OPENING SCRIPTURE:

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. (1 Timothy 6:12 NLT)

• The battleplan: Hold on to eternal life and declaring it?
• The Good Fight is a fight that has been fixed. Jesus fixed that fight for you and me, 2000 years ago on the cross. That was the victory!
• The battleplan in Fighting The Good Fight is simply to maintain that victory.
• You are not fighting for victory, but you are fighting from a position of victory.

How to maintain that victory

#1 WILLINGNESS TO SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY

But He gives more GRACE. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, But gives GRACE to the HUMBLE. THEREFORE SUBMIT TO GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7 NKJ)

• The word grace is God’s divine ability to do what you cannot do.
• It’s only from a place of submission can you fight the Good Fight!
Same pattern in the story of David right before he faced Goliath.
• In 1 Samuel 17:20, we find David submitting to his father’s authority.

So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and WENT AS JESSE HAD COMMANDED HIM (1 Samuel 17:20 NKJ)

In 1 Samuel 17:32, we find David submitting himself to King Saul’s authority.

Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; YOUR SERVANT will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:32 NKJ)

Fighting the Good Fight of Faith requires your willingness to submit to authority.

#2 WILLINGNESS TO STAND

• Willingness to stand in God’s strength.
• Willingness to stand in God’s mighty power.

Finally, my brethren, 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 against the wiles of the devil …Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND. (Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJ)

• Good Fight, our willingness to stand in God’s armor is key.
• Same pattern in the story of David right before he faced Goliath.
• King Saul tried to dress David in his own armor so that he can be ready to face Goliath.

And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. (1 Samuel 17: 39-40 NKJ)

Fighting the Good Fight, requires your willingness to stand not in your own armor but in God’s armor.

#3 WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK

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. (1 Timothy 6:12 NLT)

• You cannot be silent about your faith, your convictions.
• You cannot be silent about who you are and whose you are.
• Same pattern in the story of David right before he faced Goliath.

For who is this UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26 NKJ)

• David brings out the inferiority of the enemy. He is uncircumcised. He does not belong to God’s family.

Fighting This Good Fight requires your willingness to speak your faith!

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?