New Hope Notes
The Good Fight
Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
December 14, 2008 - W0850
Let’s get ready to rumble! Many people love to watch or participate in mix martial arts. It is a sport that requires a good offense as well as defense. Similarly, like all sports it takes training, self- discipline, long grueling physical workouts and a mind of focus. Why? Because the purpose is to win and be the champion. So when two opponents are in the ring and the match ends, it as all this for one thing. Yes, it is to win the fight!
Life has many battles too, doesn’t it? But do we know which ones we should fight and which ones we’ll need to abandon? Better yet, do we know which battles are good from those that are bad? And just like a mix martial arts fighter, we’ll need both strengths in offense and defense to win those battles in life. And most importantly, to know who we’ll be fighting against and where.
Therefore, before entering a fight it is important to know what a good fight is, because it could easily be misunderstood or misapplied. Listen, every one of us must fight the good fight. So keep the faith. And, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. Because this is a fight that none of us can escape.
“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, that you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience…” (1Tim. 18-19).
In our walk with Christ we’re called to do good by helping others. We’ll call this a good offense. Another example of a good offense is by telling others about Christ. On the other hand, this is what the Bible tells us about defense, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (
He will work against your family, your marriage, your psyche, your soul, your heart and future. But you need to resist him. Sure you’ll feel like giving up because you’re weary. But this is the battle we cannot give up on. It is the good fight!
As exciting as watching fights on television is, we know that fights do not just take place in the rings. It takes place everyday all around the world. It is real and it kills. Civilizations have fought with one another for centuries. They’ve fought in the battle fields as well as in courts. And in coliseums and on the streets. Through history, we’ve spilt one another’s blood on foreign lands as well as on our own soil. And, fighting is as close as our backyards where domestic abuse takes place. It also happens in schools where children are bullying other children.
Listen, unresolved anger rages until somebody is dead. So what’s with all the anger and fighting? Scripture tells us, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your own desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God” (
Wouldn’t it be great if all the fighting and resistance would simply end? But before we come to the conclusion, here’s a twist. Maybe not all fighting is bad. What? Yes, there is a good fight.
Listen, life’s battles are not always fought on the combat zone. The good fight is fought right in the middle of our hearts. In other words, the battle field is within us. The struggle within us tugs for our attention. And this is the first of three key points of the good fight.
THE GREATEST BATTLES: IN OUR HEARTS.
“I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is till within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life?” (
Yet, Paul tells us the battle within us is one we cannot afford to loose. This brings us to the second key point.
THERE ARE BAD FIGHTS AND GOOD FIGHTS. YOU MUST KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
For example, a good fight is keeping your faith intact. Another would be a struggle to keep your integrity, purity or commitment. Another would be your loyalty. And, most certainly if you throw in the towel in one of these it could mean the end of your marriage, a home or a friendship. More importantly a life who would have been an example to many others.
Therefore, continue this good fight. And understand that the sterling quality characters will always be challenged in us. So no matter how much you want to give up, don’t. Instead, allow the battles in life to salt you with virtues. In other words, everyone will be salted with fire. “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again?” (Mark 9:49-50). This tells us everyone will face struggles but will gain good character or virtues. But if we throw in the towel in the midst of a struggle it is at that point where we become unsalty.
An example of this is if I give up on my marriage or give in to a sexual attraction. It becomes some thing I no longer struggle with because I’ve surrendered. This means I’ve given up fighting the battle for my integrity. Yet, what could have been a victory ends up a failure. And what could have brought a stall worth faith only brings regret.
Here are tell tale signs of giving up on the good fight: when I stop struggling to over come temptation, when I cease disciplining myself and surrender to mediocrity. Or when I give in to grumbling. It could be when I don’t want to wrestle anymore to compromise. Or when I surrender to discouragement and it dilutes my faith and brings a barrage of doubts.
It is important to understand when I’m giving up on the good fight it’s easy to rationalize my actions. Likewise, life no longer is a struggle in order to win. So step into the next round, because the good fight is worth the stay.
How often have we thought over things which we shouldn’t have. And not spent enough time on things we should have? But here is some good news. God is in your corner! He’ll be there to help you see the difference between a good fight and a bad one. He’ll help you to see the real opponents. And you’ll distinguish them from the decoys. This brings us to the third key point of the good fight.
GOD WILL HELP YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL OPPONENTS AND DECOYS.
“We are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).
This tells us the opponent is not our spouse, parents, family, neighbors, co-workers or situation. The real enemy is the enemy of our soul. It is the devil who uses your spouse to force you to give up on your faith. Nevertheless, if you do, you’ll give up on your marriage. And if we’re not careful, we could fight against the ones who are on our side. When we argue with those who are committed to us, the enemy of our souls cackles with glee as he watches our misaligned anger. Moreover, we’ll find ourselves fighting against God and not even know it.
I remember some years ago when Anna and I were having some trouble in our marriage. It was bad because we weren’t talking at all. Well, one day my brother who’s an Electrician came over to visit. And, it was in the midst of this silent treatment Anna and I were going through. So I vented to him and this is what he said to me.
When he said that, it rang through my heart. I knew I need to pray with Anna. Then I thought, hey wait a minute, I’m the Pastor and he’s the Electrician!
Well, that night when Anna and I went to bed we were miles apart on the king size bed. Yes, she was on one end of the cliff and I was on the other. But, I remembered the Lord reminding me to take a hold of Anna’s hand and to pray. Reluctantly I reached my hand over to hers, only to retreat. Although I struggled with it, I knew I needed to do this. So I tapped her and asked if she was awake. Anna answered, yes I’m awake. I then simply asked, could we pray? And her reply was yes, let’s pray. So I got out of bed, took her hand and we both went on our knees and began to pray. As it were, I prayed against the enemy who tried to steal our marriage. And guess what? As soon as I said in Jesus’ name, Amen, the smoke alarm in our bedroom went off. It sounded like a shriek and I started laughing! Anna asked what I was laughing about. And I said we prayed and put our fight in the right place that it must have scared the devil so much that when he went out of here, he smoked on the way out!
So don’t fight against the wrong opponent. “….you will only find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts
Peter knew the difference between the good and bad fights. And he knew the consequences of not being able to tell them apart. And, he found himself fighting against God’s will. In fact, Jesus told him “…Satan has demanded to sift you as wheat. But I had prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke
Never forget, it is Satan’s goal to get you to fight the wrong fights. And, if we do we destroy our own souls and defeat our futures. And in addition, compromise our own faith. Nevertheless, Peter tells us to stay vigilant and he encourages us as well. The first is…
- DON’T DROP YOUR GUARD.
“Be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pet. 5:8). This tells us the enemy is waiting for you to drop your guard. Catch this, although there are bad things about our enemy there’s one thing he’s good at. It’s patience. He is like a sniper who waits for the right shot. This enemy will wait until you’re complacent about your faith, smug about your finances, or harbor unresolved hurts in your marriage. Or better yet, when you feel bullet proof and invincible. These are the opportune moments in life when you’ll drop your guard and the enemy strikes. “…he left until an opportune time” (Luk.
Why? Because this is when you’re most vulnerable. It is when you’re hungry. Hungry for success, promotion, companionship or for attention. In addition, these are the opportune moments when you’ll likely cut corners and leave a loose ends dangling. Another opportune moment could be when you’re too busy for devotions. Or, too busy to maintain your marriage or your faith. At these points, we start to de-prioritize God because we just don’t have the time. When you let your anger, lust or wrong desires run amok for awhile you’ll stop fighting the good fight. So be careful, because the devil can smell it a mile away. And that is when he strikes.
At times, we become weary of the enemy’s attacks. We become worn down and tired of fighting the good fight. But don’t do it! Remember that God is in your corner and praying for you that your faith may not fail. So go to God and allow Him to encourage you. In fact, the Bible says, “Come to me, all you who are wary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mat.
God used Paul the apostle to plant many churches. And he nearly wrote half of the New Testament. And, towards the end of Paul’s life he focused on one thing he felt he did well at. And, it is,
WE CAN FOCUS OUR LIFE ON ONE THING: TO WIN THE GOOD FIGHT!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…” (2Tim. 4:7-8).
This tells us Paul understood the good fight from the bad ones. And, he did not bail out on his faith. He finished the course and now he was assured of the crown of righteousness or the belt of a champion.
Each one of us will be involved in the good fight. This is a fight that never ends. And, it is one we must never loose. Because in the end, the same reward awaits you and me. So remember, the greatest battle is in our hearts. And secondly, know the difference between the good and the bad fights. And thirdly, God will help you see the difference between real opponents and decoys. So don’t drop your guard. And stay focused on one thing, to win the fight! And when we do, in the future there is laid up for you and me the championship belt, the crown of righteousness which God will award to you! You watch, you wait, you’ll see!
DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS
1. Is there a battle you are going through? Are you able to distinguish if it is a good or bad battle?
2. Is there a godly character God wants to give you in the midst of this battle? What are they?
3. If you are weary in a battle, list practical ways to rest in God.
4. Checking yourself: list biblical ways of guarding yourself against the adversary.
5. How will I be a better person because of what I’ve learned today?