How to Fight the Good Fight

Praise God.

Go please 2 first Timothy,

1 Timothy 6 · chapter mention

chapter

6

We're in the last chapter of first Timothy

and we're over halfway through, believe or not.

We won't be in this book too much

longer.

Timothy, last week, we kinda left off where

Timothy was told to flee,

certain things and to pursue

you know, the Lord god and so forth.

And we wanted to read those verses again,

but just to put you remember it's what

we left off of briefly

Timothy has been instructing or Paul has been

instructing Timothy

to watch out for those

who have more of an interest in

controversial issues and for them god is a

means of financial gain.

And then he gives really powerful instruction

about the believer relationship to riches and how

disaster is is it is if you put

money first to your life. If your goal

is to be rich and how that's not

the call that God's given to us. And

that's not even the blessed life really. He

talks about how those who want to be

rich plunge themselves into many painful grief and

and ultimately destruction and they wander away from

the faith.

So he... As he's instructing Timothy in that

regard,

that he tells him to flee those things,

but to pursue god this and he mentions

about 5 things that he's supposed to pursue.

He calls him by the way, oh man

of God.

Which is interesting because you see the term

man of God throughout the old testament in

a number of times. That's the first and

only time you see that term

man of god use of someone in the

new testament.

And Paul is calling Timothy, a man of

god. Hey, Amen, I love that.

And Timothy indeed is a wonderful

man of God and Paul's is helping him

grow.

But now when we get to verse 12,

Paul is telling Timothy to fight the good

fight of the faith

to lay hold on eternal life.

To what you were called in the presence

of many witnesses.

And and then in verse 13, he

he gets says something incredibly

powerful.

As I was working through this.

I was praying about and I was working

on it and I wanted to it all

the way through verse 16,

And then I was, like man, I don't

even know if I can get out of

verse 12.

But I know we're gonna get to verse

13 and finish verse 13 today, Lord Willing.

Unless I go through a Trump situation and

somebody actually hits me, but, you know, y'all

always gotta trust the Lord.

Thank you, Jesus. I'll be with you, Lord.

But

anyway, it's kind of a trip when you

think about it because when you look at

this verse this

this command,

fight the good fight of the faith. Right?

Fight the good fight of faith.

By the way, our ministry, we have a

ministry that had long before blessed started, you

know, going way back,

called good fight ministries.

And it's taken from first Timothy 01:18 and

1 Timothy 1:18

first Timothy 06:12 right here

1 Timothy 6:12

because God calls Timothy twice to fight the

good fight amen.

And Timothy is told that second Timothy 2

2 to teach others what Paul taught him.

So they could teach other faithful men. So

we're also supposed to be fighting the good

fight amen.

And this instruction is really for all of

us.

So let's look at this and and verse

12 is just so packed.

But if we look at this

Timothy is being given in versus 12 and

13, which we're gonna examine today. And we're

taking a deep dive.

I mean,

I praise God. I mean, I I love

to get in the word with you guys,

and I praise God that you are people

of the word.

I remember when I was young Christian. I

was under a certain church, and I was

just desi

just...

I wish and hope Lord. Hope I could

find a fellowship where they just devour the

word and teach sound doctrine and and it's

strong and it's powerful, and it's it's and

you can grow in it. And it was

hard to find, but I found ones right

here.

And I think you guys I just have

to say we should

praise God that we have his word that

we could dive into together.

And it's interesting

because

He gives 3 reasons as to why Timothy

is to persevere

in his faith

in verses 12 and 13.

He gives 3 reasons that Timothy is to

persevere

in

his faith. And number 1, it's because God

has called him to eternal life.

And then we look at verse 12, fight

the good fight of faith take hold of

the eternal life to which you were called,

and you were may... And you made the

good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Now,

let's just break this down, fight the good

fight.

Right?

Fight the good fight. And the Greek word

there is ag.

It's related to the Greek word ag my.

Which is related to and from which we

get the word

Ag,

alpha, Ag, you know, or you can... It

say Ae, but it's Ag.

If we pronounce it how the acceptable way

to pronounce the Koi Greek is today because

we don't know how exactly pronounce it back

then.

But an Was a arena,

I, a were at athletic or, you know,

Olympic contest took place in those days The

word also

refers to

more generally as, you know, fighting,

take it to stand. We get the re...

Word ago

it right? Agony from this word, a

or ago I.

So we're called to fight to ago

over something here.

And it's... And I love that he calls...

He says fight that what, fight.

The good fight. That tells me that there's

a lot of fights people that that people

have that are not good fights.

I remember far as a Christian.

I got fights at times. I was a

brawl type of guy. And they were... None

of them were good fights, you know?

I... And I just remember growing up in

a household that was very loud.

You know, with

7 people, including the 5 kids, and it

was 1 of the louder houses if not

the allowed house on the block. We're always

fighting about something, You know? Dad was gone

at work, then mom became a nurse and

she was gone, and we're out each other's

throats quite often.

And,

I remember being, you know, all kinds of

fights and seen all kinds of fights all

my life, man. It wasn't until I came

to Christ that I was introduced to the

good fight.

Because fights that you get in when you're

in the world,

oftentimes, you know, you feel guilty or you

feel like you should said this or you

shouldn't have done that. You have guilt, you

know?

But guess what? There's a fight that you

can get into that you can have a

really good conscience about Amen,

fighting for souls, fighting for the gospel.

Fighting for the good news. Fight the good

fight. Hey, man, It's a good fight that

we're in, and it's beautiful. And I praise

God because so many people, they litter the

world. Hundreds of millions billions of people. They

they wake up with no reason to live.

No purpose to live. It's kinda like the

ec deal where it's just, you know,

it's nothing new under the sun. Light becomes

born and everything else. Man. Haven't had a

boring day since I became a christian.

Because guess what? There may be a time

where I think, oh, there's not much to

do. Guess what? I know there's a lot

to do. I could seek the lord in

prayer. I can witness. I could get the

word. I can praise God. I can, you

know, share my the love of Christ with

people. There doesn't have to be any boring

days for us.

And because we've got the purpose of fighting

the good fight. Amen. And we're all call

to be involved in this fight of getting

the gospel out. Of snatch souls from Hell.

Amen, snatch them from the fire. So what

a joy it is to be able to

fight the good fight. And these at the

Ag, these athletic contests

that they would... You know, they'd have these

assemblies.

And they would have cherry races, and they

would have foot races

They'd have wrestling. They'd have different things. And

this this terminology that Paul uses is quite

interesting because

it's both it can be taken as

Reference to the athletic context.

Paul has already referenced athletics in chapter 4,

where it talks about discipline yourself under god.

Some comment will say it also has a

military aspect to it. Other comment disagree.

I don't have a problem with that because

when you say fight the good fight, there

is a Paul in second timothy chapter 2

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

versus 3 and 4, uses both a military

and an athletic metaphor.

Back to back

about how the athlete... The Christian athlete has

to... You know, an athlete has to operate

a according to the rules. Right? But right

before that, he says that as soldiers for

Christ. We're not to ent ourselves in the

affairs of this world. Amen, but to serve

the 1 that's illicit us. So Paul uses

both metaphors of athletics

and of

military,

prowess and being involved in in the in

the war for souls. So it's very important

to keep in mind. We are in AAAAA

battle that is very much a spiritual war.

Rest... We wrestle not against wet.

Flesh and blood, but against principles and powers.

Paul first corinthians 06:12. Right?

1 Corinthians 6:12

Second Corinthians chapter 10 versus 4 and 5.

2 Corinthians 10 · chapter mention

The weapons of our warfare for there. Our

warfare... Therefore are not what Car or physical,

but they're mighty through God that's pulling down

struggles.

Hey, man cast that imaginations. So Paul definitely,

when I believe with Paul says fight the

good fight, I believe he has different things

in mind, the spiritual battle that we're in,

but also that we're supposed to, like, those

the the the Ag, supposed to fight man,

and, you know, persevere.

So he tells him to fight the good

fight of faith. He's already told him this

at first Timothy chapter 1 back up the

1 Timothy 1 · chapter mention

first Timothy chapter 1.

1 Timothy 1 · chapter mention

And Paul has... Gives him a command.

This command I ent you verse 18,

Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies

previously made concerning you that by them you

what.

You fight the good fight. There is again.

How he supposed to fight the good fight?

Look at Verse 19 keeping faith

because guess what Satan wants to destroy your

faith.

You have it you're in a spiritual war,

keeping faith and a what.

Good conscience,

which some have what,

rejected and what?

Suffered ship wreck in regard to their faith.

In other words, their faith was floating lawn,

and

it

took on water and it sunk.

And if you looked at a ship that's

wrecked on the on the beach, you could

say, hey, that was... That's a picture of

some people's faith. And then he mentions who

they are.

Look at verse 20. Among these are Jaime,

whom mana in the Greek and Alexander,

whom I have handed over to Satan, so

that they will be taught, not to bla.

We don't have time to get into their

whole story.

We've done this because we've studied this this

book verse by verse but it's good to

know and understand that when he's telling Timothy

to fight the good fight,

he's given an example of what to not

as to what not to let happened to

your faith amen.

And earlier in this chapter, he talks about

certain people have gone astra from the truth.

And then he gives these guys as examples,

but he warns Timothy

to keep the faith at a good conscience.

And make sure and watch out.

That does become ship back like it did

with these guys.

So to

emphasize his point He uses these 2 men

whose lives were destroyed in regard to the

faith and says don't become like them.

So he's letting them know, and I think

this is heavy.

Because of what he does and we'll discover

this a little bit later in the study

because he kind of reverses this,

it gives a a totally opposite type of

example. But here he wants to show Timothy

why he needs to fight the good at

fight of faith

because he doesn't want his faith to become

ship brick on the rocks of apostasy

or wicked living.

And you need to make sure that you're

fight of the good fight of the faith.

Amen.

So

because you can look around and say that

would never happen And me, don't do that.

Why Paul said, let him think he stands,

take heed lest he fall. Amen.

Peter should have take taken heed when Jesus

warned him to tray unless he fell in

temptation because he didn't think he could fall

and he fell big time, denied the Lord.

So these are really powerful examples as to

why it's important to

fight the good fight. Now let's go back

to 06:12, fight the good fight of what?

Of faith. What kind of fight are we

fighting?

We're fighting the fight of faith.

Now,

you have, you know, there's some... There's some

things in here that, you know, comment and

scholars will, you know, debate as to what

he's talks about the good fight of faith

in here. Is he talking about Paul's personal

faith or is Paul talking about Timothy personal

faith? Fight the good fight of your personal

faith meaning continue to trust Jesus? Or is

he talking about fight the good fight of

faith meaning the content of Christian doctrine

stand up for that, You know? And actually

linguistic,

it either interpretation with suffice as far as

what the the the grammar says. It it

could be either or.

I personally believe it's both.

Why do I believe that? Because I believe

we gotta be really careful about not

basically

segmenting our Christianity.

What do I mean? That we have to

make sure that we don't look at our

Faith as though,

we compartment it, you know?

K? Is it paul's...

Is it Timothy personal faith is concerned about?

Or is it the content of doctrine?

And not that we don't speak to those

different aspects of our lives, but I believe

our I believe everything's is in view here

because in first Timothy 4 verse 1,

1 Timothy 4:1

Couple chapters earlier, Paul warns that the holy

spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times,

some will depart from the faith.

Given heat to person and doctors of demons.

How does he encourage Timothy

to fight the good fight in that context

and not fall away? In chapter 4 verse

16.

He says that Timothy watch your life,

your behavior. That would have to do with

his personal faith. Amen.

And you're what,

doctrine

that would have to do the content of

Christian belief.

Both of them

He says, Timothy watched your life and your

doctrine and so doing you will say both

yourself and those who hear you.

Amen?

So I like to look at the my

Christian faith, not as a Tv dinner. We're

okay. Here's the,

you know, here's a little bit of a

meatloaf for

whatever it is,

or and, you know, salisbury steak. I don't

know if they still they still have that.

I know what as was a kid they

had Salisbury steak. You remember that? It actually

pretty good with potatoes.

But I like to mix my meat with

the potatoes, man.

And

Christian faith is not a Tv dinner as

much as it's more like a gum or

a stew.

Your faith should perm everything you do.

Oh, you know, joe, there's my Christian faith

when I go to church, but then I

then I go home. Well, wait a minute.

You go home, well, I just go spend

time with the, but I'm not really christian

And really? Supposed to love your wife as

Christ love the church you gave himself for.

Oh, yeah. I'm a I'm a Christian on

my wife just not my kids. Really? Supposed

to train them up the lord. Amen?

Bringing up the nurture national Lord? Oh, but

not my work. Really, the bible says, do

your work hard under the lord? Amen?

All of our lives

should

be perm with Jesus. Amen.

In fact,

when you're at work when you're at school

when you're the neighborhood when you're around these

friends around those friends, whoever, you ought to

be making sure that you're following Jesus that

he's first in your life. You're not compromising

your Christian faith. Amen.

So we should be fighting for the, the

reality of our personal faith in Christ.

And now let the enemy en encroaching into

our lives,

it'll allow hearts to be hardened or anything

like that. We have to fight the good

fight. Amen. But we also need to fight

the good fight in regard to Christian doctrine.

In regard to the articles of the faith.

Hey, amen.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Amen.

So,

I believe that both are in view here

and why limit it, you know?

Because guess what? If I'm

personally

emphasizing fight a good fight for my personal

faith in Christ,

That's gonna also entail what I believe in

Christian doctrine amen. And if I'm fighting for

Christian doctrine and the the totality you what

God's word says about truth. Guess what? That's

gonna affect my life because my doctrine has

not due just what I believe, but how

I live for jesus how I love with

all my heart. Amen. So to me it

all goes together. So I believe paul's is

encouraging him.

And if Paul wanna be more specific, I

believe he easily could have with the grammar.

So it's important that we fight the good

fight of the faith

Now,

let's go back to 06:12. Let's go a

little deeper.

Fight the good fight of faith. What's the

next term?

Take hold.

Take hold

of the eternal life to which you were

called.

Supposed to take hold of eternal life.

Take hold. Take hold. I love that.

Take hold. That words can be used at

times as

intensified,

meaning to grab onto to to hold tightly.

And I believe that's the meaning here.

In Matthew chapter 14 verse 31. You remember

Matthew 14:31

when Peter tried to walk on the water

and he actually was successful at first.

Then he saw the waves. And he started

to sink. And said Jesus,

Grabbed him. Same greek word. He took hold

of him.

How do you think he grabbed Peter. Just

saw? No big deal. No. He grabbed him.

Kept him from sinking name amen. And that's

the way we ought to be grabbing eternal

life. It's used 3 times

in the book of acts of Paul being

taken hold of by his enemies.

Act 16, I'll just give you 1 example.

When Paul and Silas

cast demon out of the Fortune teller and

the slave owners that owned her had them

beaten, it says they took hold of Paul

silas.

Okay?

They took hold of them.

Like Peter was taking hold of by jesus.

We're supposed to be taking hold of eternal

life. Amen.

So it's interesting,

because there's many, many scriptures that deal with

taking hold of

whether it's life,

eternal life,

which is the context here or the things

that have to do with eternal life, taking

hold of Jesus who is our life.

Holy fast to our confession and so forth.

In fact, Hebrews 03:14 says we have come

Hebrews 3:14

to share in Christ if we hold

firmly till the end, the confidence we had

at first.

Hebrews 3 6, but christ is faithful as

the son over God's house, and we are

his house. If we hold on

to our courage and the hope which we

boast.

Hebrews was 04:14.

Therefore, since we have this great high priest

a great High priest Jesus, who has passed

through the Heavens. Jesus son of God led

us hold fast our

confession.

Hebrews 10:23.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast our confession of hope

without wave for you promise is faithful.

First corinthians 15 verse 2 in regard to

1 Corinthians 15:2

the gospel.

Paul writes,

by this gospel you are saved if you

hold firmly

to the word. I preached you. Otherwise, you

have believed to know purpose or in vain.

Revelation 03:11, Jesus says to the church at

Revelation 3:11

Philadelphia there. I'm coming soon.

Hold on to what you have so that

no 1 will take your crown.

Go with me to Philippians it's chapter 3

verse 10 where Paul talks about this as

well. And and I love it, especially, I

love all these verses

I love Philippians 3 because Paul talks about

when he came to the Lord.

He considered his past life as done,

right?

As refuse.

As garbage that he might gain Christ.

And he refused to let go of Jesus,

and Paul went through

all these horrific things in life.

He stoned and left for dead,

whipped several times, you know, all these things.

We've talked about this before. He had a...

He went through a lot of things, but

he refused to let go of the Lord.

And that's what we ought need to make

sure we're doing that we're refusing to let

go. And if Philippians is chapter 3 verse

Isaiah 3:10

10,

Paul says that I may know him. This

is his hope that I may know him.

He wants to know Jesus. It's not just

about knowing about him is knowing him. Have

a relationship with him. And the power of

his resurrection

And the fellowship of his suffering

being conform to his death verse 11. In

order that I attain to the what.

The resurrection from the dead,

and in the Greek it's the out resurrection

and that being distinct from the resurrection of

those who are perish. This is the resurrection

of the righteous or the just, and the

Greek Greek is literally e out from among

the dead. That I might attain, he says

to the out resurrection from the dead

first 12, not that Have already obtained it

or have already become perfect, but I what.

I press on.

If you call my phone,

which has always filled up because I have

all my messages kicked to my

my text because I just text now, and

I'll talk on the phone at times, but

I don't like to listen to 30 messages.

You know, when...

So I... My my iphone is always filled

up, so then you'll have head up having

to text me, which is great. That's what

I want because I I get way more

done texting. And then I get people I

was talking with Doug on the phone today.

I was on the phone with somebody else

for 2 hours. Actually, so I think that

was skype an interview. Right?

So Always talking.

But, you know,

my my ears were flat. I didn't know

why. No. I'm kidding.

You talk a lot, you know.

But you'll hear on my phone. My messages

is, I say press on. I've said that

since I was young Christian, encourage people to

press on in Jesus, and pauses says, but

I press on. So that I may what.

So I may lay hold

of that for which also I was laid

hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brother Did not regard myself as having laid

hold of it yet.

But 1 thing I do for getting

what lies behind and reaching forward to what

lies ahead. I press on to toward the

goal. Of the prize of the upward upward

call of god in christ Jesus.

Now he has eternal life. He's not doubting

that he has life. But he has not

yet received the resurrection from the dead amen.

He's he's looking forward to that out. Therefore,

he's holding on to his faith and he's

refusing to let go. Now let's look at

Chapter 6 verse 12 again.

Fight the good fight of faith,

take hold, take hold of what.

Take hold of the what.

The eternal life,

you guys.

There's a lot of things people are taking

hold of today,

tonight,

this week throughout the year that they're grabbing

on that they want. You know, they want

this. They want that. And they can't take

it with them, and that was Paul's point

earlier. Right? Which is interesting. I think in

light of what Paul was saying about how

not to live for riches, and those who

want to be rich in this world wander

from the Faith Pure themselves in in the

ruined destruction and so forth, and he says

that you came in the world nothing and

you you're gonna leave the world nothing.

You could take hold of anything you want

here, you got can take it with you.

But guess what.

You could take and half forever, take hold

of eternal life.

Was it the gains the whole world What

if you could take take it to some

place. Well, was it prophet jesus says if

you gain the whole world? And you lose

your what?

Your soul. There's no profit in that. So

Paul's is saying, take hold of eternal life.

Now we're talking about fighting the good fight.

Right?

We're talking about... Athletic contest or a war

and whether it's a war or a battle

or set. Athletic contest there's a prize.

That's why somebody gets involved in this athletic

a contest

that they might get this wreath. Right?

Today that they might get the gold, you

know, or silver bronze,

that they might get some surprised. Well, the

prize that we are fighting the good fight

for blows all that away. Amen?

It's eternal life.

It's eternal life,

and that's important to keep in mind because

that's the prize.

Is... And I ask the question sometimes, is

there anything more important that you

could have in life?

In this world. I'm asking all you.

So there's anything more important that you could

have than eternal life?

No.

Well, Jesus well, Jesus is eternal life. He's

the way the truth and the life.

First, John, chapter 1, the first couple verses

John 1 · chapter mention

say he is the eternal life. And first

John... Chapter 5, les versus ed with him

being the eternal life.

Wow.

You know, Jesus said, I am the resurrection

and the

life.

Well, the context there is his eternal life.

Thief comes to still killing story destroyed, but

I've come to give you life and to

give you more abundantly.

He is our life, Amen.

But Paul is talking about this contest here.

And the prize that he's telling Timothy to

fight the good fight for is to stand

in the faith, not to fall away, whether

his personal faith lord or from content of

biblical doctrine, both.

Don't fall away.

Because you have the prize of eternal life

and you need to take hold of that

eternal life.

And think about how Paul uses this metaphor

in first Corinthians 9. Remember that, we're not

gonna take the time to go there because

many of you are very aware of it.

I talked about this passage not too long

ago. But that's where Paul says, at, I

beat my body down. So after I preach

the gospel to others, I myself would not

be rejected by God. A doc. Amen. He

says, he says in the Olympic games, I'm

para him. He goes, you know,

they run. They do all... They do these

things, he says for a perishable wreath.

They worked their tails off.

But something that they just gonna dis deteriorate.

That even wasn't even go bed then it

was a wreath, you know?

Woven wreath is beautiful, but, man,

days, weeks go by, just deteriorate it. And

then before you know it's gone.

All that work.

And then eventually you were forgotten.

Do you know the top 10 Olympic athletes

in the first century,

what their names were?

Either do I.

They just... They're not even

remembered

ultimately in the end.

But eternal life is forever.

And that's what we're supposed to be fighting

for. And Paul says,

I run. I beat my body down, and

He says, I box is not boxing the

air man. I run the race to win

that I may have the imp

Though says inc crown.

Inc. That's eternal. The crown of life.

And that's what James talks about. James 01:12,

James 1:12

you know, blessing are those who persevere.

Right? Why?

For once they have been approved, or once

they have stood the test as 1 translation

says, they will receive the crown,

which is life.

Which God will give to all those who

love him. James 01:12.

James 1:12

So if you persevere in the race, you'll

receive what, the crown of life

First Corinthians 9, the incredible crown.

Revelation chapter 2 from Jesus lips.

Revelation 2 · chapter mention

I should say from his

lips to the

7 angels that he spoke to.

He told the church Sm to be faithful

in the death. They're gonna go to prison.

Be faithful and the death and I will

give you the crown what? The crown of

what?

The crown of life,

and then he goes on and say, he

that overcomes will not be hurt by the

second death.

Top about the lake of fire.

So here, we're talking about eternal life and

contrast to eternal damn nation.

And many people look at the Christian faith

I told you before it over and over

again, the look at it as a little

sprint up an aisle.

To make a decision for Jesus.

And that's it.

No. It's not a sprint up the aisle

or ginger walk.

It starts. You get in the race by

coming to Jesus z amen. If you sincerely

came up an aisle, and you could confess

your your sin before Christ and accepting him

his Lord to Save. You got saved.

But that's the beginning of the race. Say,

amen.

You have to persevere in the faith

to the end, and that's what Paul is

telling Timothy needs given him reasons that he

ought to persevere.

In fact, reach eternal life is something that

we ultimately reap through faith in Christ.

We have. Now. It's... I would just saw

something from Ellen White, who is basically the

main leader of the seventh day dentist movement.

And I saw where she would say nobody

can know they have eternal life now.

Well, that's biblical. First john 05:13.

1 John 5:13

These things are First on 05:12. He that

has the son has the life. Amen, He

that does not have the son does not

have a life. First on 05:13, these things

are written that you may know that you

have eternal life. Amen? We have eternal life

right now because Jesus bore our sins on

the cross. Amen, and we're not saved by

works of righteousness at week. Righteousness that we

could do. We could never earn our salvation.

Jesus paid for our sins on the cross

and rose again. And through faith in him,

we have the gift of eternal life. Amen,

what a beautiful truth that is. But you

know what?

Jesus talked about those who will inherit eternal

life.

There's a already, but not yet. We haven't

moved into the fullness of that life.

And it's important to understand that, the scriptures

say, for instance, in galatians 6 7 through

9. Remember those verses,

do not be deceived. God has not mocked.

He that sow the flesh from the flesh

re what.

Corruption, but he that sow to the spirit

will reap

eternal life.

And we shall reap Po goes honestly say,

if we do not give up.

If we do not give up.

Meaning, hold on.

Amen.

Hold on to Jesus. He is our life

John 12:25 G jesus says the man who

John 12:25

loves his life will lose it.

While the man who hates his life in

this world will keep it for eternal life.

Romans 2 7, Paul talks about those who

by persistence,

those who continue in the faith. Right? And

in doing good, seek glory, honor and immortality,

he will give he will give eternal life.

The good works there are evidence of your

faith.

You don't earn your salvation. Romans 06:22 paul

Romans 6:22

says, but now that you have been set

free from sin. And I become slaves to

God.

The benefit you reap leads to h and

the result is eternal life. He's talking about

that final aspect of

salvation.

Titus 3 7.

Paul's so... Paul said so that have been

justified by his grace. We've been justified. Right?

By his grace, we might become heirs having

the hope of eternal life.

So in 1 sense, we already have eternal

life because we have Jesus. He lives in

his a amen.

But we look forward to the full manifestation

of that life at the resurrection. Amen.

So it's quite beautiful.

I love Jude, 20 and 21.

But you beloved in building yourselves up in

your most holy faith, praying in the holy

spirit keep yourselves in the love of God

waiting anxiously listen to this, waiting anxiously for

the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to

eternal life. We waiting for Jesus to bring

us eternal life.

We've been saved

from our sins, amen.

We're being san

and continually

set apart from sin. And 1 day we'll

be glorified and be totally separate the very

presence of Sin. Amen, and and and inherit

at the fullness of our salvation. So it's

quite robust, it's Christian theology,

and that's why I challenge you as Christians.

When I was being interviewed today, the person

I was interview interviewing me interviewing me, a

brother from England named Chris. Really neat brother.

And I've been interviewed by

Tal, who... They do a lot of shows

together, but he was encouraging, very encouraging. He

He loves our ministry in a a good

fight and in a blessed hope. And but

he said he's been a church to church

to church church, and he goes I've been

all over the place. And he said finally

when he found our ministry, and not that

where was doing it, but it's sad it's

kind of far few between, he goes, I

finally found, you know,

where you, you know, there's exit jesus of

the scripture,

where we actually go through the bible and

learn what it means and and and go

deep, You know, and that's what what we

ought to be doing amen. So,

looks look at 06:12 again of first Timothy.

Fight the good fight of faith,

Take hold of eternal life.

We've looked at that right, to which you

were what,

to which you were called.

Let's look at that. To which you were...

Now that's the first

reason he gives him as to why he

needs the persevere.

Because you were Timothy. You were called

you were called to eternal life.

And that's very, very

important to understand and

what it mean to be called.

That's even... A lot of things in this

verse are actually, you know,

controversial depending on what system theology you believe

and or what have you and And to

me, this really shouldn't be very complex.

You know, Some will talk about how there's

a general call,

and there's an efficacious call.

A general call is whereby God calls everybody

to himself and

makes it sound as though he wants to

save everybody

But the efficacious call a secret call because

really, he wants to damn most people, but

he efficacious works in certain people and it's

inter... Also called the inter call whereby God

actually reveals the gospel to you because you've

been predetermined to be saved, and then you

can understand the gospel, but the other people

you didn't really want. You know?

That's not... That that makes it to

act... Actually, that moves away from what we're

really called to you guys.

The salvation that we're called to and how

god's call is sincere for everyone.

He doesn't will that any with Perish. Amen?

He is a good God. God is love.

And he did still love the world that

he gave his only begun son. So what's

the difference. And what happens is because sometimes

Christians throughout the new testament are called the

called.

Right?

Oh, we're the called?

What about the knob believers?

Were they called yes.

Oh, why we called the called?

And I believe when you look at the

script description, you can say in that some

sense there maybe, you know what you might

call a general call, but I believe it's

a very sincere call.

And anyone can respond to it. It becomes

efficacious meaning effective in your life when you

mix your faith

with God's grace.

When you put trust in Jesus and the

gospel of Christ, Amen,

then it becomes efficacious.

But it doesn't mean that God doesn't want

everybody to answer the call.

Isn't faith a gift though?

In the objective sense it is,

none of us could believe if Jesus didn't

die for us if there was no incarnation

if God didn't reveal himself to his amen,

So in that sense, we couldn't even... The

grace of god that brings salvation though has

appeared to all men. Amen. So we couldn't

believe so in 1 sense faith is a

gift. In another sense is a gift too

in the sense that, certain people have the

gift of faith, certain Christians, Romans is chapter

Isaiah 12 · chapter mention

12, there's different gifts. Certain people just have

an ability just to trust God

for certain things because they've been given,

a gift of faith.

But when we're talking about salvation,

the gift of faith is something god calls

everyone to, He offers

he brings us all evidence

to believe if we respond the light that

he gives us.

In fact, you know how I know that

Jesus wants us to believe,

and how our belief is all on a

on a subjective level, it's your belief though.

You're the 1 believing.

You could it be call it a believer.

You could be called the believer if you

weren't the 1 believing.

Otherwise, it would be a mis no. Amen,

but you truly are a believer.

You truly are... And that's the subjective aspect,

and that is your responsibility.

Because belief is not merit. It's not something

that we are doing that's credited as some

kind of work whereby we merit or earn

our salvation.

Belief or trust is simply

receptive of his goodness.

Amen. Is that which turns to he receives

his grace.

And I challenge you guys to understand deeper

theology

because I want us to be deeper in

our walks with Jesus understand how God works.

And grow. It's my prayer for our fellowship

in and the people that hear me are

that they grow in the knowledge of Jesus

in his word.

That way, you don't get let astra by

every window of doctrine that comes by. You

don't get confused about the goodness of god.

So we understand faith

there is the aspect where it's a gift

in the sense that god god calls everyone,

and he reveals his son, and he lights

hard everyone that comes in the world. Hey,

amen.

But it's subjective in the sense that is

your decision.

And so much so is it your decision,

that Jesus is upset with his disciples,

oh, y of little faith.

Right?

He he rebuke him for not believe he

meaning they should have at times. Amen.

And he's blown away by the Roman leader

or was also a blown away by the

came I haven't to seen faith like this

in all of Israel. Why is he blown

away?

If he just gave it to her and

she couldn't help but have it. No, because

it's her own response to him.

And that's why Jesus says, if you don't

believe my words believe my what.

Believe my miracles.

Because we do have to put our trust

in the Lord, and we have to fight

the good fight of faith and we have

to continue to trust the Lord.

Now it's interesting here

to go a little bit deeper now.

What does he mean by this call,

the

Timothy,

fight the good fight of faith,

lay hold on eternal life to which you

were called because you were called by God.

God calls us to eternal life. Is that

awesome that he really does love us and

he calls us to eternal life. He provided

salvation through the cross. Amen. The provision has

been made, but he calls us to eternal

life. God's called you

personally.

And and he's reminding Timothy that you've been

called to

eternal life.

Now,

as I said, it's not that complicated.

Go to Matthew chapter 22.

Matthew 22 · chapter mention

You remember the teaching that Jesus gave in

regard to the wedding feast. Amen.

And go ahead when you go to Matthew

22, look at verse 14.

And verse 14, this is there's that famous

phrase there for many are called, but fewer

are what.

Fewer are chosen.

For many are call, but few are chosen.

How's is that many are call, but only

a few

are chosen.

Many would say, oh, this is the general

call God calls people generally, but he really...

Some would say he doesn't really wanna save

them though, and that's why they're not chosen.

I say that that's not

biblical accurate

that god calls him

any sincere in his call. The reason to

call it doesn't move from general to f

efficacious is because they refuse to respond to

the call.

Just back up and look at the context.

Chapter

22 verse 1. Jesus spoke to them again

in parable saying the kingdom of heaven may

be compared to a king who gave me

wedding feast for his son, and he sent

out his slaves to what?

See that word call? To what?

Are you with me? To call those who

had been invited?

Sometimes when I see the word call, you

know, I look at it.

Many are called, fewer were chosen invited, you

know? When Paul says, you are the called.

That means I look at call and I

think that's a privilege to be called. I

look at it as invited. It's a sin.

I'd be called to eternal life. That's an

invitation.

So when I see Call I also see

invited.

And I love it because that helps me

get my brain around the idea. That many

are invited, but few are what chosen.

Many are invited, but not a very response

to the invitation.

Therefore, in a special sense as Christians you

can be called the called. You'd be called

the invite go through next new testament that

you're 1 the invited. Well, we're others invited.

Yeah, they were, but they didn't accept it.

But be happy that you were invited. Amen.

So he says, look at verse 3, and

he sent out as slaves to call those

who had been invited to the wedding feast

and they were what?

Unwilling to come.

Do you think the fault of them not

being at the wedding feast is

to put the 1 who invites

them his fault or their fault.

It puts the blame on the person

It puts the blame on the person.

If you don't end up in heaven in

the end, it's not because God doesn't love

you. It's not because he's didn't die for

you, It's not because God didn't

didn't invite you. It's because you rejected his

invitation in the end.

They're called, but they... What?

They were unwilling.

Right? To come,

which I love John chapter 5 versus 34

John 5 · chapter mention

35 39 40, where Jesus says to the

Jewish leaders that hey Wanna kill him later.

He says, I'm saying these things to you

that you may be saved.

But you're unwilling to come to me that

you may have life.

I don't know how much clearer it can

be made than right there.

I'm saying they seems to that you may

be saved for your unwilling economy that you

may have life. And here we see verse

4. Again, he sent out other slaves saying,

tell those who have been invited behold, I

have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my

fat and livestock,

all are butcher, and everything is ready, come

to the wedding feast.

But they paid no attention and went their

way. 1 to his own farm another to

his business.

And the rest sees his slaves and mistreated

them and killed them.

But the king was enraged,

he sent his armies and destroyed those murders

and set their city on fire

That was what happened in 70 ad d

when God allowed, you know, Israel

to be destroyed by the Romans after they

rejected

Messiah about 30 some years later. Verse 8,

then he said to his slaves, the wedding

is ready.

But those who were invited were not worthy,

Go there for to the main highways. And

as many as you find there, invite to

the wedding feast. It's not just for the

Jews. Now it's open to the gentile. Amen.

Those slaves went out into the streets and

gathered together all they found, both evil and

good and the wedding hall was filled with

dinner guests.

But when the king came

in to look over the dinner guest, he

saw a man there who was not dressed

in wedding clothes.

And he said to a friend,

How did you come in here without wedding

clothes and the man was speechless.

The king has said to the servants, bind

him hand and foot and throw him into

the outer darkness in that place where we

weeping says Jesus and national teeth. For many

are calm, but fewer are wet.

Fewer are chosen. So the invitation goes out,

whose will may come.

But there is a condition.

You have to come on god's terms.

Not on your own terms.

You can't see, oh, you know what?

I I get it. You know, their signs

as we sing come just as you are.

If you say come, just as you are

meaning,

you know, just

come, don't have to pretend you're something different

than you are. Just be real. That's 1

thing. But if you may come just as

you are and don't repent of your sins

and don't you you know, don't put your

trust in christ and so forth though that's

not what that... That's about.

We have to meet the terms of god's,

we have to come to him with repent

faith. Amen.

And this guy came in his own wedding

clothes.

You know, if you come in your own

wedding clothes and your own righteousness, the bible

says that all my rights. This is like

filthy rags before God. Hey, amen?

And Paul says is not that he wanna

be found not that I'll be found in

my own righteousness, but the righteous that comes

to faith in Christ. Amen.

You can only get into heaven. If your

sins have been washed away by the blood

of Christ. And he is your righteousness.

Otherwise, it's all like, just bunch of filthy

rags before god's disgusting.

So that's why this guy's booted out. Many

are calm, but fewer are what, chosen.

If this guy simply would have put on

the righteous of Christ, which be faith in

the messiah, which is really what this is

talking about here.

If others were willing to come,

So first of all, you might need to

be willing to come. And when you come,

you have to come on God's terms, Amen

to salvation.

You have to put your faith in Jesus

as your messiah.

In fact, flip over just 1 chapter to

chapter 23 verse 37, and you see Jesus

lament over Jerusalem,

God bless you. Jerusalem, Jerusalem verse 37.

Jerusalem Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones

those who are sent to her. How often

I what?

Wanna gather your children together, the way a

hand gathers her chicks under her wings,

and you were what.

Unwilling.

He will it, but they were wet.

Unwilling.

K? So the call of God is this

perfectly sincere.

He wills to gather Israel the Jews together

in faith,

but

They were unwilling.

We need to make sure that we're willing

amen. How do you answer the call? You

are willing. You have ears here. You say,

yes, lord, I'm coming. Amen.

You receive that call.

And it's imperative that you recognize

because some people get the car before the

horse.

They think people are destined for damn nation,

Therefore,

they won't respond to the call of God.

But the bible actually teaches that God pre

destiny us based on his foreign knowledge.

Says in chapter 8 versus 28 and 29

of Romans

verse 28 God works all things together for

the good for those who love him. In

order the call the according purpose, amen.

So if you're loving God. Right? Says those

who love God and Corinthians paul, Those who

love God are known by god. So if

you love God, Faith works through love the

bible says, you're known by god.

He knows that you responded to his grace,

and he works all things together for you,

for the good,

for those who love him and are call

the queen's purpose.

How so. Very next verse 4 to conjunction

connects to verse 28.

For whom he fore knew those who would

love him,

Right? He pre desi them to be conform

to what, the image of his son.

So god knows who for... He fore knows

who loves him and And if you come

to him,

he's gonna work everything for the good in

your life and pre destiny you to become

by his son.

Beautiful,

Well, when did he know that before the

world was created,

He knew who had come to when he

went.

And so this call though,

if you respond to the call,

it is for knowledge.

You receive the gospel.

Your hope destiny for salvation.

In fact, go to Isaiah chapter 65 since

Isaiah 65 · chapter mention

we're looking at the call,

this is really powerful. Really eye open. And

I think this will really help you out

and your understanding of what we're talking about

here. It's not super complex. It's beautiful actually.

And it just shows you how God is

perfectly

impartial,

full of love,

you know, full of loving kindness.

Slow to anger,

giving people opportunity to repent.

Look at Isaiah 65 and what says in

versus 1 and 2.

The Lord God says, I permitted myself to

be sought by those who did not ask

for me.

And this is quoted in the book Romans

about how an in salvation plan.

Some of this. I permitted myself to be

sop by those who did not ask for

me. I permitted myself to be found by

those who did not seek me. I said,

here am I? Here in Miami, he revealed

himself. Right?

To a nation which did not call on

my name. I have spread out my what.

Hands

all day long.

Sounds like

Matthew chapter 28 3 verse 37, when he's

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

crying over Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets

and Stones those who are sent to her

how often I would have gathered together and

does chicks. I would have gathered you, but

you unwilling. Here saying all day long I've

been stretching on my hands to you guys.

Right?

I've spread out my hands all day long

to a rebellious people who walk in the

way, which doesn't

which is not good, following their own thoughts.

So check this out. What does he do

about that?

There are those he goes on to talk

about who are faithful, who turned to him

who seek him. That's beautiful.

But look what he says of those who

don't that he's spreading out his hands. Do

you look at verse 11, Very clear.

But you who for forsaken the Lord,

who forget my holy mountain

who said a table for fortune, a demon

God, and who fill cups with mixed wine

for destiny, another demon God.

I will what.

I will went?

Destined in you for the sword.

Why does god destined people for the sword?

Oh, because he just never wanted them begin

with no? He spread out his on hands

all day lied for these guys. Even when

they were rebellious. Why? He tells us why.

I will destiny you for the sword.

And all of you will bow down for

the slot to the slaughter. Why? Why Lord?

He says it right because?

Because this is the cause. Be cause the

cause. That people are destined for destruction because

I went.

I called,

but you did not what.

Answer.

I spoke.

But you did not wet

here.

And you did evil in my sight and

what? And what?

Chose. You might wanna kinda circle some of

these words. They're making a choice and you

chose that in which I did not delight.

So isn't that powerful?

God destined you based on the choices that

you make.

And if you respond to the gospel,

and God's goodness. Say amen, He'll save you.

You're destined become like Jesus.

But if you reject his call, which all

day long cries out to you to be

saved and you reject that call,

he'll destiny for destruction why?

Because you chose evil

because you rejected his call.

Are you with me?

Really powerful. I think that's 1 of the

clearest places in scripture what shows you how

god's calling and and destiny people and and

choosing people and their choices work together.

And this principle

is throughout the new testament regarding the gospel.

Those who are unwilling,

reject the salvation that could be theirs.

So many are called, but fewer are chosen.

In fact, it's interesting, We're told in second

Peter

that,

chapter 1, it talks about how God's called

this.

But according his divine power. Right?

And it praise God It's, you know, it's

beautiful,

but then he warns them to not to

fall away, but to grow in grace,

and not to get the point where they

forget. Remember that text where they forget that

they were purified or cleansed,

forgiven of their past sins.

That's believers. Only believers were cleansed of their

past ins. Right? And then he says to

them, make your calling an election sure.

So even though we've been called,

chapter 1 versus 3 and 4 second, Peter

1.

Now we need to make our call election

sure by continuing in the faith by taking

hold of eternal life. And continuing simply to

trust Jesus.

That's how you make your calling an election

sure.

You know who Jesus is coming back for?

No. He's coming back with,

Right when the antichrist comes and rains, and

then the church was caught up just before

the antichrist destroyed Armageddon

we meet Christ the air on his way

down.

But, you know who comes with him. Most

believers are already with the lord. Did you

know that?

Because there's been 2000 years of of of

believers dying and going to heaven.

And the dead increase rise first. So they'll

comprise the armies of heaven. Right?

And we'll be caught up to meet them

in the air. Listen to what it says

in revelation 17 14.

These meaning the 10 kings that give their

power to the antichrist, their kingdoms.

These will wage war against the lamb, and

the lamb will overcome them because he is

Lord of Lords and king of kings And

those who are with him are the called.

Oh, listen to this. They're the called and

chosen.

Why are they chosen because he answered the

call?

He knew they'd the call. He's already... He's

telling, Steven this is a future prophecy before

it's totally fulfilled yet. But shows his foreign

knowledge. But listen this. Those who are with

him are the call

and chosen

and

faithful.

What guys joined together let know man

or woman set apart. Amen.

Being called and chosen to faithful go get...

Go together, guys.

Because they made their calling an election sure.

Call and chosen to call election. You make

sure how do you make sure by continuing

to trust Jesus.

And when you go through hard times. When

your faith is tested, you continue to hold

on to eternal life. Hey amen. You continue

to fight the good fight of faith. You

continue to say Lord,

I believe, if I'm struggling my faith help

my un belief, help me grow in my

faith. Amen.

You go through some hard time some temptation.

You you fall short. You you you you

fall the city even. He says, I write

these things that you don't send. But if

you do send, you have a you have

an advocate with Father Jesus, Christ Righteous. Now

you confess your scene you say father forgive

me of my sins cleanse me of all

the righteousness. Then you walk in the light.

First John 1 7. If we walk in

light, As he's in light. We have fellow

1 with another lot of Jesus christ son

cleanse from all sins. Amen.

You have to depend on Jesus every day.

Don't be waiting for purgatory?

Oh.

I'll get right in purgatory Man. I'll burn

off my sins. That's a lie in the.

If you're not right with Jesus, When you

leave this earth, you'll never be right with

Jesus.

You have to make sure you're in the

faith right now.

So we have all these wonderful passages, and

it's it's amazing too. When you look at

hebrews,

Hebrews 3 · chapter mention

Chapter 3, it says verse 1. Therefore holy

brethren, partake of a heavenly calling.

Partake of a heavenly calling. Where this heavily

calling in chapter 3 verse 1. Yet, he

warns them, listen to this,

3 different times, he warns them don't harden

in your hearts to that call.

And don't tune out the holy spirit.

As they did in the wilderness, when I

laid their car as low and wipe them

out before they entered the promised lamb.

Yeah. Your holy brother. Your partake is loving

call... Emily calling. You are in your calling.

You're going forward, but 3 different times he

warns them don't harden your parts.

And it's

amazing when you you think it through in

in verse 12. That's that famous verse

famous if you go to this church, take

care of brethren

that there not being in any 1 of

you and un an evil, unbelievable heart that

falls away from the living God. But encourage

1 another

day by day or day after day, as

long as it's still called the today. So

that none of you will be hardened by

the d forgetful of sin,

And that's just... That's a fourth time. 3

times it says, don't be hardened. Don't harden

your hearts. Here he gives them this word

it talks about don't be... Don't let this

happen. About those who will be hard by

the People of sin. That 14. For we

have become partake of Christ. If we hold

fast it this again, if we hold fast

the beginning of our assurance, firm until the

end, while it is said today, if you

hear his voice, do not harden your hearts

as when they provoke me. So Paul is

telling Timothy, Timothy,

You should fight the good fight. You need

to fight the good fight

of faith. You need to lay hold on

eternal life because you recall Timothy.

You've been called. Now fulfill that calling.

Now let's go back to chapter 6 verse

12.

Now

Look at what we've looked at so far.

Fight. The good fight of faith, take hold

of the eternal life to which you were

called

and I love this.

Here's reason number 2 that Timothy is told

by Paul that he should persevere in his

faith.

And reason number 2 is because Timothy has

made a good confession in the presence of

many witnesses.

Verse 12, fight the good fight of faith

take hold of the eternal leg to which

you were called and you made the good

confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Wow, that's powerful.

So Timothy,

don't give up. You made a great confession

of your faith

And the idea of confession became a technical

term for confessing Christ as your Lord.

And Timothy had confessed Jesus Christ says as

Lord.

You know, different comment will say this could

have been at a tri when he was

at, you know, facing

some kind of

you know,

hostility

in court because of his faith. Others say

it could have been his...

Some commentaries have say maybe Paul is talking

about when they or ordained him and the

elders of pre laid hands on him. I

think the best explanation is probably talking about

Timothy baptism.

In the early church, that's where you gave

your public testimony, and it talks about many.

Not just a few that were many witnesses

to Timothy giving his testimony

given his public

confession. And Praise God, we just had a

baptism Sunday.

And baptism are just so awesome because that's

where you what it means to give a

confession is a public

declaration

that you belong to Jesus that you a

follower of Christ. It's a beautiful thing, guys.

And I love baptism and, you know, it's

a joy. It's such a joy to see

people.

Their lives their hearts just being changed and

transformed

and through faith in Christ and then going

into the water

and and and giving testimony that I belong

to Jesus,

And what Steven and I will do and

sometimes the other elders, you know, we'll we'll

pray for them, but we'll also make a

declaration of faith, you know, And if you've

been baptized, you know what that's like, You

know, you'll confess Jesus Christ as as your

lord, you confess him as God in the

flesh, Amen.

Your faith in God, you know, God God

made all things. Amen, and that he

became flesh and that he lived a perfect

life and you'll repeat that and that He

went to the cross, and he paid for

sins and he rose again, and he ascended

the father. He's paying for us now and

he's coming back again. Amen, and receive us

to himself and we with him forever, and

you'll confess that he's your Lord and they

are saved by create... By Grace to faith

and that you you reno the wicked of

the world.

Amen and Jesus christ is your Lord.

And you'll have a testimony

in regard to what your faith is. And

if you haven't been baptized it's important,

You know? Now we believe that you're saved

prior to baptism,

we don't have time to get into that,

But if you're trusting Christ, you're sad, but

if you're truly saved, you'll wanna be baptized

because Jesus says if you love me, obey

my come command and say amen. So that's

very, very important that we confess him.

As our Lord and Savior.

Second, Timothy 02:12,

paul says if we endure,

we shall also reign with him. If we

deny him, he also would deny us. Paul's

emphasizing the importance of Timothy continuing to hold

on to his early

confession

when he publicly declared whether it was his

baptism or somewhere else before many people that

that Jesus is his lord, which by the

way, a big deal in those days guys.

It's a big deal today because you can't

be saved if you refuse to confess christ

your Lord.

But in those days, man, it could cost

you your life.

In fact, it caused many people lives because

they looked at Zeus as the chief God.

And the... And, basically, it came to a

Zenith regarding persecution if you confess jesus Christ

Lord because guess what that meant.

That meant that

he's

higher than

the Caesars.

And Caesar was supposed to be the head

guy.

And you were threatening... Well, in fact, look

at what Paul says, Go to first Timothy

1 Timothy 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6, of verse 12,

and I want you to

look beyond verse

12 to verse 13 and then 14.

I charge you in the presence of God

who gives life to all things and of

Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before

punches pilot, that you keep the command without

staying or rep approach until the appearing of

our lord Jesus Christ,

which he will bring about at the proper

time. He who is what.

The... The blessing and the only what. The

only sovereign. He say guess what? Caesars not

the sovereign.

In fact, our Lord God is the only

sovereign.

The king of kings and the Lord of

Lords? Do you know how?

How s this would seem if you're reading

this in the first century?

Because

Caesar's... I mean, Jesus was crucified under the

pre pretext that he was claiming to overthrow

rome. Right?

And that's what the jews said, hey, He.

Oh, we have Caesar or king because that

was a big deal.

So to call Jesus your Lord, you're only

sovereign.

That's a big deal.

And that's what Paul is telling Timothy to

keep up that confession. And by the way,

this is... He's ready at Timothy and Ethic

Ep is a hotbed for Emperor worship.

The emperor was held as Supreme, and Paul

was writing

pete Timothy?

Our God supreme. He's the king of kings

He's a Lord of Lords.

Any of these earthly kings are subs soviet

to him. That's a big deal. He say,

don't quit your confession. Just read the book

of acts. These testimonies got them in a

lot of trouble, but it was very important

because in chapter 10 versus 9 and 10.

And I'm reading from the complete Jewish Bible

because it brings out the continuous tenses in

these verses. Listen to Romans 10 9 and

10 about confessing Jews as Lord. That if

you confess publicly or acknowledged publicly,

with your mouth that Yes asu is Lord

and trust in your heart that god raised

him from the dead, you will be delivered.

For with the heart 1 goes on trusting

and this continues toward righteousness

while the with the mouth 1 keeps on

making public acknowledgment and that's continues toward deliverance.

It's a continual

confession

fighting the good fight, the idea there is

continuing to fight the good fight. Of course,

Jesus said, if you confess him before the

father or before man, he'll confess before the

father in Heaven in Matthew 10:32

Matthew 10:32

and 33 or 31 and 32. But if

you deny him before, man, He'll deny before

the father. Who is in Heaven, and hebrews

reads 04:14 says, therefore since we have a

great high priest, who has passed through the

heavens. Jesus is the son of God, let

us hold fast our confession. So 1 of

the things you're supposed to hold fast to

is what, to our

confession. The third and last reason

that Jesus

or Paul gives Timothy to persevere in the

faith isn't in chapter 2 verse 13, which

we will look at briefly.

Chapter 2 verse 13.

Paul says I charge you. He's charging Timothy.

In the presence of God, Timothy, God's here

watching you.

Who gives life to all things. He's the

1 who deserves your allegiance because he's the

1 that gives life to all things. And

of Christ Jesus who check this out. Who

testified

the good confession before po pilot. In other

words, Timothy, you keep your confession. You fight

the good fight of faith. You lay hold

on eternal life to which you were called

and made a confess before many witnesses. You

be a powerful witness. You don't let go

of your testimony. You don't let over your

confession and look to Jesus who before po

pilot gave a good confession. Let him be

your example. And by the way, Jesus, what

was his confession before Pie like are you

king? He says, you said it. I am

a king. And for that reason I was

born.

He coulda called 12 leads angels to rescue

and what he didn't and he knew he's

was gonna get him crucified. That admission. Yeah.

I'm king.

But guess what?

Jesus testified that he was king not so

he could be saved. He persevere his testimony,

so he could die as arcing king for

our sins, so we could be saved, amen.

He didn't have to do it. He did

it.

But he's telling Paul was telling Timothy, you

need to make sure you keep your confession.

What's the confession the same thing, not that

we're king, that Jesus king. Amen. That he

is king, that he is save Amen? That's

our confession. When do we give it? Whenever

you can, man? Where do you give it

before it believers before non believers because they

need to be saved to amen, We need

to keep our confession and stand fast in

the faith.

Where

everywhere you can. Why?

Because you won't be safe if you don't

confess you as Lord, Romans 10 9 and

10, and other people need to hear it

at Amen.

Now I think it's fascinating

because I started with how Timothy

first Timothy 01:18 through 20, he tells the

1 Timothy 1:18–20

fight the good fight. The first time he

gives example examples like Hi chai

And Alexander,

who didn't

fight the good fight and ship record their

faith. Now he turns to a positive example.

He turns to Jesus. Amen, look to Jesus.

Looked how, he testified before Po pilot, and

he did not give in.

List to Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 guys.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud

witnesses surrounding us. Let us also lay aside

every en comforts

and the sin which so easily ent us

and let us run with endurance the race

that is set before us. There are the

races again. Verse 2 fixing our eyes on

Jesus as the author and perfect of faith,

who for the joy sent before him endured

the cross, despise the shame and has sat

down at the right hand of the throne

of god. For consider him,

who has endured such hostility by sinner against

him so that you will not grow weary

and lose heart. Amen?

So let's fight the good fight of the

faith.

That's stand fast. Let's not give in. I

wanna challenge you. A,

fight the good fight. Don't give in. Don't

throw in the towel.

Be of fight for your personal faith and

word, and prayer, c, fight for the content

of Christian faith. Stand, for God's truth. Being

ap. For Jesus d, lay hold on eternal

life. Never let it go. E, make your

calling election sure, Continue respond to guys called

don't let your heart get hard because of

sin. F, remember, your public confession before the

many witnesses when you first got saved, and

g, remember Jesus,

that Jesus testified the Good confession before punches

pilot. He didn't have to do it. He

did it for us because he loves this.

And lastly, h looked to Jesus who finished

and sat down at the right hand of

God, the father Amen, and then guess what.

Revelation 21. I promised the church of Philadelphia,

but everyone has to here,

Jesus says,

even as I overcame and sat down with

my father on his throne in heaven.

If you overcome, he that overcomes also sit

down with me on my throne amen.

Happy days guy's ahead, Amen.

You can't be at that convention right now,

but you get to be somewhere far better,

the eternal throne of God.

And you'll hear the words well done good

and faithful servant and enter into the Joy

of the Lord, Amen.

Out, please stand.