The apostle Paul gives us three tactics to fight this spiritual battle we face.
Flee
vs 11 flee these things? What things?
false teaching vs 3 not only teachers, but those who refuse to adhere to the Word of God and godly teaching. (example of someone I heard say “I know the Bible says, but I believe…”)
-If you reject the Bible in favor of your own preferences or beliefs there is a word for that and it is called heresy. You are in error and if you teach others your error you are a false teacher. False teaching will destroy you!
Vs 4 begins a list of things to flee He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Pride vs 4 -prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. – you will fall
envy – dissatisfacation, wanting what someone else has – Prov 14:30b but envy the rottenness of the bones.
strife – selfish competition – James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
railings – malicious talk – elevating oneself at the expense of others. – 1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
evil surmisings – suspicion
Vs 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds – constant friction between men of corrupt minds
Vs 5 destitute of the truth
love of money – greedy – Vs 5, 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
-we must run away from these things with all haste!
Gen 39:7-13 7And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
Follow
vs 11b – there are some things to follow. What things?
righteousness – personal integrity – character – Romans 6:13-19 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
godliness – practical living – conduct – Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
faith – 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.
love – agape – love is the greatest virtue 1 Cor 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
patience – often takes more courage to be patient than it takes to act – Is 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
meekness – power under control – not weakness Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men., James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
– what things are you following? The world will teach you to follow convenience rather than righteousness, worldliness rather than godliness, doubt rather than faith? Hatred rather than love, immediate gratification rather than patience, selfishness rather than meekness.
2 Peter 1 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Fight
there are times to flee, times to follow, but then there are times you must stand and fight the good fight!
-the word for fight here is where we get the word “agonize.” It applies to athletes and soldiers. It describes a person straining to give his best to win the prize or win the battle.
lay hold on eternal life – not a future hope but a present reality. We take hold of eternal life when we live in the power of God’s Kingdom and according to His values.
your profession of faith is at stake – you can’t compromise, you can’t back down. Faith cannot be hidden, but is made public.
– What things do you fight?
-remember, we don’t fight one another, or people
-we fight temptation
-we fight the devil
-we fight for the truth
-we fight for morality
-we fight for love
Paul wrote “I fought the good fight.” 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8Henceforth 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 unto all them also that love his appearing.
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