual gatherings that put on display false spiritual manifestations which are not of God but in reality counterfeits of the devil in a campaign to deceive many into false doctrines. Our gospel is the gospel that saves and delivers from the rudiments of worldliness. Our gospel doesn’t massage sin but rebukes it and demands that we cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We have so many doctrines today which lead people away from the truth and cause them to embrace heresy. Once they embrace heresy it is hard to get them to realize truth again; because their minds have been darkened by deception.
Brethren; faith is a fight for one’s own salvation; but faith is a fight for the salvation of others as well. If we embrace the principles that Paul charged Timothy to keep then we will win many to Christ. The true gospel doesn’t promote things which will not have eternal value! The true gospel prepares the Christian for the next life by living those principles in this life. The true gospel always focuses upon Christ and our conforming to his image in heart, word, and deed. Our faith is a faith that teaches us we are crucified with Christ and the life we now live is by faith in the Son of God who loved us and died for us that we would have eternal life. Our faith is a faith worth fighting for and when we commit ourselves wholly to the faith the faith will keep us. Selah.
D. Ray Ritchie (The Bish)
The first letter to Timothy was a letter of spiritual charges or mandates for operations of the Church and the how the mantle of ministry was used as one that would be the manifest head of a church. It laid the foundation concerning offices and relief work; addressing different aspects of ministry. Paul ended the first chapter with a charge making it clear that faith is a fight.
(17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(18) 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 1:17-18 KJV
As we go into chapter 2 of First Timothy we see another aspect of public worship which is prayer for those outside the sanctity of the sanctuary.
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1st Timothy 2: 1-4 KJV
Prayer whether it is private in respect to our personal relationship to God or public in our corporate relationship to God is a powerful force of spiritual warfare. We must learn to pray for all people regardless of their status or position in or out of the Church. Paul’s instruction to Timothy concerning the church is important; not only concerning its operations but the underlying knowledge to wage war against apostasy and how to conduct himself as a man of God in authority.
(14) These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
(15) But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
(16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1st Timothy 3: 14-16
Paul reminded Timothy of the function of the Church and the gospel of Christ in the above passage. Then in chapter four he turns to a revelation which addressed the last days.
(1) 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; 1st Timothy 4:1-2
We see three distinct warnings of the last days; apostasy, deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons. Those that depart from the faith in the last days make themselves subject to deception. Once a person is seduced by demonic influence they are open to doctrines of demons. Those speaking lies in hypocrisy certainly means those that willfully embrace falsehood to justify their sin or pride; but it also refers to those who claim to be teaching the Bible, while just using it as a prop to propagate doctrines of demons; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; becoming hopelessly reprobate concerning the faith.
These spiritual facts concerning the end times mandate the fact that we must fight for the faith which is the gospel of Christ. Our warfare is a good warfare; it is a warfare that brings about the good and overthrows the evil of this world. Another aspect of spiritual warfare is the simple obedience of dedication to personal devotion to God.
(11) These things command and teach.
(12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
(14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
(15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
(16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1st Timothy 4:11-16 KJV
Spiritual leaders are called to be spiritual examples. When laity mimics leadership that is biblical much is accomplished in the Kingdom of God. Fortified saints are a threat to the seducing spirits and expose the doctrines of devils because they’re well versed in scripture. Paul continues to make it clear concerning any spiritual gifting we possess is to be constantly utilized for the Kingdom; it is part of our spiritual armor and part of the fight of faith.
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(12) 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.
(13) I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
(14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(15) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
(16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1st Timothy 6:11-16 KJV
Brethren we have a faith that is constantly being contaminated by false teachers and preachers. We see many rallies to spiritual gatherings that put on display false spiritual manifestations which are not of God but in reality counterfeits of the devil in a campaign to deceive many into false doctrines. Our gospel is the gospel that saves and delivers from the rudiments of worldliness. Our gospel doesn’t massage sin but rebukes it and demands that we cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We have so many doctrines today which lead people away from the truth and cause them to embrace heresy. Once they embrace heresy it is hard to get them to realize truth again; because their minds have been darkened by deception.
Brethren; faith is a fight for one’s own salvation; but faith is a fight for the salvation of others as well. If we embrace the principles that Paul charged Timothy to keep then we will win many to Christ. The true gospel doesn’t promote things which will not have eternal value! The true gospel prepares the Christian for the next life by living those principles in this life. The true gospel always focuses upon Christ and our conforming to his image in heart, word, and deed. Our faith is a faith that teaches us we are crucified with Christ and the life we now live is by faith in the Son of God who loved us and died for us that we would have eternal life. Our faith is a faith worth fighting for and when we commit ourselves wholly to the faith the faith will keep us. Selah.
D. Ray Ritchie (The Bish)
