Note: This week's daily encouragement messages (and the last two from last week) are developed from a study I prepared for Crossroads Adult Bible Fellowship  last Sunday based on teaching from 2 Timothy 4:1-8.

Message summary: There is an ongoing conflict in the spiritual realm that is unavoidable and we have no choice in whether or not we engage. By virtue of the fallen condition of mankind we are engaged. The “good fight” is the ancient conflict in the spiritual realm and goes back to the fall of Satan.

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“I have fought the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7).

I’ve never enjoyed fighting. Sports like boxing and wrestling do not interest me. I recall a period in Junior High School when the class bully put out the word that he wanted to fight me. Truth be told, I was terrified! At that time I was getting taller but was as skinny as a rail and had no desire to get in a fight with a tough bully!

It was likely my first experience as a child to undergo real personal stress that extended over a period of months, but thankfully the rumored fight never transpired. (That was over 55 years ago and I've wondered how his life turned out. As I recall he was from a rough family.)

To this day I would rather avoid conflict than face it and am even uncomfortable reading books or viewing movies that have major conflict.

But there is an ongoing conflict in the spiritual realm that is unavoidable and we have no choice in whether or not we engage. By virtue of the fallen condition of mankind we are engaged. There is no neutrality in this conflict and in this “good fight” pacifism or non-resistance is not a virtue, but rather a surrender and an alliance with the forces of evil.

Many of us have studied or even memorized a portion of Scripture referred to as the “Armor of God” in Ephesians 6. The apostle Paul reminds us that our struggle is not ultimately physical in nature but spiritual. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul instructs Timothy to "Fight the good fight of the faith". Following his awareness that the time of his departure (death) was near (yesterday's message) he lists three great life accomplishments; "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

Today we will just consider the phrase "I have fought the good fight". Prior to his conversion to Christ on the road to Damascus he was fighting (literally) a bad fight opposing Christ and His cause. But that dramatically changed!

The “good fight” is the ancient conflict in the spiritual realm and goes back to the fall of Satan. As the great old hymn declares, “For still our ancient foe [Satan], doth seek to work us woe, his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal".

Today I pray for each one of us fighting the good fight, seeking to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. We indeed “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”.

We pray that you will stand up for God’s truth and righteousness in the home, the workplace, the marketplace and in some instances you might even have to take a stand in your own church. I am convinced the battle will become increasingly more fierce before Christ’s return. Let us resolve in our hearts to remain faithful to our divine call no matter how great or small the conflict! Let us fight the good fight.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for the spiritual armor that defends us in battle and arms us for the struggle we encounter against the devil’s relentless schemes. This armor enables us to withstand the forces of evil, no matter the means or person(s) the enemy works through to try to weaken or destroy our faith. In addition to the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit we know that our prayers and petitions are heard by Jesus who intercedes on our behalf before You, our Father in heaven. We use our armor for protection, the belt of truth for discernment, the sword of the Spirit and prayer for weapons to reveal, attack and defeat Satan’s strongholds. Help us to want to fight the good fight though it may last our entire lifetime on earth. It is through Your name, Jesus, that we are more than conquerors. Amen.

The spiritual armor Ephesians 6:10-18