The Good Fight of Faith

by Emily Wooten
1 Timothy 6:12 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.
We are called to fight. Our fight is not with flesh and blood and it is not fought with our fist, guns or tanks.
Ephesians 6:12-14 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If faith is the way to overcome the world and hearing the word is the way we get faith, it appears that our knowlege of God’s word and using it is essential to overcome.
Men and women who are in war do not train, learning how to fight, only to sit down and relax. On the contrary, even trained soldiers, who have passed basic training, continue to train, exercise and learn skills.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
First we need to recognize who we are in him and who he is in us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When we come to Jesus, Isaiah 43:25 says, God blots out our transgressions, and he will not remember our sins. The old man, who was sinful, is buried with Jesus in his death and the new man is raised with him in new life. We stand as ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:4-7 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
So we can have faith in our place with God and learn to look at our situation from God’s perspective, taking his word and speaking it as his ambassadors, bringing life with us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 1:18-19 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be (white) as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
2 Timothy 1:6-7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.