Fight of Faith

Do you want to be saved? I mean saved for eternity. I sure do. Do you hear people say, “I am saved,” but yet you cannot tell them apart from the world? I see a lot of that also. My heart yearns to be in His presence right now where there is “fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11.

I have read that “The day of test and purification is just upon us. Signs of a most startling character appear in floods, in hurricanes, in tornadoes, in cloudbursts, in casualties by land and sea that proclaim the approach of the end of all things. The judgments of God are falling on the world, that men may be awakened to the fact that Christ will come speedily.” The Review and Herald, November 8, 1892. Am I ready? Are you ready? Are we prepared for the testing and purification? How do we prepare? God tells us, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. Oh no, is this a “works” thing? No! We can do nothing except through the Holy Spirit. So, how do you and I work out our salvation? What do we do? We fight the good fight of faith. Yes, we fight!

In I Timothy 6:12, we are told, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” What are you and I to do? Yes, “Fight the good fight of faith.” That sounds great but, what exactly is the “fight of faith?” When you and I understand what the “good fight of faith” is, we will know exactly what our work is. We are told, “When we lay hold of Christ by faith, our work has just begun. Every man has corrupt and sinful habits that must be overcome by vigorous warfare. Every soul is required to fight the fight of faith.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1111.

What is required of every soul? It is to “fight the fight of faith.” What is our work? It is to fight the good fight of faith. (I Timothy 6:12.) So, what is the “fight of faith?” It is to overcome corrupt and sinful habits by vigorous warfare. “When we lay hold of Christ by faith our work has just begun,” and James 2:20 tells us, “Faith without works is dead.” Do you have a faith that is living and working?

“In all ages there have been those who claimed a right to the favor of God even while they were disregarding some of His commands. But the Scriptures declare that by works is ‘faith made perfect;’ and that, without the works of obedience, faith ‘is dead.’ James 2:22. He that professes to know God, ‘and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ I John 2:4.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 73. So, what is dead without the “works of obedience?” Our faith. What are we told to do? “Fight the good fight of faith.” I Timothy 6:12. How do we do that? As we read earlier, “When we lay hold of Christ by faith our work has just begun,” works of obedience—to overcome corrupt and sinful habits by vigorous warfare. What do those “works of obedience” have to do with sinful habits? Sinful habits are habits which go against the word of God. That is why they are sinful.

Before I became a Christian, I had some very pronounced habits and ways. The employers I worked with knew everything that was on my mind, whether it be good or bad—whether it be by memo or mouth. I had a quick tongue like a sword. But, when I gave my heart to the Lord, I had a real battle (vigorous warfare). Why? Because the habits and words that were okay for the world were not okay with the Lord. I chose to fight the “good fight of faith.” And you can too.

We read, “As you arose from the watery grave at the time of your baptism, you professed to be dead, and declared that your life was changed—hid with Christ in God. You claimed to be dead to sin, and cleansed from your hereditary and cultivated traits of evil. In going forward in the rite of baptism, you pledged yourselves before God to remain dead to sin. Your mouth was to remain a sanctified mouth, your tongue a converted tongue.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 908. [Emphasis added.]

My battle began with the many “corrupt and sinful habits that must be overcome by vigorous warfare.” I am sure many of you can identify with these things, whether they be a sharp tongue, short temper, unloving spirit, impatience, etc.

What did I do? Remember, I had a work to do—I had to overcome these corrupt and sinful traits. I had to “fight the good fight of faith.” I Timothy 6:12.

My Lord led me to one of the meanings of grace. It was “the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.” (Lexicon.) Oh, how I wanted this divine influence upon my heart and its reflection in my life. I prayed for this with all my heart! Do you want that divine influence upon your heart and its reflection in your life? Then pray for it with all your heart. I did. Prayer is one of the first stations in battle to overcome those “corrupt and sinful habits by vigorous warfare.” Plead with all your heart and the Lord will hear you. Claim the promise in Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Pray, “Lord You have promised that if I delight myself in You that You would give me the desires of my heart. My desire is to have more of Your divine influence upon my heart and more of its reflection in my life. Thank you, Lord, for keeping Your promises and for hearing and answering my prayers.”

Our Lord waits to hear prayers like these so He can send help, so He can send that divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.

All I wanted was to have the fruits of the Holy Spirit shine through me. I knew I had a battle on my hands. I had many corrupt and sinful habits. For years I was practicing the wrong things. There were certain scriptures I turned into prayer, i.e., “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2:5, and “Search me Oh God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23. I did not know what the “fight of faith” was at that time, but now I know. What is the fight of faith? It is “to overcome corrupt and sinful habits by vigorous warfare.” Oh what a battle I had. The battle for you and me is to overcome our corrupt and sinful habits, our cultivated traits of evil. That is our “fight of faith.” Remember, “every soul is required to fight the fight of faith.”

“My brother, my sister, do you in your words, in your spirit, in your actions, resemble Christ? [This is talking about every moment of every day.] If in word and spirit you represent the character of Christ, then you are Christians; for to be a Christian is to be Christ-like. The tongue will testify of the principles that characterize the life; it is the sure test [remember the test you and I must pass] of what power controls the heart. We may judge our own spirit and principles by the words that proceed from our lips. [Have you judged yourself recently?] The tongue is always to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.” The Review and Herald, May 26, 1896. Are you judging your own spirit and principles? Examine yourself before it is too late. Be true and honest. All of us have a battle to fight.

As I said earlier, I reached out to the Lord in sincere, heart-rending prayer for His Holy Spirit to guard my thoughts and for His grace. The verses would go through my head, “Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.” “Be still, and know that I am God.”

When frustrating circumstances would arise, instead of sounding off or reacting un-Christ-like, I would run to the ladies’ room and pull out my prayer card and pray, Lord take my heart!!! Please!!! For I cannot give it to You at this moment. Please keep it pure for I cannot keep it pure, for You at this moment! Save me in spite of my weak, un-Christ-like self! Please mold me and fashion me, raise me up into a pure and holy atmosphere where the rich current of Thy love may flow through my soul. I pled with all my heart and soul. I know that the wrong attitude and words were wanting to explode, and so I knew I needed heavenly help. And help came in those short, quiet moments, for when I returned to the situation at hand, there was a peace in my heart, and my response was totally different. You talk about a witness for God. Satan lost that battle, and the whole office was just amazed that I did not blow up, and after a while people around me did not use a lot of language because they knew I had changed.

God knew I needed help to fight the fight of faith, to overcome those corrupt and sinful habits by vigorous warfare, and He sent help just when I needed it most. He gave me victory time and time again over my reactions. What an awesome God we serve!

What are you and I to do? “Fight the good fight of faith.” I Timothy 6:12. What is the “good fight of faith?” It is to overcome our corrupt and sinful habits by vigorous warfare. Do we have a work to do? Yes! Is time running out? Yes! “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16.

Do you see how prayer can be answered in your life? Do you see how you can fight the good fight of faith and at the same time be cooperating with God? God’s grace is sufficient. II Corinthians 12:9. That divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life will prepare us for the heavenly kingdom. Are you ready to fight along with me? Take those Scriptures above and personalize them and watch the fruits of what God can do through you. “God works and man works and as this co-operation is maintained, the richest blessings will come upon those who labor together with God.” The Signs of the Times, May 16, 1892.

In Ephesians 4:22–24, we are told to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” You and I can “put off” concerning our former conversation or lifestyle, that old man, which is corrupt. We can be renewed in the spirit of our minds. We can put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. God’s word is real. When His word tells us to “fight the good fight of faith,” He will give you and me the grace to do so. That divine influence upon the heart will have its reflection in the life. Truly, in His presence is fullness of joy!

Start today to “fight the good fight of faith.”

Judy Hallingstad is currently working as a legal secretary in the state of Wisconsin. She has also studied natural medicine and is a qualified herbalist. She can be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.