Sermon Central
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Getting In The Fight
Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: How are we to win the fight we face? This message looks at the 8 places in the NT that the Greek word “agonizomai” (translated "fight" in this verse) appears.
A FUNDAMENTAL SPIRITUAL TRUTH:
“Life is war.”
- 1 Timothy 6:12 - "Fight the good fight of faith".
- the verb “fight” is the Greek word “agonizomai”.
- only appears 8 times in the NT.
- where else does that Greek word appear and what do those passages teach us about the battle before us?
GETTING IN THE FIGHT:
1. It’s a fight to enter the Kingdom.
- Luke 13:24 - “Strive” (Greek word “agonizomai”) - "Strive to enter through the narrow gate. . ."
2. It’s a fight that’s not fought by normal means.
- John 18:36 - “fight” (Greek word “agonizomai”) - "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight. . ."
3. It’s a fight that requires discipline and self-control.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 - “competes” (Greek word “agonizomai”) - "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things."
- “temperate” means “has inner strength” or “self-control”
4. It’s a fight that is often fought on the battlefield of prayer.
- Colossians 4:12 - “laboring” (Greek word “agonizomai”) - "always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."
- notice the “that” in v. 12.
5. It’s a fight that requires our labor and God’s power.
- Colossians 1:29 - “striving” (Greek word “agonizomai”) - "To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."
- we labor, but in His power.
- often we go to one extreme or the other: we think it’s all on us or we sit back and do nothing while waiting on God.
- see also 1 Timothy 4:10 for another occurrence of this word in the Greek word “agonizomai” in a similar context.
Conclusion:
- 2 Timothy 4:7 - “fought” (Greek word “agonizomai”) - "I have fought the good fight"
- let this be our goal.
