Subscription Lists

"This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme."

-1 Timothy 1:18-20

Timothy had been exhorted through prophecy earlier on to fight the good fight. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Our fight is ultimately against the devil himself. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Believers can be devoured, suffering shipwreck of their faith, as Alexander and Hymenaeus did, by blaspheming God as they likely taught wrong doctrine (2 Timothy 2:16-18). Thus, lest we, though in Christ, be led astray into rebellion or deception and in turn risk leading others astray along with us, we must guard our hearts above all else. We must be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Ephesians 6:10), trusting in Christ to provide the way of escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), not relying on our own power to battle the devil and escape his wiles. Paul wants Timothy to continue to persevere in faithfulness and holiness so that he upholds sound doctrine and advances the truth in a world full of lies. Paul wants him to be victorious in his daily struggles against sin and the devil. Though it is true that we all stumble at times, it is also true that we ought to keep fighting and pressing on. Those who wish to fight the good fight of faith to the end must find a way by faith to keep faith and a good conscience.

To keep faith is to not turn from sound doctrine. There are countless deceptions out there which could lead us astray and totally render us ineffective in true fruit-bearing ministry if we place our faith in them. We must commit ourselves to putting our faith in God’s Word alone. If something feels funny, doesn’t sound quite right, or purports itself as some original idea that Christians have all missed up to this point, we should beware. Of course, the best test is simply to measure every idea in light of Scripture. If a chapter and verse cannot be referenced to support a conclusion, then the conclusion should be doubted and disposed of. Unless the Bible tells us so, we have no right to accept and propagate supposed "knowledge" which in reality is likely worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:19). Timothy must hold fast to the faith by continuing to remain convinced of and anchored in the truth of God which he knows and has learned and studied (2 Timothy 3:14).

He must also keep a clean conscience. The way to get led astray is to either believe a lie, and therefore move from keeping the faith, or to make a moral compromise and go against what we know in our hearts and minds is right, good, noble, pure, and of sound repute (Philippians 4:8). The Bible is clear that we must abhor what is evil, and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). We can’t put one foot in darkness and one in light. We must be more extreme than this. As God tells the lukewarm Laodicean church, "Be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). Our zeal and passion must be directed toward what is good, and if it is not, we need to repent, lest our consciences be defiled. We don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and regard sin in our hearts (Psalm 66:18). If we do, then we can expect to have a powerless ministry. To move away from sound doctrine is to pervert the faith and develop a deviant, dangerous lifestyle and/or ministry. To move away from a clean heart before God that is free from unconfessed sin is to develop a hypocritical lifestyle and/or ministry that is not Spirit-led, Spirit-filled, or Spirit-empowered. We can’t accomplish Biblical ministry on our own, for apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5). God accomplishes not based upon human strength but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Thus, if we grieve and resist the Spirit by holding on to sin, we can expect our minds to be clouded and to become vessels of no use to God. Thus, it is of utmost importance that Timothy take care that he resists the devil’s temptation so that the devil flees (James 4:7). He must take evil thoughts captive unto obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Then he can sustain a powerful, eternally effective ministry over the long haul.

We must make no mistake about the reality of our situation. Though Christ has won the war, the battle still rages while the devil is yet allowed to roam about the earth. His battle is to keep lost souls lost and to keep freed souls from being fruitful souls. He will battle long and hard against those who keep the faith and determine to walk in purity. Yet Christ will enable us to hold to faith and a clear conscience if only we believe. May He give us the strength we need, the faith we need, and the perseverance to keep battling and to continue resisting sin and the devil for the sake of His glory and kingdom.

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

Milque-Toast Prayers