The Fight of Faith

Have you have been in a place in your life that you know you are supposed to do something, or for that matter, have been called to do something, but you doubt everything about it?  In times of doubt, we tend to overthink things, we try to control them ourselves, and we see opposition as a "sign" that surely we must be in the wrong place and time. 

When that happens we need to stop for a moment and think about what is going on.  A colleague of mine recently shared this with me.  He said we need to change the "story" we have been telling ourselves.  Now while this is absolutely true, sometimes this is easier said than done. A recent quote that came across my desk goes along with his advise though.  "You'll never reach your destination if you stop and throw rocks at every dog that barks".  Interestingly, both statements are true!  Do we tell our selves that we can't?  Do we tell ourselves that the "barking dogs" are in the way?  Faith doesn't ask us attack the obstacles that seem to be getting in the way of our mission.  Instead faith asks us to see through the opposition and keep on moving. 

I can say that too often I have willingly taken on a challenge that I knew wouldn't be easy.  I went in with eyes wide open, only later to doubt that I could actually do it.  Or for that matter, wondered if I was supposed to!  Faith doesn't ask us attack the obstacles that seem to be getting in the way of our mission.  Instead faith asks us to see through the opposition and keep on moving.  Pastor Joyce discusses the fight of faith with regard to Timothy and the Ephesian church.  As you read today, think about your Fight of Faith?  What is your calling?

The Fight of Faith: Pastor Joyce Wyrostek

Paul positioned Timothy in leadership over the Church in Ephesus.  The church was established by Paul as he spent three years building and equipping the saints there; it was a powerful church and drew people from the entire surrounding region.  Timothy had a big job on his hands and at times may have been overwhelmed by the oppositions that stood before him.

In his letter Paul writes to him; 1 Timothy 6:12, “ Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” And later Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity), but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Timothy was a born again, spirit filled believer who had traveled with Paul and ministered with him; eternal life was not an issue.  He knew that he was sealed by the spirit and had eternal life.  What Paul is referring to here is not life in the hereafter but the life now being lived on earth.  Eternal life is for the here and now; it is filled with every promise of God that comes with salvation, a life lived in complete and total victory in Christ Jesus. 

Paul is telling Timothy to stir himself up so as to live as he is seated with Christ at the right hand of God. Timothy need not be overwhelmed by the oppositions because he had authority over everyone and everything that came against him.

This timeless, changeless advice comes to us as we stand on the Word of God.  We must stir up the gift of God wherein we are called to take dominion over every circumstance in our life and act out the victory so dearly paid for on the Cross. Like a soldier in battle we grab hold of the promises and stand on them; never being moved by what we see, but fighting the fight of faith.