THE GOOD FIGHT
OF FAITH

INTRODUCTION

The good fight of faith is being severely tested in many lands that bring persecution and suffering to those who fail to comply with an agenda to conquer and control. Apostle Paul wrote: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto you are called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12).

The Good Fight of Faith
Weapons of Warfare

The good faith of faith concerns the daily struggle with hardships and adversities one faces; with reality of faith demonstrated when engaged in such warfare. Apostle Paul wrote: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh), but mighty through God to the pulling (tearing) down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand. We wrestle not against flesh and blood (humanity), but against principalities (rulers), against powers (authorities), against the rulers of the darkness of this world (world leaders), against spiritual wickedness in high places (Satan and his cohorts) (Ephesians 6:10-12).

The whole Armor of God consists of: Truth, Breastplate of righteousness, Gospel of peace, Shield of faith, Helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

A Perverse Generation

Scripture reveals: I (God) will hide my face from them; I will see what their end shall be; for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom there is no faith (Deuteronomy 32:20).

Many nations have been birthed in God; nurtured and blessed by Him, but have allowed the good fight of faith to crumble by accepting ungodliness as being good; disguised and nourished rather than rejected! Is God hiding His face; His provision and blessings having been withdrawn? Has the hedge been lowered as revealed in the Parable of the Vineyard?

Parable of the Vineyard

The Parable of the Vineyard became a Parable of Judgment! The Prophet Isaiah noted: God fenced it, gathered out the stones thereof, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein; and he looked that it would bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. The Parable of the Vineyard refers to Israel and Judah; but could be applied to other lands as well! God’s reaction: What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring froth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes (Isaiah 5:4)?

Judgment: I (God) will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof (His protection), and it shall be eaten up (consumed); and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden (trampled) down. I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned, nor digged (No longer receiving His provision); but there shall come up briers and thorns (Isaiah 5:5-6)!

We are seeing former nations once under “a nation under God” status now relinquishing such a title; as immorality and wickedness continues to flourish and prosper in the land! The good fight of faith has succumbed to the enemy of one’s soul as deceit and acceptance continues to be embraced!

Withdrawal

Apostle Paul noted a time of failure, with the good fight of faith diminishing in the churches of Galatia, He wrote: I marvel (am amazed) that you are so soon removed (turning away) from him that called you unto the grace of Christ, unto another (a different) gospel; which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would (want to) pervert the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-7).

Paul was identifying a problem that has developed today in some churches; accepting ungodly influence; while the good fight of faith still stands firm in churches who have not allowed such an influence to gain ground or recognition!

Paul in dealing with the situation, noted: As we (he and others before him) said before, so I now again. If any man preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:9). Paul pronounced judgment on such individuals! Today there is a new social gospel being presented with sin no longer identified or condemned!

Church Responsibility

The good fight of faith is being fought in many lands in opposition to what is happening towards withdrawing from godly policies. Some feel it is not the churches responsibility to get involved in such affairs. A legendary evangelist of the First Great Awakening, Charles G. Finney, noted that preaching will bear its legitimate fruits; but if immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours to a great degree.

If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of Justice, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.

Let us not ignore this fact; but let us lay it to heart, and awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation. His reproach was directed towards the church failing in its mission towards the moral structure of a nation!

Babylon the Great

The fate of Babylon was declared by Apostle John, in his writings in the Book of Revelation, noting: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold (dwelling place) of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean (immoral) and hateful (hated) bird (individual).

All nations have drunk (partaken) of the wine of the wrath of her fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth, are waxed (become) rich through the abundance of her delicacies (luxuries) (Revelation 18:2-3). Some have likened Babylon to America influencing other nations to consume its wares (ungodliness). A warning was noted by John: I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues (Revelation 18:4).

If one maintains the good fight of faith they will not be caught up in such a stranglehold; but if they do, Scripture reveals: The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust to the Day of Judgment to be punished (2 Peter 2:9).

Defiance of Babylon

Apostle John noted defiance of Babylon, in saying: How much she has glorified herself (seeing no wrong), and lived deliciously (in luxury), so much torment and sorrow give her; for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judges her (Revelation 18:7-8).

In one hour so great riches come to nought (nothing) (Revelation 18:17). When a nation seeks to glorify itself; without God, it places itself in the hands of God, who stated, as previous noted: I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end shall be; for they are a very perverse nation (Deuteronomy 32:20)!

Faith of the Ungodly

Apostle Peter told the fate that awaits the ungodly, in saying: Whereby the world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah) perished; but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the Day of Judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:6-7).

The Day of Lord shall come as a thief (totally unexpected by some); in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Peter than makes an appeal: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness (2 Peter 3:10-11).

Fate of the Believer

Apostle Peter noted: Nevertheless (despite all these happenings) we (the believer), according to his (God’s) promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness (God’s original intent for mankind). Wherefore (another appeal), seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Peter gives further warning to the believer: Seeing you know these things before (before time), beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness (faithfulness). But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18).

The Finish Line

In Apostle Paul’s last testament prior to his death: I am now ready to be offered. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Paul ended his testament of the good fight of faith, with: The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18); words that apply to all who continue the good fight of faith, looking to God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It was noted that this verse directs one’s eyes to the finish line (as that of Paul), towards Jesus who has already blazed the trail and finished the course!

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THE GOOD FIGHT
OF FAITH

INTRODUCTION