2 Timothy 4:6-22

1. Fight the good fight

1. Fight the good fight a. The Christian life is called a “fight”

or a “struggle”

“Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you … May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.”

1 Timothy 1:18

“Fight the good fight for the true faith.”1 Timothy

6:12

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power… For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:10-12

The Enemy (1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 13:39)

Satan means adversary or opponent of God.

(1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1-2; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:10; 12:26; 16:23; Luke 10:18; 22:3; Acts 5:3; 26:18; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Timothy 1:20; 5:15; Revelation 12:9; 20:7)

“We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.”

1 Thessalonians 2:18

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:4

“… the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:8

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

1 John 4:4

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.”

Hebrews 2:14

1. Fight the good fight a. The Christian life is called a “fight”

or a “struggle”b. Human opposition

1. Fight the good fight. 2. Finish the race (course).

“… let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:14

“You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?”

Galatians 5:7

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Acts 20:24

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. … Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up”.

Hebrews 12:2-3

1. Fight the good fight. 2. Finish the race (course). 3. Remain faithful.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.”

Luke 16:10

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means … refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

James 1:17

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

1 John 2:15-16

1. Fight the good fight. 2. Finish the race (course). 3. Remain faithful.4. Respond well to difficulties.

The way he responded to Mark: forgiveness, restoration, ministry and fellowship.

The way he responded to Mark: forgiveness, restoration, ministry and fellowship.

The way he responded to Alexander: no anger, no bitterness, just a warning to Timothy.

The way he responded to Mark: forgiveness, restoration, ministry and fellowship.

The way he responded to Alexander: no anger, no bitterness, just a warning to Timothy.

The way he responded to being abandoned: forgiveness, compassion, mercy.

“Lord don’t charge them with this sin.”Acts 7:60

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34

1. Fight the good fight. 2. Finish the race (course). 3. Remain faithful.4. Respond well to difficulties.5. Have a heavenly perspective.

1. Fight the good fight. 2. Finish the race (course). 3. Remain faithful.4. Respond well to difficulties.5. Have a heavenly perspective.6. Realize the importance of

companionship.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. …

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“God places the lonely in families.”Psalm 68:6

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Genesis 2:18

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near…”

Hebrews 10:23-25

Fight the good fight

Fight the good fight Finish the race

Fight the good fight Finish the race Remain faithful

Fight the good fight Finish the race Remain faithful

Respond well to difficulties

Fight the good fight Finish the race Remain faithful

Respond well to difficultiesHave a heavenly perspective

Fight the good fight Finish the race Remain faithful

Respond well to difficultiesHave a heavenly perspective

Realize the importance of companionship