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HOLY WARFARE. I Timothy 6:11-16. 8/14/2022. #21.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 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. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
1. Flee lusts and greed
a. The second time Paul has warned Timothy to avoid evil and embrace what is righteous
a1. Flee greed and covetousness
a2. 2 Timothy 2:22 flee youthful lusts
b. Paul is well aware of temptations faced by young men (knew Timothy well)
a1. Timothy’s reserved and shy personality left him vulnerable to aggressive tempt.
a2. Paul was concerned move about Timothy’s lack of bold resolve, rather than intent
c. Inner strength comes from three areas: strength of personality, strength of will, strength of conviction (lacking one, you must use the others)
a1. Paul had all three, but Timothy lacked the first
a2. Paul wanted Timothy to “stir up” the strength and will and conviction in him
d. Paul’s address to Timothy, “O, man of God”, = a reminder of his calling and commitment
a1. Always keep in mind, we are servants
a2. To be saved is be set apart for the Lord
e. Paul knew what battles were ahead of Timothy (concerned for his endurance and resolve)
2. The righteous battle
a. Paul wants Timothy to embrace all that is righteous and good (similar list as fruit of Spirit in Gal. 5)
b. Embrace (lay ahold of) eternal life (life everlasting) = live as one who has unending life
a1. Doesn’t mean Timothy was not saved
a2. Live as if you are saved (being saved is different from living the saved life)
c. Fight the good fight of faith
a1. Fight (struggle) = agon (to gather)
a2. Idea = to gather for conflict
d. 2 TM. 2:1-3 the Christian life is a battle against our flesh, the world, and spiritual darkness
a1. We’re commanded to engage in spiritual warfare (prayer, witness, and testimony)
a2. Not combative, but boldly testifying
e. Not to shy away from spiritual battle (Ephesians 6)
a1. Fortified by calling, character, and faithful preparation
a2. Fortified against trials, temptation, and persecution
3. Jesus, king and Lord
a. Stand before Lord who created all things
b. Description Lord Jesus
a1. Good testimony before Pontius Pilate
a2. Potentate (sovereign, authority)
a3. King of kings and Lord of lords
a4. In him is immortality
a5. Dwells in unapproachable light (same description as God the Father)
b1. Jesus’s Incarnation covers glory
b2. Same glory and holiness as Father
a6. All honor and power
c. Keep commandments before all holy Lord
d. Keep his holiness and our position in mind
Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2:1-31 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.