 1 Timothy 6:12 applies to every Christian.  We are spiritual “soldiers” fighting a spiritual conflict: Eph. 6:12-13; 2 Tim. 2:3-4  Absolute submission to authority: Jas. 4:7; 2 Cor. 10:5  Separation from loved ones: Matt. 10:35-37  Personal deprivations: Matt. 10:38; Phil. 3:8  Physical suffering: 2 Cor. 11:23-27  Torture from the enemy: 2 Tim. 3:12; Acts 5:40-41  Death: Rev. 2:10 2

 2 Timothy 2:4:  2 Timothy 2:4: “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”  Requires wholehearted service!  We must not be so “entangled” with the world that it hurts our service.  A soldier’s objective is to serve the will of his superiors.  The same is true of Christians: Col. 3:17; Gal. 2:20 3 “Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry, or to engage in any husbandry or trade; and they were forbidden to act as tutors to any person, or curators to any man’s estate, or proctors in the cause of other men. The general principle was, that they were excluded from those relations, agencies, and engagements, which it was thought would divert their minds from that which was to be the sole object of pursuit.” Barnes’ Notes

 Many Christians fail to realize we are at war: Eph. 6:10-18  With who? The devil! 2 Cor. 2:11; 10:3-5  Fleshly lusts: 1 Pet. 2:11; Gal. 5:16-21  Falsehood and error: Matt. 7:15; Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:11, 14  We must do something! 1 Jn. 4:1; Matt. 7:15; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; Jas. 4:7-8a; Acts 20:31; Eph. 5:11; 2 Jn Fight the Good Fight

 Paul describes our warfare as a “good fight”: 1 Tim. 6:12  Worthiest of all worthy causes: 2 Tim. 2:3; Heb. 2:10; 9:15; 1 Jn. 2:1; Jas. 1:12  Stand for what is right: Eph. 6:13-17; Mal. 3:2-3; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:6-9  Glorifies God: 1 Pet. 4:11-12; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 12:1-2 6 Fight the Good Fight

 Faith is the motivating force behind our warfare: 2 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 1:17; 1 Tim. 6:12; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 1:19-21  Faith gives us the strength and courage to continue forward: Heb. 11:13-16; 32-40; 12:1-4  It is only through faith that we can gain the victory: 1 Jn. 5:4; Eph. 6:16; Jude Fight the Good Fight

 The purpose of fighting “the good fight of faith” is to “lay hold on eternal life”: 1 Tim. 6:12  Eternal life spoken as both present and future: Titus 1:2; Mk. 10:30; Jn. 3:36; 5:24; 1 Jn. 5:11-13  No contradiction as eternal life is conditioned upon our continued “faithfulness”: Jas. 2:26; Heb. 5:9; 2 Tim. 4:7; 1 Cor. 9:27; Heb. 3:14  Let us heed Paul’s encouragement to lay hold on eternal life: Jn. 11:25-26; 14:6; 1 Jn. 5:20; Phil. 3:17-21; 1 Jn. 3:2-3; Rom. 8:17; 2:7; Phil. 3: Fight the Good Fight

 Are you a “good soldier of Jesus Christ”? 2 Tim. 2:3  “I Am a Soldier”: 9

10 I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

11 I will either retire in this army at the end of time, or die in it; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me to teach a class, to teach my neighbor, to help someone in need, or just to sit and learn, He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.

12 I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom. No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.

13 I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing materially. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win spiritually. My God has supplied my needs, and will continue to supply all of my needs.

14 I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me, because I’m safe in my Savior.

15 I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me, and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and I’m marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, and I am heaven bound, and here I stand! Will you stand with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ?